Special and Regular City Council Meeting October 3, 2023

0:00:15Pay me whenever you are to begin.

0:00:20Thank you. City clerk.

0:00:26The October third, 2023 regular City council meeting is called to order at 6 3 PM. Will the city clerk please call roll

0:00:37chairman here, mayor, part time, redneck present councilmember, Fideli. Here councilmember quinto, and councilmember Weissenko is absent for the record. and we understand she is caught in traffic and is on her way. Yes.

0:00:50okay.

0:00:53So next item is the pledge of allegiance or a moment of silence. Please join me

0:01:02bye

0:01:06to state.

0:01:08Okay.

0:01:10stated this, both within a position and research report.

0:01:18Okay?

0:01:20And before we go on to teleconference and public comment instructions. I'm going to take a moment of mayoral prerogative.

0:01:29El Cerrito stands united against hate. Hate. Speech is an attack not just on the council members that were singled out at our last meeting. But on all of us.

0:01:39council members, community members and city staff.

0:01:43I have greatly appreciated the outrage that many people have shared with me in person and through their messages, that this should not be allowed to happen in our meetings.

0:01:53as some of you may know we have suspended the use of zoom for public comment for the time being. I apologize on behalf of the Council and the city for the inconvenience to our residents.

0:02:04We did reach out to our residents directly, to have used zoom most for public comment in the recent past, and we have gotten really strong support from most people.

0:02:15We deeply value comments from our community, and we are still able to accept comments here in the Chambers in person as well as in writing.

0:02:24We do not want to give a platform to hate speech and allow our council meetings to be a venue to amplify it. Over 35 cities, including El Cerrito, have been targeted by these hateful racist, anti-semitic, and vulgar comments in a coordinated attack by speakers commenting via Zoom.

0:02:42Most of these people do not live in our community, and some likely not even in California. We have been working to find best practices in consulting with our city attorney to make sure that we are meeting our obligations under the Brown Act to ensure that we are protecting the first amendment right of speech.

0:03:00We are not naive. We know that hate is lurking everywhere, and as we have, as we have experienced in our community before this, and we know it will happen again, even as the targets change.

0:03:12However, heat against anyone in our city is an affront and attack against us all.

0:03:18We know that it is out there, but that is not who we are, not what our city is about.

0:03:24I hope that the anger and outrage is a call to action and a call to greater civic participation, because that is how we can counter people that choose to spew, hate, to foster fear, distrust, and isolation.

0:03:38El Cerrito is united against hate.

0:03:42The next item on the agenda is Council Staff Communications City Manager. Before we get to General Staff communications. Could you please share your comments about the impact of the last meeting on staff.

0:03:57Sweet, thank you, your honor. Can everyone hear me?

0:04:00Yes, great.

0:04:02So thank you, your honor. As a as a as an as an aside, but as a as a part of this.

0:04:09As you all know, is the as the so certainly the city Council knows, and as residents know, our staff attend city Council meetings

0:04:17to present their policy and program recommendations to the City Council for their approval, they're available to answer questions. The city has policies requiring maintaining a respectful workplace, free from abusive, hostile, or intimidating conduct.

0:04:32and therefore, as an employer, and I, as the city manager have an obligation and responsibility

0:04:38to protect our staff.

0:04:43Our staff, who attended the meeting were impacted by those vile comments, many of whom are also part of the groups that were targeted by the hate speech.

0:04:51We have to ensure that our staff are not subjected to an abusive, hostile, or intimidating working environment.

0:04:57and at the last meeting our staff who attended, watched, or heard about that not only were impacted, but many of our staff are also part of the communities and the groups that were targeted by the hate speech themselves.

0:05:09So this action to suspend remote and virtual comments from the targeted attacks that have been happening again, as the mayor mentioned, not just in El Cerrito, but in many other cities across the State, helps ensure that our workplace environment remains respectful and safe, at least to the best of our ability, for our staff.

0:05:27Again, there's no doubt that this is an inconvenience. There's no doubt that this could be seen as a retreat.

0:05:32However, I must try to protect, not just the city council, not just our residents, not just the people watching the meeting, but the staff that work for all of us. They deserve to be protected as well. Thank you, your honor.

0:05:47thank you. Are there any further staff communications

0:05:53again, Karen Pink is city manager. I'm here with Alexandra Orla Logus. We are attending the Icma Conference in Austin, Texas. So it's good to see you all. And thank you for your support again for our professional development. Alex gave a wonderful session, and she's doing real well, and we're happy to be able to join you tonight and thank you again for your support.

0:06:16and that's all I have at this time.

0:06:18Thank you. Are there any announcements from any council members? We're actually on the tele conference instructions. Item on the agenda. I'm sorry

0:06:27I skipped ahead and my apologies. No problem, and I'll just quickly announce this hybrid meeting provides an option to participate in person, or via Zoom with closed captions available by participating in zoom. Meetings of the city council are subject to the Brown act and our help for the purpose of conducting city business. The Brown Act also ensures the public's right to be heard, and while city Council is not able to respond to your comments directly your comments will be heard prior to council taking action

0:06:54for members of the public who wish to provide oral testimony, the mayor will announce the time for public comment on each applicable item. Public comments will only be taken in person, and a request to speak can be submitted to the city clerk by completing a speaker card. The Council's adopted rules of order and procedures specify that public speakers address the city Council in an orderly and respectful manner, proceed their comments with their name and city of residence, and be respectful of time limits. Thank you, Mayor. Thank you. City clerk.

0:07:23going back to council and staff communications. Are there any announcements from the council members? Thank you. Everyone.

0:07:31Okay. Mayor. Pro tem. Thank you. Mayor Motoyama. I wanna take a moment to thank the public. I don't wanna repeat what has already been said by my colleague and the city manager, but as someone who has been targeted by this group for quite some time. It II really hope that the public is able to zoom out a bit and recognize that this is an attack on democracy at the local level.

