Regular City Council Meeting May 2, 2023

0:00:20Okay, Mayor, we are ready to begin whenever you are. Thank you, man. Clerk.

0:00:27The May Second, 2,023 regular city Council meeting is call to order at 6 Pm.

0:00:34Well, the city clerk please call Role Mayor Matiyama here. Mayor pro Tim Redneck as a Council member. Fideli, Council Member Council Member y singer. Yeah, we have a quorum.

0:00:49The first item on the agenda is: Consider and take action on any request from a Council member to participate in the meeting remotely, which I think we do not need.

0:01:00Okay. The next item is the pledge of allegiance. Please join me in the pledge of allegiance or a moment of silence.

0:01:28The next item on the agenda is teleconference and public comment instructions from our city.

0:01:44If you are in person and logged into zoom. Please ensure your device. Audio and zoom audio are muted to avoid any feedback, and close captions are available by participating in the meeting Via zoom

0:01:55for members of the public who wish to provide oral testimony. The Mayor will announce the time for public comment. On Each applicable item in-person requests will be heard first followed by remote requests to speak

0:02:06in person. Request can be submitted to the city clerk by some completing a speaker. Card. Remote requests can be made by selecting the hand. Icon and phone requests can be made by Dialing Star. 9 instructions are provided on the meeting agenda, and will be display for each period of public comment.

0:02:23Meetings of the City Council are subject to the Brown Act, and are held for the purpose of conducting city business. The adopted rules of order and procedures, specify that public speakers address the City Council in an orderly and respectful manner, precede their comments with their name and city of residents and be respectful of time limits, policy prohibits yielding time from one speaker to another.

0:02:43Thank you, Mayor. That concludes my instructions. Okay, thank you, Madam clerk. The next item on the agenda is Council Staff Communications, Madam City Manager, do we have any staff communications we do? I will speak a little bit more about the budget process later on in this meeting i'd like to call up our Fire Chief Eric Sailors, who has a a breaking news announcement.

0:03:05If you will.

0:03:07Good Good evening, Council members, so there's no change to our fire stations or fire engines. But the county has realigned the numbering of the fire stations and fire engines.

0:03:17It's not an uncommon thing to happen is the county grows, and stations pop up so to make it more sense across the station we are now in the 50 series, which means elsewhere, though Kensington will be stationed 51 station, 52 and station 55, and that is in alignment with contra cost of fire expanding and absorbing panel, and other fire departments. Richmond will stay in the 60 series, so

0:03:43you'll see some minor changes on the side of the rigs and numbers have already been changed, but the fire stations are the same. It's still our main station, and then our link to the station are

0:03:54any questions.

0:03:55but we're still referring to the stations. The stations are now referred to as stations 51 52 and 55. Yes, we'll go back and we'll change our documentation, and i'll put notes in there formally. Station 71. But that's how we get dispatched, and we are dispatched by a contra cost to fire there who does our automatic dispatching, so we are bound to them on how they number our stations on our rigs.

0:04:15What is a a station? 53, and 54. Those don't exist right now. Yes, so they're usually set aside for. Sorry you confuse me for a second, usually set aside for further expansion.

0:04:28right, and because that's why it's not a common for counties to do this. Originally Els Rita was stationed 1, 2, and 3, then 3 got shut down, and then we got renumbered into the 70 series, and the 65 series. This just organizes the county better. And if we ever do have an expansion, then those numbers will be used same with Richmond or Neighbor. They're in the 60 series if they have an expansion and they can fill in there.

0:04:51Okay, thank you what is what is our type? 3 called now? So our type 372 S. Will be 3, 5, 2 opposed to 1 5, one, which is our type, one out of 72. So the first number in the series is the type. So a type one. We'll start with the one, a type 3. We'll start with the 3. If we ever go to type 6, then it'll be 6 5 2, and then

0:05:15elsewhere, or at Kensington is 3 5 5.

0:05:22Any other questions.

0:05:25Okay, Thank you, chief. And we're gonna be like, I said. We put this out on social media today and we will be updating our website with all of the names and numbers, to make it clear other than that nothing else for me, Madam Mayor, Go, warriors.

0:05:42any any

0:05:44communications from Council members.

0:05:49Okay, Yes.

0:05:51huh?

0:05:53Oh, yes, yes. I just want to remind

0:05:57our residents about the trail trekkers. The hillside festival May 6 and Seventh coming up always good, hopefully sunny. Also the want to remind everyone on May eighteenth.

0:06:08Wi-tak, the West County West country Costa County Transportation Advisory Committee will be working with all the cities in West County

0:06:18on

0:06:19bike, to work or or bike to wherever day, and there will be several 10, in fact, energy stations throughout the West County, including Del Norte Station and the Plaza Bart. Station from 7 am. To 9 am.

0:06:34And then from 4 Pm. To 7 Pm. Bike East Bay will be having a reception in Oakland to celebrate the importance of biking to work. Thank you. Okay. I have

0:06:47one communication. I would like to offer my deepest consultants to the family of sincere Martin

0:06:55on his murder, and I want to let the the family know that Ecpt is working hard on the case.

0:07:08Okay, the next item is oral communications from the public. Now is a time for members of the public who wish to provide public comments regarding matters not on the agenda. Consent. Items and presentation items

0:07:21in-person. Speakers can submit a speaker car to the city clerk, and remote speakers should use the raise hand feature to request to speak.

0:07:28Please remember to identify yourself and your city of residence at the beginning of your comments, Adam Clerk. Please proceed.

0:07:35Thank you, Mayor. which is, I need 1 s.

0:07:51Okay, we'll go to our in-person request to speak first. which we'll begin with Betty acids.

0:08:15Good evening, my dear friends. I'm Buddy Akasu Jen on a gardens for the last 5 years. Hannah, not Hannah

0:08:25and I just became aware, and I I I distributed a document that

0:08:34I. I just pulled off of the Internet about an hour ago.

0:08:38and I don't know a lot about it. But I think I know enough about it that hopefully, I can motivate and Marshall some support.

0:08:47There's 2 senior. Well, actually, there's 3 senior senior programs that is outlined in the document in front of you

0:08:55and I've been oh, become aware of of something that's called

0:09:03Measure X and and Measure X is pregnant with dollars.

0:09:09and these dollars could be

0:09:12in support of those senior programs that you're reading about right now. and I urge you to spread the word

0:09:22friends, relatives, and neighbors, whoever they're seniors, we need bodies. We need more seniors in the room, you know we had that we lost the heater at St. John's, and then we had to go to Alberto school, and as a function of going to Alvarado School, we lost

0:09:37maybe 20 people who would ordinarily have come to Saint John's, and so we're back at St. John's now. and we're back home where we belong.

0:09:46and we want to build that program back up, and you can see there's a

0:09:52some important dollars that could get in support of us seniors here, and

0:09:58so I I thank you for your support, and

0:10:02I I think I think we're on the same turf. very wise, related. Oh, yeah, yeah, we want to help these seniors absolutely. And it just so happens that I have one of those seniors here with me tonight my guess the fabulous Phyllis Whitman, and it's her birthday.

0:10:20Hey, Phyllis.

0:10:25on behalf of the senior community in El Cerrito, California. Phyllis, and I Thank you dearly.

0:10:34Thank you. I'm gonna hold comments for 7 B. Until we have the presentation after consent. So we'll go to our remote speakers, starting with Cordel Himmler Cordelli should be able to unmute and begin your time now.

0:10:48cordell hindler: Hey, Amy Holley? Yes, we can. So good evening, Mayor Moti. I'm a council members. I am Kuda Hendler, and I'm. A rich and resident. So I will remind the Council that

0:11:00cordell hindler: once again

0:11:01people continue to speed along Ashbury, and I would, and I have made it very clear that because

0:11:08I've talked to a number of people that that that live around the corner from the the the site, and they have been complaining about. People can

0:11:16speeding, especially during the daytime. So I would ask, and at first of all, I do want to thank the Public works director for responding for that email that I got from earlier last month, and I didn't open it so

0:11:29that's one. And then number 2 is

0:11:32hopefully, everyone is coming to that solar mixer next this Saturday

0:11:41at 20'clock, so I will be there, and I will enjoy the tacos, too. So

0:11:46everyone's invited to the mixer. So that's 2. And then

0:11:50the third thing is, let's see. I get a lot of feedback from some of the businesses along Ashbury, and then, like I said, people continue to speed, and it's like, and it's not there. And because we have a graduation coming up at Ellsworth or High School next month, and I would hope

0:12:06that there will be, you know, police presence right there along that corner. So

0:12:12i'm just asking that if the police department would make sure that there would be an an unmarked car right there on the site.

0:12:18cordell hindler: That would be very appreciated, and and i'm sorry to say this city manager, Pinkles, but

0:12:24I think the lake is going to pull it out, so just the Fyi.

0:12:31Thank you. Our next speaker is Irish shared. Now I really should be able to unmute and begin your time now.

0:12:42Ira Sharenow: hey? I wish I were now California.

0:12:46I was surfing the city's website when I came across the Aloni Greenway, master plan of 2,009,

0:12:53I found the following sentence: the lonely green way is a Pedestrian and non-motorized vehicle path in the East Bay of the San Francisco Bay area.

0:13:04Let me repeat.

0:13:06The Aloni Greenway is a Pedestrian and non-motorized vehicle path in the east Bay of the San Francisco Bay area.

0:13:15I hope the city will take action so that the path can once again becomes a safe place for bicyclists and pedestrians.

0:13:23This would include occasional police visits, the cameras that we supposedly in the budget a few years ago, and repair

0:13:32the physical degradation of the pair.

0:13:35I also came across the recreation. Master Plan of April 2,019 so 4 years ago.

0:13:42it says, Quote it: pickable amenities, an existing tennis court.

0:13:47court, striping nets and storage unquote that is listed in the early wings category.

0:13:54A school district manager wrote to me just a week or so ago: we are waiting on the final review and acceptance by the city. The latest draft was sent back on the thirteenth of that would be April.

0:14:06I hope the Council will quickly act to approve the agreement, and will supplement the $55,000. The Pickable Association has raised

0:14:15the real property transfer tax is bringing in about 4 million dollars a year as opposed to the anticipated 2.7 million dollars. I thought the new tax was supposed to be used for quality of life issues. I hope it would start to be used for that purpose.

0:14:32I think that in recent years less has been spent on recreation than prior to the passage of Measure V. Also some seniors have been asking about the proposed senior center room in Hannah Gardens. Can you please provide an update

0:14:51now in part El Cerito ordinance? 4.6, 4, point, 1 6 0, as it relates to measure v.

0:15:00Annual audit

0:15:01each year as part of audit of the city's financial statements, the city's independent auditors shall complete a report between the collection, management and expenditure of revenue from the Tax levy. By this chapter

0:15:18the report shall be reviewed by the Financial Advisory Board. I would like to see that report posted online. I can't find it

0:15:25also as someone who's originally from New Jersey. Let's go. Nix.

0:15:30Thank you very much, and I compliment you on your 3 min club.

0:15:36Our next speaker is howdy, Gowdy. How do you should be able to unmute and begin your time now.

0:15:43Howdy Goudey: Thank you, Mayor Murrayama and Council members. My name is Howdy, gaudy I live in.

0:15:50Well, I know the the current vehicle. Purchase decision under your consent. Item 7 H. It's not likely to change. At this point I offer the following feedback to help inform future vehicle: purchase decisions.

0:16:03I appreciate the effort to write electric vehicle consideration. Into this and other vehicle. Purchase staff reports presented to council. However, I remain concerned that the history of the city

0:16:17vehicle, purchased decisions over the past 10 years, has consistently neglected many of the benefits of electric vehicles, and has, instead focused only on the perceived barriers without affirmatively.

0:16:29taking necessary actions to work around some of the perceived barriers to improve the viability of electric vehicles for present and future purchase decisions.

0:16:39The transition to electric transportation is well underway, and is rapidly accelerating in many ways. Electric transportation will be superior to the reliance on fossil Fuel-based transportation of the past

0:16:50the benefits far exceed the critically important avoidance of carbon emissions. To include lower operating or fuel Costs

0:16:59reduced maintenance costs greater reliability, greater resiliency, elimination of air quality, pollution and general superior energy efficiency. The city should welcome this transition as a great opportunity rather than delaying action as long as possible.

0:17:16The city needs to be proactive, and work on addressing any legitimate impediments right away to avoid a more costly and disruptive future transition that might happen more abruptly if there is an ongoing, planning

0:17:28and preparation. Starting now.

0:17:30Howdy Goudey: California has adopted regulations under Carb that all new passenger cars and trucks will be 0 mission by 2,035 with medium and heavy duty Trucks achieving the same by 2,045

0:17:436 large auto Manufacturers, including GM. And Ford, have also announced they will no longer offer fossil fuel, based vehicles to leading markets, starting in 2,035

0:17:52there are only 12 years before the vehicle market completes this dramatic course change for light duty, passenger vehicles, including the Suvs. In this purchase authorization

0:18:03we can't allow a Elser to be caught and prepared. Every opportunity must be taken to move in the right direction rather than postponing.

0:18:12while it is likely that some public safety vehicles may be the last vehicles to transmission. It transition because of unique operational requirements, and a critical reliability demands

0:18:23that serve to reinforce the use of known quantities. It is important to introduce new

0:18:300 emission vehicles into that content text in a redundant and resilient fashion to build the experience and comfort level, to enable wider feature deployment 3,

0:18:39and to realize some of the special attributes of electric vehicles that will actually improve performance over what has been accepted in the past, even for demanding public safety applications. Thank you.

0:18:51thank you, Mayor, that concludes our request to speak. Thank you, man clerk. The next item is adoption of the consent calendar, which includes the following items.

