Regular City Council Meeting August 16, 2022

0:04:32Here we are ready to begin whenever you are okay, good evening.

0:04:36The August 16 regular City Council meeting is called to order at 6pm or the Clerk please call me again Joe your mayor pro tem O JAMA here councilmember abramson.

0:04:49Here Council member fidelity.

0:04:52Here, and remember redneck present, we have a quorum okay next is teleconference and public comment instructions bouncing Clark.

0:05:02It may, or if they made it pledge of allegiance is next on the.

0:05:09I pledge allegiance to the flag.

0:05:15and

0:05:18easel with liberty and.

0:05:20Councilmember Abelson: Justice from.

0:05:25Next is teleconference and public comment instructions balancing.

0:05:29Thank you mayor this meeting is being held in person with an option to participate via zoom for those participating remotely please remember to keep your microphone on mute whenever you are not speaking.

0:05:39For those participating in person, if you are also logged into the zoom meeting, please ensure that your audio in zoom and your device sound is muted, to avoid any audio feedback.

0:05:50Closed captions are available by participating in the meeting via zoom.

0:05:54for members of the public who wish to provide oral testimony the Mayor of will announce the time for public comment on each applicable item.

0:06:00For each period of public comment in person requests will be heard, first, followed by remote request to speak.

0:06:06In person requests are submitted to the city clerk with a speaker card anytime in advance of the item being heard.

0:06:12Remote requests are submitted by selecting the hand icon when the period for public comment is announced.

0:06:18Remote request by phone or submitted by dialing star nine instructions are also provided on page one of the agenda and will be displayed with the speaker timer for each period of public comment.

0:06:28Thank you mayor next we have counsel and staff, communications and i'd like to introduce our city manager Karen pincus good evening, thank you, your honor Thank you mayor and city council.

0:06:40Again i'm Karen pincus i'm the city manager, I will start by reporting, as usual, on the city's local emergency, the latest news is that the CDC coven 19 guidance has been streamlined and actually relaxed a bit.

0:06:55The main points of this are recommending that instead of quarantine if you were exposed to cope and 19 where a high quality mask for 10 days and get tested on day five reiterating that regardless of vaccination status, you should isolate from others when you do have.

0:07:12You should also isolate if you are sick and suspect that you have coven 19 but do not yet have test results.

0:07:18If your results are positive follow the full isolation recommendations, but if they are negative, you can endure isolation.

0:07:25If you test positive for coven 19 against.

0:07:28recommendation is to stay home for at least five days and isolate from others in your home.

0:07:33You are most likely infectious during those first five days were a high quality mask when you must be around others at home and in public if, after five days you are fever free or you never had any symptoms or your symptoms are improving, you may end the isolation.

0:07:48They do recommend wearing a high quality mass through day 10 so for more information, please go to the cdc.gov website.

0:07:56As far as contra Costa county as of last week, the county has continued to recommend that virtual or hybrid meetings are encouraged for all public meetings.

0:08:05But we are continuing to follow this counties current trends as of August 9 in covert 19 case rate test positivity hospitalizations and wastewater surveillance are stable.

0:08:18though they are somewhat high due to the omen crown variant and its sub variants that have been shown to be behind the rabbit transmission of code 19.

0:08:26You can also find out more information about that@coronavirus.cc health.org.

0:08:32That said, considering the latest CDC guidelines and the fact that trends have been stable, the city has been working internally among our staff team.

0:08:40to determine what might be the best timing to end the local emergency.

0:08:44We recognize we've already began to learn to live with coven 19 and since we especially here in our staff have very high levels of vaccination and participate in precautionary measures such as masks and distancing.

0:08:56We believe we are close to being able to either relax or lift the local emergency in the near future.

0:09:01As a reminder, if the local emergency has ended, it would end the eviction more editorial that is currently in place.

0:09:07And would also require consideration of any temporary programs, including the outdoor dining and retail Program.

0:09:13So at this time staffs plan is to consider all of this and bring an item to the City Council at your next meeting on September 20.

0:09:20To consider ending the local emergency, of course, that is up to the city council, but the staff will bring an item with all of these.

0:09:28considerations for you to take a look at and review.

0:09:32Of course this is contingent upon the public health trends continuing as they are and we will continue to keep everyone posted through our website social media in in the next city manager update.

0:09:42In September and i'd like to take a moment to welcome Eric sailors going to stand up our new fire chief who you met at the last City Council meeting started with the city on August 8 so he's in a second week, so thank you for being here Eric.

0:10:00um i'd also.

0:10:01Councilmember Abelson: I don't know, can we actually see him.

0:10:06Eric can you stand up again and say something say something so that so that the.

0:10:12So that the camera can pan toward you there we go wave to the.

0:10:17To the Council members.

0:10:20Wonderful thanks Eric.

0:10:22And I don't see him in the audience, but I would like to take a moment to thank battalion chief Jose castor home for his time as our interim fire chief he did a fantastic job.

0:10:32i'm very grateful for his service and dedication to the LGBT community, so thank you Jose and, last but not least, I want to congratulate our assistant city manager Alex or low guess, this will be her last Council meeting before she begins her parental.

0:10:47Leave we're all excited to meet our new member of the family coming soon, but I just want to thank you Alex for all your hard work and.

0:10:56congratulate you and Jason and your family and like I said we can't meet can't wait to meet the new Member and I can't wait to be an Anti again but.

0:11:05Then just these all be patient with me since I will not have Alex performance so anyway thanks Alex and congratulations and good luck to you, and with that your honor That concludes my remarks, thank you, thank you very much Next, I would like to.

0:11:23Jana able sin or colleague who is at home, would like to say a few words regarding of the passing of one of our Community Members who played an important role here in the city of El cerrito go ahead Council member able some.

0:11:39Councilmember Abelson: Thank you actually for the opportunity to speak on about lori dare who has been a really good friend of mine, for many, many years since before I was on the city council.

0:11:55I was in a group called sustainable Elsa Rita with lori and Steve price, whom you may have heard of and and a number of other people and.

0:12:09lori was just an amazing person to be around is about.

0:12:13The easiest way to say it, the last time I actually saw lori in person was at a political event in long beach and.

0:12:26It you know we could go for a long time without seeing each other, but then, when we saw each other, it was like we had seen each other, the day before she was that kind of a friend and everyone should have that kind of a friend and.

0:12:44Unfortunately, we lost lori very early to ALS and.

0:12:52It will be really hard on her family her girls and.

0:12:59To those of us who loved her, so thank you for asking me to say a few words.

0:13:05Thank you councilmember able son i'd like to announce a couple things.

0:13:14One is.

0:13:19On the 29th of this of this past month in July, I sent a miracle letter in in support of 8988 to support the miles hall lifeline and Suicide Prevention act, and that is something so important we're seeing an all time high now of.

0:13:39suicides now, especially with our young people and dealing with code, right now, so the most difficult times with mental health rates and and a shortage of mental health professionals so.

0:13:52This support of 8988 this goes to you and say thank you to assembly Member Rebecca Bauer can, who led that, along with the contra Costa mayor's who.

0:14:08started all this, a couple years ago when we were just getting into coven so again that's 89 and support memorials all lifeline and suicide.

0:14:21Prevention act and on the first of this month, I sent them a letter in support of opposition to sb 932 less amended of, and that is regarding unfunded mandates or general plans circulation element bicycle and pedestrian plans and transit calming plans.

0:14:43hundred over to my colleagues during my colleagues have any announcements to make an announcement or read now.

0:14:52I heard complimentary Wilson okay Council yeah.

0:14:55Go ahead.

0:14:56Councilmember Abelson: Oh, should I start up Okay, I would like to join like Come on, yet, along with Council member redneck on the climate action ad hoc subcommittee report to the Council, and this is the report you've been waiting for for so long.

0:15:14I think I hope i'm.

0:15:18Council member readings redneck and I wanted to take this opportunity to report back to the full city council on the status of the city's.

0:15:27Climate Action efforts on behalf of the ad hoc Subcommittee on climate action, the city council has been working on climate action for.

0:15:37Over 15 years, ranging from adopting resolutions to support the US mayor's climate protection agreement in 2006 I remember that to adopting a Climate Action Plan in.

0:15:54To declaring a climate emergency in.

0:15:59The climate emergency resolution included set excuse me, setting a goal to strive for zero greenhouse gas emissions citywide as soon as possible after forming in late night.

0:16:18The ad hoc subcommittee as met periodically to research and discuss the best next steps for the city to address the climate crisis and meet these new targets.

0:16:31After discussing policies and various options we believe what is needed is an updated climate action plan that will identify a prioritized list.

0:16:45Councilmember Fadelli: of strategies for.

0:16:46The city.

0:16:47Councilmember Abelson: to perform the plan will set targets to get that alignment with the state schools of reaching carbon neutrality by 2045 and achieving greenhouse gas.

0:17:03emissions reductions equivalent to 80% below 1990 levels by the year 2050 the prioritized list of strategies will provide the city with an implementable plan.

0:17:22To achieve the targets and will enable this to the South to best use resources to meet these goals, which is very important, we do want the Climate Action Plan.

0:17:37update to include an analysis of the policy to prohibit natural gas in new construction and are wanting to see if that's the next action, the city should take.

0:17:53In terms of the next steps for the city count so we've already taken some action as a group, by increasing general fund support for the.

0:18:06analyst position and public works, providing staff capacity to.

0:18:13manage a Climate Action Plan update.

0:18:20city staff will be releasing a request for proposals.

0:18:26to update the Climate Action Plan by next month and.

0:18:32So the other request or colleagues.

0:18:37Is that we award the contract for this important work later this year.

0:18:46Doing so we'll put the city on a path to try and achieve.

0:18:53Neutrality by 2045 if not sooner.

0:18:58And it would be a.

0:19:01special privilege of mine for that to happen, while i'm still on the Council and i'd add without alternative over to test for war.

0:19:13Council member ableton.

0:19:16To add on that I really want to echo what Council member abramson said, which is my excitement for this climate action plan.

0:19:21I also want to highlight some of the important work that we've been doing in the space over the last few years, despite the pandemic and budget and staffing challenges that the Syrian city has experienced.

0:19:32Just this past year, the City Council adopted and expanded food were ordinance that prohibits the use of single use plastic food where products that are typically made from fossil fuels.

0:19:42We adopted an ordinance requiring organic recycling in curbside greenway spins also noticed 1383, with a focus on reducing methane emissions from landfills.

0:19:52City Council recently adopted a tree protection ordinance and became a tree city USA valuing the health of the city's urban forest for the benefits of trees provide in include climate action and resiliency.

0:20:05We shifted all municipal electrical accounts to MC ease deep green 100% renewable option, so the lights, that we are using here in this building is in deep deep green.

0:20:17we've also installed, a new ev charging station at the recycling Center for Community use and we're upgrading the ev charging station here at City Hall, and we hope to have that completed by the end of the year.

0:20:28The city is also heavily involved regionally staff is supported the development of the contra Costa electric vehicle readiness blueprint plan and.

0:20:38And the city promotes things like Barry ascend share solar procurement and national drive electric week events.

0:20:46On the built infrastructure side city staff has continued to work with developers on public infrastructure projects that encourage alternative modes of transportation.

0:20:55Notably, the San Pablo avenue green spying project, which includes a separate bike lane was recently completed at mosher in San Pablo.

0:21:03There are many potential next steps and policies to pursue but, given our resources, we need to try to get the greatest impact out of the programs that we are able to implement.

0:21:12that's why i'm looking forward to this climate action plan, update and the set of prioritize strategies that it will provide.

0:21:19The plan will also account for efforts being undertaken regionally and at the state level on all electric building requirements so that the city can be sure that we're not duplicating efforts.

0:21:30In addition, we want to update the plan to have equity as a primary consideration.

0:21:34Well, looking at the impacts of both climate change and the strategies identified, we need to address the disproportionate effect climate change has on overburden and underserved people and communities.

0:21:45And also come up with solutions that don't further burden low income communities.

0:21:49and, similarly, we are looking forward to the robust Community engagement process that the climate action plan will facilitate.

0:21:56To ensure that all voices are heard, while also building Community wide support and participation around our efforts to address climate change it's really been an honor to have the service with councilmember abramson.

0:22:08she's been a champion for the city for many, many years and I appreciate her stewardship and collaboration with city staff on this and.

0:22:16that's really it for our climate action plan subcommittee fantastic appreciate your work Council member able sin and councilmember rudnick.

0:22:24As the representative for marine clean energy and being a member of the cal cities environmental policy committee know that l street or continues to be the greenest city in contra Costa county and I look forward to.

0:22:38Receiving that year marks regionally that that were promised and we will find out in September, whether the appropriations committee in at our US Congress will.

0:22:50Deliver so i'm counting on that, then that will mean greening for our.

0:22:57Low income homes by adding heat pumps also adding more ev infrastructure and battery energy storage So these are the things that we asked.

0:23:08With representing marine clean energy and Department of Energy and transportation, as well as our representatives representing we're in clean energy, support all of that so.

0:23:20This is a group effort and Elsa Rita as a small town cannot do this alone, we are doing this regionally and statewide so i'm very, very proud of that index to Council member fidelity do you have anything.

0:23:37Okay.

0:23:38Thank you councilmember fidelity mayor pro tem Thank you mayor just to report out of what i've been doing since we met last I did attend the art Plaza open house on July 20 and I know that my colleagues attended that, as well as very well attended.

0:23:58I also speaking of subcommittees met with Council member ableton for the wall of fame subcommittee to talk about some of the parameters for that.

0:24:09also met with councilmember rudnick on the Finance Committee which I think was a error on our agenda and has been corrected to indicate that it's climate action, but we did have a subcommittee meeting to assist with the financial sustainability plan.

0:24:28Also, and this was really exciting for me.

0:24:31The Asian American Civil Rights tour had to stop and Elsa rido this year and that's in large part due to the efforts of the historical society to create the Plaza and Hannah gardens to honor.

0:24:43The flower growers, the Japanese American flower growers of the El circo Richmond area and it's really having like really nice well Mart.

0:24:51plazas and open spaces historical markers that bring people to Elsa Rio, so we actually had a tour bus full of people that came to else Rico just for this, and it was my honor to to address them and to welcome them.

0:25:05Also, I tend to the parks and REC committee meeting and I just want to report out that three of the capital projects are moving forward so there's a design rfp for arlington park.

0:25:17The pole resurfacing rfp is out and the hillside natural area signage is moving forward so that's really exciting and there are signups for.

0:25:27harding Madeira and fairmont childcare and after school the senior day trips are starting up again so there'll be trips to lake merritt oakland zoo.

0:25:35In the bay model, as well as the in person senior lunches will be coming soon back to the Community Center and there's a call for volunteers, so if there's anyone interested in volunteering for that, please contact park and REC department.

0:25:51Okay now.

0:25:52One more thing okay go ahead.

0:25:56Councilmember Abelson: Okay um I wanted to mention that I attended the 30th anniversary of the recycling Center.

0:26:05which was also very well attended and it was an honor of Joel weatherall who founded.

0:26:14That recycling Center and opera operated it for a number of years.

0:26:21Before retiring.

0:26:24And he's also on a personal note, the person who got me.

0:26:30Running Earth Day in El circo MIT a number of years ago, so.

0:26:36For first at harding school and then the whole city.

0:26:41That was kind of the way Joel was.

0:26:44And he was a great guy, and so we can thank him for having that Center and.

0:26:55Gary mclaren who was one of the Council members at the time it was originally established spoke, and that was to be pretty exciting.

0:27:07Because I didn't even I wasn't even sure what he looked like but, but he came back and so so so it was a great event, thank you.

0:27:18councilmember I also on July 20 attended l street a Plaza transit oriented development or to do open house.

0:27:26At some points, it was so crowded that I was shoulder to shoulder with everyone around me as we were looking at the displays.

0:27:33of this project, it was very exciting, it was great to ask questions, and it was really nice to see.

0:27:38How much people in the Community are excited about what is to come, I heard really great feedback I also heard some interesting questions so it was a fantastic event.

0:27:48On July 28 I attended the cal cities East Bay division meeting, which was hosted in the city of Piedmont also Council member or mayor pro tem mo toyama and I had a subcommittee meeting for our.

0:28:01For our fiscal recovery and response plan which you'll see some of the collaborative work that we worked on with the city manager is in.

0:28:09Our consent calendar for this meeting, so please take a look at that and.

0:28:15On August 2 we had national night out, and I believe that the full Council was there and participated, we had such a nice time it was great to go around and go to so many different block parties i'm very biased, but I think that the Jordan and also punto block party remains supreme.

0:28:34On August 5 as councilmember able to noted was the 50th anniversary of the recycling Center.

0:28:41And I want to say a special thanks to the QC and the illustrator historical society for doing a great job of organizing the even had reusable glasses, which was really nice so that was a treat.

0:28:54On August 12 we had a very brief meeting of a bricks, which is the East Bay regional communication system authority and I run my seat on that board is through.

0:29:06The contract mayor's Conference, and that is also an honor to be able to serve and how else is regionally working around public safety communications.

0:29:14that's it for me okay great yeah I almost forgot about that so it's great to.

0:29:20reminisce and and know what an amazing event verse three was, and this is one of the very few times that former mayors get to get to why show up out of the blue, and.

0:29:31greatest mayor Cook, as well as.

0:29:35mayor able send and they are Delhi and.

0:29:39The the bark is there.

0:29:42This is bark a both mayors and.

0:29:45And counts memory project there so again, thank you to everybody that made this a very memorable.

0:29:52event to watch so that's America fidelity hasn't yeah so.

0:29:58Oh Council member for Delhi.

0:30:00Councilmember Fadelli: The heavy hand, yes, thank you i'll just be redundant and I appeared at the barn open house towns, cities.

0:30:07event and the national night out as well and and the 50th anniversary, and as far as the recycling Center goes all big cities have meeting places to congregate and the recycling Center certainly one of ours so it's a great great job great opportunity, thank you historical society.

0:30:25Okay, great Thank you and next we'll go to oral communications for the public.

0:30:30now'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.

0:30:39In person speakers can submit a handcart to the city clerk and promote speakers should use a raise hand feature to request to speak.

0:30:48Please remember to identify yourself and your city of residence, at the beginning of your comments, Madam city clerk incubator mayor at this time, I have one in person request to speak as well as for remote request to speak, you could please confirm the time limits about three minutes.

0:31:06we'll go with our in person.

0:31:10requests to speak and.

0:31:13me one moment.

0:31:17Okay, our first speaker tonight is john static, followed by Kimberly white.

0:31:24john stashing Elsa read our resident, and I think I will speak on behalf of the pseudo Chamber of Commerce tonight, too.

0:31:32So I was minding my own business, about two hours ago and I sign on instagram and I get this text message out of the clear blue that says.

0:31:40Who do we send a check to for the annual Christmas lights on San Pablo avenue between fairmont central and it i've been thinking about it but i'm surprised that this came out of the blue, and I said well send it to me and we'll get things going a little history.

0:32:00where's that.

0:32:03where's that screenshot of ball fidelity he's the Daddy of Christmas lights and.

0:32:08He suggested this and I jumped on board big time and we did it in 2019 we lit up the block, with the help of some merchants down there.

0:32:17And it was quite successful everybody had a good time, including the brewery which has their biggest day of the year when we come in there and buy food and beer.

0:32:26And we had city support from Director of Public Works or teens who lined up the Installers that year and it all worked out good, and then we did it again in 2020.

0:32:39backed off of city funding, because we know what happened then and we're not going to waste city general Fund money on this thing, so we privately financed it.

0:32:48And in 2021 we did it again so i've been thinking down the road yeah we'll do it again this year there's a few heavy hitters that make it all happen.

0:32:59All fidelity one of them and.

0:33:03i'll ask for it again, but.

0:33:06I want to invite everybody to consider kicking in some bucks for this, the Chamber of Commerce isn't in a position.

0:33:15to fund it this year that's kind of that's another story we won't go there, but we're going to make it happen, I will make it happen, and I invite the Council, who I will be in touch with by email, I invite city management, who i'm always in touch with by email right.

0:33:35And I invite the public and the members of the public that are tuning into this by as by by zoom and.

0:33:44yeah you can send money to the Chamber of Commerce put my name on the I usually get the mail anyway, but I will put it in the account will make it happen it's about a $5,000 event it isn't cheap.

0:33:56700 bucks of that goes to the brewery but I like to support him because we get one good day a year and the rest of the year, they can make out.

0:34:05But it's a $5,000 things string of these lights running the lights putting up putting down dealing with the various electrical suppliers which are various merchants it.

0:34:15it's a big deal but we're going to make it happen, and you are invited to join me and participate and help make it happen, thank you very much thank you, thank you, our next speaker is Kimberly white followed by William pits on it.

0:34:38hello, good evening.

0:34:41Hello me a little bit louder so does it I usually don't need a microphone Hello those remotely hi Paul hi Jenny Hello everybody in the room, my name is Kimberly white i'm an Elsa rainbow resident i'm here to speak with you speak to you on our fiscal recovery and sustainability plan.

0:35:02Elsewhere, to my musical code to dead 0430 states, among other things, that the financial advisory board reviews provoked proposed annual budget and long term financial plans for the city.

0:35:15To assist the city council and making decisions on major expenditures and revenue sources.

0:35:22It also states that fabric reviews forum and format of budget documents and agenda bills prepared by the city and makes recommendations to the Council.

0:35:32And the city manager regarding how the form and structure of these documents may be modified to allow for greater clarity in the financial information that is reported.

0:35:43This means that the financial Advisory Board has a fiduciary duty to review proposals to the city council that impact the city's finances.

0:35:51The financial recovery and sustainability plan has been prepared, but not presented or evaluated by the financial Advisory Board.

0:36:01This is the This is very significant, the city of Elsa Rico faces some significant challenges, including the 2021 State Audit assessing the city and.

0:36:13perilous financial condition the city main remains from worst to best, the most in the most recent update brings the city number six have more than 400.

0:36:27California cities.

0:36:29That means that the city is in the bottom 2% of all California cities.