0:07:57It is, I believe, close to 40 agencies in the past few weeks who've experienced this. This is a very coordinated effort. So I wanna make sure that, regardless of your opinions on policy, that it's centered on a value of democracy that are that we must upheld must uphold. For those of us who either are descended from people or have themselves experienced

0:08:21what it feels like to have democracy taken away from you. We want to make sure here in El Cerrito and in the State of California and in this country, that democracy is.

0:08:31as always, going to be center, paramount and prevail. Thank you.

0:08:36Thank you.

0:08:38Councilmember Fidel. Yes, thank you. I'd first like to mention that our El Cerrito Environmental Quality Committee, along with Els original Strollers and Rollers and the Bike East Bay will present the street project, a film documentary this Saturday at 9 45 at our Rialto Theater, you know it's about

0:08:59the fight to make streets safer. And here's here's a brochure on this, and there will be 9 45 until 1145, and there'll be a community discussion afterwards in the theater. So that would be something nice to attend to.

0:09:13Secondly, I'm very proud to mention that on Saturday, October fifth 15, my high school here in in Richmond, John F. Kennedy High School will be having his 50 fifth reunion

0:09:27following the summer of love in 1,967, 62 was a momentous first year for Kennedy High, and I'm one of the graduates of that year.

0:09:39I'm old. I know that Supervisor Joya will appear at the event whose dad was also a government teacher in 1968 at Kennedy. High.

0:09:50So if there are any eagles around that, why would like to join us at that time?

0:09:55Oh, okay, well.

0:09:59but you look younger than a graduate of 1968. Okay, see? Okay, well, this is for 55, 55 years ago is when we graduated. So contact me at my contact information on the website, and I'll be glad to get back to you. Thank you very much.

0:10:16Thank you. Councilmember Quinto, do you have any announcements?

0:10:21Great? So I have some mayoral announcements.

0:10:27first is the Harding Harvest Festival is back on Sunday, October the fifteenth. It's one of the really fun events that we have, and we haven't had it since the pandemic. So

0:10:40anybody that would want to attend a very family friendly event at Harding Elementary school, that is, on Sunday.

0:10:46subcommittee on advisory bodies. I just want to acknowledge that the study session was paused at the last meeting, and we will regroup, and I would like to request feedback from council members as they attend their committee assignments on the proposed changes. If there's any concern or or additional comments.

0:11:09and for the third quarter of 2023, covering July. Through September. I recognize Elsrido centenarians, Tadashiyoshi and Theodore Crumb, who both turned 102 with a mayoral certificate of recognition.

0:11:24Okay. is there anyone here this evening to accept the certificate of recognitions?

0:11:33I do have. Nope.

0:11:35I don't believe they were able to attend. Okay, thank you. The next item is oral communications from the public. Now is the time for members of the public who wish to provide public comments regarding matters not on the agenda. Consent items and presentation items. Request to speak can be submitted to the city clerk by completing a speaker card.

0:11:55Public comments will be taken in person. Only please remember to identify yourself and your city of residence at the beginning of your comments. City clerk, please proceed. Thank you, madame. We do have 6 requests to speak tonight. So I'll go with the first speaker, Jesse Walker. I'd like to set the time at 3 min. Okay, thank you for that confirmation.

0:12:18So although Speaker Jessie Walker, followed by Mirabcon.

0:12:25you can come up to this podium right here.

0:12:30Hello, City Council. My name is Jesse Walker, and I'm a El Cerida resident. Moved here last year. Very exciting. We bought a house and we applied for some building permits.

0:12:41Paid for the plan. Check building permits were delayed in getting the plan check completed had to resubmit a bit later than we wanted to. And now we're being charged again for those same plan. Check

0:12:56these, and I was told that I could ask the city council to think about them and possibly remove them from the list, not really sure how that works, but this is what I've been told so

0:13:10if you like more information about it, I'm not really sure how to go about it. So so II believe, city manager that this should go back to the planning staff to prepare something to bring to Council

0:13:23if this person would be able to give their information to either the city clerk or any staff in the room, we'd be happy to investigate it.

0:13:30And I do have the contact information for this. Okay, so we can follow up with you. Awesome. Thank you so much. Thank you.

0:13:37He will go to our next speaker.

0:13:41oh, Karen, can you? I'm, gonna mute, you guys

0:13:45and okay, it's because Myra from the web Richmond.

0:13:54good evening. Everyone. Okay. So I came yesterday to get a parking permit the little stickers on our cars, and

0:14:04last time I paid it was like $30 for the 3 years. So my 3 years is up and I went, and it's a hundred 17.

0:14:12And so I thought, This is tough because I'm a senior

0:14:18low social security. So sometimes it's a little bit difficult to do these extras. And so I was wondering, why don't they have senior discounts?

0:14:27And it like quadrupled instead of like doubled, and then the other concern we had on cutting Boulevard is the cars flowing up the street, and I understand they can't put speed bumps because of police and fire trucks zooming up and down. But is there any other way that we can put something to make people slow? I mean, it's like a sometimes 50, 60, and we have a lot of elderly.

0:14:52and they've gotten to where they're not even able to cross the street. They just kind of walk up and down. It's become kind of dangerous. So those are my 2 things. And I was wondering what could be done.

0:15:05Parking permit. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Our next speaker is Brian Richmond, followed by Sue Duncan.

0:15:18Hi, I'm Brian Richmond. I'm a resident of Elsorido since 2019 and I'm here to speak on behalf of the of the Elsorido trail trackers, because in particular, there's been a long standing project since 2012, I think.

0:15:35To basically to print and install signs in the hillside natural area, and the parcel rec. Commission, I believe, approved it in 2,016

0:15:47and there's measure www. Funds available for it. So the plans ready, the funding's ready, and it's supposed to run out next year, and the last

0:15:57we heard was in May. They're ready to move forward, and then it stopped again. And at this point I believe there's one issue where maybe one new homeowner where trail crosses their property is worried about liability, and I understand there could be concerns like that. But that actually has nothing to do with the signs themselves.