0:19:04Asian pacific American Heritage Proclamation, Jewish American Heritage Month Proclamation, National Public Works, Week proclamation, portable Housing month, Proclamation bike to work, day proclamation, proclamation, recognizing East bay municipal utility, District centennial anniversary

0:19:23revisions to city-wide records, retention, schedule, and execute an agreement for the least purchase of 2 replacement command vehicles in an amount not to exceed $150,000,

0:19:39so I believe, Items B and

0:19:45the Jewish American Heritagement Proclamation and Item F Proclamation, recognizing East municipal utility District's centennial anniversary have representatives here to speak and receive the proclamation

0:19:58which will occur after adoption of the Consent Calendar. Is there anyone else? We do have one for the affordable housing. They're just remote instead of in person. Okay, thank you.

0:20:09Okay. Are there any brief questions or request by Council to pull items off the consent calendar.

0:20:16I I don't want to pull it, but I just like to speak on a

0:20:22item. D.

0:20:24Would you like, do you have questions, or you would like to pull the item.

0:20:28I'd like to pull the items. Suggest an amendment. Okay.

0:20:35hey? Anyone else?

0:20:38Okay, I would also like to speak on a. and then I do have a question on Item H: So okay, does anyone else have questions on items?

0:20:53I

0:20:54So I do have a question. A couple of questions on the

0:20:59Lisa Lease purchase of the 2 replacement command vehicles.

0:21:13Thank you, and I just want to give a blanket apology to Staff that I was not feeling well earlier this week, so I was not able to get my questions that to Staff, so they can prepare. So

0:21:24I apologize for that. But I do have questions. Okay. We'll see how I wing it, then. Okay. So the first question is, I know that this procurement relied on the Alameda County, Rfp. And I was wondering if that within that Rfp there was any environmental concerns for procurement, for, like the most efficient vehicles, or the least

0:21:42greenhouse gas emitting vehicles. Okay, and then I I really appreciate the write up about why we are not choosing to use or choosing to procure electric vehicles. But I was wondering.

0:21:55Why did we not try to procure hybrid vehicles there weren't any hybrid vehicles at the time when we made this purchase, i'm still watching them to see if they're available.

0:22:04So in our next purchase, because we do have additional vehicles that need to be replaced quite a few more timed out. If there are hybrids available. I will go after them.

0:22:13Okay. And if they're just, you know vehicles that are not for safety, but for Chief to drive around, and if we could have.

0:22:21I would that would be the more electric or hybrid vehicles. That would be great, because I feel like we are always doing this chicken and egg where we don't have the critical mass of vehicles that are using alternative fuels to change over the system. But we don't change over the system because we don't have the fuel

0:22:39efficiency, the efficiency of providing the fuel.

0:22:57Every single vehicle is a dual purpose as a command, and also a vehicle that provides transport for the Pcs. Or the Prevention officers. So you may hear other agencies that are larger that do have one round vehicles.

0:23:10We don't have any of those.

0:23:12Okay, Thank you.

0:23:21So.

0:23:23Councilor Kinto, Would you like to make comment on? Item a sure First of all on on 7 a. I'd like to

0:23:34change something here, because it says 2227.2 of Elsa rita's population, but it is now 28.6, so I wanted to make that correction.

0:23:49and

0:23:50as the first Filipino elected here in El Cerrito, it does, I'm. Just so proud to see the first Japanese American mayor and Council member, and it started with Council, Member and Mayor and Chang

0:24:08Taiwanese Americans. So you know, we've always had Asian American staff here, and just like Sacramento and Sacramento. It is mostly a a lot of Asian American staff, and but we're seeing this slow change

0:24:26all across the country, especially here in California. We're Asian American.

0:24:32one to one for office now. So i'm glad to see that from our first Asian, American, Filipino, American, and Attorney General to the first Chief Justice of California, who was Filipina, who recently retired to my classmate from El Cerrito High, who is now the first

0:24:52Filipino Superior Court, Judge Paula Lamas and Alameda County. Where.

0:24:59yeah, we have one of the largest populations where the largest demographic here the second largest demographic in the city of El Cerrito. So I know in the future. It's important for all communities to step up, especially in

0:25:15in elected service, whether it is a boards or commissions, or whether it is to step up and run for office. So i'm so proud to have here our second African, American, and and first LGBT:

0:25:30All right.

0:25:31woman, here on the Council, and this is a diversity, and we have always been the diversity, and we show that here in Contra Costa County, and I expect to see changes in the future in other communities like we're seeing now in Panel and Hercules in San Pablo and Richmond.

0:25:50we will soon see that in other cities that have large populations of minorities, especially like in Concord

0:25:59and Walnut Creek. So but here's to Diversity and and California being the most diverse and largest state, You know we prove that we can do this. So I'm very proud of you may, or for being our first Japanese American mayor, knowing that we've always had

0:26:19Japanese Americans living here even before when it was a city. So. But so we just wanted to let our residents know about our rich diversity here in the city of and Contra Costa County. Thank you.

0:26:34Thank you, Councilmember. I I would also like to make a comment about the our proclamation, for Asian Pacific, American heritage month.

0:26:42I think it's great that we are celebrating diversity, but I think it's also important to raise visibility and awareness according to stop a Api hate. There's been over 11,500 reported anti asian hate incidents since March of 2,020, and those are only the reported ones. So I think it's really important to also raise up that issue and keep a light on that, because safety of people, particularly our elders, is really really important

0:27:12point.

0:27:15And just of those incidents over 30 of those hate incidents occurred on the pub, on the street or in public places, so I hope that people are safe

0:27:27that we raise awareness of this issue and continue to to shine a light on it.

0:27:32So get with that. Is there a motion to adopt the consent calendar with the correction raised by a Council member, Can you? Of the percentage of elsewhere? This population, that is Asian, American, and Pacific Islander, may, or, if I could just slightly amend that for the record for us to in

0:27:50insert the current census percentage in the proclamation to finalize it

0:27:55and to clarify this is approval of the consent calendar minus item D. Because, remember, Fideli wanted to pull, correct. Thank you.

0:28:05Okay. So your motion

0:28:07for the whole kitten caboodle aside from D aside from D with the amendment to Item 8. So moved

0:28:13there a second second. Okay.

0:28:17motion by Councilmember Mondrit, second by Council Member Weissinger. All those in favor, please say Aye, aye, any opposed mushroom carries.

0:28:27Okay. So now we go to Item D affordable housing month Optimization

0:28:32Council Member for Delhi. Yes, just a a a very friendly amendment, that I think this is the logical place for us to put it, where, as in that elsewhere, to receive the pro housing award

0:28:42be due to Staff and our our Mayor helping us get that, and that shows our commitment to a portable housing, and I would ask that that amendment be included in that?

0:28:53Thank you. Is there a motion to approve? With that amendment?

0:28:58I can.

0:28:59Okay, a motion by Council Member Kinto second by Co. Mayor pro Tim Rudnick. All those in favor. Pci. Any opposed motion carries.

0:29:16hey? So we have speakers. We do so first. I'd like to invite out Jonathan Mincer to to speak and accept the proclamation for Jewish American heritage month. You can come up to the podium here.

0:29:31Good evening. My name is Jonathan mincer, and I serve as the Director of External Relations for the Jewish Community Relations Council of the Bay Area. We are the largest collective voice of Bay area Jews representing over 50 synagogues and organizations in the region.

0:29:46Tonight I want to thank the City Council for introducing item 7 B, a. A proclamation declaring May 2,023 as Jewish American heritage month, and El Cerrito

0:29:56This proclamation comes at a crucial time, as just last year the Jewish community was impacted by the largest number of anti-semitic incidents ever recorded in the United States.

0:30:06and here in the bay area. Our survey show that one third of all Jews report having directly seen or experienced an anti Semitic incident in the past 3 years.

0:30:16At Jcrc. We believe that one of the main drivers of this hate is a fundamental misunderstanding of Jewish identity. and the narrow view that we are an exclusively homogeneous religious minority is actually incorrect

0:30:28here in the bay area. 25% of Jewish families have a person of color. 15% identifies Lgbtq.

0:30:36And many including myself, or first generation of immigrants in our survey. Religious practice was actually shown to be the least important aspect of bay area Jewish identity.

0:30:47Instead, it's our common culture, heritage values, and history that unite the Jewish community the most. So that's why tonight's proclamation and commemorating Jewish American heritage. Month is so important

0:30:59it's an opportunity for our community to tell our story.

0:31:03and while resolutions are a good first step. I hope that we will commit ourselves today to doing more.

0:31:09For example, let's ensure that Jewish holidays are recognized in government and civic spaces. Let's ensure Jewish identity is discussed in Dei trainings and let's ensure that our school curriculum and activities are more inclusive of the Jewish. Experience.

0:31:23I would be her miss if I did it. Note that as the mayor noted it, it's also Api heritage month.

0:31:29And just as we see the rising hate crimes impacting the Asian American community. The same is true, and in parallel for the Jewish community we would actually argue at Jcrc that these rising hate is from the same source.

0:31:42It is for this reason that J. Lc. For the first time that we know of ever did a joint solidarity. Api and Jewish trip of leaders from San Francisco to New York and Washington, DC. To discuss these common history values and rising hate.

0:31:58So, as I conclude, I want to specifically say thank you to Da Roba, to my friends Mayor pro Tim Rudnick, Council Member Quinto, my new friend, Mayor, and the rest of the City Council, who I will become friends with soon for your ongoing support of the Jewish community. Thank you all so much for having me tonight.

0:32:33Okay.

0:33:11Can you call our next speaker

0:33:25Jeff Levin, EBHO: Great good evening, Mayor Morayama, and members of the Council. My name is Jeff Levan. I am the senior director of Policy for East Bay housing organizations for those of you who aren't familiar with us. Ampo is a nonprofit organization that mobilizes the power and wisdom of our members to produce, preserve and protect affordable housing opportunities for low income communities in the East Bay, and we work towards a racially and economically just East Bay, where everyone has a system.

0:33:54safe, stable, and affordable home.

0:33:56Jeff Levin, EBHO: First of all, thank you very much for again proclaiming the month of May as affordable housing month in Elsa Rito, as you have done for many years now, and we greatly appreciate it. We will be selling, celebrating affordable housing month along with our partner organizations around the bay

0:34:14in San Francisco, the peninsula of the South Bay, the North Bay. So it will be a host of activities going on. starting with our affordable housing month kick off the event and celebration this Thursday evening, and I believe we did send invitations to all of the Council members. We hope that you can attend.

0:34:34We have a calendar of events on our website forums, new, affordable housing, groundbreaking openings of affordable housing, lots of fun, events and information. Our calendar is on our website@ebho.org.

0:34:51and we hope that everyone Council members members of the public, will attend and participate in that.

0:34:59Jeff Levin, EBHO: I want to say we really appreciate the city's continued commitment to affordable housing, and the several affordable housing projects that have been developed here like to congratulate the city on its recent designation as a

0:35:13pro housing city boarded by the State Department of Housing and Community Development. You're part of a small. The growing number of cities that have achieved that designation, and and should be proud of that.

0:35:25We look forward to working with you in the future to continue to address our affordable housing issues, and I think you will be

0:35:33Jeff Levin, EBHO: hearing from us. I'm seeking your support for a regional housing bond measure in the fall of 2,024. This will be the first time that we're able to pass something on the regional level. We hope that this will be a real game changer and provide

0:35:48resources to cities like Elsa Rita, that especially since the loss of redevelopment have really faced some real challenges in coming up with the resources to take on more expanded efforts around affordable housing. So we think that that campaign will be very important, and you will be hearing from us.

0:36:07But tonight, just again. Thank you so much for this proclamation, and recognizing the work that we do, and we thank you for the work that you do, and look forward to working with you in the future.

0:36:19Thank you, Jeff. And here's your proclamation.

0:36:26So when I mentioned that Jeff is a Elserita residence, and one of the very, very smartest people in affordable housing. So we are very fortunate that he is a resident here.

0:36:37and we will make sure you get the original proclamation.

0:36:40Jeff Levin, EBHO: Thank you.

0:36:42Thank you. Okay. And our third proclamation is for the Centennial for East Bay Municipal Utility district, and we have director cats here to speak and receive that proclamation.

0:37:02Well, good evening, Mayor Modiyama, and members of the Elsa Rita City Council. Thank you so much for inviting me to accept this a a proclamation on behalf of the Board of Directors and the whole family of East Bay mud. We are celebrating our one hundredth birthday the this year, and it's very exciting, because it's an opportunity to reflect on our history. 100 years ago the voters of the East Bay voted to have clean water, consolidating a variety of a private water utility

0:37:32communities that were not able to successfully deliver the same clean, reliable water that East Bay mud has been delivering to the more than almost 1.5 million customers who are called the East Bay their home. We've been doing that for the last 100 years. We've been treating our our waste water in partnership with organizations like Steve Sanitary district, to be able to protect San Francisco Bay, and we also look forward to the next 100 years. This one

0:38:02centennial celebration that East Bay mud is is celebrating this year is not just an opportunity to reflect on our history. You can follow our Twitter page to our our twitter feed, to to learn all all sorts of interesting tidbits about the founding of East Bay mud, a variety of historical moments for the East Bay. But this is a story not just about the history of the development of the East Bay, the history of environmental protection, the history of providing clean.

0:38:31safe water for East Bay residents. But it's also a time to reflect about what comes next.

0:38:36What are the next 100 years look like, and we're we're looking very carefully at. What does it mean to protect San Francisco Bay in the future, at a time when climate change is changing the way our nutrient disposal works to be able to protect the bay. What what does it mean to be reinvesting in our infrastructure? The same way 100 years ago. Those who founded East Bay might agree to make a major infrastructure investment to keep our

0:39:04our our water flowing. What does that mean now at a time when when we need to be thinking about what's the best way to provide jobs within our community, but also to make sure that we have investment that's reliable and thriving. What does it mean to be thinking about all of the different challenges that it that it means to be running government and and preparing for climate change when our snow pack is is melting.

0:39:27So these are the things that we're going to be looking for in the future. I I invite you to join us at our Centennial celebration at Like Temiscal Park on May 20 first. It's open to the public and free.