0:36:36The city car is currently hovering around triple be vibrating status that's the very bottom of the investment grade ratings and is slightly above junk junk bond rating.

0:36:48Although bought banks are allowed to to invest in BBB rated bonds interest rates are very high, also the city may not be able to secure bond for sorely needed things like libraries.

0:37:04The Council is obligated by municipal code to have FAB FAB review, the Council and Community need confidence that the corrective action plan is sufficient sufficiently robust and able to significantly improve our position with the state and our bond rating.

0:37:24As a proud Elsa read our resident and 20 year homeowner I respectfully request that the city not only remove it from the consent calendar, but to table it until such an evaluation can be conducted by the financial Advisory Board.

0:37:40Elsa Rita we can do better, and the Community deserves better, thank you for your time and consideration, thank you, our next speaker is William gibson is followed by Vanessa where height.

0:37:58Good evening Council members there and others.

0:38:04ecosphere I am William could sourness I am a member of the financial advisory board that Kimberly just spoke about i'm here how we're not representing FAB but simply as a citizen concerned about the city's finances.

0:38:18I do, ECHO kimberly's comments and concerns about not having the corrective action plan go through FAB for any sort of review or discussion, I would like to see that happen still.

0:38:30But my primary purpose of speaking speaking tonight is.

0:38:34Regarding the 1.2% we'll probably transfer tax, I am concerned because the current budget forecast revenue of $4.3 million which.

0:38:44is less than what they received last year about 5.3 million, my concern is that it's not conservative enough.

0:38:50i've done some number crunching i've gathered data from the multiple listing service and real estate agents and county in my estimates are that the revenue will come in and about 3.5 million.

0:39:02is only an estimate my the data that i'm using is incomplete there's a letter in your packet that has much more detail in it and I encourage you to read it goes through my methodology quite a bit.

0:39:14Again i'll reiterate that it's not science i'm doing the best I can, with very limited data very little of my data came from the city radio, I tried very hard to get data and could not understand that you know it's difficult to do, I encourage county council to.

0:39:32look again at the projections from the real estate transfer tax.

0:39:36If you come to the same conclusion I had that you may be short and my conclusion is that you're about a million dollar short, given current trends.

0:39:44Try thinking proactively about what changes need to happen, what cuts, need to be made, what savings can be arrived at.

0:39:50don't wait to the end don't wait to say God we didn't know because i'm telling you right now, you do know there's a real possibility that the revenue coming from the real estate property tax transfer tax could be significantly less than what's projected Thank you very much.

0:40:05Thank you, our next speaker is Vanessa were height, followed by mackey to end.

0:40:20I thank you, my name is Vanessa war hide i'm a resident of El circo.

0:40:26I want to publicly thank William for the report, I had a chance to read it in it is thorough and alarming.

0:40:37And I think he raises very legitimate concerns about the effects of the current economic outlook on our city's budget projections.

0:40:46I brought these concerns up at our last City Council meeting and I really hope and trust that the Council will take these concerns seriously and direct staff to make to take appropriate measures to protect what is left of our city's bond rating.

0:41:01So municipal bonds are not my specialty, but I have worked in finance for the past few years, and I was shocked to learn that our current bond rating is just one step above junk bond status.

0:41:14Citizens of Elsa Rita want and deserve a new public library, and that will take a municipal bond that we can't afford right now with that rating we want and deserve more trees to be a tree city, we need more trees.

0:41:30We need a lot of amenities that make our city, safe and beautiful and resilient enough for the climate changes that we know are coming.

0:41:39So I want to really double down on that request, and I also just want to put in first a thank you to the climate action Subcommittee, thank you very much for bringing that forward, and I want to encourage you to move that.

0:41:52deadline up from 2045 because we need to act faster, which I think I think you probably know, but I just want to state for the public record the science demands of us a much accelerated timeline and every year that we wait accelerates it even further thanks.

0:42:12Thank you, our next speaker is Maggie to dendy followed by Jacqueline Vera.

0:42:33Right up at the podium make sure you speaking the microphone to those at home can hear you as well.

0:42:39I just want to thank the city council for your name, please, my name is Jacqueline Vera and i'm the alcohol policy coordinator for was contra Costa by coalition is the West contra Costa.

0:42:51alcohol policy coalition and one of the cities we cover is us Rita and I just want to thank the city council for accepting the proclamation that the Iraq youth and Iraq worked on and.

0:43:06Alcohol awareness and limiting alcohol access to our youth is very important to the coalition and i'm extremely proud of the Iraq youth for taking initiative, creating the toolkit to helping create this website and like educating the Community on like.

0:43:22The harms of underage alcohol use i'm just really proud of them they're amazing kids Thank you and also, we can remove Meg from the list she doesn't want to give a public comment and more no worries Thank you our next speaker is an over.

0:43:38All abode followed by Sophia corrado or tease.

0:43:51evening hi my name is Andrew level level, and I am an alumni for wcc USD and i'd like to comment on the item Friday on cons under content calendar.

0:44:06As someone who's been working with Europe, for the past four years, it means a lot that this proclamation was passed.

0:44:13I know I know it will imprint different it has a positive influence on different Community than neighboring community.

0:44:22That will help young people, young people like me to have a safe environment, and I really appreciate that Thank you again so much thank you, thank you, our next speaker is Sophia corrado or tease and then we'll go to our remote speakers.

0:44:40Hello.

0:44:42Okay hi i'm Sofia corrado and I want to talk on item five D on the consent calendar.

0:44:47I go to the end of high school and, as a young person living in a community and culture that feels and see the effects of the abundance of alcohol outlets.

0:44:54I thank you all for passing this proclamation by passing this proclamation you all, are contributing, so we can push for safer and healthier communities, thank you.

0:45:02Thank you, thank you we'll go to our remote speakers now, so we will start with cordell cordell you should be able to unmute and begin your time now.

0:45:17For Delhi there.

0:45:22A quarter we can't hear you so we'll circle back to you, so you can try and fix your audio okay we'll go to our next speaker, which is howdy howdy howdy you should be able to unmute and begin your time now.

0:45:35Howdy Goudey: Thank you mayor and Council members, my name is how to go to live in Toronto and.

0:45:42want to thank for a report from the climate Subcommittee, I support the intention to update the CAP.

0:45:51But I am a little disappointed that you know the sense of urgency that was so probably clear in at the meeting, where the.

0:46:03Climate emergency declaration was adopted, has really been lost and despite you know the few things the city has done in the meantime, it really hasn't lived up to the intention to follow through on the climate action emergency.

0:46:21And you know from the beginning it was not a CAP update that the climate subcommittee was intending to inform it was near term climate actions in the words of the.

0:46:40The Council members at the time themselves.

0:46:44councilmember abramson said, I just want to impart.

0:46:48What I consider to be my sense of fear that there is no time we have to make it happen really fast, this is not business as usual in the previous work we have done, we just don't have any time I really want.

0:46:59us doing I really don't want us doing business as usual, I want us to change what we're doing in this regard i'm really concerned.

0:47:08Council member fidelity said, there is nothing more important than dealing with climate change and for emphasis he said it four times in a row.

0:47:19mayor at the time purdue okamoto said, we might have to have a place that is uncomfortable because right now I feel like we've been kind of moving along, we have to really change really change what we're going to do.

0:47:34we're not going to wait until the Climate Action Plan is done in 2022 or whenever it's going to be finished, we need to hurry up now.

0:47:41So this is what was being said them, these were the urgency he's the intentions to really act, you know the Climate Action Plan update is important but it's going to take time and we can't dally we can't put off making the decisions we have to make now.

0:47:59And a good example of that is a specific plan update that is happening right now the.

0:48:08It will be coming to you very soon, a.

0:48:12supplemental er has been done with greenhouse gas emission evaluation and you know just last week, the QC passed a recommendation to you saying that.

0:48:24That plan isn't taking climate change seriously because you're not acting before the Climate Action Plan update that you're talking about doing so it's time to really get urgent about this, thank you.

0:48:35Thank you, thank you, our next speaker cordell let's go and see if your audio is working.

0:48:44cordell are you there.

0:48:47hey we're still unable to to hear you cordell you can try calling in with the phone number on page one of the agenda.

0:48:54will go to our next speaker, which is haley lane haley you should be able to unmute and begin your time now.

0:49:01Hayley Lane: hello, my name is he lead lane i'm a resident in Tacoma Washington, however, I work for the contra Costa county MED coalition.

0:49:11So on behalf of the contra Costa county meds coalition, we think the city of El cerrito for recognizing August 31 as international overdose Awareness Day.

0:49:22Unfortunately, over 100,000 lives have been lost to overdose in the US over the past year and this number continues to girls.

0:49:31Young individuals are being impacted by counterfeit pills that they're receiving through social media and other online sources.

0:49:39And we are losing the young generation to this epidemic when we lose an individual to overdose and not only affects their friends and family but it affects the Community as a whole.

0:49:49A huge contributor to this issue is fentanyl the lethal drug that is being found across Connor fit pills in contra Costa county.

0:49:58overdose is a national health crisis, therefore, we need to treat it as one.

0:50:02This day is meant to recognize those we have lost to overdose support those they left behind in to break down stigma associated with substance use disorders.

0:50:12We invite you all to recognize international overdose Awareness Day by attending our event on August 27 from 530 to 8pm.

0:50:21At chichi view park in antioch, we will have health providers from across the county tabling to share their resources and services.

0:50:29As well as the candle at memorial to give the Community a space to remember loved ones last overdose Thank you again city of El cerrito for recognizing August 31 as international overdose Awareness Day.

0:50:43Thank you, our next speaker is Fred bialy Fred you should be able to unmute him begin your time now.

0:50:50Fred Bialy: yeah Thank you good evening, my name is Fred bialy and I live in L street Oh, since 1991 want to make sure, are you hearing me okay.

0:51:01Yes, we can hear you.

0:51:02Fred Bialy: Okay, thank you, so I want to thank a Council members rudnick unable sin for the update that they provided us today.

0:51:13I want to commend the current city council and past city council's for.

0:51:20Their efforts to address the climate emergency.

0:51:24And I welcome the start of the process of updating the Climate Action Plan.

0:51:32I want to support how these comments about the need to.

0:51:37Be.

0:51:40more ambitious in efforts to address the climate of urgency, it is truly an emergency, we need to put it as our top priority.

0:51:52I want to specifically comment about the.

0:51:59suggestion that we need an updated CAP to assess.

0:52:04The pros and cons of building electrification I think building electrification and new construction is not controversial.

0:52:13There are lots of local jurisdictions local cities and counties that have been stated ordinances to require new construction to be all electric and they're doing that because all electric construction is more cost effective it results in hate healthier and safer buildings.

0:52:34And my concern is that, with all the new construction that's going on with the construction along San Pablo avenue, and with the.

0:52:45Housing element update with over 1300 new homes have as a an allotment for Elsa rido that there's going to be a lot of new construction.

0:52:56And we want to make sure that that new constructions all electric so that it is not going to turn into stranded assets and turn into a costly retrofit few years down the road.

0:53:09And there, as I said, many examples of.

0:53:15Building electrification ordinances that have been been passed by local jurisdictions so doing a building electrification ordinance for St Joe is not going to be that difficult, there are many examples that can be used as templates, and so I think waiting for.

0:53:34As late as the end of.

0:53:39is going to be much too late to address this issue, I think we need to move more urgently Thank you.

0:53:48Thank you, and we have one last speaker in person john.

0:53:54Donne been along being.

0:54:00No worries, my name is john cena lending getting things City Council numbers, I like to speak on item five D.

0:54:09I work with Bay area Community resources actually just a block the street, I just want to thank you all again for passing the proclamation especially.

0:54:18Protein mayor motor yama for listening to the young people and working with this, I really just want to thank you all for joining us in our efforts to.

0:54:25Challenging say preemptive law as relates to alcohol sales regulation to have my young people wanted to be here, who also met with proto Mariano but.

0:54:33They couldn't be here, but they wanted me to pass along that they are very also thankful and grateful and their names are Anna and halima and then just want to spotlight my young people again.

0:54:45For all the work that they've done, thank you, thank you.

0:54:49That does conclude a request to speak at this time, very good Thank you next is adoption of the consent calendar.

0:54:56And we have a Approval of Minutes be library card sign up month proclamation see.

0:55:03International overdose Awareness Day proclamation D a proclamation recognizing discovering the reality of our Community youth leadership program he authorized city council and city advisory body meetings to be held the teleconference pursuant to assembly bill 361 and.

0:55:24Economic Development Committee appointment.

0:55:28g appoint City Council ad hoc committee to consider and enhance.

0:55:33Infrastructure financing project financing district H second reading and adoption of the amended food where ordinance reporting single use food wear accessories and standard condiments package for single use to be provided only if requested by consumer.

0:55:50I purchase a replacement baylor for the recycling Center J one year agreement between the city of El cerrito and siobhan and associates llp to perform required independent audit service.

0:56:03services for the fiscal year ending June 30 22 and K fiscal recovery and sustainability plan and anyone like to pole or.

0:56:13move.

0:56:19I have a question.

0:56:22Regarding item five J, the one year agreement with Steve ulcer doing shaven and associates.

0:56:32city manager, can you.

0:56:34confirm that there was a televised note in the agreement, implying that there was some additional work that was needing to be done, can you.

0:56:44Tell me, if that is included in the contract or is that going to be additional services that is included in the contract.

0:56:50Any additional services above the not to exceed amount of $68,500 would need to come back to city council and be approved.

0:56:58We did request that the auditor do some of those extra work, and that is the note that was was indicated, because we are.

0:57:07Proposing to use this auditor for at least one well, this would be a one year term, we will go out to do an rfp for a new auditor.

0:57:16And this would allow us to bridge that gap and allows the new auditor to essentially confirm the the work of the kind of build a bridge, if you will, from the previous audit work so that is included.

0:57:29And then I had a question of an item that is not on the consent agenda this month, what happened to the monthly disbursement and check register reports, yes, yes, thank you, as.

0:57:43mayor pro tem O D yama had had also asked this question and confirmed with our finance department June is the end of the close of the fiscal year, and so we have 60 days essentially to receive revenue and.

0:58:00Credit expenditures, if you will toward the previous fiscal year so we're still in that 60 day window, so the the check report is actually incomplete.

0:58:09The finance director and I thought about giving you a preliminary report we felt that would be confusing, so we will just move that to the next month, but the City Council will regularly receive those disbursement reports, thank you, thank you councilmember fidelity out in Hawaii.

0:58:27Go ahead.

0:58:28Councilmember Fadelli: it's lunchtime here.

0:58:29yeah i'm just I had a question on Jay and I don't know if anyone else has questions on K worthy of playing it.

0:58:37But I did have a couple questions on that as well on the J and the audit the new audit to city staff and there were some complications for not getting an rfp out, I guess, for new.

0:58:50auditor did we asked our existing auditor to extend another year with us, or is that something that's just not done that's a three year.

0:59:00Thank you councilmember for Delhi and i'm speaking on behalf of Sandra she is out today, yes, we did speak with with our current auditor about battalion associates.

0:59:13We have no issues with Mr medallia or his team or his audit or anything like that we just felt that in sort of the interim period before we go out for an rfp that it would be a good idea to have a completely different auditor calm and verify everything that we've seen so far.

0:59:32Again, we will be doing the rfp and we invite Mr badawi to to submit a proposal again it's very possible that he could be selected again, depending upon the responses that we receive, so this is just a you know, again, as I.

0:59:50described to mayor pro tem, this is a bridge between this and the next one, and again the the issues we have with issuing an rfp or the same issues that we have with.

1:00:01That i've been again I don't mean to sound like a broken record and kids if you know what a record is since its 20 2022.

1:00:09We have had some serious staffing issues I address this in our city manager update, while our budget is back on track, we have not recovered fully from staff, we are still seeing a lot of vacancies we're hiring.

1:00:21But our staff right now in the finance department is depleted our staff resources are just very.

1:00:27stretched and so you know these plans that we have coming all of these issues we have coming the rfp we're issuing We are doing that, as best we can, as resources allow, including the audit will be completed as soon as we are able to get fully staffed again, so thank you.

1:00:44Councilmember Fadelli: So just, just to clarify my question was whether they were asked, they just couldn't do it for an extra year is that.

1:00:51No, we we did not ask them to we considered we considered expanding in a year and and the finance director and I thought it would be a good idea to have a interim audit, if you will, an interim auditor, if you will, between engagements to.

1:01:07Again verify and and bridge to the next long and what what is the year that's kind of required for us change auditors what's about here so we're right inside here.

1:01:18yeah.

1:01:18Right in that way.

1:01:21Councilmember Fadelli: Okay.

1:01:22um, then I guess I.

1:01:26might like to pull the fiscal recovery sustainability plan or, can I just ask a couple questions of staff mayor, or whatever you prefer.

1:01:34ahead.

1:01:36Councilmember Fadelli: yeah I just have it.

1:01:38Yes, i'm as mentioned far away and don't have a lot of the material in front of me here, but I have two questions just on the plan.

1:01:45As it's going forward I did like seeing things stretched out and articulated and what the things that we've done it's a sheet of.

1:01:53goals and actions achieved I did want clarification from the city staff on the July 4 event, it was pretty specific that if we don't reach a certain fundraising goal we will cancel that.

1:02:11event, and I was a bit concerned about how how clear that language was and might want to include the word possibly have to cancel but is there any clarification from the city manager on that.

1:02:22Sure, and actually i'm happy to include the word possibly if if that certainly as as the Council knows I work directly with the City Council finance subcommittee of mayor pro tem modi yama and councilmember redneck in developing this agenda item to bring to you tonight.

1:02:42I don't they don't have any concerns about adding the word, possibly, this was language that was left over Council member fidelity you were here when we did the original fiscal recovery plan in 2020 and that's the original language from that so i'm happy to add the word possibly especially.

1:02:59Councilmember Fadelli: We should I hate that right.

1:03:00yeah the great successes that we've had with fundraising so i'm happy to add, if I am seeing nods from the subcommittee at the at the dyess so it's.

1:03:11Councilmember Fadelli: A good.

1:03:12happy to mom and then my second question it's a bit broader, but you I didn't mention to the city manager there's two sections are one with city at.

1:03:22City Council actions taken and 20 20th city actions taken 2021.

1:03:28And I was a bit confused at some of the some of the motions of the actions Council voted on, I didn't really see them listed in the city actions.

1:03:38Like the $1 million goal the arpa money going to reserves or the more contribution to the person.

1:03:47Can you better explain what the differences between one year being City Council actions and the other year being city actions and our emotions I didn't really see reflected in that action plan.

1:03:57Sure, and you know to be, to be honest, within the steps that were taken.

1:04:04Those were incorporated within so, for example, for the pension sustain for the pension liabilities the 115 trust that is included within those items.

1:04:15But I am happy in the it actually is called out more in detail in the state auditor response and i'm happy to reiterate that again.

1:04:23In the response directly to the State auditor of the specific motions that were taken by the City Council that has already been provided to the State auditor but i'm happy to again just reiterate those within.

1:04:36The response, and the response to the State auditor will be provided by September 16 so after this, I will be preparing that and i'm happy to make sure that that.

1:04:46is called.

1:04:48Councilmember Fadelli: Because, as others have said, getting that new bond rating is critical and I want whoever the new audit or maybe to see that the City Council has taken actions that need to be very evident for them to visualize so thank you for that.

1:05:01Certain and with that mayor, thank you.

1:05:03Okay, for everyone, like to make a motion and actually i'd like to comment on item K.

1:05:09One I really want to reiterate when ice when myself and mayor pro tem O tiana started on this body in 2020 it was a very different situation from where we're sitting right now and 2022.

1:05:20Staff has worked incredibly hard under very tough circumstances to get us to where we are right now.

1:05:28When you look at the list of what has been accomplished it's significant could we be doing more, yes, but would we need a lot more resources to do more, yes, I appreciate the comments that miss white gave during public comment.

1:05:45The way the financial Advisory Board is set up is it's currently not written to be a performance Management Board, so I.

1:05:54I feel comfortable with myself and councilmember motor yama as our mayor pro tem moodle yama as elected Members of this community to collaborate with management on this, so I feel comfortable in it standing.

1:06:08This i've used a living document there's also elements to this, which is.

1:06:13The State auditor's office you know those numbers of us being number six on the high risk lips, it is a painful reality, we must acknowledge it.

1:06:22it's the thing I think about whenever anyone in the Community asks all the things that we should have an El circo I think of that number, but also that number hasn't been updated in awhile.

1:06:31So that there's something going on a state level of hopefully when those numbers are listed we're not in that top 10 but currently we're in that top 10 so that is something that we have to think about as we move through.

1:06:44I just I do just really want to take this moment to say that these are complex and complicated issues where we are in 2022.

1:06:55I am really proud, but I don't feel like we are in a place where we can then rest on our laurels, this has to be iterative, it has to be continuous and are continuing and.

1:07:07just that.

1:07:09I lost my train of thought.

1:07:12But again staff has worked really hard, you can see from this document, how much has gone into it, but also, I acknowledge that there's things that we could be doing more and better, and I hope that we continue to have.

1:07:23conversations with the Community about this, as we move through because again this we're not done and I personally don't think really done for a while, because these you know the bond rating.

1:07:34These are things that take time to heal it's like a wound that we can't just oh we're better it's fine, we have to really continuously maintain and look at this.

1:07:45And we have moved in the right direction and.

1:07:51yeah okay very good and, therefore, he may I just wanted think councilmember remnick for comments on the fiscal recovery plan and.

1:08:01Part of it is this is really just a summary of all the other plans and work that we've done through public hearings and through presentations to the FAB, so this is really just a summary document.

1:08:13Also, we do have a timeline that we do want to pass this document in time to submit for our next response back to the State auditor and we.

1:08:25took it off of the agenda this time they believe we wouldn't be able to submit it as complete.

1:08:31To the auditor, which is really, really important and that's our guarding our guiding document is the audit and the findings and that's why we need and that's why we continue to.

1:08:41Make sure that everything that we do is to like get us off that audit list, so I do appreciate the comments from FAB members.