0:16:17The trails already exist, people already crossing there. And so the issue really was that there seems to be a delay at every turn, and we're letting very close to the point where we're running

0:16:28time to be able to do this plan. It'd be a real shame after so many people put so much effort into doing it, and I know it's not gonna be the the most important thing that was the most urgent issue. But

0:16:43in some ways. The hillside natural area is one of the crown jewels of our city. Our town is something that I personally very proud of, and I love about our town and this will be a really nice addition to it, and it would be if you will. Sharing with this couldn't be done. So I'm just here, basically to urge the I think it's just somewhere in the city's

0:17:04docket. I would just urge people to go ahead and move forward and put the bidding process to get this plan done. And

0:17:11I also want to to remind people that as they sort of truck records, we're here and written to help out anywhere we can, including there are some parts of the plan that include volunteer efforts to to help out. So we're here to stand ready, and we thank for your support.

0:17:29Thank you. Thank you.

0:17:31Excuse me. Our next speaker is Sue Duncan, followed by Paul Duncan.

0:17:49co-founder of make Us. Radio firesafe.

0:17:55The September marks make us rid of fire safe, 50 in existence. We are a group of residents concerned about the wildfire threat that exists that existed and still does in and around the city. Wildcat, Canyon, Camperms, hillside, natural area, and lots of overgrowth on private property.

0:18:15Some of our accomplishments have been getting the city to enclose the area in hillside natural area where the kids used to regularly build fires after, especially after football games, submitting the draft for resolution 2021, 37, stating that wildfire preparedness and prevention is a top priority of the City City Council adopted this on July twentieth 21. Thank you.

0:18:39Sending out information about wildfire preparedness and prevention, evacuation, readiness registering for the C. Ws. And more information, including residents, including notifying residents, that there was a proposal to close Fire Station 52, which resulted in a record number of letters to the Council against the closure. It was not closed, thank you successfully applying for Measure X crew of Contra Costa County's Measure X.

0:19:10That has started the process of creating a hundred foot defensible space from private property into the hillside natural area. So far work has been done from Earl Court to pass the end of Buckingham and the south side of Kent Court and Kent Drive. We have worked with the fire department on this, and thank Chief Beckman for coordinating the work with the Contra Costa County fire and continuing to encourage us to submit more applications.

0:19:39We have submitted a draft ordinance to the fire department for restricted parking on red flag days on the narrow streets, so that residents can get out while fire and police come in to to help submitting. We've I've submitted articles to the city's green happenings on topics such as earthquake and wildfire, preparedness and prevention.

0:20:02We have successfully formed the first firewise U.S.A. Neighborhood in the East Bay Hills in december of 2019,

0:20:12we successfully have applied for 4 $5,000 grants from Diablo fire safe council to remove eucalyptus trees and camp herms that are within a hundred feet of homes.

0:20:24We have had this with information at this year and last year's Fourth of July celebration and at the Tri City Safety Day this year we're working on on the committee to create

0:20:38and I'm here for the East Bay Hills to coordinate wildfire prevention effects efforts across the East Bay hills. We have met with buffy wicks, and we've met with the staff of

0:20:55Senator Skinner. Thank you so much. Thank you. My next speaker is Paul Duncan, followed by Gary Prost.

0:21:06Okay, then we'll go directly to request

0:21:17breathing

0:21:19chair and city council

0:21:21adv advocating for fire safety in the community.

0:21:32First, you know that we don't hesitate to criticize the city when it's warranted.

0:21:38Likewise

0:21:39right to compliment the city when things have run down correctly.

0:21:43the city and the fire department has done an excellent job with Measure X funds to create this 100 foot firebreak around the hillside. Natural area.

0:21:54But that shaded floor break has to be maintained in 2 years. It's gonna be overgrown again. So

0:22:02urge you to set aside funds

0:22:05to hire high school students, college students, sheep and goats. Whatever is necessary.

0:22:12whatever is necessary to graze and control the vegetation on the hillside

0:22:17at least once, possibly twice each spring

0:22:22second, our group have been urging the city to practice emergency evacuation drills for 5 years now.

0:22:29just before the Covid lockdown, the police and fire departments agreed that this was a top priority. Then no drills have been done, you know, sort of, to my knowledge. Anyway, we have seen what happens in communities when departments are

0:22:45overwhelmed and underprepared. So it's time to get that done.

0:22:51Third

0:22:52make El Surya firesafe has been working with the L. Surrey to Fire Department to implement this one year test of restricted parking on narrow streets on red flag days.

0:23:03those days when the fire danger is the highest who've done our homework.

0:23:07Pick test streets with canvas. Neighbors be prepared and written in ordinance. Everyone agrees the test is necessary. Let's get it done.

0:23:18This is not a fire issue, but several cities in California, as you mentioned, have been targeted with 8 speech callings to city council meetings.

0:23:29And now Elsiro is going as well. Well. I have criticized the Council for allowing this speech. This is both off topic, and hateful.

0:23:40I grudge you will admit that there may be first amendment issues involved. I would like to commend council for at least taking some action to curtail these call ins

0:23:51force these cowards to make their vile public comments in person.

0:23:58Okay, one other thing is just a suggestion.

0:24:02There's a small overlook on Moser by CV. Drive. People are pulling off there every day to take pictures of the Bay in the Golden Gate. Let's make that into a scenic overlook. It's it's a treasure for El Cerrito.

0:24:16a little level area for 5 or 6 cars and and turn it into an official scenic, overlook

0:24:23just a suggestion. Thank you. Thank you.

0:24:27Stuart Simatina.

0:24:32followed by Sharon Miller.

0:24:35Yeah, that's alright. It's a tough one. Howdy, everybody! I'm still send it to you on the mechanical in there. I've been in this East Berlin all since 2,009 elsewhere since 2,008 2 boys, 3 and 6.

0:24:49I've been right around town with them. Since we got here, and a lot of I've been watching them letting themselves around for the past couple of years, which has been both

0:24:59exciting and terrifying. Experience. to shadows and unprotected bike lanes on roads like

0:25:10Moser and Fairmont, Ashbury and and Richmond are

0:25:16almost useless. They, you know, will not stop a biker from getting doors and then crushed by, you know, Mini-fan, or whoever coming along at 30 miles an hour. So

0:25:27if I sort of was serious about making progress on there.

0:25:30Time and action plan. This is a good way to, you know.