0:39:40I I don't remember the precise hours, but it's about midday, you know. 110'clock until mid afternoon at Lake Temescal Park. I fully encourage everybody from the public to join, and I would love to see you there. So with that I'm proud to accept that proclamation and thank you for inviting us today.

0:40:00Thank you, and I just want to say that we are now realizing what a privilege is to have clean water, that we all took it for granted before, and we see so many communities without it. So thank you for what you do.

0:40:35What is the quick one like that?

0:40:48Okay.

0:40:50to

0:41:45that's good.

0:41:47Great.

0:41:50So our next item

0:41:54is

0:42:01public hearing on Master Fee schedule revisions for fiscal year, 2,02324,

0:42:10and we please have the staff reports.

0:42:16Hello, Mayor Mayor per Tim and Council members.

0:42:23and that's a hello to councilmember. I am here to present the master fee schedule

0:42:31revisions for fy 2324 the request from this city is to conduct the public hearing, and upon conclusion to adopt a resolution approving the fiscal year 2324 Master Fee schedule

0:42:45and the masterpiece schedule that we presented as attachment includes all of the city user fees, charges for services, business license rates, and it's revised annually based on the city's municipal code. Adjustment to the fees, for charges are intended to cover the city's cost of providing services.

0:43:04In some instances it does not fully recover all costs, but it's aligned with other comparable cities or other legal restrictions that we are bound to follow. The methodology used to formulate the proposed changes is based on consumer price index for the local area.

0:43:23So it does not include any new or significant fees, increases or decreases

0:43:29overall. What you would see is a proximate increase of 4% for most of the fees that it excludes anything that's regulated by government.

0:43:38and you will also notice that we've moved some fees from one category to another. and attachment to would provide that to you in great detail. The revenue generated by the fees and charges for service, business license.

0:43:53and needs to be approved by city council. And so we're requesting that

0:43:58it does become effective. July first 2,023, except when there's a restriction it's an effective and 60 days for certain categories. The city is required to conduct a public hearing prior to adopting the planning building, and some of the other new fees or free increases.

0:44:16So with that, that's the end of the staff report.

0:44:20Okay, Are there any questions from Council members?

0:44:27I do have one question about the city planning fees, they went out 4.6%, as opposed to 4% is that for some specific reason

0:44:40for their more is that based on cost recovery. They're going to provide the division directors providing this specific response about specific fees

0:44:49and Melanie is on she's coming up.

0:45:04Melanie, are you there.

0:45:11Melanie M, Community Development Director: Okay, I am here. I did not get this.

0:45:15This is Melanie's Community Development Director. And do you hear me now?

0:45:18Melanie M, Community Development Director: Yes, we can hear you now.

0:45:22can you? I did walk away for a second when he were when Sandra was giving a report, so he can repeat that

0:45:27the question. Yes.

0:45:28I I have a question. The planning fees went up 4.6, and I was wondering if that was

0:45:35cost recovery, because most of the other fees are going up by 4%.

0:45:40Melanie M, Community Development Director: Let me open that up. I should not have gone out

0:45:454%.

0:45:47So if you just want to go on, I will pull it up and look. Are you looking at any in particular?

0:45:54Just the categorically?

0:45:58There are 4.6. So

0:46:01Melanie M, Community Development Director: but I can take the I can take your response. Yeah. So we definitely I mean, we we rounded so we definitely round for that for you. So if you were calculating versus actually 4.6 got otherwise. No, there was not

0:46:15any reason that they would have gone up any different than the than the Cpi, except for rounding.

0:46:21Okay.

0:46:24Yeah.

0:46:28not really question but a comment, but I was happy to see the offset for the East easy pair of transit that it went down the cost that went down by 33. So that was good to here, that's from measure. J: so that was it's great for our community.

0:46:44Yeah. Okay.

0:46:46Yeah, I I do have just a couple of clarification things. I see that the

0:46:54rental cost for the Hannah senior center has gone down to align with our clubhouse rental costs. and I was just wondering if there was.

0:47:05Is that to make it more accessible for more rentals? Can anyone answer that?

0:47:10Will there be more use of the

0:47:13on a senior center

0:47:16is Chris on the phone.

0:47:17I

0:47:20just received a message from the recreation director because Jones, that says, Yes, okay. And then I was hoping I don't know if Chris I did here at the Budget for that we had last week

0:47:33that there was that

0:47:36popular question about why Don't, we charge non residents more fees for the recreational facility, and i'd love him to explain that, he explained. We explained it to me again the other day at his office.

0:47:49Chris, can you just explain that we are charging more or non-residence?

0:47:53Yes, good evening, Honourable Mayor and Council members, I'm. Chris Jones, the recreation director.

0:47:59Chris Jones, Recreation Director: For the most part we do charge non-residents of so non- else Reno residents a 25% surcharge.

0:48:08There are a few exceptions with our school-based programs. You know the school district goes beyond our city boundaries, and the families don't necessarily have a choice in where they send their kids. And so those fees are just one.

0:48:25but otherwise we typically charge 25% more.

0:48:29Chris Jones, Recreation Director: And you know, I would say that our fees are on the higher, end pretty much across the board for this area. We try to find a balance of cost recovery as well as

0:48:43Chris Jones, Recreation Director: accessibility and or not driving customers somewhere else. And I think, if you know, with Albany Pool, for example, just 6 blocks away on the same street basically if we started charging in excess of 25,

0:49:00I think folks would have a different option of where to go swimming, so you know. So

0:49:08we try to. We try. We compare our fees with our neighbors, and we try to push it.

0:49:15the cost of covered as high as possible.

0:49:19Thank you. And those fees there. There's an equity issue there, too, with charging certain fees, right?

0:49:25It's certainly there is. Yeah, it does cost, you know. It does cost a lot of money to go

0:49:31Chris Jones, Recreation Director: to buy like a 15 punch. Pass to the swim center, for example, it it costs more

0:49:36per month, and it costs to go to like 24 h fitness for example, I mean, I and I think a lot of that has to do with, you know, volume.

0:49:45But

0:49:46you know, like I said, we, we do push our fees cost. Recovery is important, and it has been important, and I assume it's still important to the city Council. We push them as much as we feel we can without

0:50:00losing customers.

0:50:04Thank you.

0:50:05You had your hand up. Did you want to

0:50:09provide comments on that as well?

0:50:15Melanie M, Community Development Director: You didn't? I'd like to respond to Mayor Motiama's question. Somehow the business license increase got applied to the planning fees, but we'd be happy in the adoption to say I've returned to the 4, and we will fix it in the final.

0:50:33I'm sorry that I I meant business licensing fees. I

0:50:37I got them confused. So yeah, i'm looking to. And so yeah, so let me look a business. License Fees are set by statute, and not by just the Cpi.

0:50:47Melanie M, Community Development Director: So I think it's an accent set in in the municipal code.

0:50:51And can I just clarify for the record? That is the information in the packet. Correct or incorrect? It is correct. Okay, Thank you.

0:51:01Melanie M, Community Development Director: That's it.

0:51:03Thank you, Mayor, to Chris Jones. You know I've I've talked to so many residents and folks who use our tennis courts and a swimming pool, and many of them are outside from elsewhere. We have a lot of Berkeley folks that love to play tennis here and and

0:51:20and use our swimming pool. So appreciate the the fees that are there, and and this is to make sure that you know to get some money back from all this, and and we have a lot of people that know that our recreation.

0:51:38our tennis courts are, You know, our parks. They're well used, and and from a lot of people from outside of as well. So this is so important, so, but I appreciate the clarification, Chris Jones. And again, especially when it comes to the future of

0:51:57our pickle ball courts. I want to make sure that it it costs a lot of money to put bring those courts online in the future, and I know we'll be doing that just like the Tom Bates Fields, where Elsa Rita will be spending money because it's a Jpa

0:52:15for the additional cost of those courts. So. But so pickle ball players. We have 2 choices coming up soon, and one is the Tom Bates Courts, where the soccer fields are, and the other will be at. And is is this a sure thing to have this built at Castro?

0:52:36Chris Jones, Recreation Director: Is our intention to put it at at Castro Park, and we are in negotiations with our landlord there, which is the West contra cost unified school district. And so

0:52:48we are hopeful that that we can make those courts reality.

0:52:52Okay, great. Thank you.

0:52:54Chris Jones, Recreation Director: Thank you.

0:52:58I also have a question for our recreation director. We have the David Hunter Memorial scholarship program to support people that use our programs that may not be able to afford the whole program.

0:53:12Do we have enough generally every each year to support everybody that applies?

0:53:19Chris Jones, Recreation Director: Yeah, we typically do have enough to support everyone who applies. But we do cap the amount, so we allow, since since the pandemic we've allowed

0:53:30$300

0:53:32twice per year, so essentially $600 per year per family member. And so we can't. We do. We don't typically deny someone who qualifies, but it's not

0:53:45necessarily a substantial amount, you know. It might get 2 weeks of summer camp 3 weeks of summer camp, you know it's not

0:53:52a full season of of activities, but we do provide that

0:53:57to residents and on residents.

0:54:00Thank you, because I know that's

0:54:02sort of intended to offset things a little bit, but

0:54:06really we can support that program more.

0:54:09Okay, I have one quick question. So this would be either for a vet or Melanie around our our parking program.

0:54:20So in the last year, during our masterpiece schedule setting, we

0:54:26drastically increased the cost of having a parking permit to I believe it was $37 a year from where it was before. So I was curious. If there was any

0:54:37feedback from the public around that cost increase for the parking permit, or if there's been an increase or decrease in participation around our parking permit program.

0:54:49Melanie M, Community Development Director: This is Melody, the Community Development Director. And one thing I can tell you is no Nothing has been referred up to me from the front counter, and you know it's. It's cycles through the different neighborhoods, and and you know, going from one to 3 years and some of them, so I I don't believe so. I mean, I do believe that

0:55:09we haven't.

0:55:10That was a big adjustment last year. So what you can see we didn't make any additional other than the 4% adjustments this year. You know, the pandemic would have created a big difference in parking in the neighborhoods, and Bart parking, taking up some of those spaces. So I don't know how much

0:55:28you know. You're over. Your data would get, as you know, we did just hire a sustainable transportation program manager, and so we do still do believe, as a part of the Elseredo plaza to do project that we're going to be doing some examination of the residential parking permit program, but otherwise it's kind of status quo, and it was actually quite smooth.

0:55:46Excellent. I look forward to a presentation when that comes to us, and it was just for my own memory. I think it was $12 annually for the parking permit beforehand to something. It was incredibly low. And now it's at 37 i'm seeing Karen not a little bit hopefully. Those numbers were correct, so that's about it about 3 times.

0:56:06and I can confirm that no complaints

0:56:09at this time have come to the city managers level. I think that was probably one of the the steepest increases that we did last year. And then this year it seems kind of relative to Cpi.

0:56:20Melanie M, Community Development Director: Yeah. And again, when we could do that increase? We were bringing it more aligned with kind of the value, and what other communities are asking for the same for the same permit.

0:56:28Thank you great. There are no other questions. I will open the public hearing.

0:56:37The public hearing is now open in person, request to speak and submit a speaker card to the city clerk, and remote speakers can use the raise hand feature to request, to speak. Please remember to identify yourself and your city of residents at the beginning of your comments.

0:56:51Madam Clerk, please proceed. Thank you, Mayor. We did receive written public comments related to this item from Jennifer Kaiser, the chair of the Park and Recreation Commission, and that is in the supplemental materials that were posted online and provided to the Council. And we do have one request to speak at this time.

0:57:14Hey, Timer?

0:57:20Okay, how the Gowdy is our speaker? You how do you should be able to unmute and begin your time now?

0:57:28Howdy Goudey: Great. Thank you, Mayor Marie. I'm a Council members. My name is Howdy Cody and I,

0:57:33and also you. So I just wanna call attention to the solar. Permit fee because of all the lines that seem to

0:57:46follow that 4% trend.

0:57:49Howdy Goudey: I don't see how this one is. It seems like a pretty substantial outlier. And I was wondering what the distinction is. It is under miscellaneous projects requiring plan check which says that

0:58:01time tech requires a 65% see in addition to the

0:58:06well, 65 of the permit fee in addition for plan check. It's not really clear from how those prices are listed if they include the 65% or not.

0:58:17There's a column that's just called C. And then there's a 2,020 3 or 2223 and a 2324 so it's not really clear what that first column means. But

0:58:29if you look at the pattern of the solar, one versus others, it's very different. There's a kind of

0:58:37very similar dollar amount in the 3 columns, for almost all of them.

0:58:42you know, slightly increasing to the right, whereas Solar has the fee at 300,

0:58:47the 20

0:58:49223 was 250, and the 2324 is 450. So am I to understand that the fee is going from 250 to 450,

0:58:59because that seems really

0:59:01unnecessarily large. Raise, especially if you consider.

0:59:06But you know the permit streamlining process has made, you know, solar permits actually quite routine, and the number has been growing dramatically. I've been following the

0:59:19the number of

0:59:21solar installations, and El Cerito for many years through the State available data.

0:59:26and you know, 2,021 was like 120 permits, and 2,022 was over 210, so there was a dramatic increase in the number of permits which is great.

0:59:39but it also means that, as far as cost recovery goes, the fixed costs are distributed over a lot more permits now than they used to be, and so it's not really justified to charge a very high

0:59:51permit fee for solar to get cost recovery if if the number of permits has grown so much. So i'm just really curious how that 4 50 number is

1:00:05arrived at, and why it isn't 4% like everything else. Thank you.

1:00:12Thank you.

1:00:14That may or that just conclude our request to speak on this item. Okay.

1:00:21are there any. if I may? I just noticed, when we were talking about the

1:00:33the parking permit on that same page there was. It looks like the the number for the Council Chamber rental fee for government agencies was not included. However, there is an indication of the 4% increase.

1:00:44So I just want to make a note that there that dollar amount is not 0. It will be increased by 4% from the prior year, and we'll make sure that amendment is in the final version.