1:08:49It is important that we collaborate very closely with FAB and I believe everything that is included in this document is just this is just a summary document so.

1:08:59Hopefully that we can, if there's any change or any other really material change or change in policy that those will definitely go to the FAB, but this is really just a summary so.

1:09:12Okay, would anyone, like to make the most a move to support the adoption of the consent calendar in its entirety, a second Okay, we have motion by mayor pro tem and second fi redneck.

1:09:26May, and may I just clarify the for the record, is that, including the recommended modifications that comes Member fidelis item okay perfect Thank you so much mayor come to me or project much yama I come from her ableton.

1:09:42can't remember, even when you were muted, I can hear you now.

1:09:45Councilmember Abelson: Oh sorry I.

1:09:46Thank you councilmember fanelli.

1:09:48I can't remember redneck I motion carries.

1:09:56Yes, we have some special guests scared we like to have a photo taken with them and so Council let's.

1:10:07go out there and present that this is for young people that are here.

1:10:21Yes.

1:11:50Next, we have a special presentation here it's an update from the West contra Costa unified school district, and we do have as our guest here our representative to the bus contra Costa unified school district board and that is Leslie regular.

1:12:07And we have on the screen over there, Dr first Dr Hurst is.

1:12:15The head of the West contra Costa unified school district welcome Dr first.

1:12:22Dr. Hurst - Superintendent: Is an honor to be here as the mayor, thank you for this opportunity and also mayor pro tem and Council members, thank you for this opportunity.

1:12:31And, good evening trusted regular good to have you there as here, I would like to share with you that we have several Members that's going to be presenting this evening, so I just want to take the time to introduce them to you.

1:12:46We have alicia Martin there's my chief academic officer she be talking to us about academics and where we stand.

1:12:54In that area, we have Dr Robert mcintyre's our chief business officer will be talking to us about our district finances, we also have Mr Lewis freeze and LM he'll Cooper who's from our maintenance office and there'll be given us an update on facilities.

1:13:14We also have Mr Booker who's our chief consultant over covert safety and physical safety so again, good evening to everyone, not sure if you can see, the presentation.

1:13:27But we do have a lengthy presentation we understand, we have 15 minutes, the presentation, you can prove that your leisure and we're only going to go over certain slides with you.

1:13:39There sorry superintendent Hurst you do have ability to screen share, would you did you need us to screen share, on your behalf.

1:13:46Dr. Hurst - Superintendent: I can, I can share myself.

1:13:48Okay.

1:14:09Dr. Hurst - Superintendent: So just to introduce myself very briefly i've been an education for a little over 24 years as a former superintendent in Washington state.

1:14:19I was a superintendent there for five years i'm a long time with in California i've been in southern California, for more than 35 years and during that time I started off as a math teacher and computer programming teacher and I actually taught.

1:14:35algebra geometry and I tutor calculus and taught ap computer science as well in poway California, I was also an administrator empower California and assistant principal.

1:14:48I then became a principal in oceanside California and also an associate superintendent of teaching and learning and ocean side and then superintendent and now i'm here and it's a pleasure to be here in the Community.

1:15:04So what I wanted to share with you is our progress in the strategic planning.

1:15:10we've had several meetings, you can see here on the screen we've had families of schools, we had the Elsa real family, the family of schools and other families of schools within our district.

1:15:23And what we've done is we've had sequences of meetings and some of you may have been part of those meetings.

1:15:29And if you look at the very bottom you'll see that we also have a guiding coalition, the guiding coalition to cross section of stakeholders that includes students.

1:15:39University officials are Labor partners our parents and employees and what we've done in these meetings we really engage the Community on.

1:15:50a snapshot of our future, what is our future vision, going to be for West contrast unified school district, what is our purpose, what do we believe.

1:16:01And then, our graduate profile, which is one of the skills that we want our students to know and be able to do and have when they graduate.

1:16:08So we've really engage all of our Community members and our families have schools and we've had these guiding coalition's that will process all the information and get it ready for the next meeting.

1:16:21And right when you see that red line, this is sort of where we are right now we've had to take a step back, because we really want to touch many more.

1:16:30lives and in really engaged in the Community so we're doing a lot of outreach to really engage everyone on our mission vision and those skills when when our students to have.

1:16:43And our next step this year is to really take that mission vision and grab profile those skills for our board for approval, eventually, and then we'll start the next level of work on unpacking the mission vision and those skills and really getting into our equity work.

1:17:01And at this time i'm going to turn it over to Maria Martin and just tell me web screens to go to the ration with screens to skip.

1:17:10LaResha Martin, Associate Superintendent/CAO: Okay, thank you, Dr Harris, good evening Elsa retail City Council, I am going to speak a little bit about some data from was contra Costa so in front of you this first slide.

1:17:22Our cohort Grad a through G completion rates, as you can see, starting from all students and then we have this broken down by student groups, starting from 1617 going all the way to 2021 which.

1:17:38which was similar to 1819 but our a through G Ray completion we rate was at 58.9% for our high school and Elsa rainbow.

1:17:50Next slide please.

1:17:55And then we have our uc admission rate so for Elsa rido high school again we have a three year average of 75% in 20 1971 2020 76% and in 2021 77%.

1:18:10And then we have here listed other schools that are comparison schools to Elsa rido which would be useful for the Community and for City Council to also see.

1:18:20Next slide please, then we also have the same thing again with comparison schools, some of our Catholic schools and surrounding a larger high schools as well and, as you can see, we have Elsa retail high school with a CSU system admission rate of 94%.

1:18:36Next slide please, here we are, listing some program offerings of our schools, I will not read these to you.

1:18:44But we have academic programs, and after school programs that all of our schools and so listed, we have Elsa rainbow high school.

1:18:52which offers information technology core matsui and we have our dual language program and then in Elsa read oh hi we also have a robust athletic program track went to state this year, they have Community gardening as well.

1:19:08Next slide please Dr Hurst we also have harding we have the US teachers college units of study.

1:19:16They have the beam science mentor programs, they also have a partnership with city of El cerrito to provide after school enrichment classes.

1:19:25At kensington they also use teachers college units to study, they also have engaged New York math and and other robust robust academic programs.

1:19:34At kensington they also offer 30 different classes to students, where they have different sessions in fall winter and spring next slide please.

1:19:45We have Madeira, they have they use a workshop model math workshop model with bridges, they have innovation exposition which is focused on science.

1:19:55For their after school program they have math Olympiad they won regional highest honor so I was reminded to save that.

1:20:03For fairmont they also use teachers college units of studies, they also use a Uri commands earn and Khan Academy.

1:20:10And they have a school based after school program serving at four students during the day next slide please.

1:20:17listed here, we also have our enrollment of our schools obviously Elsa rido with over 1500 students and then we have komatsu fairmont partying kensington and Madeira.

1:20:30What you also see here is the person is of transfer students So these are the students who transfer into that school but also rido being the highest with 158 students who are transfer students.

1:20:42And then listed on the far right, we have our chronic absenteeism rate for the past four years and it's actually really positive to see that kensington and Elsa rido actually and also harding and Madeira, have very low chronic absenteeism rates.

1:20:59Here, we also have our star reading proficiency on benchmark our star benchmark or state benchmark from 2019 to 2022 I will not read all of this, but, as you can see Elsa rainbow high school fairmont komatsu hardy campaigns and Madeira.

1:21:19don't have the spring sorry just a second.

1:21:27Sorry, we have our spring data which is listed here, which is our most recent data.

1:21:36For Elsa Rita high 48.7 and down in kensington obviously our highest, which is that 87.1% for our reading proficiency of our last spring assessment.

1:21:47Next slide please and then for our math proficiency or same schools and, as you can see kensington as well 67.2% and then you see the percentages across all of the schools, starting from fall 2021.

1:22:05Here we also decided to break it down by ethnicity, so that you could see our Asian students are black students are latinx multiple.

1:22:14nationalities ethnicities are white students for reading and math on the right is on the left is reading and on the right is math and so you see the breakdown nearby ethnicities.

1:22:28Thank you.

1:22:34Dr. Hurst - Superintendent: i'm saying, Mr Booker is available.

1:22:37Michael Booker: i'm available, sir.

1:22:39Dr. Hurst - Superintendent: Thank you, Sir.

1:22:42Michael Booker: Good evening also radio city council and good evening everyone watching.

1:22:46i'm briefly going to talk about our covert prevention plan that we have for our school district, although the CDC has relaxed their standards and we.

1:22:58Probably will see that the CD pH will as well, we are following the smarter strategy, which is an acronym for shots mask awareness readiness testing education and treatments next slide duckers.

1:23:18As part of our.

1:23:20comprehensive strategy that we use for coven we have a resource guide that all our site leaders use that has all information related to cove it, they can use this to deal with any situation that they have on their site and help families with any code questions that they may have.

1:23:45Next slide please.

1:23:48i'm also going to talk about our safety strategy that we have for our school district, as part of the strategic plan that the superintendent has put for.

1:23:58Safety as one of the components in next strategy, so we have a safety resource guide, which is also a quick guide for our site leaders, and this has information that deals with anything from.

1:24:15The drills that are required under the California Department of Education, as well as how to fill out their comprehensive site safety plan, which has to be done every year.

1:24:26And it has to be approved by the school side councils as as well as looked at by local law enforcement agencies and for our agencies as well next slide please.

1:24:43We also have a school safety tracker with all our schools, they have a folder that they use this is an internal document that we use our internal tracker that we.

1:24:55use, which basically has all the information related to that school, so that is for the site leaders, as well as their staff and we can actually see the information in that folder as well, so this helps us with coordinating with those school sites when it comes to safety related issues.

1:25:20And I believe that concludes my presentation, sir.

1:25:27Dr. Hurst - Superintendent: I will turn it over to Dr mcintyre.

1:25:30Robert McEntire, Ed.D. - Business Officer: Thank you, Dr it's an honor to be here before the City Council today, thank you for giving us this time to update you.

1:25:37it's been a rather interesting time I was listening to your discussion around your local budget and a lot of your Community input and we've we've had a very similar experience ourselves but.

1:25:46This year is enacted budget has just been it's been one of the rare occasions where i've had an opportunity to have a positive conversation around school district budgeting after spending a decade.

1:25:56Robert McEntire, Ed.D. - Business Officer: Mostly explaining why things weren't going as well as we'd hoped in the inactive budget what we saw that the statewide.

1:26:04cost of living adjustment under the statutory rules was 6.56% but the governor and the legislature.

1:26:11Put in an augmented additional I mentation to that call and bringing the total funding to the local control funding formula, which represents about 75% of our funds.

1:26:21That meant that that big pool of money was going to increase by 24% while they're all other funding sources would only increase by the statutory 6.56%, which is still massive compared to what we're used to getting.

1:26:33that's not that's that that local control funding formula money is where we operate our database schools that's the funding we use for that, but we also have restricted funding, just like the city does.

1:26:44And, and in this case the state inactive budget, including three parts of restricted funding, one of them is the learning recovery emergency block grants.

1:26:53This is a one time grant that has very strict avowedly uses that we can spend to try to help students with learning loss.

1:27:01there's an arts media and instructional materials block grant that's one time also but has more flexibility of school district can use it.

1:27:09And then, finally, the expanded learning opportunities grants that is ongoing and really meant for us to provide a nine hour day for our students were both before and after school programming next slide please, Sir, we pretty well covered that in this one, the next slide.

1:27:28And one more slide.

1:27:31So when we were looking at what the changes were to our adopted budget our adopted adopted budget Panda rather difficult picture, but with the addition of the new funds.

1:27:39As you can see there in the in the top one there that that top revenue one 307 million to 330 million.

1:27:47which was a massive increase rest and that's where that increase in general fund expenditures came from, so our revenue really jumped up.

1:27:53Now those those restricted one time dollars that we talked about the we can we can't spend more than we generate in those and so those are very restricted, and we have to spend them purposes next slide.

1:28:07Now we do have to program expenditures for some of those restricted programs but, but the unrestricted Program.

1:28:14The expenditures haven't changed on that side of the budget, and so what you've seen is is less increased on the expense side that we have as an increase on the revenue side.

1:28:23And so what does that mean when we get to the next slide we'll see that we went from roughly $30,160,000 in deficit spending for the year.

1:28:34Now we're if you look on the 2223 revised budget side the excess or deficiency from operations is now a positive $8.8 million.

1:28:43And so, that means the district is no longer in a position where it's being forced to draw down it's written reserved but.

1:28:49Solvency been as originally planned to be adopted budget and so now where we find ourselves in a place where.

1:28:56Where we have much more budget resiliency and we're able to address more the operational needs of our students more productively because our budget is now more aligned with our revenues next slide please.

1:29:10And so here, you see a snapshot of what how the money bounces broken up for the current year in that.

1:29:17You know, we have our reserve again can and cannot uncertainties which is really important to absorb economic shocks within the system because.

1:29:24Money doesn't always come in, as promised, but also, you see, roughly $30.4 million of our fund balances restricted unrestricted programs.

1:29:33And so, just because there's a fairly substantial been balanced it doesn't mean it's all available for all users, in fact quite a bit of it's restricted, I believe the next slide takes us into facilities.

1:29:45Dr. Hurst - Superintendent: Now let's turn it over to Mr freeze the super.

1:29:48Luis Freese: And, good evening so that I can give you an update and, most recently on the mom program and our 2016 master plan.

1:29:54Luis Freese: We have now completed the upgrades that fairmont elementary school and some of those upgrades and clues new portable buildings are added where the senior Center once existed.

1:30:02New playground equipment new forest within the building in some of those photos will show you the before and after conditions.

1:30:09updated play structures added restrooms for the staff and i've been in student restrooms next slide.

1:30:17So some of the projects that we're going to take during this last summer and ongoing this this year, so we added to portables that were built a wall mirror, this is not an l three though it does support students real sweet oh.

1:30:29So this is just an addition to their program for their K, the camera and site next acquire komatsu.

1:30:36we've actually moved out of that site this year we've moved over to our Burke campus behind the Kennedy high school temporarily why we do some improvements on that side.

1:30:44Part of that as the H we're at an hba seeing good where the boiler system i've been in the roof, as well as an accessibility improvements inside the building to the restrooms, and so the classrooms.

1:30:54In addition to that we're working on wi fi across the district in the school sites that are affected or upgrades to fairmont komatsu are receiving if your wi fi and upgraded.

1:31:05wi fi within the campus itself and playground projects that we're working on within the area are kensington Emma Derek these projects are currently within the state architect's office under review we're hoping to get those built next summer when the playgrounds available.

1:31:21Next slide please, and lastly, or seven lemon Committee, which is the committee's purposes to advise the board and develop district wide policies and procedures.

1:31:31disposal of school buildings and property and dollar use for schools and the portal site is one of those sites, the upper portion of that side of campus you can see, defined and.

1:31:40And the yellow line where the building once existed as part of the properties that were looking at and so we've met once we have.

1:31:48Meetings plan in the information our next meetings on August 28 and if you'd like to join us at 6pm is either in person at our facility operation Center at 1400 Murray away or you can join us on zoom and that complete sliding presentation.

1:32:07Dr. Hurst - Superintendent: I missed the mayor that's our presentation and thank you so much for allowing us to be here and now we'll turn it over to you for any questions.

1:32:16Dr first Thank you so much, and and all of you appreciate the update and and you're always welcome here at the Alfredo said city council to.

1:32:27Give us regular updates, I want to turn to my colleagues and see if you have any questions for Dr person staff mayor pro tem Thank you mayor and thank you, Dr Hurst in in staff.

1:32:42I really appreciate getting the update I did have a couple of questions, one is about this, the.

1:32:49Budget, which it sounds like it's great my my children are one of them went through West contra my when my son is still in high school.

1:32:59at El cerrito high school, so what happens at the school is really close to my heart.

1:33:03And I would like to just understand it's exciting that the budget shortfall has been eliminated, but does this mean that structurally now moving forward, the budget is going to be, you know you don't.

1:33:16it's enough additional funding that you won't have shortfalls moving forward that you're starting from kind of a new and healthier position or is is.

1:33:25Really, taking into account these one time dollars so there's still going to be some scrambling every year to put in additional funding to keep things going is kind of, can you tell me how structurally improved is the budget.

1:33:42Dr. Hurst - Superintendent: Look, Dr mcintyre answer that question.

1:33:46Robert McEntire, Ed.D. - Business Officer: Thank you, Dr Hirsch, you really hit in the heart of the issue that we're struggling with in that there was enough.

1:33:53Increased ongoing unrestricted revenues that we find ourselves in a very nice place for the first time in a very long time in that.

1:34:01We appeared to have matched our expenses to our revenues, at least in the unrestricted general fun.

1:34:06Now there's a caveat to that because we do have, we also have a fiscal solvency plan that would require us to make adjustments later this year for next year and that's because we received very large pools of one time, money those answer emergency funds to deal with.

1:34:20kilby's s or three, in fact, and we will live exhausted those funds around the end of this year, and so the expenditures that are currently in that those funds that are going to.

1:34:31Beyond going, we have to find a new home and any funding source for those unfortunately the state happened to come just at the right time, with the the you know learning last block grant as well as.

1:34:43The the arts and media instructional grant was and flexibility, and so we believe that they status set this up well for a nice step down.

1:34:52But we also have to recognize that our staff is living with the you know the same inflation that all of us are living with, and so you know their ability to buy that that that loaf of bread.

1:35:03Dr. Hurst - Superintendent: This year, compared to last year.

1:35:04Robert McEntire, Ed.D. - Business Officer: we've not settled in the bargaining table, and so we still have some work to do.

1:35:08Robert McEntire, Ed.D. - Business Officer: Locally with our Labor partners up before we can see we're in the perfect spot.

1:35:14Thank you.

1:35:15Okay.

1:35:16councilmember REG epic questions, yes.

1:35:21One of the questions I have is around impact, especially as we're talking about building up more capacities and also retold and adding to the housing stock, ultimately, that will mean children need to be in schools.

1:35:34Specifically fairmont I know that compaction is impacting pardon me is a challenge, so can you speak a little bit to those issues.

1:35:45Luis Freese: i'm super will give us an update.

1:35:49ellen.mejiahooper: evening everyone, thank you for having us on, we are aware, and are working closely with our demographers to look at our residential study areas to make sure.

1:36:01As you guys are developing different areas of town that we are able to respond to that as well we're looking forward to bringing results of that student.

1:36:13Housing study forward later in this school year.

1:36:19And then, one of the challenges that we face here in the city and I get a lot of feedback from from the Community and they're saying what are you doing about it and it's one of those challenges of.

1:36:28The jurisdiction that the city has versus jurisdiction of the school district, one of them is traffic safety and crossing guards.

1:36:37that's been a big one, especially when you're going back to the area of fairmont is there any plans for more additional supportive help on transportation and safe transportation for pickups and drop offs.

1:36:58Luis Freese: not sure that's going to dress that way.

1:37:03Dr. Hurst - Superintendent: Sure, Mr Booker or.

1:37:07Dr mcintyre i'm not sure if you can add to that.

1:37:14Michael Booker: Dr mcintyre did you want to take a crack at that.

1:37:18Robert McEntire, Ed.D. - Business Officer: Well, certainly our team will be coordinating with your team or around the actual physical safety and especially around you know early in the design.

1:37:26process, because we can do a lot with design early design, especially when it comes to how we're talking about integrating ingress and egress in our design and approach facilities also working with those.

1:37:40One of your engineers, where we talked about where streets can be narrowed down to slow traffic and so forth, can really help mitigate the dangers of students.

1:37:48But I know across the state of California.

1:37:51This is the, this is not a unique conversation between cities and school districts because they're there was a day when cities could afford to pay for crossing guards and.

1:38:00And let's be honest that's much harder to do these days.

1:38:03and school districts have not traditionally paper crossing guards and and so now we we kind of getting this who's responsible for public safety and.

1:38:10And at the end of the day, we're all responsible to make sure kids in our Community are saved, and so I think this certainly warrants continued conversation and.

1:38:19Really, we probably should collectively be taking some of this conversation back to the states in that regard, because it's completely left out of the conversation when we talked about how the state is funding, education and public safety.

1:38:34Thank you we're definitely interested here and Elsa rainbow and how we can be good partners, because that is, that is our rush hour intervals three do is.

1:38:42drop off times and pick up times at schools and it does cause a lot of challenges The other thing it's not really a question it's more of a comment, I have a girlfriend who's a.

1:38:52teacher at komatsu middle and she teaches English and in one of her classes, this year, she has 47 students in an English class for middle schoolers.

1:39:02Which to me, I found completely shocking in most college classes, I don't know if there's 47 students or if there are them their sections, so that was something that I just.

1:39:14i'm sad to hear, and I know that the state of schools and education it's a really challenging time right now with teacher shortages, but to hear that they're 47 middle schoolers in an English class was.

1:39:27very disheartening to hear, so I hope that one of the goals is, how is it that we can really facilitate learning for young people.

1:39:37Okay next we will go to councilmember fidelity.

1:39:42Councilmember Fadelli: Yes, Dr.

1:39:43Hirsch welcome and the rest of you welcome as well, I remember the first week Dr hearse that you were appointed, you came on to our public comments here and they'll sweet a.

1:39:53City Council and I was glad it was the beginning of a new relationship between Elsa Rico and West county school district very optimistic, and I think it's all about.

1:40:03Relationships I, I am a product of the Richmond unified school district, and my brother and mother were employees of your system, so I know how hard you work.

1:40:13As a Council member rudnick and others have mentioned it's about relationships between the city and between the school district and i'm.

1:40:23Hopefully optimistic that that will grow and get better with meetings like this um I have just a couple of points to make here i'm really pleased to hear about equity.

1:40:33being one of your priorities, our city is going through similar equity reviews and hopefully we can embellish SAP and we can both learn together about our equity experiences and how we.

1:40:43use it.

1:40:44So.

1:40:45Thank you for them i'm also there's many.

1:40:49Parts partnerships that we have with your district mainly about recreation parks schools athletics that we're very proud about.