0:25:35tackle both of those problems where people want to get around my bike.

0:25:38and we'd like to reduce our carbon emissions.

0:25:43of which transportation admissions are like half of all 3, those contribution

0:25:49so that means building protected bike lanes today. And I would like to encourage city Council to direct the staff

0:25:59to make that happen asap and by that I mean

0:26:06quick build design elements like

0:26:09literally strapping over free parking and putting in delineators and making decker biplanes

0:26:15yesterday. I know we're doing lots in as far as long term, very expensive decades, long construction project projects, and working with Cal trans. About Saint Paul and stuff. But

0:26:27yeah, fast design elements, please. And then finally, I saw the agenda that it looks like also, though, is looking to purchase some class, a refuse trucks. And I just wanted to comment on that having spent the past few years in the role that electric semi trucks. I can assure you that there are extremely good options for silent.

0:26:50you know. Emissions almost free electric refuse trucks. You can look at Santa Cruz, California. They just pop on in December 22 for 600 K. And they're expecting something like 20 KA year in in fuel savings. It both is a, you know, big

0:27:12part of our carbon missions that also

0:27:15diesel combustion engines have very large particulate emissions compared to any other sort of internal combustion engine, and they do exactly the perfect thing to

0:27:29in our air quality. Our health is, I will in the neighborhood. So it's like the perfect thing to look at and say, how can we get rid of that? So anyway, I like to encourage the

0:27:43execution of that center. So anyway, yeah, thank you. Thank you. My final speaker tonight is sharing the word.

0:28:01I, too, would like to address the lack of

0:28:05any kind of traffic control ride. I've lived down there since 1968.

0:28:12Let us not get better. You can get out of your driveway if you walk across the street. If you're not Umhm.

0:28:21give you a chance. There's classification.

0:28:32Just so drive them down.

0:28:36Donated. I don't

0:28:38currently, on Jordan

0:28:49just there. Thank you. Thank you. That concludes a request to speak at this time.

0:28:56Thanks. Thank you.

0:28:59Our next item presentations the adoption of the oh, we don't have any presentations. We'll move on to the adoption of the consent. Calendar, which includes the following items

0:29:17filipino, history, month, proclamation, cyber security awareness, month proclamation, national arts and humanities. Month proclamation, indigenous peoples, day proclamation, economic Development Committee appointment, second reading and adoption of an ordinance to increase City Council compensation from $441 to $650 per month.

0:29:44and those are our A through F consent. Item, I remove the consent. Calendar. Second.

0:29:51okay, we have a motion and a second. Does anyone want to remove any items or have any questions for staff? No, okay.

0:30:00right. All those in favor, please say, aye. Any opposed.

0:30:04and then she carries with council member by singer. Absent. Okay.

0:30:11okay. Now we are on to policy matters. The next item is construction contract, award and Budget Amendment for Arlington Park Improvements Project City Project number C, 3, 0 8, 2. Can we please have the staff report?

0:30:54Have a moment. It's an instance, the sense of the quick start number. So the staff would like to present

0:31:06project so that we can that project

0:31:13budget considerations

0:31:22first here shows the existing account park site.

0:31:39it's a clubhouse.

0:31:42and

0:31:54this part, as well as part of the parks as well.

0:31:59I just checked out expense, and so I don't find conditions. And

0:32:12it's a quite likely lack of questions from premiums. And

0:32:19also

0:32:22we're

0:32:33and so shall we slide as though there's no process

0:32:39architects to design.

0:32:55except for the 22 absolutely subsequent reasons, down to the per cent. Plans and specifications for the project.

0:33:1960 grand

0:33:25strategy for improvements. So

0:33:53so we'll see if I can so

0:33:57speak.

0:33:58So the current logic is for clubhouse improvements here. This is the clubhouse

0:34:15to the clubhouse itself, but also picnic site to

0:34:30give you some of those details. It's his lines

0:34:35microphone. You're cutting out on

0:34:43one sec

0:34:48near this area

0:34:52So in terms of the comments that support them.

0:34:56I'm in San Francisco.

0:34:59I'm gonna click on shit

0:35:02trolls. And as through the colors that were chosen

0:35:18cool

0:35:20right? So The initially part of the design could affect the call rollers to.

0:35:28but to increase like the design, because

0:35:36site to is

0:35:44double doors

0:35:58site, too, which is the top playground.

0:36:04This slide shows specific improvements to the clubhouse. Go just go to include

0:36:12put to the windows and cabinetry

0:36:19as well as lighting with other functions.

0:36:24Upgrades are in importance to the restrooms.

0:36:31The Bangladesh.

0:36:33Yeah. Additional improvement

0:36:35outside. So there was definitely

0:36:48yep.

0:36:49I think, as accessible but accessible outside.

0:36:58as I mentioned to the project is to address

0:37:03efficiencies, and so we don't keep this path accessible

0:37:12to and then

0:37:23surface

0:37:34and to

0:37:41it just makes makes size 4 and 6,

0:37:46Stephen and the type development team

0:37:50more difficult to do.

0:38:00But and existing branch shoes at these picnic sites.

0:38:07Since I have a big budget project

0:38:11the project was at us at ties for bids in August

0:38:16discount times, and had a good open September twelfth. So

0:38:27since once a bill that we received as foster

0:38:32those that kind of pay the 6,000

0:38:36$18. This amount is 14% of the estate was considered to be the current construction market prices, so

0:38:51to close that out

0:39:01Punch month in.

0:39:03so to close the project down to those instructions as possible

0:39:11in terms of the $25,000 and then become explorer.

0:39:2216, just just dollars.

0:39:2727 h of knowledge and measure each one

0:39:31street accessibility.

0:39:43current construction cost.

0:39:45so that's a thousand dollars

0:39:48construction process as well. Construction.

0:39:59So this last 2 or 7 $5,000. That's short. Now, budget.

0:40:06And so at this time as quickly as possible

0:40:15depends on mine. So I went into so it's included with fiscal planet.

0:40:24That's

0:40:37expenditure cost for the design

0:41:02construction. Spikes that were identified.