1:00:53Okay.

1:00:56Are there any other comments from Councilman? Oh, yes.

1:01:01Do you have a hand.

1:01:03I'm. Clerk from our Community Development Director is Melanie Melanie. Did you want to provide comments to this solar? Just briefly, if the Mayor would like.

1:01:14Yes, please. Yeah. So we did when we were reviewing our fees this year. Quite frankly. We missed it somehow in

1:01:21Melanie M, Community Development Director: in translation. This solar p Wasn't. Raised to what the State allows based on Kilowatt. So we were raising it to what the state allows. As you know. Also, there's been a lot of, and Mr. Gary's correct. There's been a steep increase in the number of polar permits last year with 293, and I think we're

1:01:371 97 as of the end of a month prior. We're a month behind right now, and we do have to outsource those, because they also have very quick turn of mandated turnaround times, and as you recall, they were creating a bit of a bottleneck for other building permits

1:01:50we will be revisiting that with sp 379, and again complying with further streamlining even for projects, for example, with battery storage. But part of the increase this year was that it was supposed to happen last year.

1:02:03so we just brought it to what the State allows us to charge, which covers both the plan. Check the issuance, if if required, the issuance of a a building permit, and the inspection which all of that still does need to occur.

1:02:16And so the state does set the maximum. So it's not quite a cost recovery, but it is partial recovery.

1:02:25Okay?

1:02:27Oh, any other comments or questions from Council members.

1:02:31So I do have a question back to our Community Development director, so so that the $450, even though that is a a kind of a steep increase, it still does not cover our actual costs. Yeah, we have to do some further analysis, but it well, it leaves us with

1:02:47Melanie M, Community Development Director: the outside. Consulting firm does charge us a percentage of what we charge, and it does leave about a $100 for inspection and for inspection, and any other communication regarding the permit.

1:03:02So I do think it's it's close, and we haven't done a complete, you know. Time study to make sure, but it seems close, probably a little bit under, if you consider overhead and other items.

1:03:14Thank you.

1:03:18Okay. Do I have a motion to close the public hearing.

1:03:23Second: okay. Motion by Councilmember, second by Council, Member for Delhi. All those in favor, please say I. Any opposed motion carries.

1:03:39Okay.

1:03:41Our next item is public name. By to me. We do need a motion to approve or consideration for motion to approve. Sorry anything ahead of myself, the weed we do have to close the public hearing. Okay.

1:03:53Okay. So do we have a motion to approve the Master Fee schedule as amended by

1:03:59city clerk.

1:04:02Okay, Motion Viking to. Is there a second

1:04:07second

1:04:09second by Council Member y sener? Okay, all those in favor, please say I I any opposed machine carries.

1:04:18hey? The next item is the public hearing regarding the fiscal year, 2023, 24 storm, Drain and annual report and method of collecting storm frame storm drain fees.

1:04:31Hmm. Thank you, Sandra Delete, a finance director treasure. The city is requesting that we conduct a public hearing.

1:04:39and after the conclusion of the public hearing, adopt a resolution to approve the F by 2,324 storm drain annual report.

1:04:47and direct that the storm drain fees be collected on the property tax roles

1:04:52in march 1,993. The voters rail, 3 to approve the issuance, 6.3 million, and revenue bonds for the reconstruction of the city's storm drain system.

1:05:03So this fee will pay down the debt service on the revenue bonds, and to fund the acquisition, construction.

1:05:10reconstruction, maintenance and operation of storm trains.

1:05:14This, from train fee is $58 for each single family, residential property, and other amounts for other properties.

1:05:22The engineering firm, Nbs. Local government solutions prepared the annual report.

1:05:27and that is attached, as the annual report is attached. It describes each parcel classification receiving strong drain services

1:05:37and the amount of the annual fees

1:05:39The annual fee is attached to or included in the property tax assessment or the bill. There were other methods considered. but because of the property tax lean that can be placed if it's collected with property tax as part of your parcel tax.

1:05:57and it's the least cost effective. It's going through utility bills. You cannot put a lean on property, and it's more costly to collect with that method. The adoption of the annual report requires a two-thirds vote.

1:06:10as required and enacted in the ordinance of 93, point 4 with that any other questions? Are there any questions from Council members.

1:06:21and hearing none, i'll open the public hearing.

1:06:25The public hearing is now open in person, request to speak and submit a speaker card to the city clerk, and remote speakers can use the raise hand feature to request, to speak. Please remember to identify yourself and your city of residence at the beginning of your comments, Madam Clerk. Please proceed.

1:06:42I do not have any request to speak on this item. Okay. Is there any closing comments on this public hearing? Okay, do I have a motion to close the public hearing?

1:06:54Second.

1:06:56moved by Council Member Quinto, seconded by, maybe pro to him. But, Nick, all those in favor. Pci: aye, as opposed motion carries. Okay.

1:07:06And now we need a motion to approve.

1:07:09Okay. So please note that this item requires a two-third vote to pass. Do I have a motion to approve?

1:07:16I so moved by Council Member for Delhi. Do I have a second second

1:07:21seconded by Council member. We singer

1:07:23Click, all those in favor, please, say I. Those opposed, please say name

1:07:28machine carries

1:07:29right.

1:07:32The next item is public hearing to confirm the diagram and to levy the assessment for fiscal year, 2023, 24 for landscape and lighting assessment District number 1 9 8 8, one

1:07:47council members, Mayor, Mayor per Tim.

1:07:51The city is requesting to conduct a public hearing, and upon conclusion adopt a resolution, setting the annual landscape and lighting assessment for fy 2324 as $72 for a single family residential parcel, and then and for the other classes as noted in the engineers report.

1:08:10The engineers report was authorized by the City Council on April eighteenth, 2,023. And it was prepared by Nbs local government solutions, and it was delivered to us. On April eighth

1:08:24the city council established this assessment district in 1,988,

1:08:30and the funds to raise support the improvements and the maintenance of cities, parks, landscape areas, city lighting every year Since that time and we've generated approximately $785,000 to support these activities.

1:08:44and any increase in this assessment

1:08:47would be subject to prop 20 to 2 to 18 voter. Approval required similar to the other requirements. This requires that this come before a city council, and that you approve our request.

1:09:04hey?

1:09:06Thank you. Are there any questions from council? Yes, come on me. Your purchase mode, Dick? 2 quick questions

1:09:14one: Are there considerations for the sustainability of the actual infrastructure itself? So as there's continuous improvements? Are we

1:09:25considering that with this

1:09:28or or within this. Oh, that's good. Is director.

1:09:33Yeah.

1:09:46Good evening, Mayor Council Members

1:09:50Council Member. But, Nick, can you please repeat that question? Sure, I'm. Curious around the sustainable infrastructure of our

1:09:59lighting assessment district and the kind of the conceptually are we choosing more sustainable infrastructure our lighting system? I can Where are we with that? And then it's going to lead to my second question. Yeah.

1:10:16Currently, our lighting and landscaping assessment district funds are primarily used for maintenance.

1:10:23and so not not Their fund is not healthy enough to do upgrades. But we have in the past, for example, retired lawns, so like we some lawns like at Baxter Creek, where we had

1:10:38turf, and we were very a water intensive we played it with. We replaced it with Mulch, and so we have done that in the past. Some of our others kind of sustainable work in terms of clean water. For example, where we're installing.

1:10:56bring gardens to treat a water that's coming from our gutters. We're using other funding sources for that type of work

1:11:06for the for prop to 18. It's this weird kind of complex way. It's not it. It's getting votes from the community, but it's property owners, not voters. So that's what makes the complexity of this, and to have an election

1:11:23around like a prop to 18 compliant election. Is that at the right

1:11:27I am looking at holy it. It is a really complex

1:11:31thing to have done. It's also very costly, and it's very time consuming for staff. So it's one of those things where I think that we've always as a city. It's kind of accepted this

1:11:41and moving through it. However, it is this something that we should consider as a funding source to help us as we're really thinking about

1:11:52greening our infrastructure, and we're looking at the cap and a few different

1:11:57projects that we have in El Cerrito. Would this

1:12:02Would this fund be a place that could potentially we can look to to help support those activities. I will defer to the city attorney and a city manager on.

1:12:13I can. Well, what I can share is that we did attempt to do this in 2,006. We did attempt to prop 2 18 election. It failed.

1:12:25You are correct. It is a very intensive, costly election. It is property owner, based. All of the ballots are public. It's a very different style of election.

1:12:35and you know certainly the city attorney can speak to to the style of election. What I can tell you is because it is indeed so time intensive, and it is fully done by the city. There's no

1:12:49you know we contract with the county to do elections. This would be completely on us, and so clearly it would be a bandwidth issue. It would be a timing issue, but also the complexity behind

1:12:59coming up with the appropriate. That was what we found in 2,006, was finding the the right balance between commercial structures, property, residential properties.

1:13:10If you look back at the data, the residential properties it passed by over 50, but it failed on the commercial side, because you're essentially voting with your dollars. So if your property was going to be assessed, a $1,000, and a residential property was assessed. A $100. That's a 1,000 versus 100 votes

1:13:28right? So that's exactly why it was. It's it's it's a difficult one, but you know that is something we could certainly contain. Consider in the future if we had bandwidth, and it would be a matter of prioritization, the law. And this is where maybe i'll turn to sky. The law is very restrictive as to what we can actually spend that money on.

1:13:48Yeah, I'll just add, in terms of just to layer. One more difficulty with benefit Assessment districts generally, including landscaping and lighting assessment districts, is that

1:14:00prop to 18 requires that in calculating the amount of the assessment that you first make a determination of how much of the service or facility that's being funded is general benefit, and how much is special benefit.

1:14:16and only the special benefits can be paid for with the assessment dollars. So

1:14:22to the extent that for for any of these improvements and services that the general public is benefiting from them. You, you first have to take all of the costs associated with those benefits out of the amount that you can then

1:14:37pay for, and then you distribute the special benefits among the pro, the property owners. So it's. It's not. It's never going to get you to 100% of the costs so associated with the program.

1:14:48And then, additionally, as as a city manager said, voting is proportional to the amount of the assessment. So large property owners will always have more votes than smaller property owners.

1:15:01and then the the use of it is restricted by the enabling statute so prop to 18. The provisions of the Constitutional California Constitution say it provide some general limitations, but then the underlying statute, like the landscaping, lighting, assessment, act

1:15:21up those enabling statutes actually a further limit. What you're actually allowed to spend the dollars on. So for any assessment district that you might consider. You also have to make sure that what you want to fund is actually within the parameters of what the statute allows.

1:15:36Yeah, I I think that my experience with a number of cities and jurisdictions around the State is that benefit Assessment districts serve a valuable purpose in a narrow set of circumstances, but that

1:15:48most likely, as the city has done on a number of occasions, that in looking for revenue to pay for new initiatives, expanded services, expanded facilities, other sorts of fundings are, are probably going to be a more successful avenue than it is than a benefit assessment.

1:16:07Thank you.

1:16:11the city attorney answered my question. So I appreciate that. Thank you, Council Member for Delhi.

1:16:18So from the analysis there will be a shortfall this year.

1:16:23Do we know how much the general fund will be tapped to fill in on that. We still are working on that on the numbers for fiscal year, 2324. But there is a current structural deficit in the lighting and landscaping assessment district.

1:16:39So we, as a noted in the agenda Bill, we there will have to request additional general open support to maintain existing levels of service or

1:16:50reduce service levels.

1:16:52and the general fund is the only avenue of support to fill in that gap. There are other special funds that we are looking for to, for example, street lighting expenses.

1:17:05but a lot of the expenses that are in lab right now are parks and facilities. And so those are not eligible costs for the transportation funds

1:17:16that the street lighting costs are, and utility Energy costs are increasing significantly this year on an average of about 20. So that's a significant increase. You'll see in the fiscal year 2,024 budget just off of

1:17:34offhand. Do you remember what last year's deficit it was.

1:17:38I do not.

1:17:41Okay.

1:17:43Well, last year's deficit. What I can say is the currently currently jet. The general fund provides

1:17:51funding for a landscape and park maintenance in the amount of about $140,000.

1:17:58Okay.

1:17:59it will, during the budget process, get the tab on that

1:18:02correct here.

1:18:06So I have a question, I guess, going in reverse. Mayor pertam redneck, so

1:18:13we

1:18:14can't increase. There is no inflation increase on this loud amount, right? It's just fixed. And so in theory, every year our deficit deficit gets larger in order to cover the same services, I see.

1:18:28Correct?

1:18:29Yeah. Just the the short answer, she just said, but just to expand on that slightly. If the If the assessment had had a built in inflator at the time that it that pre prop to 18, you'd be allowed to continue to to implement that.

1:18:46but it didn't, and so now the only way to do it. Even just to adjust for inflation would be to go to the property owners through through a vote.

1:18:54Okay, and the amount of the 436,000 from this general fund that was not the entirety of our shortfall, just what was covered under maintenance

1:19:06or is that basically the shortfall from the prior for for our current fiscal year that that's a specific line item in terms of Parks landscape maintenance. I mean, we've done tr like changing expenses to other funds. This is that's just a number that's a general fund covered.

1:19:26And so the the $800,000 budget in the report. That is what we'll expect to see as a total budget for the

1:19:35lad covered work.

1:19:39or the lad scope of work that will become forthcoming in the 2,324 budget.

1:19:44You may also see a a use of some from balance in the lab. There's existing from balance but that's expenses that in that are beyond the

1:19:57so the the the expected revenue is 789. And so you've balanced that but there is additional general fund that's not reflected in the 800. Correct.

1:20:08Okay, Thank you.

1:20:12Any other questions from Council members.

1:20:16and so

1:20:20alright.

1:20:34on. Cheese. So there are no questions. I'll open the public hearing the public hearing is now open in person, request to speak. request to speak, and submit a speaker card to the city clerk, and remote speakers can use the raise hand feature to request, to speak. Please remember to identify yourself and your city of residence at the beginning of your comments, Madam Clerk. Please proceed

1:20:58here. We do not have any request to speak on this item. Any other comments or questions. Okay.