1:40:58And I just want to encourage that to continue, I know that increasingly the tennis courts and elsewhere to high have remain open for our residents to use.

1:41:08Every so often there's a hiccup on the weekends, the doors are locked and we hear about that, but that's something that benefits both of us.

1:41:16If we can benefit from the tennis courts on elm street oh hi it just helps in benefits our whole city, something that i've mentioned with trustee.

1:41:26rattler in the past, and you mentioned it about the portal site going forward and meetings about that site, I hear a lot about the eucalyptus trees down at the bottom of your portal site and how it's impacting our solar.

1:41:42equipment on our Community Center they're not only fire hazard but we're not getting as much solar power out of our solar units, we would love those gone so I know.

1:41:53Trust directly is looked into it they're not cheap, but I think if there's a partnership and we work together to try to get rid of those three or four.

1:42:02Or, more eucalyptus sites, it would benefit all of us and the city as well i'm.

1:42:10Finally, I did get a call today from someone who wanted to applaud your efforts, and I know the bear likes this program as well.

1:42:17The older adult education program that is funded by us and the question they had to me was is there enough money and will measure X help support that system can any of you answer that question.

1:42:32Dr. Hurst - Superintendent: But Dr mcintyre address that.

1:42:37Robert McEntire, Ed.D. - Business Officer: Well, enough is certainly going to be a bit subjective that the district, has allocated $40,000 to the older adults Program.

1:42:45And that should sustain it for the current year at the level it was previously, however, there was a desire to grow, the program or do more with it.

1:42:53and keep in mind we're only able to establish at its current level, because we have the partnership with to local Churches as well we're offering their facilities around free.

1:43:03But if there was a desire to grow, the program, then we would certainly benefit from a from a partnership and from the access to the funds and address.

1:43:12Councilmember Fadelli: It does know the measure X funding that didn't come through for this program Is that correct.

1:43:18Robert McEntire, Ed.D. - Business Officer: That is correct, yes.

1:43:20Councilmember Abelson: Okay.

1:43:21Councilmember Fadelli: Well, thank you for that.

1:43:23Oh, thank you for that, and maybe i'll pass it on to councilmember able send to you.

1:43:29Councilmember Abelson: I I was I had not heard that it had not come through I had, I thought it just hadn't been requested.

1:43:40yeah.

1:43:41For the.

1:43:43following years.

1:43:46Robert McEntire, Ed.D. - Business Officer: The last I was informed, is that there were questions about the allowable the use of funds for that purpose.

1:43:54Councilmember Fadelli: I don't think it's on the list for this year and I think the question was should we.

1:43:59Councilmember Abelson: Following the.

1:44:00Councilmember Fadelli: following years that's correct so let's keep in touch on that I guess.

1:44:05Robert McEntire, Ed.D. - Business Officer: We should the district take steps to to at a certain time of the year to get line or to you know, make sure we're ready before you know, the budget is developed from that.

1:44:19Councilmember Fadelli: It would be helpful to continue the discussion and just.

1:44:22put it on your list to monitor I know our county supervisors very active on Mr X, maybe we can talk to him as well about that.

1:44:30Councilmember Abelson: And there's a whole group of seniors.

1:44:34That are first of all, very interested in that topic and very impacted by whether or not there is service and.

1:44:48would very much be a support team, if you wanted it.

1:44:55For any.

1:44:57You know solicitation of major X funds.

1:45:01Because what I had been told by them is that, in fact, they were the major X people were waiting for for an application from the school district.

1:45:15That would imply to me that it wasn't appropriate use of those funds.

1:45:20And it really does enrich the lives of those programs do enrich the lives of seniors and help sustain them.

1:45:32In a healthy fashion for much longer time.

1:45:36Councilmember Abelson: in life, and I want to thank.

1:45:39trustee regular who, I think, is still there, I can't tell.

1:45:44I haven't seen her picture for the work that she's done on in that regard it's been really helpful and very appreciated.

1:45:56Beer pretend go ahead, thank you mayor, I was, I was assuming that some of my colleagues would ask the same question they didn't so I went to bring it up, I was wondering if you could give us some more information on the status of the portal site.

1:46:10My understanding that it was there was some decision made to.

1:46:14put out a request for developers and things like that so, can you tell us you know what exactly is the status of that right now I understand this and 711 committee.

1:46:24That you've put together, but I know that there has been discussions and work on that site previously, so what is going on with that now, in terms of not the portion of the site that's used by the portables but, like the the hillside site.

1:46:39Luis Freese: did so currently the only work happening on that site right now is the work of the 711 committee to just evaluate the property and bring recommendations back to the board, so there are no further studies that are being done or engage in those conversations at this point.

1:46:53So are there in the information that you put together in preparation for that are other studies or reports that are public that we can also take a look at.

1:47:03Luis Freese: So those were coming to the next meeting, we have, so the next meeting is actually our second meeting and so we'll be discussing three of the four properties that time and then we'll be sharing that information.

1:47:15Right, thank you and then one other question was about school safety.

1:47:22One of the neighbors that I spoke with on national night out she was very concerned about school safety, particularly at harding.

1:47:32My children went to harding and we felt really safe, but that was.

1:47:35A few years ago, and I was wondering if you are getting feedback from families about these kinds of safety concerns after school shootings and events like that, and if there's any protocol changes or anything that we should know about.

1:47:49To reassure the public that the schools are doing things to make it safer.

1:47:55Michael Booker: Yes, we We thank you for that question we do ask our families with regard to safety we actually want their input in terms of.

1:48:09Our strategy, we do have a safety strategy in place or a safety plan it's enhanced from previous years and it's it coincides with the comprehensive sites at planet each school has.

1:48:25So, not only is the administrative staff and the general staff at schools involved, but it's also the school site Councils it's also people from the Community it's also public safety agencies so.

1:48:40Those plans are comprehensive and we make sure that everybody that is involved knows what's in those plans, as well as our training schedule that we.

1:48:53Thank you Craig.

1:48:55Councilmember Abelson: I have another question.

1:48:58Yes, my grandson is a student, it was counting Mandarin school.

1:49:05And he's in second grade this year and we're very happy with the program there what i'm concerned about is whether or not the program will be sustained, so that he can complete his education there in 12th grade.

1:49:24Is there.

1:49:26A meaningful commitment.

1:49:31To.

1:49:31Making sure that that happens, so that the students aren't kind of left in the lurch, a few years down the line, or something.

1:49:39Dr. Hurst - Superintendent: Yes, ma'am there is certainly a meaningful commitment from our district We actually had a planning meeting and listening sessions, with both know middle school and also.

1:49:51The Mandarin school community, we came out with a temporary solution for this year in us through this year, but we know it's going to be expanding the Mandarin school and the district does have a commitment to make sure that we allow them to grow and to look for a permanent solution.

1:50:08Councilmember Abelson: So they.

1:50:10implying that that's not the side.

1:50:13Dr. Hurst - Superintendent: We don't know so what we're gonna do is we're going to have a a Planning Team and we're going to talk and discuss all of our options moving forward.

1:50:23Councilmember Abelson: Or is it it's a real difficult thing for families to have the location of the school change from one part of the district to another part of the district every year.

1:50:42and

1:50:44I guess that's what's happening, I guess, this is really the second year it's in the same place That said, my grandson's been there he's having a great experience there he's really.

1:50:56Learning he's got his abacus you know he's he It really is a great experience for kids and he's he's multilingual and he feels right at home there.

1:51:10And so I want to commend you for having that program I just don't want to see it lost when he's saying sixth grade or something, and you know he's speaking Mandarin and everyone else around him looking like he's crazy or something you know just they don't know what the language.

1:51:32So I I, and I like that kids from all cultures environments are included in that Program.

1:51:40You know in in many ways, I see it as a normal.

1:51:47elementary school experience which isn't to me important my kids all.

1:51:54I have five kids and they all went to hurting.

1:51:57and Elsa read through portal and elsewhere too high.

1:52:03Dr. Hurst - Superintendent: So i'll definitely share with you and all the other Council members and mayor that we have a commitment to make sure that program continues.

1:52:11And also wanted to just go back to what was shared as well guiding measure X we're certainly follow up on the application and application process and get back with a mayor and Council.

1:52:24Members as well, and I also want to go back to a comment made by councilmember I think we're at Nick on.

1:52:34The number of students in their English class, I think you said 47 students had korematsu, I just wanted to share with you that i've noted that.

1:52:42Also, my chief academic officer as listening what I will share with you that it's common across districts across the nation is that the first few weeks of school you're typically doing balancing.

1:52:5447 is a high number where we're committed to looking at that That certainly is not where we want our classes to be so we'll look at that, so thank you for bringing that to our attention.

1:53:07Thank you for being so responsive Okay, thank you, one thing I wanted to mention, I am also a product of the old Richmond school district, and I attended fairmont elementary school and looking at the the numbers fairmont continues to be the the busiest school, yet it.

1:53:30You know, and Mr freeze gave me a tour of fairmont some years ago, Mr freeze were you able to complete all of the upgrading electric electronics and the electrical supply and Dan because of the computers that you wanted to add and the plumbing and.

1:53:51Then upgrading the plumbing and the restrooms.

1:53:57Luis Freese: Yes, we've upgraded most all the systems that there are the office building itself is one building that we haven't done a lot of work in the classroom wings, we have upgraded, we did bring a new service in when we added articles to the campus so.

1:54:11it's good, thank you, I appreciate that and then listening to what councilmember roddick said 50 years ago I was on the first bark ride and 50th anniversary is going to be on the 10th of next month.

1:54:24And I was a volunteer school crossing guard and I know now when these busier times and then seeing San Pablo avenue now where's the highway.

1:54:35And so much busier now than it was when when I was a kid as a school guard crossing I hope we don't go back to those days of having kids do that by.

1:54:48It was quite daring yeah and then dangerous we're not I attended school ban.

1:54:54And I know it's much more difficult now so i'm not in supportive having kids do that any longer, especially on San Pablo avenue, which is also a State highway.

1:55:05One thing I wanted to mention as else radio in kensington in this area has always been an area where we've had the arts.

1:55:14Where we had dance and music and theater and and we don't have a lot of that anymore, and I want to make sure that.

1:55:21You know our residents here want us back, and we want job training that they had back when I attended school, I have an audience members of building and trade here.

1:55:33And know many of them are retiring and we have a shortage of building trades now like to make sure that this is taught in the high school like it was back in the day and and also to have.

1:55:47Music and theater talk again and I had teachers reach out to me through the years and the head of Western chopra who's a classmate of mine from Nelson hi kensington he grew up in kensington yeah let's see we can have performances let's have the West village opera back and Elsa.

1:56:08Really that beautiful auditorium is underutilized be great that's it's water under the bridge because.

1:56:16that's been some years when they laughed, but I would like to have them back and so with our residents.

1:56:23Looking at the Scottish rite Center in oakland and looking at the audience and majority of the people that I saw out the audience were l cirilo kenzie.

1:56:32West county residents so whatever we can do to add that back and add the arts back into our school district, it would be much appreciated that got me out of trouble and got me.

1:56:45And that kept me busy at school in trouble and see any of that almost non existent or see I just after school.

1:56:54To do better, and I think with the talent kids that we have throughout West Kentucky also believe that.

1:57:01That will add to the creativity that we have you look at tech tech workers, many of them were they were musicians and they were you know theatre arts majors and.

1:57:16So I truly believe that working with our residents, making sure our classes are not crowded, making sure that we provide the other.

1:57:27Things that they can learn will bring Elsa Rita back and kensington back to what it used to be, I am concerned about the crime that has happened since the departure of.

1:57:42Our sro officers are no warning to make sure that you seriously consider having that so gross return to also read oh hi and the middle school.

1:57:55Looking at what we've seen across the country and knowing that we saw similar things happen.

1:58:00Where a 20 year old trespassed and beat up a 14 year old girl Elsa read or hide that is not acceptable.

1:58:08And I guarantee you that you will have more students from elsewhere, you know in kensington taking their kids to private schools that this is not taken care of right away so.

1:58:19This you know it's always been like that, and if this is not addressed I guarantee you.

1:58:25you'll have more Elsa rainbow resident taking their kids to private schools, and you know, I have a lot of friends that I know that are taking their.

1:58:34kids are going up Albany public schools Berkeley public schools private schools in orange county and oakland and.

1:58:42You know, and we can do better so i'm hoping that you know we can continue this conversation, to make sure that it's fantastic to see all of you here, working with the previous group, it was a one sided conversation I attended and spoke at many of your trusty meetings.

1:59:03And it came to deaf ears and make an when and they just did it without even speak into us taking us all rose when all of the mayors and Council members and West county said no, you cannot do this, but you did it anyway so.

1:59:18You know, looking at the money that the state of California and the governor has put into saying public schools here, I want to make sure that public safety, still remains some of the top priorities.

1:59:33and hopefully we will continue to bring them back I am concerns about I have some concerns about property crime gear smashing grabs and.

1:59:45I don't want to return to the dark days when we went, we had a lot of gun incidents and.

1:59:52residents were leaving the school district in prose let's look at the history of what happened when gangs were back and.

2:00:01Richmond and San Pablo are the most dangerous cities in our district, and we don't want to go back to those days let's invest in tech let's support our public safety and let's educate our children so.

2:00:14I believe, with the money that was put in by the Governor of the State of California and by our superintendent of schools Tony thurman we're all here to support you and I look forward to having all of you back you know, there was some years when I requested to have the superintendent.

2:00:36And it was even a no show here so but looking at that and looking at the dark times of a one way conversation, it is refreshing doctor for us to have you here in.

2:00:48West contra Costa county to, and I look forward to working with all of you to make sure that our schools here in El cerrito in kensington as well as the rest of the school district remain a priority and remain.

2:01:03The top scholastic schools here in the school district so Dr verse Thank you.

2:01:09Dr. Hurst - Superintendent: Thank you very much, Mr burns is my final comments I just like to share with you, I appreciate your your words around visual and performing arts is actually part of my vision.

2:01:19Making sure that every single student has that experience I did that my last district so that's part of the visions, I really appreciate you saying that.

2:01:28Dr. Hurst - Superintendent: And I really appreciate you sharing about safety i've been iterating that my team they know that as well, safety is a top priority.

2:01:37physical safety as well, I think the conversation around so rose is very real and i'm willing to engage and I haven't engaging with all the Chiefs across all cities.

2:01:49And i've always had a great relationship with achieves in my other districts as well, so we're looking at having listening sessions this year really engaging their conversations about sorrows so thank you so much for your comments are.

2:02:05Thank you very much, and thank you all, I want to say a special thank you to trusted Leslie regular.

2:02:11You have worked closely with our seniors and they're grateful to you i've gotten calls recent calls last few days and so i'm personally saying thank you.

2:02:22for working with all of us in the Community, including our seniors and, and this will keep our seniors helping and their later years.

2:02:31And I know many of them are watching right now and TV and the radio and they agree with me so again, thank you for working with all of the Community Members involved.

2:02:43Thank you.

2:02:49Thank you very much, have a good night Thank you so much.

2:02:54Next, will.

2:02:56Be had a public hearing, but I want to say that staff has confirmed that both properties have been brought into compliance, therefore, the fire abatement hearing is no longer needed so.

2:03:09The fire abatement public hearing will not happen, because our residents have learned.

2:03:16The importance of making sure of their yards are clean front and back, so thank you to our residents who know that.

2:03:23The most important time in history, where we're having fires everywhere up and down state of California when mean business here when we say clean up your yard, please do that and you're doing this, so thank you well sorry to residents.

2:03:38Next, we have a policy matters, and we have a project stabilization agreement with contra Costa building and construction trades Council, and I want to introduce again city manager campaigns, thank you, your honor.

2:03:52um so this item before you tonight is a project stabilization agreement with contra Costa building and construction trades Council, and I see.

2:04:01My friend bill Whitney in the audience, who is the Executive Director of the trade so i'll invite him to come and say a few words in a moment.

2:04:08The action before you tonight is to adopt a resolution approving and authorizing me to sign the stabilization agreement and a related side letter with the traits.

2:04:18And they're affiliated local unions as the Council knows back in I believe it was January 2020 the City Council directed staff to negotiate with the building trades to develop a citywide project stabilization agreement.

2:04:31Project stabilization agreement, which are sometimes also known as project Labor agreements or Community workforce agreements.

2:04:38or pre hire collective bargaining agreement between one or more Labor organizations in this case, it would be negotiated by the contra Costa trades.

2:04:47And the owner of a project in this case, a city wide project, the city wide agreement would cover all municipal projects.

2:04:54and establishes the terms and conditions of employment on the project and facilitates the delivery of the project with minimal Labor related disruptions, which could adversely impact the public or delay the project.

2:05:06The terms of the agreement generally applied to all contractors and subcontractors, who are awarded contracts on the project.

2:05:12and supplement or supersede any existing collective bargaining agreements.

2:05:17PSA is typically include in this one as well includes provisions that prohibit workers from engaging and strikes work stoppages and slow Downs for the duration.

2:05:25Of the agreement and in exchange for the commitment the PSA requires that contractors hire workers who are referred from the unions and pay prevailing wage contributing in trust funds and abide by certain dispute and grievance resolution procedures.

2:05:41The PSA the draft PSA before you tonight would apply to municipal projects that exceed $1 million in project costs, this is consistent with other contra Costa cities.

2:05:51The trades do have.

2:05:55Agreements with the cities of antioch Brentwood conquered Martinez Pittsburgh Richmond I don't know if I forgot any set right okay and.

2:06:05Also, with Bart and it should be noted that the Bart project that is being proposed for the radio station is indeed under our project stabilization agreement.

2:06:16Some of the provisions of the PSA also include an initial five year term that has the ability to roll over to continuing renewals a five year terms, each of terms of five years, each.

2:06:29The projects will not be subject to strike sympathy strikes work stoppages walk off sit Downs and any number of ways to.

2:06:37describe such a thing and and, of course, there would also be no lockouts by the contractor or employer on a project.

2:06:44The unions that are covered by the PSA are recognized as the sole bargaining representative of all craft employees performing covered work and such employees would be represented by a Union for the duration of their employment.

2:06:58A couple of things that I thought were really great as far as the PSA is concerned, for local.

2:07:04Residents is that the PSA agrees to facilitate employment of local area residents local areas defined as contra Costa county.

2:07:12and use resources in our local area and construction of the project, it will also look to employ apprentices from a joint apprenticeship.

2:07:20Training program to help develop workers in the construction industry.

2:07:24and employ the services of the helmets to hardhats program with the Center for military recruitment assessment and veterans employment, with the goal of facilitating the entry into the building and construction trades from veterans.

2:07:37Labor disputes grievances or actions relating to discipline would be resolved through procedures established with the unions and any grievances not subtle between the parties would then be subject to arbitration.

2:07:48side letter before you references the donor take complete strikes project with the City Council is right rather familiar with.

2:07:56This is a project that has already been in progress, as you know, with funding being assembled.

2:08:01With it's approved budget funding and design, it is an excess of the million dollar threshold and staff was concerned that implementing the PSA at this date.

2:08:10could impact the budget and the timeline for the project, the city provided detailed information to.

2:08:16To the trades and we are pleased and thankful and grateful that the trades have agreed to exclude this project from the agreement.

2:08:23And so any future projects, however, of $1 million or more, including buildings large scale capital improvement projects infrastructure projects.

2:08:32From this day forward would then be covered by the PSA and any additional costs or any costs that would be considered.

2:08:40impacted by a PSA would then be planned at the beginning of the budget of this project and included in the capital Improvement Plan.

2:08:49So, again I would love to thank Mr Whitney and his team and his board for their willingness to work and then their attorneys and also our attorney.

2:08:58We had some negotiation meetings, and I was really impressed with with how well everyone was able to work together and come to an agreement on.

2:09:09language and in negotiating the different terms of the contract so with that if Mr Whitney if you'd like to say a few words and certainly invite you, up to the podium.

2:09:24Good evening Thank you mayor and Council members Madam city manager and staff.

2:09:30Last time we were here, I had my knees replaced just recently, I was sitting in that chair there at about 11 o'clock at night and.

2:09:38I remember that you were talking about a dire situation that was happening in the city and one of the things that a.

2:09:45Project stabilization agreement does is, if you want to invigorate your local economy, this will do that because it hires local men and women who live either in your community, and you have.

2:09:58A large number of building trades people that live in your Community they just don't walk around with a sign on their head says i'm building trades person, but they're there and.

2:10:07they're your neighbors and they'll be able to work on these projects and guess where they're going to spend their money.

2:10:13They spend it locally and then they're going to buy gasoline they'll buy food they'll buy clothing they'll go out to restaurants.

2:10:20All the sorts of small businesses that you have in your community.

2:10:24And guess what those small businesses will do they'll spend it in your community and and that's the multiplicative effect of project Labor agreement with local hire and have kind of a self help approach as as the city manager mentioned correctly, we also.

2:10:40segue and very nicely to what you were talking about over here with CTE and an education we spend $2 billion a year.

2:10:48Nationally educating the next generation of skilled and trained crafts people and that money i'd like to tell you we're spending 2 billion in contra Costa it's not that much, but we do spend a lot of money, educating the next generation here.

2:11:04We have about 35,000 workers in contra Costa 65% of those workers are men and women of color and indigenous people.

2:11:12So I feel like we not only do we talk the talk we walk the walk and so we're about diversity we're about a hand up to the next generation to people in communities that maybe.

2:11:25We could possibly be the only opportunity for a career that will pay you the wages, so that you can live in this wonderful city.

2:11:35So the houses that we build the buildings that we build the roads and bridges that we fix those men and women, they can live in your Community because they get paid those wages so it's a I should mention also we.

2:11:50Have a program that supports veterans it's called helmets to hardhats there's very few programs fact it's the only program that I know of in the nation.

2:11:59Where veterans have an opportunity to come directly into the apprenticeship programs and find a career that they transition from servicing our serving our country.

2:12:11faithfully and I think it's what we do.

2:12:15To say thank you to them for what they've done, we also have pre apprenticeship programs with.