0:41:09Construction this fiscal year to design subsid

0:41:24for construction which leads this kind of member

0:41:29for this Upton Park project.

0:41:34And so you have to consider some council actions. There is a general fund and restrictive balance.

0:41:45So in some city staff is requesting to the actions from the Council. A lot of the construction con track, consisting of its several sub sub test there, as well as a fiscal year 23.

0:42:02Adoptable budget and capital improvement to appropriate the $79,000 project

0:42:09that concludes my presentation. Thank you, and

0:42:12questions. Thank you for that great presentation. Are there any questions from Council members?

0:42:18Mayor pro temp. Thank you. A quick question about the the Ada parking space. I've noticed that when the maintenance crews are in Arlington Park and servicing, they often park in that area that is designated for where this 88 spot be, is there any thought or consideration the design around? Will the maintenance crews would be parking their vehicles during any kind of servicing of the park.

0:42:48That's a great question. I will definitely follow up with them and screen, show that up the space of it

0:42:55and then other. It's kind of a shame I did the the back of the napkin math and the the delta between what the engine

0:43:04estimated the project to be. And then the quote that we're getting is a little over $41,000, so that 75 just chunking into that 75. Yeah, I know it's the an economy constructing cost. And it's the way it is. But it's it's interesting when you can actually kind of connect the dots around. What an engineer thinks it's gonna be, and then what it's gonna cost. And then it going to our general fund.

0:43:28Thank you

0:43:30councilmember, Fideli. Thank you.

0:43:33Doors to get more rental space, I think, in our clubhouse, but I like the new plans and things based on the economics.

0:43:46It will still provide a great incentive for more rentals based that we're improving the picnic area as well. the question. 2 questions I had.

0:43:59can you just go over again the prop, what the prop 68 grant was, and why? Why has there been a delay in just getting it done? Why are we speeding toward the end. Here was it covert issues? Was it construction costs? What's the reason

0:44:12that we're all of a sudden we have to hurry up? I mean definitely. There was covid delays to project delivery for variety of projects just because of

0:44:25stacking resources. And but then we move forward as quickly as possible after that.

0:44:32and the

0:44:34How do we determine how much we could get from Measure H for this? Why not more?

0:44:42With having it that we

0:44:44had to abide by or so. 75,000 doesn't seem that much. Why can't we get that from Measure H.

0:44:53So perhaps Chris Jones can help me with responding to the question about measuring. Yeah, thanks.

0:45:00Good evening, Chris Jones. Recreational work. In measure, which right now is, is pretty much fully budgeted because it's still taking on what we've called some general fund backfill. And so a lot of wisdom centers ongoing costs are still incorporated into measure age and

0:45:20We'll also save them up. We're trying to save up fund balance to resurface the larger pool as well, which

0:45:27could be close to a million dollars or 800,000 Boeing dollars. And so right now they have the 5 year brand. All the phones are tied up.

0:45:38and that's based on annual spending of measures. Funds. Yes, both annual spending. Right now. We're still bringing general Fund back, though, as well as triumphal. set up for a future project at the swim center.

0:45:53Okay? And then finally, on the slide that you had with all the financial. The last point you made, it was kind of hard to see here on our slide.

0:46:05What was that last point that you made on the slide? The last

0:46:08financial point I didn't understand

0:46:12unrestricted fund balance. I can't see. I don't have in front of me here. So

0:46:23sorry. Okay.

0:46:35here.

0:46:40yeah. But just don't you read it back on paper or something.

0:46:43Just want to make sure.

0:46:48Is it this one.

0:46:52the general that is described what is left in the

0:47:02thank you

0:47:03to request that assistance.

0:47:08I didn't mind that, she answered.

0:47:12It's a call on camera.

0:47:16sure, if that's available, possible.

0:47:21Okay.

0:47:22we can't hear you.

0:47:31Can you hear me now? Yes.

0:47:33okay. I'm sorry. I did not hear. The last question is that your mic went out a little bit.

0:47:39The question from Council member for Deli is, if you can provide additional information about the balance in the general unrestricted balance. Finance is $75,000.

0:47:57I'm I'm restricted. Correct. Yes, correct. So the

0:48:02So again, I'm sorry that. I don't know if it's our wi-fi, or if it's the zoom. So you're so I'm so thank you for repeating the question. The 6.6 million dollars. You see, there is what is left

0:48:14from the end of fiscal year 2022, the 16.6 million dollars, and that the Council appropriated 9 million of that to the emergency fund and 1 million to the section 1, 15. Trust leaving this left.

0:48:29And so that is just a a marker to show that this would include the original 1.6 million that had been talked about in the budget and modeled in our projections. So yes, there was. There's there's more than enough fund balances that indicated some of the other projects that we can stagger and face to make sure that this doesn't impede any additional fund balance

0:48:57councilmember, quinto or councilmember, Weissen, or any questions. I do have a

0:49:02couple of questions, and one thing I just wanna make sure the small thing was in the plan there was a Bocce ball for, and I was wondering where that would be, cause I don't remember that in any of the plans before.

0:49:18So the Botchy Ball Court was feature phases of improvements, and so that would feature phase would definitely depend on available grants and other funding sources, and would still be need to be designed. I don't think there was a specific site that was identified by the a desire for Apache ball courtes. Is there is there any additional comment on that?

0:49:46Just those future phases in concept signed at Rington? Then recreation facilities. Master. this is just an aspirational botchy course.

0:49:58Okay, thank you. Okay. And then going back to the the financial plan overall. And I just wanna

0:50:07paraphrase what I understand to be the case, that this 75,000 we are requesting from the general fund, however, that 75,000 is inclusive of the 1.6 million that

0:50:21your staff was requesting as additional one time expenses, so that this is not additive to the 1.6, but it's inclusive within that 1.6, and what you were saying is that some projects may be slower in this fiscal year, so that

0:50:36that 75,000 could be accommodated within that 1.6, correct. Okay. great. Thank you.

0:50:48okay.