1:21:05do I have a motion to close the public hearing question close. So Second: okay. Motion from Councillor Kinto. Second by May Council, Member for Delhi.

1:21:15All those in favor. Please say a any opposed motion carries. Do I have a motion to approve?

1:21:24Oh, moved hey? Motion by Mayor per Tim Rugby! Is there a second

1:21:29second by Council, Member for Delhi?

1:21:33All those in favor of Pci a. I. Any opposed motion carries. Thank you.

1:21:42Okay. The next item

1:21:47is fiscal year 2,02324 budget. Study session. hey? Maybe please have the staff report

1:22:02right?

1:22:04Thank you, your Honor. Again. I'm spending Manager Karen Pinkus and I'll be giving the presentation. And Holly, did you

1:22:12you have the clicker. Okay, Thank you.

1:22:15So this is a study session to kind of continue our preview into the fiscal year. 2324, proposed annual budget tonight we will talk about feedback from the April 20 s, 2,023 community budget town hall as well as

1:22:33our online surveys. We will then discuss our priorities that we have what Staff has kind of put together from both the Community

1:22:43Town Hall as well as the online survey regarding the Budget, in conjunction with the Polco survey that was presented to you earlier, coming up with some proposed priorities. And then there will be a discussion as requested by Mayor on the City Council Budget.

1:23:02So next slide, please.

1:23:04So just as an overview of this community Town Hall the picture there it looks a little sparse. It was a beautiful day, but there were also some folks online, and we got close to 60 responses on our Polco survey.

1:23:20which asked the same questions of the questions that were asked for feedback related purposes at the Community Town Hall. So it was a great discussion, I hope that the Council, since delighted with it as I was, it was

1:23:35really great feedback, some very interesting conversations, and it was also a a great opportunity, I think, for the for us as staff and the Council to talk to the public about how far we've come, of course, in the past couple of years, so we provide an overview of the budget. We answered questions

1:23:54online and live, and we receive feedback on priorities. And as you can see there those links, the we'll keep the annual. But the annual budget process is our homepage on our website, with all of our budget, related issues.

1:24:10feedbacks, reports, updates, all of that, and this presentation included will be on that website. So if anyone has any questions or is wondering about the annual budget process right there, that's the link, and then the link below that the pollco link. We will keep that open throughout the end of the budget process through June thirtieth.

1:24:31so that people can continue to provide feedback.

1:24:34So there were 3 questions that we asked online and live and in person. So i'll go a little bit over what we heard. The first question was, what would you like? The city of Els are to prioritize in the city's budget for the next fiscal year?

1:24:49And so for these, what I did was prepare word clouds. So ho! If you could go to the next slide based on the feedback that we got from live and on the

1:25:01online survey, as, and also the Pull Coast Survey of priorities that you have seen. So safety, public safety really did stand out different services, but also while it within public safety, crime, prevention.

1:25:18wildfire, safety programs and services, partnerships with other agencies, another one that came up some of this words there for fiscal fiscal sustainability, fiscal prudence, participatory budgeting, working on our pension liability

1:25:37community responses. Other words, there that you see the pick a ball community came out in good force during our especially with our online survey. So is I hope that they've all heard that we are absolutely working on that with the school district

1:25:53to put that together here in Castro Park, and as councilmember, Kinto pointed out that the Tom Bates Park will also be looking at that. So, but also recreation services, kind of in general and different programs. Senior services were all brought up as potential priorities.

1:26:10Also, you see the library there, and emergency services. So next slide Holly. So the next question was, what services are necessary for the city to provide, and what services could the city stop doing?

1:26:23And so the next slide shows the necessary services, which i'm sure no surprise to any of the Council members or any of the Public Police Fire Safety recreation, recycling senior. Those were the ones that sort of stood out as the most essential services, and this was consistent throughout

1:26:42the surveys, both surveys as well as the online or the in-line person. Interestingly.

1:26:48there were not a lot of responses about what the city should stop doing, which, of course, isn't a surprise. Nobody wants us to stop doing anything, but there were some good considerations that I thought were brought up, including considering outsourcing any services. Maintenance came up a couple of times, for example.

1:27:04using technology, perhaps to replace some in-person services and using volunteers if when available for some services.

1:27:13So then the third question: what are your ideas? For how the city can maintain a healthy and sustainable budget while providing the services our residents and businesses desire most.

1:27:23And then the next word cloud actually again, I think, is is very consistent with what we, as Staff and and the city Council, have been talking about as well. Economic development, a big one trying to maximize our the Avenue, working on businesses, trying to get those developments going

1:27:41technology a huge one. How can we utilize technology to provide more services to the public at a lower cost. Actually, crime and prevention are supposed to be together on that slide. But crime prevention, I think, was also some of the comments that we got was related

1:27:58to focusing on business community and making sure that we're working on any crime, related issues and safety issues for the business community to again promote economic development, and then, as you can, it's not meant to be higher crime. That's also meant to be higher reserve

1:28:13to make sure that we are that we are indeed beaten, prudent about our our financial reserves, and that we are being sustainable. Pursuing Grant funding was also another one that that came across.

1:28:28Okay, how late next slide.

1:28:30So, then, from all of this, and again from the Polco Survey, we just we, you know this is, and this is for certainly for city council discussion, but we came up with sort of a several different categories regarding the priorities that seem to stand out

1:28:46going into this next fiscal year. So next slide, Holly, and just as a reminder, we are in the process of updating our strategic plan, we are going to be working on right. Now, what's called the environmental scan of our organization that looks through

1:29:02all of the kind of underlying things that we do, and why we do it. The demographics of our community what we're seeing, as far as gathering a whole lot of data for any of the I, any of the services and programs that we provide.

1:29:17And so that's in process. Right now. We're also going to be moving toward focus groups for different community members for our boards, commissions, and committees for our staff, and then for the city council. So that's all in the that will be coming up within the next month.

1:29:33so we'll be working on that. But still the strategic plan we have in place is is still in place, and those goals that you see there that are the goals that you see on every single staff report, and everything that we do

1:29:45is part of this roadmap that we are currently on. And so it still remains consistent with what we believe that we should be continuing with our mission. So next slide, Holly. So this is what the priority categories that based on everything that we've heard to date.

1:30:03have kind of come to to the front. And again, none of these should surprise any of you, because these are all again very consistent with

1:30:13our prior strategic goals. So just you know, I won't. Read them out loud because I hate them. I do that. But public safety, for example, is, is obviously one of the biggest priorities we've always heard, and we continue to hear. And it's not just about crime and crime, prevention, but earthquake and disaster and wildfire preparedness is very important to the community and to all of us

1:30:35parks and recreation. This came up a lot in various ways. I just put that all sort of in that bucket, because there was a lot of discussion about our parks and open space, and the amenities in our parks, and the amenities that we provide

1:30:48clubhouses, services, centers, you know. The senior centers come up several times the library, though that's a little bit separate, but different community spaces and public facilities

1:31:00and senior programs and services. As you know, those are ramping back up now this past year, since they were closed for so long during the pandemic. So that is definitely become a priority of our staff. So that's kind of that one

1:31:14category right there, obviously fiscal sustainability. This is one of my continued top priorities, and has been since I've been here as your city manager, but maintaining the reserves that we have maximizing and trying to take advantage of as many revenues as we can, and then being very strategic and thoughtful, and how we spend our money.

1:31:35and then the bottom 3. And again, this is not in any order, although I will say public safety really does rise to the top. That's why that's at the top there. But our strategic planning and public engagement. This is something I've talked about. This is something the council's talked about. This came up at the Town Hall, where, making sure we're continuing to communicate with community that we're upgrading and improving our communication, our engagement.

1:31:59everything from social media to.

1:32:01you know, maybe restarting our newsletter that we stopped before the pandemic things like that so increasing our outreach, making sure that we're working with the strategic plan to develop those community strategic goals that we all can agree upon citywide, and that will take us over the next 5 to 10 years.

1:32:21making sure that we're not just hearing community feedback, but that we're incorporating it into what we do. And then, of course, use of technology and social media and improving how we are able to communicate with our residents.

1:32:34although I will note that one of the things that did stand out to me is one of the comments that was made during the Community Town Hall meeting that we also have to be mindful of is that technology is not

1:32:45necessarily equitable for everyone in our community. We have a lot of seniors who might not be able to access, or don't have the the tech savvy that some of our younger folks do, or other tech heavy folks. And then there's also the

1:32:59issue of the many power outages we've already been experiencing over the past several, you know, years with. You know, a lot of stuff that we've been dealing with. So it's. It's, you know, sometimes have like like, I said, we're looking at perhaps, considering

1:33:14we, you know. Do we want to think about renewing our newsletter, our our our mailed newsletter. We've resumed our mailed

1:33:25recreation brochures, for example, so sometimes, having that in your mailbox, people do enjoy that, and it's something you can hang on to. So, anyway, those are all under the they've been under consideration, but it's also an equity issue to make sure that we're not just putting everything online that not everyone is able to access it.

1:33:44The other 2, our Bart Dod and Library, which has been a clear direction of the City council in a clear direction of of what we've been working with Bardon for the past several years. The Council has instructed Staff to explore a potential ballot measure. That is certainly something we have

1:34:00made sure to include in our work plan in our budget this year, the housing that we're discussing at the Bart to do, and also the parking program. As as the Council knows, this is all of the things that are already under way that we know we're going to have to have on our work plan for next year.

1:34:15And finally, last, but not least.

1:34:17climate action. This was also a big. This came out, and the pollco survey especially that we are underway with our climate action. Update. So that is on on point, and we will continue to work on that throughout the year, and developing our citywide goals and strategies with a climate

1:34:35focus in mind as well, has been something that has been a direction of the City Council, so i'll stop there. Those are again what i've. Staff and I have kind of gathered and put together, based on the feedback we've heard from these surveys from the strategic of the previous strategic process, and what we've been working on, what we expect to work on

1:34:54for the fiscal year. So I can stop here and see if Council has any questions, concerns edits. Do we forget something? Is there something else in there that that we should highlight?

1:35:05We are great presentation and really strong summary of the

1:35:13the of Town Hall meeting, as well as the kind of public feedback and the pulled close, survey my piece of feedback on this, and

1:35:22it it is. It sounds really silly, but even for me i'm the young whipper snapper here. The yellow in the word clouds is really hard to read.

1:35:32and the even in here this kind of a light green, so my only feedback would be. The color was really hard to read. Sorry about that so, but it was a great word cloud, I just, you know, for the things that were in yellow. I couldn't read it, and I want to make sure if I can't read it. Then to make sure that the

1:35:48the folks

1:35:49can be able to excessively read the content. Alright, Thank you.

1:35:54Yes, thank you.

1:35:58I thought it was really good, too. I was off with my daughter at her college, and looked

1:36:04actually in Hawaii, and it was I still to have a great interest in it. I was a good, I told the city manager it's a good primer if we can get this on the website about our budget, our system

1:36:14for others to see.

1:36:16I just wanted to say that and make everyone recall that several years ago now this council

1:36:23agreed that we should focus a little more on equity

1:36:27and kind of moving forward to deal in 2 ways with equity. Before our council. One would be to

1:36:35have staff and council discuss it more in our agenda items. and then for our city and its administration, to review the things and how it how it works somehow, I mean not somehow, but for a variety of reasons.

1:36:50this Hasn't happened. but i'm looking forward to the budget process in the next couple of months, and especially the department heads coming to us. and I just want them to know. Now i'm going to be asking them about equity.

1:37:03because I think it doesn't cost any money. It doesn't cost the city any money to start asking these questions.

1:37:08So I want every department head to know, and there may be no answer. They may have some concerns. The city managers just mentioned equity issue. We mentioned equity around recreational facilities.

1:37:21but we need to start thinking about it and start in the budget processes where we should be thinking about it.

1:37:27And i'd like every department head when they get that question to have thought about it. And again, there's no right answer, but it's time to begin asking those questions. So thank you.

1:37:38Thank you Any other question, and if I may, Council Member for Delhi. One of the things that we are budgeting for this year that we will, we will.

1:37:46We will highlight during our presentation is that we are beginning an extensive training of all city staff on diversity, equity, and inclusion. And so that is one of the places that we're going to start, and it is certainly our hope.

1:37:59With the refilling of the vacancies on the Human Relations Commission, I look forward to working with them on actually developing the plan that we had certainly wanted to do up to now. So I appreciate that, and and thank you for that reminder.

1:38:15Thank you. And and Paul know that all cities in California are working on this. So as a board. Yeah. So as a board member, you know, we're we're making sure that

1:38:28also these comply with this. So but i'm glad, Elsa Rita, Thank you for mentioning that logical place. Absolutely.

1:38:38hey?

1:38:40Okay. I mean. So if

1:38:44there isn't any. And and you know again, with you know. with equity as kind of an underlying value as well certainly appreciate that. Is there any other thoughts about the priorities. Is this a

1:38:59decent list for us to move forward

1:39:03that captures it? Very well, thank you so much. Next slide.

1:39:08So just to remind everyone the next steps right now actually May second is is today. We've had this budget discussion. We've had the public hearings for the Master Fee schedule and assessments which is now part of our revenue projections, we're continuing to prepare the budget in house right now, having budget meetings this week. As a matter of fact, with all the departments.

1:39:27So next week it may. On May ninth we'll have a special meeting to provide the Departmental Budget presentations. The following Council meeting will provide the Third Quarter General Fund update. And actually, I believe the Financial Advisory Board is slated to present their work plan to you on that night.

1:39:44They will also be slated to meet on the 20 third.

1:39:48and then the City Council Budget Hearings, June sixth, and June twentieth. We expect to release the that last week of May made the week of May 20 third. We expect to release the Budget document for the Council to consider, beginning on June sixth and June twentieth.