2:12:21Richmond build rising sun Mandela future build we have pre apprenticeship programs in the local jails the jail system juvenile and adult so i'm a firm believer in redemption people are incarcerated should have an opportunity to.

2:12:38redeem themselves and come out and have a successful career and, if you want to solve the problems of the world it's one word jobs, so you put people to work you put on us money in their pockets that they've earned self respect self esteem and that's what.

2:12:54In a nutshell, that's what this PSA can do for you so i'm happy to answer any questions if you have any and otherwise i'll sit down and stop talking and let somebody else say something Thank you Mr Wendy let's go to the Council any questions.

2:13:10councilmember fidelio let's have you go first.

2:13:12Councilmember Fadelli: Yes, thank you, Mr Whitney.

2:13:16Councilmember Fadelli: This is a project Labor agreement that's how I know it.

2:13:20Yes, and I think it's great news for the city, when our Council supported this a couple years ago it wasn't only to enhance the work environment on site, but, as everyone has talked about to help apprenticeship programs veterans.

2:13:39And just just to have a proceed in good faith, here I used to work at barn and I was there when they came up with their project Labor agreement for all the sites in the system.

2:13:50And I was very happy about that, but as most of you know, the last couple years have been tough and staffing issues.

2:13:56have prevented us from getting this done, but I have to say it might have gotten done some time.

2:14:01But it wouldn't have gotten done without this mayor this mayor's the guy that pushed this program forward was constantly talking about it, and now we're finally there, so I want to thank bill Whitney and thank the mayor and thank the Council, I think it's great news and.

2:14:18And again and again also not including the complete streets, we were very concerned about that and the flexibility that you also in talking about that let's that date project go forward, which was necessary, so thank you very much, all of you.

2:14:36Thank you councilmember fidelity airport Thank you man, thank you, Miss Dorothy I do have a question for you, I think this is great, I appreciate the types of jobs that.

2:14:46You create to the project Labor agreement to make.

2:14:49That middle class life possible for so many people, and I think it's really, really important I do want to know, however, how many other 35,000 workers in contra Costa are women, I would say that we are probably at.

2:15:075%.

2:15:09that's guess, I mean some trades are higher than others it's not where we want it to be and.

2:15:17If somebody in this room has as an idea i'm open to listening to it and, and we in fact we find, believe it or not, that in the jail system is an opportunity for us to get to female incarcerated.

2:15:34Individuals that that they never really thought about this or considered this and, and this is a path again for self worth self esteem being able to support yourself it's all good stuff, but that is an area that.

2:15:49I wish I could say it, you know, last time I checked half the planet is female probably a little more and we're not anywhere near that and.

2:16:00anytime I walk into the room, especially with these pre pressure programs I said you're not going to be reaching out to women i'm not going to give you this pre apprenticeship Program.

2:16:08And so that's one of my standards when I walk in the room.

2:16:12I did have the privilege of working with youth build and, at the time, you know the women were really, really good at it, you know the young women that were part of that Program.

2:16:21They were as good as the men in that program and I hope that the next time we see you here for a presentation that we will see at least 5% of the people, showing up to support it, the women I hope so too, and I would do like to see that happen.

2:16:41councilmember run their first of all, huge Thank you to sky woodruff our city attorney for the work that goes into this process.

2:16:50All snow when I think about the importance of organized Labor it's you highlighted it very well, Mr Whitney but it's also this bigger impact of how is it that we can truly shift the economy to be more centered on.

2:17:05Workers and the ability for people to have self determination and to be able to have a higher quality of life.

2:17:12My I am a former Labor my husband's Labor and it's really important that organized Labor that that recognition that's when people work together that that is what will move things forward.

2:17:24One of the things we talked about it earlier tonight that is a big deal is climate change and sustainability practices so again what I appreciate about.

2:17:35This potential agreement that we're going to be voting on is that it.

2:17:40It highlights a higher quality of work that the city is anticipating for our projects, but I also want to make sure that their sustainability components to the practices that.

2:17:53Organized Labor is engaging and so, if you can speak a little bit to the sustainability practices sure, thank you, with regards to.

2:18:01By definition, if we have local hire That means that you know Bob or Mary that are the iron workers don't have to get in their cars, no dark 30 and drive two hours.

2:18:13To San Jose and then turn around after eight or 10 hours or 12 hours on the job and come back so they have the opportunity to work on jobs here, so the more pls that we put into place in our backyard.

2:18:28By definition, the greener it gets just just by that.

2:18:32We are full throated in support of green hydrogen carbon sequestration pump story.

2:18:42off wind and solar offshore wind.

2:18:47We were.

2:18:49Not climate deniers that's for darn sure, and we want to build the green next green future future that's out there there's a lot of recycling that goes on and the job sites of the tools that we are using are.

2:19:04continually being upgraded and the technology is just mind boggling and and all of those things come together to to create less usage of electricity.

2:19:17Better efficiencies a quicker results on projects, you know if you have to do it and then redo it and do it again, then, that all has an impact know a carbon impact, and so I think what when you're hiring.

2:19:34The best and skilled and trained people in the world, some of the people here behind me what you're getting is just that they show up they know what the job is.

2:19:44And, whatever the project is I can promise you you're going to be very happy with it you're going to get it one of the best projects on the planet, so.

2:19:52I don't know if that exactly answers your question but it's a it's a big question i'm kind of hard to get my arms around the whole climate but.

2:20:01Anyway, that's that's what.

2:20:03we're committed to making sure that we play our part and we want to help build the green future and we think we can do that, you can just throw at me but.

2:20:12I want to give a example of the vista windows in your hometown word that the city that you used to represent Malaysia on Friday, where we had the opening at the fabrication location there right near the.

2:20:29The oil refinery good they had an opening for Raven asr, which is the company that.

2:20:38Will we will be working with at.

2:20:42The coast.

2:20:44Where Republic services hydrogen plant that we're going to build out and right yeah, and this is with what we're doing with marine clean energy.

2:20:52With Republic services and with Chevron so Chevron and our corporate partners here in contra Costa county they are part of the solution, not the problem, so.

2:21:04I want you to know that green hydrogen, it will definitely be produced and looking at the opening there at the Raven us our RS and.

2:21:13That will be built by women and men Labor here in Richmond as well and i'm really excited about that, because this is the beginning of the green circular economy.

2:21:26That have that they've been talking about in DC at the federal level and the governor has been talking about this, and we have this here in West contra Costa and it's because of our women and men and Labor that are doing this, so.

2:21:41You know, we got a lot of environmentalist and before that board member the Sierra club, I want to say to our environmental us here.

2:21:49Get out, we have to be more pragmatic, because these men and women are working to transfer and change.

2:21:58jet fuel and create green hydrogen through that so I know environmentalists love to take trips around the world, and I see them driving their big giant Su days, but please step let's be pragmatic about this.

2:22:12And let's appreciate what we're doing in compliment and every level for the Federal Government to the local government.

2:22:19To our men and women of Labor don't knock them down they're part of the solution so.

2:22:24Thank you, Mary we're we're excited about building the green future and we can can do that I could go on and on about all the projects very exciting what's going on in contra Costa county.

2:22:35And it's going to be with these to renewable fuel projects and other projects, it could actually be kind of the gold standard throughout the entire country i've talked to Congressman to sign yay and.

2:22:47garamendi and they both say this place, meaning contra Costa county is just phenomenal and it's leading the way and we didn't even realize it.

2:22:58But we are absolutely i'm very, very proud of that, to see the use of plastics trash coming out from our household trash hospital waste.

2:23:10Get have the syringes all that is going to create green hydrogen through electrolysis through our Green solar field set by Chevron and marine clean energy put in so.

2:23:23We are part of this solution, and looking at the future on this, and definitely our corporate spark.

2:23:31Corporate sponsors here locally, are part of the solution and where I live in Elsa Rita we have a lot of retirees from our local corporations here from Chevron to Shell to.

2:23:47All the refineries and we have a lot of scientists and chemical engineers here and Elsa Rita and before they built Chevron Chevron headquarters in San Ramon they live here and Elsa read out so know that we have the history here of men and women of Labor we will continue to do that.

2:24:11My end and the neighborhood here on the North side rebels to Rita proud share abroad local.

2:24:19All part of Labor, so this is part of what i've been trying to do and working with you, since 2017 back in 2017 there was a Council member able sin and I that drove out to carpet what afternoon and had lunch with bill, where we said yes, we want to do this.

2:24:41kid, we know that a State Audit would happen and.

2:24:45Danny came out and we able to access this year we're not out of the woods yet down with the help of FAB here and our volunteers here and Elsa Rita and our wonderful staff who are part of Labor this is.

2:25:02Just so proud of us.

2:25:05took a few more years but here we are in 2022 so let's look at this and I want to turn this over to our city.

2:25:19Yes, mayor and so those those of you on the call as well in the room now would be the time to request to speak on this item in person speakers can submit a speaker card up here at the days to me and those on the call can raise their hand requesting to speak and so far me or I have.

2:25:38Seven request to speak and confirm this minute time limit three minutes okay so we'll go to our in person speakers first so we'll start with Tom hanson followed by Julian Kramer.

2:25:59Good evening, good evening, Mr Mayor Council members staff city manager, thank you very much for working on this with us, we really do appreciate it.

2:26:07My name is Tom hanson and the business manager ibew local 302 and also the President of the building trades Council.

2:26:13So i'd like to touch on with the questions about women in the trades, so we were right now in the process of interviewing for our opening in our partnership we have 220 applicants and less than 50 of them are women.

2:26:24So the problem is not just getting women the trades beginning to apply, so one of the assets at the trades has the organization called tradesmen Inc.

2:26:33that's run by a woman called Meg basic who's actually a member of our local.

2:26:37and makes executive director of that so, if any, if you know any young women they're interested in getting a trades, that is probably a great resource for them, because it can actually help them guide them say.

2:26:46The trades is as big 26 local organization which one is going to be good for you, which one, are you interested in, so what trade women in because a great asset for them to us We work very hard to trying to get women the trades and one thing we found is it's like.

2:27:00Just like an admin side we're getting daughters following following their mothers into the trade they grow up seeing their mom putting on their card have carhart's.

2:27:08Getting all their hard hat and going to work, so they become an electrician just like their mom so.

2:27:12Once we start getting more and more women that trade you're going to see an acceleration of women taking over the trades because.

2:27:17It is a great thing for families, you know, healthcare, a pension, everything that a family needs.

2:27:22Both men and women are going to be able to have that and just something we work really hard on, so we need all the help we can get to get those women that are like the men that they need that unique lifestyle.

2:27:31puts them outside, but they also have to use their heads, like an engineer, so thank you very much for your support, thank you, thank you, our next speaker is Julian Kramer followed by carolyn why singer.

2:27:43Good evening, good evening there quinto mayor pro tem modi yama Council members and staff.

2:27:49My name is Julian Kramer i'm from the firm weinberg Roger and rosenfeld we represent the building trades Council and we had the pleasure of negotiating this agreement.

2:27:58And we did have a very productive and effective negotiation, and I want to thank city manager pink goes to the Attorney woodruff.

2:28:05and the rest of your staff who participated in those discussions, it was a very productive set of meetings, and I really appreciated the candor and the willingness to get this done.

2:28:14We do look forward to a mutually beneficial relationship going forward as the city begins to develop projects with this PSI in place.

2:28:22As far as the benefits of the agreement, I would echo the sentiments in the staff report, as well as the statements that you have heard in will here tonight and supportive, the agreement.

2:28:32Among other things, the project stabilization ensure agreement ensures that there's no strikes lockouts or other disruptions on city projects.

2:28:39provides for a grievance dispute mechanism to resolve disputes efficiently provides for compliance with public works laws and mechanisms to enforce prevailing wage compliance, as a matter of law.

2:28:51ensures a pool of skilled Labor will be available for city projects through partnership with local Labor unions.

2:28:57ensures that apprentices will be employed on city projects and properly and safely trained.

2:29:03It also includes a local hire provision that invest in your skill local crafts people maximizes opportunities for apprentices and veterans particularly local apprentices and veterans.

2:29:15attracts ethical and quality contractors and promote stable well paying construction careers, with benefits for workers and their families, which contributes to a prosperous tax based.

2:29:26In addition, as you know, at the request of the city, we did agree to exclude exclude the del Norte complete streets project, so as not to impact the timeline for that project.

2:29:36That was a reasonable request, in our view, and we appreciated the transparency that this city staff had and bringing that concern to us.

2:29:45On the whole, the agreement promotes the responsible use of public funds and improves efficiency, so that your projects are delivered on time and on budget.

2:29:53And it's a project management tool to reduce risk and create value for you as the owner.

2:29:59You should be very proud of this choice to partner with organized Labor and take a stand for working people tonight.

2:30:05And we sincerely thank the city council for undergoing this process and ask that you approve the project stabilization agreement tonight.

2:30:12And i'll remain available if you have any questions, thank you, thank you for all your work, thank you, our next speaker is carolyn why singer followed by john stashes.

2:30:23Good afternoon Council.

2:30:25mayor Quito all the rest of the cast all even turned address the folks who are on the zoom and I don't really have as much to say because.

2:30:32Mr Bill Whitney has said a lot of it, but I do want to encourage the Council and I know the Council is going to approve this particular agreement.

2:30:39But one thing that really stood out to me that's very important as we are going to into co recovery.

2:30:44is going to be important that we're having an agreement such as as really going to build our middle class there's going to bring jobs, specifically into our Community.

2:30:51But also the thing that we're talking a lot about is the building of the CTE, and this is something that I worked with Richmond Council member demos Johnson back in 2019 as far as.

2:31:00Attempting to build an apprentice program that was directly through wcc you as a deep, so I hope that, with the program such as this.

2:31:06With an agreement such as this, we can get back to that i've spoken to parents here and Elsa rainbow all the way down to Madeira and harding who really want to see us building up our CTE and that will help us bring in young women.

2:31:19Especially in our LGBT Q community we have so many of our young women non binary fans who are looking for non traditional jobs.

2:31:27This is the type of agreement that will bring them here to also reach out to find those jobs, so I encourage you to support it.

2:31:33That you to our Labor partners who work so closely with you to get it done and i'm happy for the Community here Thank you so much, thank you, thank you, our next speaker is john stash static, followed by Eric haines gone stash it Elsa rido.

2:31:48Give one time, I was an apprentice and.

2:31:53That being an apprentice, and when you have open jobs to apprentices it's a pathway to the middle class, and I was a four year apprentice and then probably moved into.

2:32:03German status and the good old glorious international typographical union which morphed into the communications workers of America and hey I became an Elsa read it, because I was making Union wages Union benefits and I never looked back and I.

2:32:24I think this P la is something yeah it's a no brainer you support it.

2:32:29You get quality people doing quality work, the job is done right, the first time.

2:32:36And you have no work stoppage and it's we've done it before as far as I know, I think we had a plda some years ago, so I totally support it get it done adopt the resolution think us sign it and we move on it's a good thing.

2:32:57Thank you, our next speaker is Eric haines followed by David Calderon.

2:33:05In the name of the mayor Council staff Council beyond.

2:33:11My name is Eric haines business representative, where she metal workers look for i'm not personally a resident Elsa read Oh, but I am elected by my members in contra Costa county and and also read Oh, I wanted to read some stats for you.

2:33:26Our membership is comprised of 7% African American 18% white 16% white 14% declined to state 58% Hispanic Latino six 5% API and 7% women.

2:33:42For us that's a very important thing I wish Rachel shoemaker with ibew 302 is here, because she was just speaking on that.

2:33:51With somebody else's out pronoun I was an organizer for two years, and what I did is I was tasked with going on to public works projects that we're not under appeal a and that were non Union contractors, I met zero female sheet metal workers outside of local 104.

2:34:12So you want to talk about the opportunity for women to do the work I think 7% is a whole lot more than than that right there so for us a piano is very important, it represents.

2:34:25Members who are working on the projects are represented by the I represent, that if they have a problem they come to me the workers that don't have representation, they don't get to speak up they're not protected.

2:34:38they're scared to make sure that the right things happen, and why is that important in doing compliance on those projects, I found close to a quarter million dollars a wage stopped.

2:34:49that's not spending taxpayers money properly when that happens so joint Labor management apprenticeships local hire helmets to hardhats.

2:35:00spending money the right way, with public dollars and doing it through repeal a is a no brainer Thank you, thank you, thank you last in person speakers David Calderon.

2:35:17me mayor Council Oh, my name is David called wrong number of bricklayers allied craft workers local three in northern California i'm a field representative for my Union.

2:35:27i've been with this Union for almost 20 years now, I can honestly say being part of organized Labor is the best decision i've ever made for myself and for my family i'm in full support of all project Labor agreements.

2:35:41about some of our Members with us today, a lot of them are podcast county residents.

2:35:46i'm sure every single one of them would love to work down the street from the House and not have to commute miles and miles to work really does boost the local economy.

2:35:56of support to be la Thank you, thank you, thank you we'll go to our remote speakers now our first speaker is Joe lubis Joe you should be able to unmute and begin your time now.

2:36:07Joe Lubas: Look, you hear me now.

2:36:09Yes, we can.

2:36:10Joe Lubas: Oh hi yeah my name is Joe lupus I am a policy analyst with ABC nor cal and just first off, I just wanted to note that we have invited.

2:36:22Members of the city council all the whole city council, including the mayor to visit our facility and to see the good work we're doing in the lives of young people, but.

2:36:34about this project stabilization agreement, there are a few problems with it item or Article eight, Section two.

2:36:44notes that comment that you know, regardless of Union affiliation employees would have to pay into the Union Trust Fund well if you're if there are non Union employees, they would subsequently not see those funds and, furthermore, the apprentices it's.

2:37:03Basically, gives the unions have monopoly with the joint language, the word joint does need to be removed, so that all.

2:37:16All apprentices, will be able to work on the project and, furthermore, the Article seven.

2:37:25Section to section for rather.

2:37:30There is no core workforce requirements it's just they have to go to the Union hiring Hall, or the contractor should be allowed to use their own workers, independent of the Union hiring hall.

2:37:46Thank you for your time.

2:37:49Thank you, our next speaker is Nicole goring Nicole, you should be able to unmute and begin your time now.

2:37:56Nicole Goehring - ABC NorCal: Great Thank you good evening mayor canto and members of the else read this Rita City Council Nicole gehring with the associated builders and contractors northern California chapter.

2:38:06We are located in training apprentices in the east Bay have been doing so graduating apprentices for over two decades, who are now not going to be able to work.

2:38:16On projects, especially the apprentices and and workers from the Community, due to the language and the project Labor agreement, we understand that you initially took this up back in 2020.

2:38:29And since then, you were able to complete your projects without the need of a project Labor agreement, including this del Norte project for complete streets.

2:38:38And it's a huge you do know that they are not necessary and not needed that we do a lot of training for second chance people formerly incarcerated.

2:38:46Women men veterans minority contractors, we want them all to be able to have an opportunity I.

2:38:53suggest that you take a look at some of the language in this agreement, so you can include include all the members of your community.

2:38:59To be able to work on these projects, especially some of those small minority contractors who have not yet gotten big enough in size to maybe consider belonging to the Union.

2:39:09And maybe some carve out language for them, I really don't want you to deny prevailing wage opportunities to the workers in your community, I think you need.

2:39:17To get something that is a little bit more inclusive, I wish you would have reached out to us so that we would have.

2:39:24known and we could have shown you are training facility and and the great work that we are doing to to lift up the men and women of this great.

2:39:32Northern California area, especially the bay area, so I would invite you to reconsider what you're doing ABC nor cal.

2:39:40or ABC across the nation as well, has invested 1.6 billion in training to educate and craft leadership and safety, education, so we believe strongly in safety.

2:39:52and education of workers and we just want you to to know that there are others training in your Community doing excellent quality work, we just had a sustainability project done by a member.

2:40:02Nicole Goehring - ABC NorCal: At uc Berkeley on the Helen Keller anchor house and so we're right along there in that field.

2:40:09And also have you know women in our programs as well, so please, please consider giving everyone an opportunity to make these great wages and not be denied prevailing wage, thank you for your time.

2:40:21Thank you, man that does conclude a request to become this item we will bring this back to the Council any.

2:40:28Any thoughts any other questions.

2:40:33i'd be happy to move the item in, let me check with.

2:40:37Our folks at home councilmember able soon, do you have any final thoughts.

2:40:43Councilmember Abelson: I I think this is a great opportunity i'm ready to vote.

2:40:48Okay councilmember fidelity do you have any questions.

2:40:52Councilmember Fadelli: Yes.

2:40:55Okay, would anyone like to move.

2:40:58On move to proof.

2:40:59Councilmember Abelson: That God.

2:41:01OK, we have a Council member of redneck move that and second by mayor pro tem.

2:41:09And Clark me, you can tell, yes, you pretend multi i'ma I councilmember ableton.

2:41:14I can't remember for Delhi.

2:41:17I can't remember redneck i'm honored to give the clean sweep of Ai machine carries can die, I want to say thank you to.

2:41:27councilmember ableton, who has worked on this with me since 2017 and when she was mayor at 2017 that's that's how long we've been talking about this for a number number of years now, so again.

2:41:41This is for the next generation, and this is to make sure that we have this huge huge group of young people, people coming out of the services there's a lot of.

2:41:56Communities of color people getting out of.

2:42:00Prison this is their second chance and to see that here in contra Costa county i'm just so proud of that, and.

2:42:09working class people always lived here in El cerrito, and this is what brought my parents into the middle class or these Union jobs so.

2:42:19glad to have this gear and again to Mr Bill went a thank you and and I know it was back and forth and back and forth for many years, but we were able to do this, finally, in 2022, thank you to our attorneys here.

2:42:36Thank you so much for rob looking out for us and and again to the attorneys, on the other side i'm glad you guys are able to work this out and work together.

2:42:45And to the men and women of Labor Elsa Rita will always be a city of Labor so I invite bill Whitney and city manager, to take a photo with.

2:42:58me and bill and and then we'll take the photos with the Council and with our men and women of Labor behind us so let's do the first photo with with.