0:50:52okay, i'm going the public i'm, gonna

0:50:56open the public hearing the public hearing is now open. Now is the time for members of the public who wish to provide public comments regarding this item. To put in a request to speak, they can be submitted to the city clerk by completing a speaker card. Public comments will be taken in person. Only please remember to identify yourself and your city of residence at the beginning of your comments. City clerk, please proceed.

0:51:19Thank you, Mayor, and my apologies. That is my mistake. This is not a public hearing simply a policy item as well as the next item. So my apologies for the error in your script. But for this item we do not have any requests to speak. Okay, thank you. Do we have a motion to approve?

0:51:38We have a motion from Council Member Fidel, do we have a second second second second from council. Mayor Protemudnick, you have a motion, and a second. Could you please call roll the vote all those in favor, please say, aye, aye, any opposed motion case.

0:51:52The next item is purchase authorization and budget amendment, for up to 2 residential recycling collection trucks. Can we please have the staff reports

0:52:09remind me I'm Susan Katy. I'm the intro manager of the

0:52:15Options and Environment Services Division to keep

0:52:20to the Council.

0:52:23excellent

0:52:29people that I worked with.

0:52:54So who are still with you? So that says something about the city. What a delight it is to work here

0:53:02tonight. We're discussing a request and organization to purchase up to res 2 residential recycling trucks, to replace 2 existing residential recycling trucks 15 years old, using integrated residential fund balance from that purchase.

0:53:23Currently, the city has a fleet of 7 trucks for curbside collection.

0:53:28One of these trucks is slated to be surplus and basically is not used at this time.

0:53:35One of the of the 6 room trucks. 4 of those are used for the residential curbside recycling, and 2 are used for the commercial recycling.

0:53:43and some of the large multifaming buildings

0:53:50of the 4 trucks that are those for the residential program are called side loader trucks, that so that we can load them from the side to get out of the truck

0:54:00hook on the carts and then tip them into the truck.

0:54:043 of those are used on a daily basis for the 3 routes that we have to do the residents or recycling. And there's one that's a backup. So when one of those 3 trucks is either down for repairs or and it's being serviced in scenario, and we have a truck to use on route so that we can perform

0:54:242 of those trucks that we're talking about that we use on a regular basis are 15 years old.

0:54:33This request is to replace those 2 15 year old trucks.

0:54:38The industry standard for Useful life of trucks is 7 to 10 years. If we were a private company. We'd have those trucks depreciated after 7 years and be trying to move them off our books no later than 10 years

0:54:58after 7 years. the frequency of the the use of these trucks, and it's not so much the engine. That's the issue as much as all of the other apparatus used to provide the collection. So the arms, the compaction, the tipping, those things start to wear out pretty quickly after that.

0:55:18and the trucks need to be replaced.

0:55:22the impact of using older trucks is an increased cost.

0:55:28First, it starts with overtime for staff, because we're trying to figure out how to get the routes done if a truck's not running.

0:55:34and then it moves from that to service reliability. And so right now we provide cropside collection same day as garbage once a week. And that's what would be impacted when you start having unreliable trucks.

0:55:50In order to avoid the service impacts to residents, we're requesting to replace these 2 residential trucks that are past their useful life.

0:56:01And just to note that

0:56:04if we order the trucks today, then we wouldn't have them delivered to us, probably to the end of 2024, and the beginning of 2025. So there's still a whole year we we get through before we would have new trucks that could be deployed onto the streets.

0:56:21the research

0:56:25we did for this this

0:56:27trucks the city used the assistance of R. 3 consultants, and I have Garth Shultz here today. There is who can help answer questions that I can't help answer. And then also, if that teases over here as well, and she can also help answer questions that I might not be able to to answer for you when I finish my presentation.

0:56:51So the 3 types of trucks we looked at was Diesel trucks, C and G. Trucks and electric vehicles.

0:57:00So the California Resources Board carb regulations for state and local governments starting on 2024, 50% of the purchases must be 0 waste emissions, and in 2027

0:57:14all purchases must be 0 emissions, which is is a big thing for the city of El Cerrito to try to achieve. We don't have a big fleet, and that's all of our vehicles that count in that, except, I think, for the public safety under these dates for Carb. But we truly looked into it, and tried to see if this was an opportunity for us.

0:57:39we focused a lot of research on the Ev vehicles for that very reason that we know these regulations are coming up.

0:57:50It's the right thing to do. and they are starting to come to the market. So that's the good news. As the gentleman spoke earlier in the city of Santa Cruz has purchased one

0:58:01they have a fleet of 27 vehicles. They've bought one

0:58:05and that we looked it up. It's was the had $600,000 in Grant funds to help them do that purchase. So it wasn't the price of the vehicle. It was the amount of the Grant funds that they were given to help make that purchase.

0:58:20Large companies like Republic waste services and waste management have begun to place orders for EV. Trucks.

0:58:28The current pricing for ev truck equivalent to the recycling vehicle trucks that we have or we want to purchase

0:58:36are it's approximately a million dollars per vehicle. That's what they are today.

0:58:45which is, is quite a bit. There are some other costs associated with moving to Ev that include purchasing the charger for each vehicle, so these those kinds of heavy duty vehicles would require a charger for itself to charge overnight

0:59:03as well as upgrading the infrastructure to meet the demands of the Ev chargers. So there's some costs we don't know about that. We would need to do research on

0:59:13to date. There has not been any large deployment of ev garbage or recycling trucks, and there's still many unknowns

0:59:21on items such as the cost of maintenance, and think the cost of maintenance for the engine will go down. That doesn't happen, and transmission like that may be a reduced cost, but what we don't know are, how long do they last? Are there other kinds of issues that come up?

0:59:40one of the things is, we have, like the payload adjustments, some of the trucks. That we've understood don't have as a heavy of payload is what we might need the volume material the truck can actually carry, and so there might have to be adjustments in the number of trucks or the the routing, just to be able to use them.

1:00:01there's also the live spending the trucks. Charging requirements for hours of use. That's still something that needs to get played out a little bit. We'll learn that from all those other locations that are purchasing these vehicles will be able to know more about. How long do you charge them for if you want to go a hundred miles, for example, or you wanna run them for 10 h?