1:40:05and then we need to adopt the budget before June thirtieth, and once again there's our website for people to take a look. and with that that is the end of my portion of this presentation, and I know that's small. But you have that all in your packet. We wanted to put that up for your

1:40:21or just as a reminder, and at this point I will turn it over to the city clerk to discuss to me the discussion on the city council's budget.

1:40:30Thank you. So the information you guys have in your packet is an overview of the estimated budget for the City Council Division in the city's budget.

1:40:41The there's 3 or 4 areas that I wanted to just point out and review, and then I can certainly open it up for conversation and discussion by the Council. So the majority of the budget that you guys have is made up of our the do's and subscriptions for entities that the city is a member of so State entities like how cities the National League of Cities, and also regional Associations Lavco a Bag the Jpa Tom Bates dues. We did clean up a little bit of where those are charged. A couple previously had been charged in the city managers budget. They were more appropriate charges and council. So we've moved those over.

1:41:19So it's really just a move, not an increase of about 20,000. For those 2 changes.

1:41:24The other area is about 31,000 or so related to transparency and running city council meetings. So our live stream services, our broadcast support from funnel TV back in the AV room back here.

1:41:39the cost to to provide the zoom feed for our attendees, and then also support and maintenance, as we do, as you know, have limited staff for it. We don't have a lot of in-house AV support, so we do contract for that support. When it's needed

1:41:57one small thing to note that we did add to the budget in talking through with it some of the things that we felt were most critical for the Council Chamber technologies. We did put some budget in the in there this year to replace all of the dais microphones. My microphone is one that had recently gone out, and has been replaced, and is working much better. And so we felt that it was a a

1:42:19minimal expense to help increase the transparency of those at home. Being able to hear the people in chambers better. So we did a budget $10,000 to cover all of these microphones as well as 2 handheld mics, and then the last area that takes up a chunk of budget is the travel and training budget.

1:42:38This is a budget that in years past has kind of just been a carryover and a couple of fiscal years ago. The mayor at the time, and in looking at our budget and reductions during Covid we started to focus a little bit more on that and tracking what the spending was per member. Last year we we solicited request from all of the members, and the requests that came in were all pretty lateral across the board, so we were able to easily assign an a lot and

1:43:06equal allotment to all of our members.

1:43:08They share the request of the mayor. We're bringing it back for discussion at the dais, and the information that you have in your packet is by no means a request on Staff's part or approval of anything. It is simply a list of the requested items from each of the Council members, so that you guys can have the discussion and provide staff direction of what you would like us to put in the budget that will come before you for adoption in in the future budget study sessions. So with that i'll hand it back to the mayor, and I can certainly provide any content or

1:43:38questions that you may have.

1:43:40Thank you, Madam clerk. So I think one of the things is that we have changed what we are doing, and so in the in support of being as transparent as we can. I asked us to have a opportunity after this opportunity, to have this discussion.

1:43:57One of the things that was added this year is now. We have kind of membership in the National League of Cities, which is significant, so I think that is also part of our do's and subscription increases.

1:44:12and part of that is, then we have a council members attending the meetings, and so that is a sort of a a

1:44:22a whole. Another thing.

1:44:24So I think that's it's important for us to note. I think it's important for us to understand. You know the benefit and have an opportunity to discuss in public the benefits to participating in these types of events and programs

1:44:40for learning and for relationship building. So I think you know it's it's hard for the public to understand what we do and where things are, because this was sort of wrapped up into a budget that you couldn't really see.

1:44:54So I think, since there are, there are pretty significant changes. It. It's worth sharing that with the public and open it up for comments.

1:45:04Thank you. I'm here. Well, I like to discuss mine, because mine is the highest, and I want to explain to our residents and our Council here why it why I have the highest one, and I am on the Executive committee

1:45:23of the the Lgbtq as an Api caucus. So

1:45:28that is the reason why I continue to be part of both caucuses, and I continue to be on the Executive Committee of the East Bay Division. So that is why I am attending those meetings

1:45:45because I am part of the Executive Committee, but also

1:45:50I am a backup to if any, If I have to give updates on the board of directors. So Cindy, Silver and myself are members of the Board of Directors, and looking at the Policy Committee, I am a member.

1:46:09The Environmental Policy Committee, so that has a travel, and the reason why it's been lower in past years because because of Covid, and we've done all these meetings in the comfort of our homes via Zoom.

1:46:26Now we are travelling now. We have to pay for airfare. Get the cities, Elsa Rita pays for the caucus meetings and the division meetings

1:46:40and the annual conference. I am on the board of directors of the legal California City Statewide, and I just want to let folks know that I applied to be the first Vice President and second or second Vice President, but if I get into the first or second

1:46:58Vice President they will pay for the extra travel a. That I will be doing so. The city will not have to pay for that. Looking at the

1:47:09so. Most of these are are for traveling the extra fees for, and that goes with mileage as well, and the extra mileage and I do, belonging to our regional boards on the Vice Chair of Marine, clean energy.

1:47:25and we have a choice of driving over to Marine County to San Rafael or Concord, but because i'm a member of I belong to contra cost. I choose to attend my meetings in Concord. So that is

1:47:40yeah, at least 2425 miles each. Way. So you know, we did not have to travel a lot. Now we're traveling by car or bark or planes. So each of us are going to have higher

1:47:55yeah traveling fees. Then, looking at.

1:48:01Yeah.

1:48:02I have a question with the city clerk. What is a miscellaneous expenses? Is that for a mileage? Yeah, those are expenses related to locally some assignments, such as meals or mileage, that you, you may

1:48:16each member may submit for reimbursement throughout the year.

1:48:31and we have our meetings there once a month.

1:48:34and there's a possibility that I may have to travel

1:48:39yeah once a year. But that Hasn't happened yet, but when that happens i'll, I'll let everyone know Here, let the city manager and the city clerk know. So that is why my expense is at 7,900, and if you look at the past. It's always been yeah, close to the lowest

1:48:58through the years, and and I am looking forward to having my colleague step up and be part of regional boards like Council Member for Delhi as part of transportation. So but I know he'll have to travel to Washington like I have

1:49:14with marine, clean energy. My visit to Washington was paid for

1:49:21by marine clean energy the last 3 days I was there, so they're splitting the air fair with the city of El Sabrito. I was there for the National League of Cities as a board member for Calci, so

1:49:36you know, unfortunately, and i'll see, is paid for by the city. So that's why you see that added expense there. So just, you know, wanted to let all of you know, you know. So what the extra things that I do, besides the city like being Board member for civic Well, or being a board member for

1:50:00for Equality California, they they will pay for that, so I have not asked for any reimbursement, for you know my the times I've attended a Pacific. Well conference them.

1:50:16thank you and all that I pay through my ex my campaign account. So this is how Council members and mayors are able to pay for these extra things that we are honored to do. And

1:50:32and hopefully, you know, many of you will be a part of that as well in the future. So i'm looking forward to that. And and this is my third term and my last term; and, as you

1:50:44add on the years, you'll have the opportunity to do this to do the same thing that i'm doing, and and we have never had that in the city of El Cerrito for mayors and council members to step up. Now we do.

1:50:57and and we have a say at what goes on here regionally and statewide and across the country, because small cities matter, and you're looking at what the state of California is doing and placing a lot of

1:51:12unfunded mandates and things that they don't even talk to us about. They just go ahead and put these laws in, even though you know the verdict is on cities. So, as a board member for League of California cities, it's about checks and balances, and we used to have that when we have when we had more people in the Republican party. But now it's a one party role, and the things that they're trying to pass

1:51:40a lot of things we don't think it's reasonable for small cities to have that burden, so you know, and that's why I stepped up, and that's by part of the reason why i'm on the board. So thank you, Mayor, for Lindy. Explain

1:51:56Councilman Weston. Thank you, Mayor, and I i'd have to disagree with you, Council Member King, so you do not have the highest amount. I have the highest amount. So I did definitely. You said a lot of it here, you know. We are thankful

1:52:10for our city manager, and in the the previous Council who did sign us up for the National League of Cities, and it is, it's a great experience and a great opportunity for us to have these conversations with smaller cities who are talking about where the money federally is coming from, how we can get those down to the ground, how we can influence policy, and that doesn't unfortunately come with the backside. That we do do a lot of traveling.

1:52:32and also wanting to think further into the future. Understand that this is for 23 and 24. So a couple of things that are here on this budget request. Actually, they're happy. I know how we put put them about for this year, but we I won't be doing those this year because they're outside of our budget time that we're talking about. But we want to definitely be proactive for next year. So that's looking at things like the national Black caucus, the National Lgbtq local elected officers

1:53:00Summit, I mean when we're talking about equity, it's always a good thing to go to those constituency groups to see how other small cities are making sure they're bringing equity through policy through their their spending amounts

1:53:11the policy I am currently working with the Lgbtq caucus. They are trying to get more Lgbtq local elected leaders on the Federal Advocacy Committee. So i'm. I'm hoping to join the Public Safety Federal Advocacy Committee of National League of City Sometimes so within this next budget year, so that would account for the the Nose Policy Committee.

1:53:31and then, Of course the caucus is the Count cities. Of course it is this here in the city or in here in the State. They're not as in which I. This will definitely want to speak to. You know we're we're glad that we are, you know. See, but it is going to unfortunately cost us a little bit more in the city, but I think that it will bring in so much more. I know of Karen and I were actually talking. I will get it to a lot of it. But there will one opportunity that I know. The mayor was speaking of as well, and we're hoping that it does help us

1:53:54bring it more equity policies into our city without us having to actually pay out of our budget. So we want to try and balance. We're spending more for the travel. But we're going to definitely be getting a lot more in policy and funding by participating in the conference.

1:54:12That's a Member Mayor pro time run, Nick.

1:54:16so I want to start by saying how much I respect my colleagues. I I respect my colleagues very much. I see this as kind of like a Christmas wish list. If I could go to stuff. These are the things I could go to.

1:54:29I'm. Really i'm speaking on behalf of our like. I can't speak for help myself, but for our staff and for the community, I think it's really important. Given the financial situation that we're coming out of

1:54:41like I. Personally don't feel comfortable with increasing any of our travel limits until we get our class and comp study back.

1:54:49There's a lot of reasons behind it. I think that if the community is already very generous, and giving us this opportunity to be elected and to go to these events, the reality is

1:55:02membership in in caucuses. They are so important for professional development, without a doubt, and as their benefits to Al. Cerrito. Yes, definitely, however.

1:55:13are they indirect benefits, because they're helping us be better leaders, or they direct benefits because it's actually operationally helping out the community. Also, we do have a lot of things that are happening locally. I wish that El Cerrito had the kind of budget to support

1:55:31this type of involvement My perspective is, we are not there, and that we still have a big financial

1:55:39crutch that we we are. We are still, you know. I think, that if this analogy about life support, you know we're not. We're off of light support, that we are not in a place where I feel comfortable with

1:55:52representing ourselves at a level

1:55:55with communities that have budgets that are a lot larger than ours. We're we're just not there, I you know. Last year we had it at 5,000 a council member, and it was a little bit higher for the Mayor and the National League of Cities. Membership is new for us, which is great.

1:56:14certainly not knocking that. But you know that membership pays for

1:56:19whoever is the mayor to go to the conference, and in the city manager. I think that that makes a lot of sense, and if a mayor can't go to the conference, and the mayor can have someone who is a a a designee, go to that as well. But I just really want to center it back to the community and back to our staff, who've made tons and tons of sacrifices for us. And I

1:56:44again. I see this as a Christmas wish list. I don't would. I would never say so much to go to that. These are all great events. But just what can we afford? And I I really want to center it back to that.

1:56:56Thank you.

1:56:58Yes, I I tend to agree with on the Maripotem. I thought this was I, and I actually I was kind of, as I mentioned, out of state, and just thought didn't really focus on what this assignment, and that we'd be discussing it tonight.

1:57:13and I thought it was just what would you like to do next year? Let's talk about it. And I did get back to Holly and just say, I think I was going to take my name off of the National because I had too many things on there.

1:57:24and if our mayor is going to go

1:57:27knowing of our cities, financial issues, and that was just fine, and the city clerk said I could do that tonight, so I would like that. Taken off my list.

1:57:35I I think

1:57:38we have to think about what's the value to El Cerrito and not to us personally when our city is in such economic straits, and I kind of like the concept of having a set amount, I think it should be higher than 5,

1:57:53and that's up to negotiation 6 7 8 whatever. and that we monitor that ourselves. And maybe if there's a special request that we need to that, we can show our value to El Cerito.

1:58:06It's kind of like the bills that we talked about and bring before the Council the legislation that we bring has to impact El Cerito, and we have to prove it before we bring a bill here for us to discuss.

1:58:17And I think that's what it should be so. It shouldn't be everything in the world, but it should be how we focus where we what we do, i'm not. You know. I think caucuses are important. But are they more important than the

1:58:28the National and the State Conference? I don't know so this that's just my view, and I had a couple of questions. I think I I I was wondering

1:58:39what happens to the funds that are used in each of our I mean, I know kids late in the budget here, so we can't give it to others. Did that happen last time we did we

1:58:51assistance some other travel, did we? We moved it over to others to travel. We cause I know the mayor last year asked for additional money as mayor, which is great. May we have more money?

1:59:02The the current fiscal year. There was a one time request allocation for additional funds from here to the Council approved that came from unused funds from the new mayor, council, budget line, and in 2,020 we did have

1:59:16substantial funds that we're not used, and we utilize those funds to purchase the ipads for the Council when we were turning to remote meetings. Otherwise, typically, if the funds are not spent, they don't carry forward to a new fiscal year. But the spending the last few fiscal years has

1:59:34has been fairly low because of Covid. But looking back at kind of our last full normal 2 years for fiscal, 1819, and 1920.

1:59:47There Most of the funds were spent that were budgeted for that first year was $26,000 budgeted. We used just over 25,000 and fiscal year, 2026,000. And we use just about 17 and a half 1,000. So

2:00:05Okay, why did

2:00:07It's basically my my comments just to be cautious and conservative, and demonstrate through example to our residents here in Elsa Rito. I don't want to go

2:00:18through this discussion without saying

2:00:21that it's been. And and the former mayor has been vocal on this, that this, these Us. Council members basically get nothing for salary.