2:44:02Go ahead, the rest of you.

2:44:07Thank you.

2:44:11All right.

2:44:21Thank you.

2:44:29let's get everybody.

2:44:38working.

2:44:53smile.

2:44:56Yes.

2:45:06thanks again for coming out.

2:45:32Something.

2:45:47All right, take care.

2:46:00Take a quick two three minute bio break.

2:47:54Freedom City Council meeting, and we will now have work on the draft housing element.

2:48:03And we have a you shall surely as well as Sean boss here from City Hall, good evening, good evening mayor quinto Council members, I am here tonight to introduce you to the draft.

2:48:18Housing element, so the housing element is one of several required elements or chapters of the city's general plan, and it is required to be updated periodically and so that's why we're here tonight to look at the latest update.

2:48:37So the housing element.

2:48:41i'm really pleased to be here tonight to present this document, I think, Council member fidelity sort of correctly identified some of the kind of interesting things about it.

2:48:54The housing i'm sorry the needs assessment contains a lot of really interesting data about our Community.

2:49:02And what it tries to do what the what the plan the element tries to do is look at what are the existing housing needs in our Community, how is our Community expected to grow over the next eight years, and how can we plan to accommodate that that growth.

2:49:19So it's really important to it's a really important document we do it's I think we all recognize the importance of providing in our region.

2:49:30housing for the people who want to live here, and where the it's going to take a lot to get us out of the the situation that we're in now.

2:49:42But the housing element really tries to identify what is our need and establish a roadmap for that, so that we can improve on the current.

2:49:53Our current housing crisis and not make it worse, so with that i'll go ahead and introduce some of the other staff and consultants that are here tonight.

2:50:02To give you this presentation we have I ISA shorey who's the city's housing manager Melanie mints the city's Community development director is also on zoom and our the city's consultant from ascent environmental Chelsea pain is also on zoom and it's going to give you.

2:50:21Most of the presentation and then i'll come back at the end and wrap things up.

2:50:28Chelsey Payne, Ascent: I thank you very much, sun, good evening mayor members of the city council, my name is Chelsea pain director of urban design and planning at ascent and Sean said i'm going to be leading you through tonight's presentation can everyone see the screen okay.

2:50:45Okay wonderful so i'm going to start tonight with an overview of the housing element as Sean said it's a mandatory element of the city's general plan.

2:50:55And it assesses local housing needs and guides actions related to residential development and housing related programs.

2:51:04it's a it's required to be reviewed and certified by the state for compliance with state long and the Department of housing and Community development or H CD is the State Department that's responsible for that compliance review.

2:51:19Cities and counties are required to update their housing omens every eight years according to a mandated schedule that's set by State law.

2:51:29And the deadline for Elsa Rios housing element and all other housing elements in the Bay area is January 31 2023 so we're going to be doing our very best to adopt as close as we can to that deadline.

2:51:44The draft housing on it was published on July 29 and it includes all of the required content under State law, and you can see here how its organized.

2:51:55A few of the key chapters include Chapter two, the needs assessment, which contains a lot of detailed data about housing needs in the city.

2:52:06Chapter three meets the new State law requirement to prepare a fair housing assessment and this chapter has a detailed analysis of trends related to housing discrimination patterns of residential segregation based on race and income displacement risk and access to opportunities.

2:52:28Chapter four contains the city's sites inventory it describes the city's housing target called the regional housing needs allocation or Amina.

2:52:38And it contains a detailed inventory of the land warehousing can be built Chapter five analyzes potential constraints to housing and Chapter seven.

2:52:49Is the housing plan, this is really the heart of the document and it contains the goals policies and implementation programs for how the city will address its housing needs.

2:53:01And for members of the public that are attending tonight here's a link to the project web page where you can find a copy of the draft housing element.

2:53:09And then, also the email address for city staff, where you can submit written comments and the public review period on this draft ends on August 29.

2:53:21i'm going to touch down on some of the key effects from housing needs assessment and first looking at the housing stock.

2:53:30Chelsey Payne, Ascent: In Elsa rainbow I, like most communities in California, the housing stock is predominantly made up of single family homes, they make up 71% housing units in the city.

2:53:41And the city does have slightly more multifamily housing compared to the county wide average of 24%, of course, we expect this to shift in the future, as we see more multifamily housing being approved on San Pablo avenue.

2:53:58and asked for home values in the city they've followed regional trends increasing significantly in recent years and the median sale price in El circo and marched was over 1.1 million.

2:54:13rents, have also been increasing in the city and throughout the region renters would need to make about 60 $500 a month.

2:54:21or 3750 for an hour to be able to afford the average asking rent of 1900 and $52 a month in contra Costa county.

2:54:33And this is about two and a half times the minimum wage of $16 an hour, so people working in a lot of different occupations, including few shown here home health personal care aides people in retail sales and childcare would need to pay more than half of their monthly income on rent.

2:54:54We talk a lot in the housing element about affordable housing and what we're talking about is housing that's affordable to low very low extremely low moderate income household.

2:55:06So that they're paying no more than 30% of their income on housing and these income limits are determined by the state based on the area median income and different household sizes.

2:55:19And this table shows the income limits for households in contra Costa county.

2:55:25So what you can see is that a one person household that's earning $76,000 a year is considered a low income household and can afford to pay about 1900 dollars for housing each month.

2:55:41A three person household with a gross income of around 38,000 is considered an extremely low income household and can afford about a $965 a month for housing.

2:55:57Households that pay more than 30% of their income are considered cost burdened and that's shown in the dark blue color household this severely cost bird and if they're paying more than 50% of their income on housing it's shown here, in the light blue.

2:56:14overpayment is much more common for renter households than for owner households and Elsa Rita almost half of all renters in the city of 46% are overpaying for housing compared to 29% of Homeowners.

2:56:30and cost burden is an even greater issue for residents at the lower end of the income scale so in Elsa rido 81% of extremely low income households in the city are overpaying for housing.

2:56:44With 70% of US households severely cosford and meaning they're paying more than half of their income on housing and that's compared to about 11% of households that are earning above the area median.

2:56:59With recent increases in housing costs we're also seeing an increase in the population of people experiencing homelessness around the state.

2:57:08And this chart shows the estimated number of people experiencing homelessness at the time of each of the county wide point in time homeless counts.

2:57:18and nearly 2300 people countywide were estimated to be homeless in 2020, which is the time of the last fully published count.

2:57:29And in 2020 the estimate for Elsa Rita was 24 unsheltered individuals.

2:57:36The most recent point in time, count was conducted in February of this year, and there was a 35% increase with over 3000 on house people countywide and we don't yet have data on the population and Elsa rainbow but we once we do, we will incorporate that into our own event.

2:57:56i'm going to talk next about one of the central pieces of the housing on it, which is the regional housing needs allocation and the site's inventory.

2:58:05So in California housing needs are assessed at a regional level and the state, the State Department of housing and Community development assigns a regional housing target to every region.

2:58:18And then the regional government develops a methodology to distribute the regional housing needs to every jurisdictions process is called the regional housing needs allocation or the rena.

2:58:29hdd assigned the bay area region over 440,000 housing units to be accommodated over the roughly eight Year period of this housing moment.

2:58:41And, based on the methodology adopted by the Association of Bay area governments also rita's portion of that regional housing need is just under 1400 housing units.

2:58:57And this target is broken down by the income levels that are shown here, and you can also see how the arena for this housing on that compares to the city's current housing element arena that's shown on the left this the new arena is nearly three and a half times the current arena.

2:59:14And the lower income arena, which is the very low and low income categories combined is 526 units, and these are the income categories that are typically the hardest for communities to meet so there's a lot of attention in the site's inventory on how cities are meeting the lowering.

2:59:39In the housing element, the city is required to show that there is enough land that's appropriately zoned to allow for a variety of housing to be built.

2:59:50And so we prepare an inventory of all of the vacant or underutilized sites where there's potential for new housing to be built, and we classify each of those sites, based on the income level that can be accommodated on that site.

3:00:05And the most important factor in how we inventory sites is density so according to State law for Elsa rido sites that have zoning that allows for at least 30 units per acre.

3:00:19can be counted as meeting the lower income arena and the San Pablo avenue specific plan area allows for densities much higher than 30 units per acre so available sites within that area can generally count toward meeting the lowering rena.

3:00:39Well, we count toward the rena our pipeline projects, the capacity on vacation and underutilized sites and then a projection of accessory dwelling units.

3:00:50And for the pipeline projects we credit think units toward the income categories, based on the actual projected rents or sell prices of the unit so.

3:00:59The 30 unit per acre rule of thumb that I just mentioned, that doesn't apply to actual projects it only applies to a site when it's vacant or under utilized and it doesn't yet have an approved project.

3:01:12This is the site inventory map that's included in the housing element, it shows all of the approved or pipeline projects in Brown and all of the sites in the inventory that are based on the zoning.

3:01:27The San Pablo avenue specific plan areas shown in purple and while you see a lot of scattered sites in the hills, these are mostly small sites where.

3:01:39For the most part, a single a single family home could be built, most of the housing capacity in the city is within the San Pablo avenue specific plan area.

3:01:50And in fact 91% of the capacity identified in a housing element is within this area, and that includes over 1500 units in planned and approved residential developments and over 1000 unit capacity on other vacant and underutilized sites.

3:02:17This table shows a summary of the sites inventory compared to the arena, so the the arena, the housing target is shown on the top line, and then the total capacity is shown, the second row from the bottom.

3:02:31The housing element inventory includes capacity for over 2800 housing units and all i'm including a 906 housing units in the lower income category.

3:02:44And so you can see that we've identified a surplus in all categories, and so this is a good sort of measure of the city's ability to meet the rena.

3:02:56The city is required by law to maintain sufficient capacity to meet the arena throughout the planning period.

3:03:03And so, as projects get approved on these sites, the city, will have to account for the income level of the units that are being built.

3:03:12And the housing on that includes a program for the city to continue to monitor the site's inventory and ensure that sufficient capacity is maintained for the entire eight Year period.

3:03:26Chelsey Payne, Ascent: One of the most significant new requirements for the housing element update is the requirement to address fair housing.

3:03:35assembly bill 686 is a new law that requires all public agencies in California to administer housing and Community development programs, in a way that affirmatively furthers fair housing.

3:03:49And this means taking meaningful actions to combat discrimination overcome patterns of segregation and foster inclusive communities where everyone has equal access to opportunities.

3:04:02And in the housing element, we are required to prepare a fair housing assessment that analyzes the five categories of topics that are shown here so fair housing enforcement and outreach capacity.

3:04:16Local and Regional trends related to segregation and integration racially and ethnically concentrated areas of poverty disparities and access to opportunity and disproportionate housing needs, including displacement risk.

3:04:34One of the key things that we have to look at in the fair housing assessment is access to opportunity.

3:04:40And this refers to geographic access to goods resources and services that offer lower income individuals, the best chance at economic advancement high educational attainment and good physical, mental health.

3:04:57When referring to access to Opportunity it's generally expressed as either high resource areas or low resource areas.

3:05:05and areas of high resource those areas on the east side of Elsa Rita and hillside into self about sarita those are shown in blue in the dark blue areas those areas are considered as having the highest access to educational.

3:05:22economic and environmental quality and areas in Teal, which is much of the city limits, these are considered in moderate resource areas, and then the areas in light green, which includes some parts of El circo and most of Richmond to the north are considered low resource.

3:05:48Another factor we analyze in the fair housing assessment is displacement risk and displacement is defined as the involuntary relocation of people or businesses.

3:05:59That can be caused by property acquisitions closure eviction rent increases or environmental catastrophes.

3:06:08And the map here shows areas that are considered at risk or vulnerable to displacement, those are.

3:06:15In the orange hatching and this this is primarily based on the change in rents between 2012 and 2017 That was the methodology for this data.

3:06:26Chelsey Payne, Ascent: And you can see that some areas of San Pablo avenue are identified in this data set is being vulnerable to displacement.

3:06:35And this doesn't mean that existing homes are being torn down or replaced, but because this area contains a larger rental population and rents have been increasing the areas considered vulnerable.

3:06:52State law also requires that the site's inventory be analyzed with respect to the fair housing indicators.

3:06:59We have to analyze whether the sites that are included in the housing element will improve or worse than the fair housing conditions, including patterns of segregation and access to opportunity.

3:07:12And the map here shows the location of Elsa rita's sites inventory in relation to those opportunity areas, so, while the city has a moderate to high access to opportunities and most neighborhoods.

3:07:2658% of the total sites inventory capacity is in the low resource areas shown in that light green color, and this is because of all of the sites included in the San Pablo avenue specific plan.

3:07:41But as this area transforms and new mixed income, housing and amenities are added, we would expect access to opportunity to increase in this area that's currently considered low resource.

3:07:57The same areas considered low resource, are also the areas considered at risk of displacement and developing more affordable housing in this part of the city, will provide more options to mitigate displacement.

3:08:14Lastly, i'm going to focus on Chapter seven, the housing plan and the policies in the housing plan or Oregon organized around five goals to accelerate housing production.

3:08:27To support affordable and special needs housing to conserve the existing housing and prevent displacement.

3:08:35To affirmatively furthering fair housing and to support energy conservation and sustainable development.

3:08:42And while we've carried over the most successful policies and programs from the existing housing element, the housing plan also includes 13 new policies and 22 new implementation programs that are called out.

3:08:57There are a lot of programs in the housing element i'm going to briefly highlight just a few of the key programs for each of the goal sections.

3:09:06And goal, one is to accelerate the production of housing at all income levels to meet the regional housing needs allocation and there are five implementation programs included to achieve this goal.

3:09:20Some of the key implementation programs are program one be to promote high density and excuse development in the San Pablo avenue specific plan area by providing sql streamlining opportunities.

3:09:34And program one see to promote the development of accessory dwelling units, by providing informational handouts tools and resources.

3:09:45And these are just very abbreviated descriptions of these programs, of course.

3:09:51goal to is to facilitate the development of housing for lower income residents and those with special housing needs, including the elderly.

3:10:00People with Disabilities, the on house and other people that have special housing needs and some of the key programs our Program.

3:10:09To a, which is to continue to implement the inclusion airy stoning zoning ordinance and to consider potential changes to increase the effectiveness of the ordinance and this ordinance requires that a certain percentage of new units be set aside as lower or moderate income housing.

3:10:30program to be is to establish priorities for the distribution of affordable housing Trust Fund monies.

3:10:38program to see is to explore new local funding sources for affordable housing and to ease to develop mixed income housing on our own lands and program to Jay to explore creating an overlay zone that would provide incentives for affordable housing on property owned by faith based institutions.

3:11:03Goal Three is focused on conserving and improving the city's existing housing stock and protecting existing residents from displacement.

3:11:13There are six programs in the section i'll call out program on three see this is the key tenants protection program for the school.

3:11:22It calls for the city to review data that's collected through the rent registry to evaluate the effectiveness of current tenant protections.

3:11:32And then, based on the evaluation, the city might consider additional tenant protections such as relocation assistance mediation or other eviction protections.

3:11:45Go for is to affirmatively furthering fair housing and then go five is to promote energy conservation and some of the key fair housing programs are programs for C and D.

3:11:59For see calls for the city to work with the housing authority to educate landlords about their obligation to accept section eight housing choice vouchers.

3:12:09And to encourage landlords in high resource single family neighborhoods to actively participate in the voucher Program.

3:12:17And then through program for D, the city would consider and study potentially establishing a Community opportunity to purchase act coppa or a similar policy that would enhance tenant protections and increase opportunities for Community ownership.

3:12:36that's a very brief summary of.

3:12:39Of all of the housing programs in housing plan on touch now just on the Community engagement, we spent the month of April and May conducting Community outreach.

3:12:51On the housing element and the elements summarizes all of the feedback that we've heard from the Community.

3:12:58We held the first Community workshop on April 26 and we had about two dozen people at join that meeting.

3:13:07And we also distributed an online survey and received over 200 responses we held the second Community workshop, more recently, on August 1 and that was focused on the public review draft housing element.

3:13:21And some of the some of the key things we heard through our public outreach was a general support from Community members for building affordable housing.

3:13:31Concerns about displacement concerns about development constraints like high development fees and construction costs.

3:13:40And concerns about the lack of resources for people experiencing homelessness and so the input received from the Community was used to inform not only the understanding of housing needs in the Community, but also to shape the policies and program response in the housing plan.

3:14:00And, before I wrap up, I want to touch on the next steps in the process so after tonight's meeting the draft housing on that will remain available for public review and comment until August 29.

3:14:13And after that date, we will be revising the draft housing element, based on public comments and any feedback received from the city council.

3:14:23And then submit it to the State Department of housing and Community Development for their review.

3:14:29The state has 90 days for their first review and then 60 days for each subsequent review and it's generally taking about three rounds of review for cities to get through this process, so we expect to spend a minimum of six months in that state review process.

3:14:48And the city will still be accepting public comments during the hdd review process.

3:14:54But when we've we will be publishing each revised draft, and we will bring back the final revised housing element to the planning Commission and City Council for adoption and we are targeting the first quarter of 2023 for adoption.

3:15:10So with that i'm going to turn it back over to shawn to discuss some upcoming meetings and other related projects.

3:15:23Thanks Chelsea.

3:15:25So we do have some important upcoming meetings tomorrow night, in fact, the planning Commission actually a joint body of the planning Commission and the design review board.

3:15:38is going to be discussing the San Pablo Ave specific plan update, which was as you've noticed heavily referenced and in this presentation.

3:15:48So, with the with the feedback that we get on the draft plan that we receive on the draft plan tomorrow night from from those bodies, as well as the public.

3:15:57We will make modifications to the plan, and it will go to the plan is for it to go to the planning Commission for a recommendation and October, and then it should come back to the Council in November.

3:16:11So the the just as a reminder, the the scope of the specific plan was reviewed with the City Council back in 2019.

3:16:19And at that time the, the Council and endorsed the the scope that staff has been proceeding with we've obviously been the plan got a bit delayed by the things that have happened since.

3:16:31But we're back on track now with a goal of bringing it to you in November.

3:16:37And then, additionally, I wanted to make sure that everyone is aware of another joint meeting of the planning Commission and design review board on Sep tember seventh.

3:16:47To review conceptual plans for the to D project at the Alter Ego Plaza Bart station, so this is the the one of the early public meetings for this project.

3:17:01The development team has put together a conceptual site plan which they will be sharing at that meeting, and will be getting feedback from the public, as well as the the design review Board and the planning Commission.

3:17:16So that concludes our presentation on the housing element I just wanted to make a point that I made at the last housing element public meeting that we had a couple weeks ago.

3:17:30Which is just the you know, I was talking to a resident a customer.

3:17:35Recently, and they were just kind of talking about the development process in California and how the obviously the you know the people that come to meetings are not the people not not the future residents of the housing that that is being built and can be built and.

3:17:53I you know that's that's really the importance here is is trying to represent those those future residents and their needs and in the comments that I heard at the at our last housing element meeting that was really.

3:18:06apparent that our Community understands that which is really great it's not that's not true, in every community across our region on our state and so i'm really happy and proud to be to be serving a community that recognizes our the community's needs and.

3:18:28And the importance of responding to that so that concludes our presentation and we're free to address questions or comments okay Thank you so much, well done let's look at i'm looking at my counsel here that are here in person any questions.

3:18:48wants to start mayor pro tem I have a whole lot of questions, so I don't know if other people want to go first yeah go first.

3:18:55Sure i'll start with.

3:18:59It was briefly touched on in the presentation, but.

3:19:04To say i'm trying to get the right word to use for our current residence any displacement risk that comes from new developments.

3:19:16There was a little bit of you know.

3:19:19i've just my brain sorry.

3:19:22For our current residence.

3:19:26Any displacement risk, how is that being addressed in this plan, and is there any kind of first right policies.

3:19:34That are explored in other jurisdictions to be supportive of residents who are currently living in these areas that have been identified as being vulnerable.

3:19:44Sure um yeah so the the displacement risk is an interesting thing, so I do want to.

3:19:51Make sure you know we're sort of all operating under the same understanding, which is that the the development in the in the specific plan area, our main development cord or.

3:20:01Most of it will not is not going to directly displace residents there and they're not very many existing units.

3:20:09That would be removed in order to accommodate the the new development that is envisioned and that we've we've seen that, with our the projects that have been entitled today, but obviously there you know, there are a lot of other factors that that put people at risk for displacement.

3:20:28The affordable housing strategy that the Council has previously adopted has identified some some strategies to address displacement.

3:20:39And I can probably provide more information on that, but their previous we did bring some of those strategies previously forward to the to the city council in the past.

3:20:54hi i'm so sorry housing manager getting mayor and Council members i'm yes as Sean mentioned.

3:21:00We went through a series of study sessions and 2018 and 2019 exploring some of the policies that could be implemented and through one of the policies was a tenant relocation ordinance if there were displacement and what that will look like.

3:21:18In addition, ab 1482 went into effect, although the local ordinance that we were proposing would have provided added protections beyond that.

3:21:28And so that, if that is something that you always to consider, we can revisit that as well.

3:21:33And, and there was one other thing that I was going to mention that I can't think of at the moment, in a very long meeting it's okay.

3:21:41And I remember, I will let you know, but it is also something that the tenant protection Task Force studied as well, and just couldn't come to consensus on that recommendation.

3:21:53And one of the things I noticed that.

3:21:56As I know that a lot of the kind of projected sites are what has been your other zones.

3:22:03One of the things I noticed was we were talking about the portal site is that the portal site isn't identified it all on this one, I see that site as potentially being a space where there could be housing, so how would that.

3:22:15Work so if the portal site is indeed sold by the county, but it is that would that would change we can change the zoning of that to be able to.

3:22:25write so that site is currently it's a it's designated as institutional and utility in the in the general plan and the zoning is public semi public because it used to have a school, which is the appropriate district and designation for for school.

3:22:43The so any any future development on that site that you know it's not consistent with that district, which would be most things would require a general plan amendment and a rezone.

3:22:57So that the site is not needed in order to accommodate our arena, which is good news, and so I think you know we could entertain a lot of possibilities at that site.