1:00:23So there are a lot of questions also around the logistics for recycling maintenance operations that you considered

1:00:31for example, the charging stations are fixed. Place. You have to park the truck in a fixed place

1:00:38all the time, which means that that space is used like at the corporation yard and recycles, and we move the trucks around all the time, you know, depending on what operation, what kind of logistics we need to address. We're from parking those trucks in different locations. And this would change that we'd have to find a dedicated location and place them there and work our other logistics around that. So those are some things that came up in the evaluation. And looking at this.

1:01:09but also

1:01:12choose with the range, because we take drive the vehicles to Napa or the processing of the recyclables. And we're just not sure about that range yet, or the electric vehicles to be able to run a whole route, drive up there and drive back, that they might have to sit in charge before they were to drive back. So those are all questions that.

1:01:36looking for the answers to and expect to, as these other locations start putting on and have learned that we'll be able to get quite a bit of budget that to apply here the city of El Cerrito.

1:01:51and it's also kind of take up to get there. So that's that's important things is is that we need to start batting so that all the mix purchases can consider the even vehicles as part of them.

1:02:09also to meet the State guidelines.

1:02:12I'm

1:02:16the other thing that we evaluated is in Diesel trucks. The changes during changes in the marketplace at the Carb regulation for Diesel vehicles. There's a high demand for the deselection, so they're hard to come by but trying to get.

1:02:33And you know. So like so that the marketplace is driving a lot of things right now.

1:02:47currently, the trucks that sideline trucks to the ones that we have right now that are Diesel are costing about $500,000 each. So half of the price of an electric, but still quite a bit more than the ones we purchased in

1:03:062021. Those trucks were about $290,000, and those are real loader trucks. So some of the tomorrow. Okay.

1:03:17reason for the dramatic cost increase for these trucks is that the side lighting trucks are more expensive than the rail lighting trucks. So that's just Of

1:03:25configuration issue there. There's supply chains. Issues over the last 3 years that have driven up costs.

1:03:32There's inflation. ducking steel that is at play in the cost of producing trucks. And then there's also this move, limited supply of the Diesel engines, and the market demand on those that limited supply that's driven cost.

1:03:51The third item looked at was the Cg trucks.

1:03:56We're about 20% more costly than with Diesel trucks. The city doesn't have a fuel station for seal regime. The closest one is in the city of Berkeley.

1:04:08And that

1:04:09station is planned to experience a long lines for refueling, and also has frequent shutdowns. Just that factor could contribute to a lot of staff over time waiting in line to fuel their trucks on a regular basis, plus, I think.

1:04:27having that technology and not do something, do something to something that that we would be better.

1:04:42So, after evaluating all the options, staff is recommending purchasing 2 Diesel sideboarding, recycling trucks as practicable

1:04:51option. At this time the lesson the recommendations based on the price for Diesel truck is half of an electric cost from some infrastructure for the trucks we'll be able to learn a lot from the people who are able to afford to buy a dozen

1:05:14plans for infrastructure improvements to support them in future.

1:05:20Trucks just existing recycling trucks. Starting so provides a 65 to 75% reduction carbon emissions over control based so that we see

1:05:37so it helps us towards our gas production goals.

1:05:44The future. The State provides some additional assistance to local governments to help the switch to Eb. That's a good time for staff to invest. Take advantage of these opportunities. Right

1:05:59cities, particularly large cities that small like El Cerrito. And these these leaps that we want to take here next, figures are going to be costly, expensive. I shouldn't say costly, expensive.

1:06:15Okay?

1:06:17So purchasing staff evaluated options for purchasing the recycling trucks and to turn the best valuable source. Well, contracting agency serving local governments. Us in Canada.

1:06:35This is the same method rooms to purchase the trucks in 2020. So it's a we would be piggyback contracts for recycling

1:06:46municipalities and benefit from the cooperative purchasing, reducing permanent costs

1:06:56because of the competitive nature of the marketplace. Right? Yeah. Staff will need to act fast to secure the purchase of the trucks. The staff is requesting authorization to purchase up to 2 recycling trucks for a total cost of one

1:07:10$1,000. The reason for this zip truck is available, you make that purchase automatically.

1:07:19Course of 2 trucks are available, make the purchase of 2 trucks. and to be able to act fast requesting the cancel, authorize the city church into the purchasing agreements when they become available.

1:07:34City would then be able to place the trucks promptly

1:07:38again. I'd like to remind you that when we place the order it still takes a year before those trucks show up.

1:07:44Yeah, on the streets here. El Cerrito.

1:07:48They also recommend that this purch 2 residential recycling trucks purchase, using the funds from the integrated voice manual Frontbench.

1:08:00This

1:08:01projected to have restricted fund balance of approximately $2 at the this fiscal year, which we can use this purchase when maintaining, reserve the fund

1:08:16because the fund has sufficient funds fund out to make this purchase in cash, there would be no integrating, basically fee impact.

1:08:25but 4% increase effective June by 24.

1:08:29So that's what we sued with the 2023 fiscal year budget, and if approved by council as part of your fee setting in December of this year. so to recap

1:08:41staff has recommended that Council authorize the city to purchase through source well bid process up to 2 residential recycling collection trucks at a total cost not to exceed them

1:08:54$1,000 in demand.

1:08:56The fiscal year 2023 adopted budget to appropriate 1 $500,000 from the invaded Waste management Fund balance for the purchase of the trucks.

1:09:08Happy to answer any questions.

1:09:10Okay, I believe there are some questions from council. So Mayor per temp apart. Thanks. 2 questions. First, one in 2021. We authorize this Council 65, I think, 65,000 contract with R. 3 to do an analysis or study

1:09:32potentially privatizing the collection element of recycling program. To my best knowledge. I don't think Council is updated on results of that study, and it would

1:09:46behave us in this decision-making to know

1:09:49there is still consideration that the city would potentially ever want to privatize the collection part of the recycling. Again, II think it's important to to separate the 2 that I'm not thinking about privatizing their cycling center. I'm talking about the collections element of loop cycling.

1:10:10Let that answer that one from the long, long term perspective here.