2:00:31and that's an issue that's been brewing for a long time, and compared to any other city around us, we could double and triple what we get.

2:00:40and still not make near what other council members are making. and if that issue was dealt with.

2:00:46then maybe some of these limits we could, if we really felt something was important, pay for one of these trips ourselves with the council money that we get. I'm just saying in in the discussion, it's something that we need to know about. So maybe there's a cap on on the official travel. But let's work to maybe increase for future council members

2:01:06the salary they make it. It's it's good for those reasons, but it's also good for opening up

2:01:11the Council member opportunities for those that might want to run for council. So my comment I I I completely agree. Thank you, Council Member for Delhi, looking at the people that decided not to run for reelection. I'm. I'm. Looking, i'm thinking of equity.

2:01:29diversity, and having a mother's perspective then, and and unfortunately we had to have a council member that had to leave because she had a full time job, and kids and a mortgage and a husband, and and I know both of you have that already, and you know how difficult it is to step up and and

2:01:49do these boards, and and it was easier to do the last couple of years because of Covid, because we could do it at home.

2:01:57and and that's the reason why I was able to do so much. But now that we're doing this, and we have to travel and drive and fly, and and put those expensive expense reports in. It is a tour now, so you know i'm looking at mine and and looking at the I agree with a Council member for Delhi that it should be the mayor that should attend the the National League of Cities. I have the pleasure of doing that

2:02:26last year. I so pull me out of that, and I will not attend, and i'll explain explain to my

2:02:34board members that yeah, that should. This is a mayor's position, and the mayor should be allocated that expense. So just go ahead and remove me from the Nlc. Summit. I did attend the Congressional one, and I learned a lot, and I know the importance of Grant writing and the importance of grant writing. I want to make sure to our staff and our Grant writer. We hired

2:03:01that. I expect our team here to apply for all those grants, because that's money that I don't want to be left there and the Federal side, because there there's a lot available on public safety and parks and wreck

2:03:16on public safety, so many, many things and greening of our buildings here at City Hall a lot of grants available. So I expect our Grant writer to be working full time and make and applying for those grants, and looking at the possibility of of a future building for public safety. There are grants available, for.

2:03:42you know, fire and and the police and upgrading our our facility in the future. So a lot to that we can do

2:03:52with Grant writing, and that's part of the reason why I personally attended. So I look forward to having my colleagues attend in the future, and then and for you to be a part of that, and to do the things that I've been able to do

2:04:06you know, I did not expect to be on the Mayor's Conference Executive Committee, but because Tom but retired, and the Mayor of Martinez, the executive director, asked me to stay one more year. So this is my last year I've been doing this since 2,017, and and you know it'd be great to have someone else here and elsewhere, you know, represent the Mayor's conference, so you know but that, and and the future of the caucuses

2:04:34you can have that I've been asked to stay on those caucuses. So that's the reason why I continue to be on there, and we've been having some difficulties dealing with governance lately on the League of California cities. So that's why they have me on there so. But

2:04:54you know I in the future, why won't be part of those, and look forward to having someone else step up and take over. So thank you. Yes, thank you, man. I I think Council Member for Delhi, you hit right to the heart of it is that we do have to start having hard conversations about what equity looks like, as far as pay scale for our Council members.

2:05:14I like. There are a lot of expectations of our community members, not just in what we're doing day to day, but how we are engaging with the our Federal agents, the people, our State legislators, the people who actually have the money for the things that they want to do in this city, and and we wouldn't have. I could tell you from me particularly. You wouldn't have as many requests if there was that that that equity in pay scale, so that we could pay for it directly out of pocket to go to

2:05:40these different conferences. I'm. I'm a little bit backwards, though you know I would rather sacrifice my my attendance at the Cal cities as opposed to in Lc. Only because I it some of the the groups there at in Lc. Because it's a national conference

2:05:55and something like public safety, which is what I'm. Endeavoring to be on. You have mostly people from a small town, and very conservative views who are making these dollar decisions about public safety that have completely different ideas of what it means to be public safety here in El Cerrito, or Berkeley, or Albany, or any of our surrounding cities. So I mean, if if on mine, if I was going to take me off Holly, I would definitely take off the city leaders summit.

2:06:18I would definitely take off the policy summit the Nlc. Summit. They could the constituency summit. I can take those off, but we'll keep on the the the Cal Cities Caucuses, the East Bay Division and the Lsc. City Summit and Congressional summit.

2:06:33We'll keep on the Policy Committee, assuming that I will make it on to that Public Safety Policy Committee. But I think it is very important that a small cities do take more of an active role in in those voices, because I'm telling you and Council Member King. So we'll tell you, being there in those nose rooms. Those are mostly populating with Middle Western and Southern States who are taking over how that that organization is is engaging with small cities, and we in California and Western cities really need to do a better job of being active in those spaces. And and, by the way.

2:07:03the the next President will be from California next year, and that's part of the reason why they ask Karen and myself to attend the National League of Cities, because California will be representing, and they expect Californians

2:07:20to head up, and of these boards that exist through Nlc.

2:07:28Other comments.

2:07:29Oh, it's so many. But yeah, but we do want to clarify because I asked this question to Holly before the recognition expenses that are under Council Member we sing are actually Council Member Abelson

2:07:41from her retirement party. That was that, and I want to make sure that for for the public they know that it's. It's not Councilmember White singer, that it is councilmember. Abelson. Thank you. Your memory your blessing. The the budget for Council Member y singer, is for half of the year based on the term change over so 2,500 of Council member able, since

2:08:02allotment was given to Council Member y singer, and then we use Councilmember Abelson's funds to do all of the recognition for her and I'm. I just want to mention one more thing. There. There's a a conference that LGBT attend, and and that is Statewide and Sacramento in the month of August.

2:08:23and I have paid that through my campaign account. So that's why we have a campaign account, and that's why we're fundraising constantly is because we don't want the city to pay for these extra things it comes from. So that's why we're asking for funds from our to replenish our campaign account so, and and know how important

2:08:49you know. And and that's why local elected officials have to campaign constantly, even when we're not running for reelection, and that is to replenish the account we're not being greedy.

2:09:01We just need to get that extra money to pay for the things we've been invited to, or to speak to in in the future.

2:09:12So I would like to just make some clarifications, because I think we know what we're talking about, but a lot of times the public does not, and one of the things is

2:09:24where you know you guys get paid. A lot is often an assumption that we get, and I think we've talked about. We don't get paid a lot, but we haven't, said the number, so we roughly get paid $400 a month before taxes.

2:09:40so a lot of taxes are taking out of that. So I think we net about $330. I had $441, and then we net about 380, depending on what your.

2:09:52what are your what you want me? 7 cents, and you know we have cities close by that pay medical that that give full insurance, and and we have nothing here, so just want to let you know the you know the city needs to consider equity and consider equity on this City council, because.

2:10:10you know, and this is why we've had trouble in the past to get good to to have people to step up and do this because this is a lot of extra work and a lot of extra time and a sacrifice to our families and our partners. So but we're we're doing this because we love our city and and we're basically volunteers.

2:10:32But let's. I know the fab has a a project that they're working on. So I look forward to looking at what other cities are getting aid in their city councils. There's a bill that Senator God has for not charter cities, but for general cities

2:10:49to up their pay, and looking at ours. It looks like we haven't gotten an up and sell our stipend since the 19 nineties or 19 eighties. So you have. So let folks know. You know this is not fair the Equitable.

2:11:08and they're looking at this council. That does a lot of work for free for these residents. And and we're doing what we can to make sure we do the best for our city and provide

2:11:24the the training that is necessary to break up up to speed on what is expected of local elected officials in California. So I would also

2:11:35like to to just state for myself that I feel you know this has been financially a tough year, because I am taking time off of work, so that I can dedicate more time to being mayor. But that being Mayor this year, it's been one of the most rewarding experiences that I have, and I just want to keep at the forefront. That is, an it is a privilege to serve

2:11:59some thoughts I had on the budget. I agree with Council Member for Delhi that not all of us have to go to everything.

2:12:08And so, if we can have a better system of maybe bringing back learnings and things that you know that will help us all not have to go. And I think that also is a time. Equity thing. We're not. All of us can go, and I think it's it's it's it.

2:12:24you know. I think, when there's so many things that we can participate in. You know you feel like this pressure to to go to more things than you than may we all. We don't all need to go. I think you know that. So I I want to just have that there as well that you know.

2:12:42so long as we can bring back the learning. And then one of the things, you know. I think there's a number of things on here that we have been going to that. We participate in that. Maybe the public don't know what it is is like the Contra Costa County Mayor's conference. This is all the mayors in the entire county.

2:13:02and then get together once a month. There is a a brief presentation and dinner, and it's a really important networking opportunity. So we know what our our colleagues are doing. We learn that things like, you know, in Lafayette they the Council doesn't get paid anything. It's 0,

2:13:17you know, and in Sam Pablo it's $1,200 per Council person per month. So there's Austin, sure. So there's a there. There are differences across the county, and we get to learn about that. But we also get to learn about their events, what they're doing, what we can do to support them and what they can do to support us. And so that is very local. Focus. It's very El Cerito supporting. We also participate in the Con West West County mayors and supervisors, and that is something important for us to like. Communicate with each other.

2:13:51And then one of the important things that Cal cities, and also the National League of Cities does for us, is lobbying upon our behalf.

2:14:00which I think is, it's an important thing, because we have a legislation that we have to understand and interpret. We are often called to support or not. So you oppose legislation that comes from Sacramento that affects small cities. But we can't, as a small city afford to have

2:14:19professional lobbyists, you know, on different subject matters working for us full time in Sacramento that is really really cost prohibitive. But when we participate as League members, for example, we get the benefit of those lobbyists for us.

2:14:36so that some of the things that we bring back, and I, I want us to be equitable, but I know that we are still in a really tight fiscal place, and I feel like the

2:14:49amount of increase that we're proposing makes it hard for us to do other things like. Ask people to donate to our Fourth of July celebration because we're coming out. We're saying, we're being, you know, fiscally prudent. We're still in lean times.

2:15:04and to say, oh, but we're gonna go travel a lot, even though there is benefit. I'm concerned about the optics of that. And then what that means that we W. Where we're putting our resources. So

2:15:17that's what I think. Is there any motion?

2:15:20I move that we cap Council spending for travel and $5,000 Per Council member.

2:15:29and

2:15:33in 8,000 per mayor.

2:15:36and may, or just a reminder, we need to make sure if any members of the public want to speak before you take any action on this right? Do we have any members of the public that would like to speak?

2:15:47I do have one request in person. and if you want to go ahead and come up

2:15:59well, good evening, Mayor's and Council members, and as the sole representative of the public here, I guess I have something to say, so I I was especially. I wanted to thank Mayor pro Tim Rudnik

2:16:10for bringing up the subject.

2:16:13Yes, it is very important and and very nice for us to be represented, and maybe even seen in Washington, DC. I don't know that they're looking for us, but you know, for us to be represented, and and it's exciting, and

2:16:27i'm not sure it's a necessity for El Cerrito. I'm not sure how it really helps us citizens, and the quality of our life here.

2:16:35and it would be a really nice perk to to get to go to Washington for a week, or or get to go to San Diego on the plane, you know. I understand, because I got to go on business trips when I was working, and I always try to make the most of it, you know, to not like. Oh, go out to dinner here Well, and you know, maybe see my friend here while i'm there, but you know, still I would be working, but

2:16:58it was a treat to get to go anyway, until you get tired of it.

2:17:03and I also want to thank Mayor Fideli for for talking about

2:17:08the Are these expensive Perks worth it? Or should we consider giving you guys something

2:17:15to make it work for a while, because this is a well into being a part time job. I didn't realize you didn't even have health benefits. I worked for the State of California for 30 years, and the whole reason I did it was so. I would have security.

2:17:29and a and a health plan, and all the benefits that you get with a secure job. So I really think that you do deserve something like that. And maybe that's one reason you're kind of like more wanting to have a special trip. I better watch my minutes to get to go to Washington because shoot. What are we doing for you? I don't know. But by considering

2:17:49you know what you guys brought up, which I think is real important.

2:17:53and the the fact that we just come out of budget crisis and and that we now we're only moderately badly off instead of terribly badly off. I'm

2:18:04i'm looking at your travel budget, you know. I mean, I didn't understand everything that went on tonight, but I I looked had downloaded the thing, and I look in the bed, and I going $3,000 for what you know.

2:18:15And then I said, Gee, we're trying to put on our Fourth of July. We're trying to get local services as a senior. We would really like. I don't know if I got away from the speaker here, but we would really like to get a senior center, as you know, you know. So Certainly i'd be looking in future years about about travel budget.

2:18:34And i'm thinking that we want to do things that would really bring

2:18:39benefit to El Cerito as a whole, and make us the good kind of city that we're really trying to be, and and have a good financial record as well, right? So so that's what I wanted to say, and thank you for listening. And did I ever say Linda Kane else to Rito? So sorry?

2:18:58Thank you. That does.

2:19:00That is our only request to speak on this item. hey?

2:19:04So before you make that, I just want to reiterate something that you know the travel that I have done in Washington was representing more and clean energy. I'm. A rain clean energy paid for that, and they will pay for that in the future.

2:19:22And it was a successful trip where we were get. We were able to get earmarks from Congress, the Department of Energy Department of Transportation.

2:19:32speaking to the legislative directors for Senator Feinstein, and I spoke directly to Senator Padilla, and meeting with him

2:19:42with our California delegation. So I've been able to deliver $750,000 for to green low income home. So what's supporting the neediest in our communities in the district? 8, a Congressional district, and and we wouldn't have gotten that if I didn't, you know, fly out there and ask for it so. And looking at what

2:20:12the Congressman desolate he will be. He has supported the earmarks that we requested, and he's going to put it on the budget for this year, and and that is to add 2 million dollars for ev infrastructure that Contra Costa

2:20:29desperately needs. So i'm not doing there. I I don't go to parties, you know i'm there to work and to get the job done, and that's what that's why people voted me in time and time Again, this is not a party. This is doing work, and and I'm here to represent the residents.