3:23:12Without running afoul of the housing element, and just as a comment, the.

3:23:17The matrix that had our current Rita numbers and then the projected in the site it's very impressive, given the landscape and the conversations that are happening in our region and in the state.

3:23:28The work that we're doing and else read, I really want to highlight and, especially, even just your little note at the end of the.

3:23:35We are creating the future for LCD to residents to come in here and to really grow our Community, so I appreciate the work that you guys are doing and i'm really proud that I.

3:23:46affiliated with a Community that's very pro housing and that we see the value in creating spaces for people to come.

3:23:55Thank you, if I may add, and I just remember Thank you um one of the implementation.

3:24:00Policies and this document is exploring the Community opportunity to purchase tax, so that is something that we will be looking into as part of our housing element updates so that is another possible policy that we could explore a staff if that's.

3:24:17Something I know adventurous see all his stuff definitely of interest, and thank you for bringing that up.

3:24:23let's go to La Council member fidelity do you have any questions.

3:24:29Councilmember Fadelli: Yes, I think, maybe.

3:24:33I want to make a couple comments on the report and then actually with your indulgence go to the list of.

3:24:40A few list of the recommendations in this report, because they will have impact on what the Council may need to be doing, I thought it was a great report, especially like the huge chapter and fair housing, if you ever want to learn.

3:24:55More about Elsa Rico that chapter will tell you what's going on some good like that we're not as segregated as other cities in contra Costa.

3:25:06Some maybe not so good that we've got or homeless in our seven to eight that we always like to talk about the things need to happen here, but it.

3:25:15really got down to the demographics of our city, which I thought was very, very important, and then, as I want to talk about the actual housing plan for just a second and I don't want to get into long windy.

3:25:29Questions or answers but there's a lot of recommendations and I want to clarify what this housing plan actually is, because it says it's recommending things that we should be doing, and this is our city recommending these things that we should be doing and.

3:25:49And some of the things.

3:25:52Excuse me some of the things we should be doing we'd be there tried already or they haven't worked here.

3:25:59So if I could just go through a few of these things and just talk about what they are, because this is with limited staff, this is a lot of stuff that's going to have to happen.

3:26:10And I want, I just wanted to start with, it says that we should design new objective design standards can someone just say what that means in a sentence or two.

3:26:22yeah sure so.

3:26:24there's a the state has been pushing us recently very hard to make all of our development standards into objective standards.

3:26:36And so what it means is that the that our development standards in the San Pablo Ave specific plan, for example, our objective measurements there you know things that can be measured and quantified and.

3:26:53Councilmember Fadelli: Okay got it, it says that we're supposed to be innovative and think about tiny houses, the missing middle and efficiencies and we're doing some of that right.

3:27:08we're supposed to work with the county on an affordable housing bond that's a political issue that was supposed to undertake.

3:27:17Which i'm agreeing with most of these things i'm just saying there's a lot to do, and then we talked about the buyer right is that a new law Sean 20% has to be affordable housing going in the future.

3:27:32i'm sorry Can you clarify what you're referring to.

3:27:35Councilmember Fadelli: there's a isn't there a new by right State law about initiating new projects and that 20% has to be affordable housing.

3:27:45Chelsea do you want to chime in on that I know we.

3:27:47Chelsey Payne, Ascent: Are yeah I can clarify that.

3:27:49And I think you're speaking to policy 1.7 there's a requirement that sites that have been included previously in your site's inventory of lower income sites.

3:28:00And if you bet new housing on those sites if it includes 20% affordable would be allowed by right.

3:28:10So that applies only to a handful of sites that have been carried over from your last housing element into this new housing moment but yes project 20% of lower income would be allowed by right.

3:28:24Councilmember Fadelli: Okay, also suggest that we see new grants established at the state level now and i'm happy to see that are we're getting a new grant person to hopefully identifies some of what that might mean i'm.

3:28:39we're supposed to establish new priorities for our trust affordable housing Trust Fund, and I believe we only have about $800,000, and that is not true so.

3:28:49That is correct and as we start to receive and Lucy payments and looking at what our next affordable housing projects will be, we will need to work with you all as well and prioritize how we best utilize our dollars.

3:29:03Along with the local match, and what what other funding, we can get regionally.

3:29:07Okay hey.

3:29:09Councilmember Fadelli: that's something we should think about it talks about establishing and enhance infrastructure finance district, which we address tonight on our agenda.

3:29:19we're supposed to break ground at the summit applause that by 2025 so that's three years from now, so we're in the middle of doing that, which takes a lot of staff work.

3:29:30And then you kind of spell out the shelter and housing for West county and core which we're doing and putting in writing, actually, that our candidates money will contribute to that which I was glad to see.

3:29:44there's some amending special needs zoning Sean, can you tell me what that might be, what does that mean special needs.

3:29:53So Chelsea probably can answer this question better than I can.

3:30:00Chelsey Payne, Ascent: swear So there are a lot of new State laws around housing for people experiencing homelessness and people that need permanent supportive housing both disabilities and so program to he outlines some of this new requirements it's mostly around.

3:30:19zoning for low barrier navigation centers, which is a type of homeless shelter zoning for permits for housing So these are all very specific requirements and State law for what your zoning code needs to allow.

3:30:33Councilmember Fadelli: And i'll do that, but that spelled out for us than already.

3:30:37Yes, yeah and i'll just note that some of that is is already included in our draft of the San Pablo avenue specific plan, if you look at the use table in the specific plan you'll see low barrier navigation centers specifically called out.

3:30:52Councilmember Fadelli: Thank you and i'm almost done so thank you for the time there is new density bonus state laws well correct that we will just simply incorporate.

3:31:02So are our existing zoning ordinance and specific plan both the zoning ordinance more.

3:31:11More specifically, implement the the state density bonus law but it the density bonus law has changed a number of times since it's been it's been the State law itself has been updated since our last zoning ordinance update, so this is just an effort to bring.

3:31:27It back into full compliance with the State Law.

3:31:31Councilmember Fadelli: Okay, and then what we heard about last week from some errors heard about was faith based location, we should look into possibly our churches and how they can assist us and homelessness.

3:31:45that's one thing and then also what kind of confused me a little bit because the city has dealt with it is just report really suggest that we should revisit just cause for evictions and tenants is that is that true Shannon Asia, because you know what we went through with that.

3:32:05yeah, so it is, as we look at the array of tenant protections available and obviously just the constant conditions of the housing market is something that we could revisit.

3:32:18At the direction of the Council, along with looking at a be 1492 really that that's slated to sunset and 2030 so it's something to consider as we work through.

3:32:32ab 1482 and what we have in place and like I said, looking at a package of things, how they work together, because it is 2030 expiration.

3:32:43Councilmember Fadelli: But by listing them in this report are we saying we have to consider these in some way.

3:32:49We will be.

3:32:50It says will study them because within the 2031 planning period and the AV 14 he will sunset and.

3:32:58The unless it's extended then.

3:33:00That will change thing.

3:33:02Councilmember Fadelli: Okay, my my last one is a few CDs have tried, the.

3:33:06COPA, the Community opportunity to purchase program and you suggest that we pursue that as well, some cities have add real difficulty in enforcing that but this report is saying we should do that.

3:33:19it's saying that we should explore it and study it and see what it would take to create such a program.

3:33:25Councilmember Fadelli: Okay, so I just thank you for the time again, I think, listing out all those things, and there are five times as many things as I listed out but it's what we need to do that's what we need to explore and I love, most of the ideas i'm just concerned about the staffing again and.

3:33:47thanks for the time and consideration and thanks Chelsea for the hard work on this and staff and also rena.

3:33:56Thank you councilmember fidelity um I wanted councilmember abramson go ahead.

3:34:02Councilmember Abelson: Thank you yeah I had a question I think fits into this discussion.

3:34:10About.

3:34:12condos.

3:34:14As far as I know, in this new round of housing that's been built there's only been one condo.

3:34:22Building.

3:34:26No that's not true so creedence the project Eureka and San Pablo creedence.

3:34:32that's 32.

3:34:33condo units.

3:34:34And then.

3:34:35Councilmember Abelson: I don't mean one unit, I mean when building.

3:34:38yeah and then also village 2929 condo units.

3:34:43Councilmember Abelson: That one.

3:34:44that's the project between Eldorado and avalon street near central park.

3:34:49Councilmember Abelson: Oh, the one Okay, the went over there.

3:34:52And then, also the forthcoming 1750 and elm street project will be condos.

3:34:58where's that.

3:34:591750 and elm street near my K to school.

3:35:04Councilmember Abelson: that'll be condos.

3:35:06Yes.

3:35:07Councilmember Abelson: That of the.

3:35:11But nothing on Sam tablets still is other than cretinous.

3:35:16nothing other than credence there were two other condominium projects that were entitled by that same developer that built credence and they were not able to make those projects pencil in order to construct them.

3:35:33Councilmember Abelson: Do we know why there hasn't been more condos.

3:35:38Along San Pablo.

3:35:41Well, I mean I can speak to why I can speak a little bit to why Brown, I was not able to develop those other projects that they entitled, I mean I think in in the in the first wave of entitlements, we saw we actually.

3:35:57Were sort of pleasantly surprised to see the number of condominium projects that we did.

3:36:04But I think when brown I was looking at those three projects, I think one of them.

3:36:11Well, and maybe even both of them that that were not built just ended up kind of being too small, they were too few units.

3:36:19For them to make it financially feasible to construct it so they they did, one of the sites they came back and re entitled it to add a few more units and they still were not able to make that work the.

3:36:31I think, also the the sales at creedence we're not quite as swift as as they had hoped, and so you know that was providing some of the comps for their future projects.

3:36:44Councilmember Abelson: Now, and now the credence has gotten better in terms of how much it's still I think right.

3:36:51There is about six units left of the 32.

3:36:55Councilmember Abelson: Okay, so there's lack of demand is an issue.

3:37:00Okay, I was thinking that.

3:37:04If you want to own.

3:37:09That awesome want to live on Central avenue kind of out of luck.

3:37:16Maybe maybe there's still six people who can be in luck, but the.

3:37:26Okay, so that kind of that that answers my question at least.

3:37:32The other question I had had to do with housing, people with disabilities.

3:37:42What are we doing to address that issue.

3:37:46So, within the housing plan and and Chelsea feel free to help out there are specifically requirements around that.

3:37:55So in addition to affordable housing, it is our special housing needs, and so we will be exploring that as well, creating additional opportunities for beyond what we have in our current housing stock.

3:38:08Councilmember Abelson: And is there anything, one of the problems that i've.

3:38:12heard from residence is that they they.

3:38:18I know it's building it is, but I don't know its name it's north of the city.

3:38:25That temporary of the site of the senior Center before it was closed no just north of there.

3:38:32To Rio vista.

3:38:34Councilmember Abelson: I don't know what it's called so I wouldn't know the difference if it was you gave me the right or wrong name anyway.

3:38:42A woman invited me in she said come see my apartment she said it's an access is built for somebody who's in a wheelchair, but she wasn't but she got the apartment so if there were a person in a wheelchair they wouldn't ever get anything so is there any.

3:39:05So I believe councilmember able send I believe you're talking about the Hannah gardens senior.

3:39:10Councilmember Abelson: The new.

3:39:11Year development, no.

3:39:12No so generally if there is an apartment and they are unable to find someone to meet the criteria for that unit and they rent it and they have someone.

3:39:23Who might need a reasonable accommodation, like a wheelchair access, they will then go back and revisit that situation, but so this is a market rate development.

3:39:34Bigger referring to, not the.

3:39:36Councilmember Abelson: Well, maybe it does kind of matter, except that that's an example of absurdity.

3:39:45You know it's absurd because a person who doesn't need it has to use it right so for them it doesn't really work very well that, is there any way to more set aside some units along the way, somewhere, so that say people who need wheelchairs and need.

3:40:10The apartment of.

3:40:13The configured configure to their needs.

3:40:16will be able to know that there's a stock of units that they can that are sort of theirs, as a group.

3:40:25yeah and it's probably something that we can just do more education and outreach to even our property owners are usually in the property management business and are familiar with you know Ada requests and accessibility needs so.

3:40:39It is something that we could just remind you know remind them of.

3:40:44and

3:40:45Councilmember Abelson: almost as though you'd have to have a list.

3:40:50Ahead of head of time and you need to know who's looking.

3:40:55so that the people who are looking for something.

3:41:00can be connected to.

3:41:04A unit whenever it becomes available and I guess that's kind of what I was.

3:41:10Thinking might be the solution is something like that, but this first come, first serve no matt and you get what you get approach kind of guarantees that there really isn't any.

3:41:24Accessible units for people who need them.

3:41:29So yeah I think generally they strive to fill those units for who they're created for, but again I do think it's something we can look into more about just doing more outreach and education.

3:41:41Councilmember Abelson: Okay.

3:41:42That would be great Okay, thank you.

3:41:46shana.

3:41:46um.

3:41:48I.

3:41:50Councilmember Abelson: think that my main.

3:41:54The only other thing i'm just thinking about it's it's a problem rather than a question is.

3:42:03The what we were just talking about the units.

3:42:08In the south, a player credence I think they are where they don't seem to pencil out.

3:42:15Is there any way we can.

3:42:18Help them put assemble of little package of units because maybe if they instead of having one unit to do, I mean I bet building, excuse me if they had five of those.

3:42:34Maybe that would make it pencil out.

3:42:39Is there any way, we could help without.

3:42:43Well, I can tell you i'm.

3:42:45Councilmember Abelson: Thinking verbal help us what i'm thinking.

3:42:49I can, I can tell you, we we have worked very hard with some of our developers in the past that have that are struggling with with financial feasibility of their projects.

3:42:59The the the Griffin project, which was proposed, where harbor freight now moved in that's one of those projects is that project is not will not be built, but as it was entitled but.

3:43:16We did we worked with the developer, to eliminate a floor of underground parking because that reduced the construction costs.

3:43:23And that you know, had a ripple effect through the through the plans we worked with a another developer actually on the site that you just mentioned at one oh to nine zero San Pablo.

3:43:33To move payment of some of their fees from issuance of building permit to issue a certificate of occupancy so that that moves the the payment of the fee to a different phase of the construction, where that when they're lending is different.

3:43:49So that's a that's something that helped him out, you know these are just a couple of examples, but we're.

3:43:55Councilmember Abelson: going to go in there.

3:43:58demolishing the old building right now.

3:44:00And it's currently being demolished and and that developers is moving forward with his his building permit for the project.

3:44:08Councilmember Abelson: Okay, and it's just that one how big is that site, does it go to the building south of there.

3:44:17um it's.

3:44:20it's harder to target a hard question to answer without a visual tool sorry.

3:44:24Councilmember Abelson: Oh i'm sorry the building south of where there's a parking lot there's a building that was on the corner, then there's the parking lot I don't know who's parking lot it was, and then there was a it's where look.

3:44:39So it doesn't include any of the parking lot that's that is associated with the building where l mono used to be and where the buttons.

3:44:47are used to be not include that.

3:44:51Councilmember Abelson: Because those those buildings look like they're.

3:44:55Councilmember Abelson: Probably for sale.

3:44:58I don't think they're occupy it's not occupied anymore I don't.

3:45:01Know none of those spaces are currently occupied.

3:45:07Councilmember Abelson: So if all that were strung together, I was just looking at that today.

3:45:12You know we've we've attempted to contact the property owners.

3:45:17Of those parcels and on numerous occasions and have even link brokers with them and to date haven't been successful, but you never know if that will change.

3:45:28Okay.

3:45:30Councilmember Abelson: it's too bad okay.

3:45:32appreciate that.

3:45:34let's move on and I have a few questions.

3:45:39Where I wanted to find out from Chelsea the you know we do support housing for everyone, and we do have some infill that is out there.

3:45:51In the neighborhoods and I wanted to mention the importance of market rate in these private lots where people wanted, develop and and looking at the need of.

3:46:06Housing like luxury housing, that is a need and people want to move here and people can afford to buy these homes but we're just not building any what's what's your take on.

3:46:18In filling in the neighborhoods up in the hills neighborhoods where private owners own these properties and would like to build.

3:46:30Someone encourage them to do this, what can we do to encourage them to build these private lots of where they've been planning to do this all along so there's a few things so so you're right there, there is a need broadly at all income levels for for housing.

3:46:47The state has passed a series of like new legislation recently the most prominent being sb nine which requires us to allow subdivision of single family properties.

3:47:02And so that that will create new opportunities that that's not counted towards our rena in the housing element, because we don't know, I understand that, but I know the importance of.

3:47:15making sure that we have the tax dollars coming in and they're not and, and these are portable housing projects coming in, I do support, because we do have a shortage of it.

3:47:26But but looking at the the luxury market and and housing that folks Homeowners more to build here we're just not building and that would support a lot of the extra things that this city would want, but we have a week week retail.

3:47:43Here that doesn't really exist because people don't want to open businesses here, they just don't and by frustration in my eight years of public service here is trying to get retail to move here and they won't if you look at the 18 cities here in the county where.

3:48:01You go on a Sunday at 1030 in the morning and you see the vibrant retail we just don't have it here we have an l street or Plaza that is empty most the time and and ownership, that really is not.

3:48:15being proactive and finding new tenants, so we have to look at other types of housing, including luxury housing that will bring tax dollars into the city and we're just not seeing it and you look at the growing population of.

3:48:32affordable housing that we're building here and we're the only city that that is actually building this right now and i'm proud of our city for doing that, but with that brings the added services and how did.

3:48:47You know, things that people need here and so looking let's look at making sure that we encourage the owner said that owned the last of these lots to please do that because we're not seeing any encouragement.

3:49:05I would personally like to see that, because that will bring the bottom line of the city, we can bring we'll be able to keep our fire and police and.

3:49:16pay our workers, what they should be getting and we're just not doing that, right now, so let's look at this let's encourage.

3:49:24Housing on the top end as well, because I can't tell you how many people that I know that will love to move here.

3:49:32But we don't have the housing available for them, they can afford these houses and we built a few of them up in the hills and and and they sold right away so.

3:49:43There is a market for that I want to curse that we see that in La Miranda, we see it, and Hercules and and I want to make sure we continue to build that here, because that will bring up our revenue, so we can actually.

3:49:58You know, provide the jobs that are needed here at City Hall, and our police and fire right now we're struggling and we struggle in the future if we don't build housing for everybody, so I encourage staff here to let's.

3:50:13Work on that let's encourage the last of the private owners here that own these last properties and let's build this, because that will bring up the bottom line so.

3:50:25i've talked to developers that I could like to develop the last property is available and.

3:50:33And I know that they're still working on this and they're working with other developers so let's let's help them, because I know they want to build this there was a market for it.

3:50:44yeah you know we always provided housing for all my encourage our staff here and Chelsea let's look at this because.

3:50:54People are looking elsewhere, people are going to San Ramon and walnut creek for this when they can live and little Elsa rido.

3:51:01Where we have to bark stations and it's not crowded, so I also am frustrated with the developers here that have been lagging lagging year by year by year and won an extension.

3:51:14Now well let's encourage them to build down and if they don't want to build it, they should sell it, this is a.

3:51:21An eyesore in our city to see these developments that should have been built a long time ago, and you know, I wonder if this is just a Ponzi scheme for them to.

3:51:31Just so looking at this, I encourage housing for all i'm proud to that our city is one of the only ones building you look at the 175 unit at.

3:51:43All affordable housing that should have been built that our city supported that the city of Richmond supported, but you have a Nimby progressive Council next door.

3:51:52That said no to this, and I think about the homelessness and riding road and and know that they would be living in these affordable units, it was built in and i'm just telling calling it out, because that's the truth.

3:52:05So we need to work together and let's work regionally, I agree with Mike colleague Council member for Delhi, you know the county needs to step up and they're not building it.

3:52:16The affordable housing, like the county promise that was shown and presented at the West county mayor's conference you know it's non existent that never happened, so you know the county is way behind and what they should be doing so I support.

3:52:34making sure that the county you know contributes to this because we are doing this in a regional way, but I encourage all the other citizen West county to do it.

3:52:46Man if they don't do it there, you know i'm hoping that their transit and transportation projects will be halted because it's not fair for Elsa rainbow to be the only city building all of this, you know when and.

3:53:01Can I went to look at the people that have moved in here and I spoke to many of them, many of them lived in the tenderloin in San Francisco many of them were homeless and.

3:53:12i'm proud to say that they're living in brand new units and they're happy here and I want to make sure that that continues, but you know Chelsea looking at.

3:53:22The things that you were advising us certainly support all of that, and we can do more, so let's look at housing wall, and I know.

3:53:33we're waiting here for mayor pro tem to ask her questions, and I know she has a whole list, and thank you for your patience with me and I first I want to thank staff and consultant for all the hard work that went into this housing element is quite amazing document that you've put together.

3:53:52So I really wanted to say thank you, I did find a few typos and small things and i've already conveyed that to staff, so I don't need to take time to do that.

3:54:02So I do have one small thing before I move on to my main questions in your presentation, you had a slide.

3:54:11That talks about the the kind of it was the housing types and affordability slide in your presentation and I just have to say that it really offended me, so I hope that you will change that slide before you show it to other people.

3:54:25If you want to bring it up, I can explain to you why.

3:54:32Just one moment I got it.

3:54:36Yes, so.

3:54:40I support this housing elements I do not support this slide, and the reason that, that is, is that you cannot take.

3:54:48An arrow from low income housing then just tie it to multifamily housing, because there are low income, housing, that is.

3:54:57townhouses attached homes duplexes that are affordable housing that accessory dwelling units they're affordable single family homes.

3:55:07And to say, well, low income equals multifamily housing to probably have of identifying it that way and i'm really shocked and surprised that this.

3:55:17slide would pass by, and that would be there, so I hope that you will change that I know you're just trying to do, housing type.

3:55:24And, implying that as more units are crammed together that they're more affordable, but we have market rate multifamily housing in this town that's very nice.

3:55:33And I think that that's a disservice to all the higher density developments by saying that that is what low income housing looks like.