2:20:47and also with the regional boards that we belong to. We have the responsibility regionally

2:20:54to deliver. So. But i'm proud of you know, being with Supervisor John Joy, and we were able to deliver in this recent trip to be seen.

2:21:08Oh. I think there's one comment from the customer. Yes, thank you, man. I I am in in very, very deep conflict, because i'm hearing a lot of very important conversations about money that we do need money that we need for a senior center money that we need for a public safety building money that we need to bring more services, and we have not yet really found a way to. Not just.

2:21:28not just stretch our budget or be creative with our budget, but to bring the money into the city. So I I want to be very clear that when when we are going on these trips, and clearly I've only been on the Council for 4 months. But I have been one of these trips. These trips are not. This is not going on a fun job.

2:21:44This is not a perk of the job. This is actually going to the people who have the money, because, trust me, When we were in DC. This last time, you had cities like San Bernardino, you had cities like small cities like Carson, who were going there speaking with Senator Padilla, speaking with Senator Feinstein people speaking with their Congressman, some who some who did have lobbyists, many of them like us, who do not have lobbyists, and they were getting the money.

2:22:09We had a conversation with Congress and Mark to sign. I'm sorry not to sign you with our congressman, John Gear and Mendy, where we will possibly be bringing in the money for our public safety building without our staff having to go find it. But what I also found out is that right up the road and penal there Already they were already getting it, and no one knew it.

2:22:26And that's because they have been up there to DC. To do it. So we have if we're going to start thinking about expanding the vision of we have to expand the vision of El Cerrito.

2:22:36so I would like to make a fit a friendly amendment to count. I'm. From their protein Rednecks motion to I will be agreeable to the amount that Council member for Delhi gave of $8,000. But I think that we need to start thinking a little bit. I don't want to say grand or confusing. People would think we're trying to be grand, but we do have to think a little bit grander, because we are trying to do something that Hasn't been done in our city before, and that is going to require funds that are not here right now in El Cerrito, but they are here. They are in Washington, DC: right now.

2:23:05Well gonna make the motion.

2:23:07Do you like to make a motion, or

2:23:13as I bank this down.

2:23:17please proceed with your motion. My healing is

2:23:21for anything about that. Ideally we can have a situation where it is agendas, and then we vote on it so kind of like the increase to Council Member Quintos

2:23:31budget, it would be.

2:23:34It's beneficial, because I I certainly understand and get the logic. The only thing is that we also meet with the Congressman here

2:23:42like Yes, these conversations are happening in DC. And they're happening at these conferences, but that does not preclude us from the conversation. Whether or not we are and aren't there, and I agree with the speaker, they are Perks.

2:23:55There are parties. We go to those things you do sometimes see a friend. I. It is really important that we're straightforward and honest about that. But also

2:24:04we're doing this for $441 a month, $380 at the end of the day. No other benefits. So I do think that we should be able to incorporate it, because we are whole people, and I. But I do think that

2:24:17any money above what we are currently budgeting is money that we're not spending on sending out a newsletter or money that we're not putting into a section 115 Trust. and I think that any kind of special funding that could come from Federally Federal funding to help support a new public safety building does not require us to be in Washington to make that happen.

2:24:38So I respectfully decline the the friendly amendment.

2:24:43Can I suggest a friendly amendment? Raise that amount to $6,000.

2:24:50I will accept that one. No, no offense. But I will accept that one. I think that is more reasonable, because then that's a

2:24:56$4,000 increase, because I think if it's 6,000, and then 8,000 for the mayor, that's everything else has been increased. You know this from last year. So the motion with the friendly amendment is 6,000 Per Council member 8,000 for mayor.

2:25:12But if we do have to attend something additional, if we can bring this back to the Council, and we can agendize this and vote on it like what we did last year. I support that because you know the things that I'm doing is that is, is the extra work

2:25:29representing the State of California with the body of this Organization League of California Cities. That represents all 500, all 485 cities. So this is something that you're voted in and interviewed and when you're in there. One of the 55 board members. You have a say on what goes on statewide, and the bills that we support up or down

2:25:55and meeting with the legislators, and I do that all the time, and I'm caught making phone calls all the time, and that that's what I do when and the added responsibilities of representing Al Cerritos to make sure cities like Al Serrito have a seat table, because for many years

2:26:15we haven't.

2:26:19I would I would support the motion, but I would say that if we can't, we can't come to an agreement of how we how we

2:26:26engage deeply and meaningfully with Nlc. Then for me, as a Council member, I would have to reconsider whether I support as being a member at all, because if we we're we're not getting the full use and the full benefit of being in the organization. That's just it. And it may be because I actually went to the conference. But we're not getting that if we're if we're saying we can't even afford to engage in it.

2:26:50we should say we can't afford to engage in it. Why pay a membership fee to an organization that we can't even go to engage with the organization. So when it comes time for this this membership be to come up again, we'll have to talk about whether we're going to be a part of it or not.

2:27:04And we second that motion of the red Mix.

2:27:09and if I just could share additional content that the the allotment that the Council decides to move forward with is the amount that each member has to spend. You still have the discretion to determine how you want to spend that throughout the year. You are not tied necessarily to this specific list.

2:27:26You just need to make sure that you're not spinning over your authorized amount, but how you choose to spend it that still resides with the individual Council member.

2:27:34Can I make a brief comment? I think that that's a really good point Council member. Why, singer? Because I think you're talking about kind of weighing participating in Cal cities or Nlc. And if it's your preference

2:27:46to do all Nlc's things and be our Nlc person. I think that that could make a lot of sense, so we don't all have to go to DC. We don't have to all do the Nlc. Stuff. So I think again within $6,000 per Council person, and that with your ability to have discretion on what you prioritize within that I think that that makes a lot of time. Yeah.

2:28:09I would also like to thank my colleague. So this is the kind of deeper dialogue that we hardly ever get to have about budget items. And so I really appreciate your thoughtfulness and active participation in and

2:28:24bringing this conversation forward and indulging me in. And having this

2:28:28I I just want to make one more point dealing with the National League of cities. It's the Board members that play a role on to the National League of Cities, and that's why the President and the executive director asked

2:28:42City manager, Karen, Pinkas and I to be part of that, and that's the reason why we decided to become members the city of also Rita. Of that, because we can't afford to have our own lobbyists. You look at Concord. You look at Danville, and

2:28:59they have their own lobbyists. They can fly out there whenever they want to, and they do all them. And that's why you see all the great things happening and transportation, and everything else happening in South

2:29:12and Central County, where West County we have no parity. So we need to think about parity in every level, including regionally, with what we do, because we have not ever had a place at the table on the legal California cities. This is a very first time, and I cannot tell you the the important work that we were able to do for cities like Elsa Rino. So you know, small cities depend on the League of California. Cities

2:29:42like El Cerrito does, because we cannot afford a lobbyists. So that's why we're members. There are some cities that are are, are, you know, ending their relationship with the League of Cities right now, because of

2:29:58the the nimb thing with housing so. But I don't want to go there, but I have seen personally the benefits of Elsa Rito continuing to be a member, and I hope they will continue to be a member and encourage council members to do exactly what i'm doing, because it it's not for me personally. It's it's for what it's for representing the city

2:30:23and the city having the Spotlight statewide, and then we've never had that. So you look at the Free Press. The city of El Cerrito gets from me being at the at the

2:30:35Press Conference, or speaking at a press conference Meeting with the Governor, a meeting with Alex. Padilla and Senator Feinstein, a meeting with members of Congress that has a huge say for small cities in California. Can we call the question, please. Thank you. Thank you. Council Member King to. We have a motion on the floor.

2:30:55Mayor Pro Tim Ruddick.

2:30:58Yeah, you have your motion by Council, member for Delhi, and for the record that just to clarify that that motion is for a allotment of 6,000 per Council member, as well as an additional 8,000 for the individual and the role of the mayor.

2:31:14which would be a total of I just have it

2:31:20sorry. 38,000 for the year about I I to clarify it wouldn't be an extra 8,000 for yeah, I guess that would be with this projection for mayor with 7,700. So Yes.

2:31:33i'll stick with that. You want to include the Council members. K. Those comments about bringing things back to Well, it's the top that. So? The agreement is that if anyone wants to do any additional

2:31:45travel that would come to us, and then we would vote on it.

2:31:51Yes, because it's the thing about it, and I was listening to what everyone's saying. What is we have to bring into context that this is

2:31:57California local government. So there is certainly kind of the the national Federal and the money that comes from that. But when we think about like law enforcement and planning, that's all California, and so I think it is really important that we center things back to where we are here, because this you know it.

2:32:16I'm. On the Public Safety Policy Committee for the League of California Cities, a lot of those policies that's directly impacting our law enforcement folks. And yes, there are really important things happening in Federal, but it is about

2:32:27how we're prioritizing

2:32:29our our resources, which are so small. You know we're so small. You'd be like we can dream big, and it's great to go to stuff and and to be it stuff, and have people know what else to do and not constantly ask us in Northern California? Is it Southern California, but to actually know that we're El Cerrito.

2:32:46How is that helping our operations? And I think that

2:32:50this amount $6,000, while, like even I can imagine some community members will look at. I think that's really expensive, but also

2:32:58this is what we're doing, and this is our service, and we need. This is serving El Cerrito. So yeah, so that is the the motion.

2:33:066,000 per member and additional 8 for mayor and my apologies. I have one more question. There was a $5,000 allotment for

2:33:173 potential new Council members with the upcoming election, and a new mayor for attendance to the new Mayor and Councilmember Academy. We don't typically put those costs in the individual allotments, because the year to year we do not know who that individual that would need to attend is so. We typically tech that on as its own little budget.

2:33:34and for 4 individuals we budgeted roughly. 5,000 for that expense. Sure

2:33:40is the second or open to the amendment as well.

2:33:44She is. Yes, okay. So one last time to clarify for the record that is, 6,000 for Council, member, an additional 8,000 for the role of the Mayor, and additional 5,000 for those individuals, for the new Mayor and Council Academy for a total of 43,000, which we will put in the budget should it pass tonight for the Council to

2:34:04on at a future meeting. Correct.

2:34:07hey? All those in favor, please say Aye, aye, any opposed okay, motion carries.

2:34:14Thank you.

2:34:17Okay

2:34:18again. Thank you so much for that really robust discussion. I think hopefully, the public can feel confident that we are thoughtful about everything that we do

2:34:29so. The next item is city council, local and regional lease on assignments. Are there any Council reports?

2:34:39May I push him back?

2:34:40Yes, I attended the a/C Transit breakfast 2 weeks ago, and it was an incredibly fascinating presentation. I know that our last Council meeting Ryan Lao, who is the external relations manager, what

2:34:56attended our meeting and let folks know about the Survey tool. So please go on to the a/C transit website. It is really important right now that we are right sizing our service in order to maintain steady a/C transit service, and I understood a little bit more about their financial situation, also their dire need for drivers. They are short, 150 drivers. It is a Union job. It is a steady job. It has a pension, and for folks who would be interested in that, it is a much better employer than Amazon.

2:35:26so I hope that folks would be interested in being a/C transit drivers. I also attended the Parks and Rec Commission meeting, and it was really exciting to see a presentation on some of the

2:35:39Okay.

2:35:40I was from Steven Pre about the

2:35:44Gosh. Been a late night around some of the kind of debris clean up around the H. A. And how we can help to address only the wildfire risks.

2:35:55Thank you

2:35:56any other. That's also in the world of transportation. The Ccta, that country cost of transportation authority.

2:36:05Last week inaugurated the Bay Area's first autonomous vehicles system open to the public at San Ramon's Bishop ranch it's called Presto

2:36:16and people can now ride that around

2:36:20Bishop Branch, and it's an example of future transportation systems for the first and last mile that's so critical, and the next one will be at Ross more, so there'll be another one, and I know the Mayor's talked about that being useful, maybe in Elsa Rito in our town as well. So thank you.

2:36:38Great

2:36:39Councilmember.

2:36:43Okay.

2:36:44So I attended the tech and future of work presentation by the East Bay Economic Development Alliance, to which i'm a liaison that was really interesting hearing kind of where we're going with work in the future, and the most an in interesting part of that was

2:37:02hearing from the CIA as a tech employer. So they're doing a lot of like high security things as as the Culinary Institute of America.

2:37:18Other people, yeah, and that that their work is much more widespread than we understand, which is kind of frightening.

2:37:24I attended the a Bag executive committee. I went, attended the city. The Cal City is briefing on Sales tax, as that's part of the City Managers Policy Committee.

2:37:36I attended the Budget Town Hall with my colleagues, Council members, and also the fiftieth anniversary of the When we School of Martial Arts, and got to see the actor, Daniel L.

2:37:49Was there. I also participated in welcoming the Well Cats, 4 H. Club to the City Council Chambers, so that they can learn about

2:37:58government and governance, which was really fun with city manager and city clerk, and the participants got to sit in our chairs and practice being Council members. So that was really fun. I address the elsewhere to Democratic Club, and we had one of our AD. Hoc subcommittee meetings for advisory bodies, Council, Member Fideli.

2:38:21and attended the West County mayors and supervisors meeting

2:38:24and a ribbon cutting for the Chamber for Edward John's Financial advisory services in

2:38:33Now

2:38:37the next item is adjourned and okay. it is now

2:38:448, 38 Pm. And we are adjourned. We have a special city Council meeting scheduled for May Ninth at 6 Pm. Followed by our next regularly scheduled City Council meeting on Tuesday, May sixteenth at 6. Pm: Thank you very much.

2:38:59Thanks.

2:39:03They're winning by one.

2:39:08Oh, okay.