3:55:41So I hope that you will correct it, I understand your point what it's trying to communicate is that housing at that density can be counted towards the low income category, but I see you.

3:55:53know what the intention well, but it was not communicated well and before this slide gets used for anything else I would like that we will fix it.

3:56:01Councilmember Abelson: If you if you substituted that picture to show some looks like family building that looked really nice is that would that solve the problem.

3:56:15I think i'll let staff kind of work it up sitting there trying to convey two sets of information in that slide.

3:56:25Councilmember Abelson: I found that whole thing that holes slide kind of unreadable I couldn't quite figure out all of the picture seemed kind of junky.

3:56:38None of them were attractive.

3:56:41understood well we'll work on it before we come back the next time.

3:56:46So um my overarching question about kind of.

3:56:51The staff report that accompanies the housing element is that the staff report says that there are no financial considerations associated with the draft housing element, and I understand that to mean.

3:57:03In preparing this draft that there's no financial implication but.

3:57:08We are pushing to create 1300 and 91 new housing units and that would indicate that we need to expand some services, and this is, you know.

3:57:19Part of our just overall development, but when do we get to do that analysis or when do you do that analysis to tell us.

3:57:27Oh, this is when we need to expand services or this is how we address new needs in our Community, I just want to make sure that we're keeping track of that and working that into it, because I think.

3:57:371300 91 units is a completely achievable goal, given all the pipeline projects and everything I just want to make sure that we are keeping up with them.

3:57:48So some of that analysis will be done as part of the San Pablo avenue specific plan update supplemental environmental impact report I know that's a that's a lot of words.

3:57:59But the the car for the the specific plan update does look at the service needs for the increase development capacity in the specific plan area.

3:58:12Other It could also be looked at in updates of other land use plans if we did a general plan update, we would look at those service needs as well, and with the additional revenue generated by the new development also help offset in the future, any kind of additional service need.

3:58:35Yes, the the idea I mean you know, I think.

3:58:40Taxation in California is complicated, but the idea being that the the the the taxes that are paid by the new development will support the services.

3:58:50That that development that the development needs, so that we are kind of expanding in tandem, as we bring on units, we are expanding our revenue base so they traveled together.

3:59:01Correct.

3:59:05they're just some small issues, but the other fair housing issue was really fascinating to see the fair housing requirement being kind of expressed in our housing element now, and I think that the data that it pulls is really fascinating it looked like the priority issue for us is.

3:59:26vulnerable to displacement vulnerability to displacement and.

3:59:34What other than building more housing units what what what can we do to address that vulnerability to displacement, well, I saw highlighted the.

3:59:44Relocation ordinance that we previously brought to the to the city council that did not pass, we could bring that back again or similar other other policies.

3:59:59And is there, I think, in determining the affordability levels in the new rena requirements do those kind of address kind of the.

4:00:12The people most impacted in the in the mapping of those bar mobility areas are those tied together in terms of this is who's in the area, now we if we build rents will go up, they may be displaced but they'll have affordable housing opportunities.

4:00:31In in kind of a balanced way, through these rena goals yeah that's that's the goal yeah.

4:00:44And then you talked a little bit about the portal site when.

4:00:49councilmember rudnick ask your question.

4:00:53If the general the general plan designation on the zoning designation of the portal a site has to change in order to facilitate any.

4:01:03housing development, for example, does that mean that, even though it's a school district own site that's governed by state rules it does come through the city for that zoning change, yes, so.

4:01:14School district properties are exempt from our local zoning standards when the district is providing educational services.

4:01:24If they're doing something else with the site, then yes it's subject to our local zoning ordinances that we have a little bit more purview over what happens at the site, yes, great and it's great to know that we don't need it to make arena goals.

4:01:39There was one church parking lot included as a site is that because the church parking lot the churches wants to do something or it's because of that not included, and they don't want to doing it.

4:01:54it's it's, because in that one instance that is a parking lot that was actually already a separate parcel that could be developed some pursuant to our development standards.

4:02:07For other.

4:02:10assembly uses you saw the the program that's proposed in the in the plan, where we would would look at a zoning program that allowed them to develop.

4:02:23Their existing surface parking lots so you know would take something that we would have to do something like reducing the parking requirement for those uses that parking was no longer required.

4:02:39There was in in the report kind of about housing conditions, the 0.2% or 0.28% of units lacking complete plumbing facilities and I didn't quite understand what that meant that there were there's units with no plumbing or.

4:03:00So that is actually.

4:03:02From the census data that we have and what it basically means is it's plumbing facilities connecting the Gray water from the residents to the proper.

4:03:14sanitation, but luckily, as you know, we just don't do code enforcement and the city, we also do residential rental inspection, so if if it is.

4:03:25Actually, a rental property and it is something that we would discover through a rental inspection, or if it's actually a homeowner, then you know that's more of usually a complaint base.

4:03:35But I just wanted to highlight that, while our rental program was suspended and we a lot of our health and safety, things are discovered through that process, and there are cure through the notice of violation.

4:03:48So we don't know for certain we don't know that that census data is 100% accurate but, and so we don't know you know if the if and where those units exists, but as we.

4:04:01learn about any units that don't have adequate plumbing we definitely resolve those problems through code enforcement yeah it was alarming to think that there might be somewhere else right I just didn't make sense.

4:04:16and

4:04:19I know we went through some of the housing plan with Council member of fidelity that was wondering if you could pull out things that I know some of these changes are due to add new requirements, but can you point out to me the things that are new strictly based on what we want to do.

4:04:40Chelsea do you want to.

4:04:43Maybe just call out the hcg ones, and then we can.

4:04:47Like the Community opportunity to purchase is more tied to our affirmatively furthering fair housing, I know, but and some of the other standards.

4:04:58Chelsey Payne, Ascent: Yes, that's right, so there are some programs and policies that are explicitly addressing State law requirements and policy 1.7 we already talked about this is the this by right requirement on sites previously included in your housing element.

4:05:19program one a explicitly addresses State law, this is around maintaining your sites and addressing their net loss.

4:05:31program to he also addresses new State law requirements around zoning for special needs housing.

4:05:42To it as well, compliance with state density bonus and then program H three nine as explicitly.

4:05:53Addressing student sorry that's a policy three nine around.

4:05:58This is related to sb 330 and making sure that sites that are redeveloped for housing don't result in a net reduction of housing in it, so those.

4:06:06Policies and programs arts lucidly combined with State law but hdd the state is also requiring stronger programs all around programs to address fair housing issues and it's it's not.

4:06:23explicitly stated in State law there's a lot of the state has a lot of discretion in determining if your housing plan.

4:06:31adequately addresses the city's housing needs so there's a lot of conversation and back and forth and details in the programs, as we work with the state so it's really hard to say.

4:06:43what's explicitly required by State law.

4:06:48But there are a few new program ideas that are ideas that are you know, are there is discretion City Council has on whether to to do those so that.

4:06:59The COPA, the program to explore the Community opportunity to purchase act as one of those new ideas that's not required and the idea of doing a an overlay zone.

4:07:13For places of assembly or faith based institutions program to Jay is also not a requirement of State law it's just an opportunity, something that at your discretion, the city could explore.

4:07:26So there are a handful of those but it's really hard to call out what's required and what's not because state really looks at the whole package of programs and.

4:07:35I can guarantee you, they will come back with comments wanting stronger programs wanting additional programs that's just that's their their review process.

4:07:50Great and then.

4:07:55I just want to.

4:07:58In case anybody that's the developers listening, right now, I want to really call out just how hard we work in the city of Elsa Rita to try to support development, the right development in our San Pablo avenue specific plan.

4:08:14area, and I think just wanted to touch on the comments you made.

4:08:19Mr Moss about how you had worked with the developers about the timing paying the timing for paying fees.

4:08:27and supporting changes and designed to make things more affordable for the developer, and I think that's what makes us a really good housing city.

4:08:37And I like hope that you will keep that up and I hope that the market stays with us, I think that some of the concerns that Council member ableton brought up a really market driven that we can't control.

4:08:49And that I hope that we will have as much success with the new sample avenue plan amendment, as we did with the first one, which I think.

4:08:58Everyone that I mentioned it to in sort of the housing development arena were just amazed and it went so fast that plan was supposed to carry us for 10 years and we just blew right through the cap of that so.

4:09:13i'm hoping for great success, because I think when we have more people in also rido and as importantly.

4:09:20lot more people that can afford their housing in are not facing that rent burden that is a significant issue there's brought up in the housing element all those people need to buy stuff and they're going to buy it and Elsa rainbow and that's going to make us more vibrant so.

4:09:36Thank you very much, thank you for all your hard work, this is, this is a really great plan, and I appreciate all you know all the extra time that you guys put in to answer all our questions and.

4:09:46make this a really tight document give absolutely man click do we have any speakers for comment I don't have any cards, but this would be the time if anyone on the call remotely would like to speak on this item to raise their hand you have one request Mer okay.

4:10:06So it looks like a couple.

4:10:15Okay well go to our first speaker, which is Jeff levine Jeff should be able to unmute and begin your time now.

4:10:22Jeff Levin, EBHO: Thank you, good evening Jeff levin I am the policy director with East Bay housing organization and also on a 33 year resident approach rido.

4:10:33First, I just want to thank the staff and consultants for a really excellent presentation on.

4:10:39A pretty well organized housing element having done this work, myself and appreciates life, I know how much work goes into this and how hard it is so I do want to give them a lot of credit for for what they've done.

4:10:52You know it's impossible to summarize our comments in three minutes, we will submit written comments, there are just a couple things I want to touch on tonight and asked if the Council.

4:11:02The first is, it would be very helpful after the public comments are received and staff and consultants revise the element and submitted to the state.

4:11:11To not only post to the revised element on the website, but to include a summary of the changes, maybe a red line document and some kind of analysis of the extent to which public comments were or were not incorporated.

4:11:24When those revisions were made Second, I would ask that, once the state's review is complete.

4:11:31That you make public the state's comment letter and perhaps hold a public hearing and get public input on how to address the state's comments.

4:11:40Before the next draft is produced after those comments and then to make sure that there's an adequate period of time 30 days on.

4:11:49Public comment on my draft of what we hope will be the final housing elements of that there's plenty of time for public participation on that, and with that said.

4:12:01I just want to know, particularly i'm a affirmatively furthering fair housing requirements that the requirement is not just to do a fair housing assessment, but to do an analysis of the underlying causes.

4:12:12that have given rise to segregation and disparities in housing and to have that analysis drive your site inventory and the selection of sites.

4:12:24and your plan so it's not enough to go out and pick some sites and then after the fact say gee does this or does that not address fair housing, you should be selecting the sites, with a view towards reducing segregation and increasing opportunity and the State will be looking for that.

4:12:43The other thing I just want to know many of your programs our language about study consider evaluate and I understand the reasons for that, but I can tell you the state will reject that.

4:12:57You need something more specific at least language committing to bringing a specific proposal before the Council buyer specific date.

4:13:05So that there's an actual action there and really encourage you to look at the materials that a bag, has put out and that hdd itself has put out.

4:13:13Looking at what happened in southern California and other jurisdictions hdd themselves as a guide to common pitfalls on it's worth paying attention to that Thank you.

4:13:24Thank you, thank you, our next speaker is sherry.

4:13:28sherry, you should be able to unmute and begin your time now.

4:13:31**Sherry Drobner: Okay, great Thank you and uh well i'm glad the meeting started an hour earlier, otherwise I probably be asleep by now.

4:13:40First of all, I want to.

4:13:43say how much I appreciate that we have Jeff 11 in our Community, to address some of these questions about the housing element plan.

4:13:53I know that I was on the all with a presentation on August 1 and another point that Jeff raise then and I think he had a chance to raise the tonight, was the timing and I wanted to raise that which is in terms of you know, Paul.

4:14:12Paul fidelity mentioned that there's a lot of recommendations and requests and how are things going to be prioritized and particularly around the issue of displacement and with tenants, those are policies that you know, the timing is really sensitive to how that works and.

4:14:31You know the train leaves the station will be too late.

4:14:37By the time it's into place if in fact you're thinking about this, an eight year plan, but you're thinking about not actually bringing something to counsel until years, three or four.

4:14:48So I I don't know i'm in full disclosure I tried to look through the l the housing element draft, I had a very difficult time.

4:15:01In terms of trying to really review it carefully so I don't know if you have a specific timeline addressing these issues, but if you do, I hope that will be something, specifically the displacement of intent and protections be something that.

4:15:19We look that early on in in the endeavors here.

4:15:24So thank you.

4:15:26Thank you yeah that complete the request to speak Okay, thank you very much um let's turn this back to the Council any final thoughts.

4:15:42Any more questions or comments Council member fidelity or Council member able so.

4:15:54Councilmember Fadelli: It just come I just one more Can I make one more comment on.

4:15:59Air there is a section on energy efficiency and sustainability and there's lots of new ideas and new concerns and new laws that we have to abide by it, there are no new.

4:16:12Recommendations for energy conservation or sustainability are we done out what what's, the main reason for that is there are we do, we have all the goals that we need in that category After talking about climate change tonight.

4:16:31Can we ask.

4:16:34My guess is that included in another plan so The short answer is no we're not done and I think you heard tonight the climate subcommittee reported.

4:16:46The the need for a Climate Action Plan update so that's one example of another plan that could look at such and such requirements and and policies.

4:17:00Councilmember Fadelli: So those two sections will discuss and communicate with each other, possibly on how we can bring some of those new ideas to the housing plan as well Is that correct.

4:17:13Yes, it yeah very much so, and and, in addition to that, and there are also other things that are happening, such as the.

4:17:21The update to the cal green building code which will go into effect in January, and that will have new policies in it that will speak to energy efficiency and and other environmental policies.

4:17:35Councilmember Fadelli: Thank you.

4:17:36councilmember able soon.

4:17:38Councilmember Abelson: yeah Thank you um yeah I I keep thinking about the issue of housing people in realtors.

4:17:46and

4:17:48What.

4:17:50I sort of start thinking about when i'm thinking about it is the number of people who are who use wheelchairs.

4:17:59who have severe housing problems.

4:18:04And it's always a result of.

4:18:12Lack of how it's not a lack of it's not that there's no housing there's there is housing it just doesn't work for people in wheelchairs, so there are things we can.

4:18:23Do.

4:18:26But we have to do have to do them consciously and one of the things that I remember from previous discussions.

4:18:35named me now years ago is talking about stoops.

4:18:40A stoop is another word for steps.

4:18:45So if you have if you build a into.

4:18:50an apartment building let's say and the bottom level has little steps that look very cute to get up to that.

4:19:00First floor.

4:19:02That means that no one in a wheelchair can go there.

4:19:08and

4:19:13That.

4:19:14that's just an example.

4:19:18of how we do things and.

4:19:22i'm sort of mentioning it, so that maybe somebody will go.

4:19:26I thought we had.

4:19:30done something to so we wouldn't have those but i'm not really sure that that's true and I don't have all the documents Sean is, are you still here.

4:19:43yeah yeah do you know if stoops around.

4:19:48So they they are allowed, we there you know all new development is obviously required to meet accessibility requirements.

4:19:57There, there are ways to design students, where they were they the units are still accessible, you know I did want to point you actually took to create since we've been talking about creating submit.

4:20:07Tonight so you've probably noticed, there are steps up to the the main door of credence but there's also a ramp.

4:20:16Right right.

4:20:17Right up those steps along Eureka.

4:20:20So you know, for example, that that's one way to to design an entrance like that that has steps that's also accessible.

4:20:28Councilmember Abelson: That i'm talking about where you go directly into your own personal unit from the street.

4:20:35yeah so a lot of a lot of times the you know, sometimes you see units, where the the main entrance is actually.

4:20:43on the back of the unit on a court on a corridor that's accessible and then the you know the entrance that faces the street is kind of for Shell, a little bit.

4:20:54And that might be an example where you know you you, you have a stoop but it doesn't really get used what gets used is the the accessible entrance that's, on the other side of the unit.

4:21:05We we really try to encourage I mean, in addition to what's required.

4:21:10We really try to encourage developers and architects to to think about accessibility issues as these projects, get designed.

4:21:20Councilmember Abelson: More than think about it and convert it to policy so that.

4:21:26It has to be a person in a wheelchair has to be able to get into them.

4:21:32So, like, I said that the unit's themselves do have to meet accessibility requirements so that's why you know in our new buildings, you will you'll see a lot of elevators right.

4:21:44I didn't smell credence has an elevator so you know.

4:21:47A person could use the could use the ramp from Eureka they could come into that front door and they could use the elevator.

4:21:55Councilmember Abelson: In a that's an example of a building this built in a way that is accessible, because I went to the open house for that building and I, I can say for myself i've been invited to.

4:22:12Other open houses in in other cities to have them at to other cities Richmond and Hercules where I couldn't even get in the start of the tour.

4:22:24You know, there were two of us in a wheelchair, and we just sort of you know.

4:22:30We got there and we just stayed outside.

4:22:35yeah i'm sorry that.

4:22:36Councilmember Abelson: That that that but.

4:22:40But it also It means that you can only even if you can, and then you get inside the unit and then there's a whole rack rack of stairs.

4:22:50To get to say part of the part of the part of the in it, you know because it's more than it's not a one story unit it's a two story unit.

4:23:01And those are just as bad, but, but I also see and talk to people.

4:23:08or can't figure out where they're going to live because of this.

4:23:13I mean it's not just.

4:23:16You know it's not cosmetic.

4:23:19it's very.

4:23:21it's like they don't have a place to live.

4:23:26or they can't they can't they may be living in a place that's not working or a wall for them, but they can't move because there's no place that they can move to that they can get into.

4:23:40So.

4:23:42i'm just sort of restating things, maybe a little bit, but the the reason i'm doing that is because I would hope that we would.

4:23:52Not just encourage people to build.

4:23:57An accessible way but require them to do it, because otherwise they're not going to do it.

4:24:06So it is required, and under the building code, but I also do understand your concern, so when when we you know when we're finalizing this document, we can also look for opportunities to to.

4:24:21Further this concern as well.

4:24:24Councilmember Abelson: Okay, thank you.

4:24:25Okay, great I believe we gave enough recommendations to our staff and I just want to say to our staff doors so sorry and to shawn loss, thank you, this is so, thorough appreciate all of your.

4:24:40heart and dedicated work on this through the years and, and this is something that we will work on in the future and.

4:24:48proud of that our city is one of the few that is able to do this so again, you look at the other cities where they're not building anything just tech store and around us.

4:24:58And, and to see that the city of bell speedos tempe to do this to provide housing, as all for all, one thing I wanted to mention I would love to see more.

4:25:09housing for our veterans and know that the city of Dublin was able to do that and fremont and we don't have enough of that here in West county despite having a lot of veterans coming home.

4:25:22And so, if we can look at that and and include that in the future, very much appreciate that so again, thank you.

4:25:32Can I look like to make a motion to.

4:25:36approve the draft housing elements.

4:25:40Councilmember Abelson: Second.

4:25:41motion.

4:25:43Oh darn.

4:25:45Councilmember Fadelli: it's not a.

4:25:46file.

4:25:47That emotion yeah so i'll just add that with with the feedback that we've received tonight we will incorporate your comments and submit the draft to hdd for their review.

4:25:59Any job.

4:26:02Okay next we will go to city council local and regional Lee is on assignments and i'm looking at Council member fidelity and and Council member ableton any updates.

4:26:15Okay.

4:26:16Councilmember Abelson: I just have a sort of a I guess you would say a halfway one and then has to do with the about the seniors but it seemed like it seemed kind of like they.

4:26:29got on.

4:26:31The Horn and called the school district about the lack of funding for the older adults Program.

4:26:42After this one year and that anything I think that.

4:26:49can be done, that anyone knows anything about it's been suggested.

4:26:55It was told to me that it was suggested that major acts, the county major X was a viable source of funding, otherwise they're going to lose those programs, and these are what keep people healthy, you know they're an activity you go to and.

4:27:15there's a variety of these programs and they'll just close them and what happened this last school year was some point during the school year, I think it was in the fall even they just told the.

4:27:34Supervisors at the sites that that was the last year.

4:27:40You know no nobody could understand what happened even that was how that it was so I just want to sort of put everybody on the alert about that.

4:27:54Because i'm.

4:27:57Good i'm sweat keep it.

4:28:01Sometimes pete programs like that are what keep people going.

4:28:05Anyway, that's it.

4:28:07Thank you so much councilmember able send will go to mayor pro tem okay i'm an ex Thank you mayor, I just have a brief.

4:28:15update, I attended the East Bay economic development alliance executive committee meeting and they had a.

4:28:24Great presentation on the biomedical industry and of the 12,000 biomedical companies in the US 5000 are in California of the 5000 2000 are in the Bay area and we live as they in the Bay area is really a dense.

4:28:43Industry area centered mostly for our area close to Berkeley emeryville, but I hope that the kind of spillover and having affordable housing and having market rate housing here, this is places for all the people that work in this industry to live and it's a really good.

4:29:00Industry that's a little bit on the quiet side because.

4:29:04it's not quite as glamorous as the tech industry but it's really here and it's in our Community, and we should support that absolutely and it's it will, and it represents the new Congressional district eight.

4:29:15That else Rita or incomes node will be a part of so looking forward to that, so it is now time, and we are learning and memory of.

4:29:25else Rita rose again the lorry Lorraine dare she was a resident of Elsa read Oh, since 1993.

4:29:33laurie was passionate about Community organizing and the East Bay, among other things, she was Chair of the Group sustainable Elsa rainbow.

4:29:41And was instrumental and effort to restore and reopen beale street oh that's the rate of data, I also have the pleasure of working with her and some political events and and in meeting.

4:29:57Who is now transportation Secretary buddha's jake.

4:30:01I remember lori and now I wanted to bring Secretary Buddha change when he was running for President to also read Oh, and it didn't happen, but that we run with San Francisco instead so.

4:30:14So this is an honor of our friend and longtime President or the next regularly scheduled City Council meeting is Tuesday September 20 20th at 6pm have a good evening.