1:10:18Good evening. But yes, that study is near. Completion

1:10:23will be presenting that to council. as provide your report to Council and

1:10:31someone you know at this point it the city can provide that the Curb Service cycle service at a lower cost and private on on account

1:10:42details about why that is. But so we can control of those services and those kind of services to our residents. That's

1:10:56services. That is highly

1:11:02not bad services.

1:11:08thank you. And then my second question was, around the language that's being used up up to 2 residential recycling collection trucks, so that

1:11:19as a decision maker is a very challenging

1:11:22thing to vote on to 2. Am I saying one? Am I saying 2? And that's what's so hard is, if I voted for something, thinking I'm getting 2 and you're paying for 2. But we're getting one

1:11:33correct. And so maybe that was awkwardness on my part where concern was is, if the only

1:11:41by one that we had authorization for was to buy 2, that we might need to come back, and that would cause a time delay, and maybe we would lose the opportunity to buy that first truck. So it was a way to try to make. Try to make us be able. The flexibility we would need to be able to buy there, buy one or 2 So

1:12:02here, here's the part that you probably want to hear the assurance of if we buy one, it would be half the amount that would get spent. It wouldn't be the whole amount. So the the

1:12:15pricing there. The request for the 1,100,000 is to buy 2 trucks. If one truck is only available to us we would buy one, and it would be half of that amount.

1:12:26Thank you.

1:12:27Councilman, working to thank you. Mayor. Thank you for that presentation. My question is regarding you mentioned that cities like the city of Santa Cruz, we're able to purchase an an Ev type vehicle for that.

1:12:46Have you looked at any types of grants available to apply for that. We do have a Grant maker, and this past year there is a lot of Federal grants available. Have you looked at that.

1:13:00Yes, we have been looking at grants. There are some that are currently available, but it's it's small amounts of money, this one in Santa Cruz. The funding source was the Air Board, the Monterey Bay Air Board that made those funds available. And over my

1:13:21time, as a you know a public servant when when these kinds of issues comes up and we have these new regulations, and we get, you know, the portion shove starts happening while you try to get when you come up on on a deadline.

1:13:34and I do see that the State may start making more funds available to small cities, many so small cities, or even any city to to convert the fleets over is tremendously costly, and they're trying to figure out how to do it. And you know, if you're a city that's a big city and you're trying to deal with

1:13:53so converting your fleet, it's like

1:13:57so so I do see that there will be more grants available as as we move closer to that deadline, so we certainly will keep our eyes open, and we can ask our our

1:14:10great administrator to to look for more funds, because there may be some on the infrastructure side, and absolutely the Reds infrastructure. And it's like that. That might be where we need

1:14:21more assistance than on that. And as vice chair of Mcee, you know, we've looked at all that there is, there is available grants available so we can. I'm hoping that our advisors that are here can look at that closely because it is out there, and that's why you have the large cities purchasing these vehicles, and it is going through grants. And

1:14:45we need to be active and making sure that we get this because we don't have the funds for all this extra stuff. We truly don't, and we need to be article about this, and if we can get one, Diesel, and hold up on the other one and look at, you know. Speak to our advisors and grant makers to get that

1:15:09I'm sure the Department of Energy will help us in our Congress. Members here will help us as well as our Mc. Folks who are working with us to get more evs in there. But I also see the future of green hydrogen. And have you worked at green hydrogen vehicles?

1:15:32No, we didn't evaluate. Okay, I'm hoping that you know you look at everything including we have ev builders fighting off and trying to block hydrogen vehicle companies and

1:15:46done that. But I do see the plus in using green hydrogen that will be created through the raven side of the public services in Richmond, and this is a very go, and so, hoping that through work closely with clean energy on my board to get look at all of this, because sticking with ltex.

1:16:11technology is not good. But I understand why you're doing that. You're looking at the bottom line. But in the future we are, gonna see more grants available. But it truly is out there, and if you look at department of Transportation as well, they'll be able to find that. And and that's how large cities are able to do. And then I'm hoping they'll let small cities participate as well.

1:16:33I just. I did want to add that we have spoken with Rpg. To look out for infrastructure grants for ev implementation and planning and reaching out to Mc about those resources as well. Okay, and I'm hoping our city manager will speak to our ground makers as well to make sure that we look at every avenue. Having to take this out of certain funds is

1:16:55you know, we're trying to cut costs, and we're trying to do. We don't want to overspend. We're gonna be methodical about this in the future, and grant-baking is a priority. So

1:17:08want to make sure that city Manager Campaignus and Alex, our Logos, know that we're working on this, on marine clean energy, and we want every city that is a part of Mc to participate, and that there is grants available. But we need to have the personnel to do it.

1:17:28Thank you. Councilmember weisinger councilmember. Fidelian.

1:17:33Yes. So you mentioned that 2 of our trucks are

1:17:40into replacement. Is that because they are unreliable or unsafe, and we have the information document to demonstrate

1:17:51fidelity

1:17:54as a city, do we? So let me start. Thank you for that question, cause it's it's a it's a good question, is the the only liability is how many times it's down, how many times we have to call for repairs. It doesn't end up showing up necessarily, if we do

1:18:14costs for repairs, because we don't repair the old truck. What we're using every day.

1:18:21But one of those is

1:18:23that truck?

1:18:28Yeah, we have to do lots of living repairs to it all the time to keep it serviceable. big things that starts happening is it's the unreliability so that the truck

1:18:42a truck doesn't run. And so then you're trying to figure out how to do a route. So 5 that route up are the 3 trucks that are running and get that done that day. You can have people work overtime

1:18:56so that they can finish a route that might not have gotten finished because a truck broke down on route. So there's lots of logistical operational

1:19:06things that we can do to get through the day and to get the routes completed so that the residents have service. But but then that becomes your whole.

1:19:18your whole work. Life is trying to figure out how to keep

1:19:21these, you know. Get the service done that day, not push it to the next day, cause I have seen that happen in other cities? And I, I'm just asking, because

1:19:33we're asking to replace these 2 correct and to trust you. And rather than seeing these are unreliable because they look at all these problems because you also, the city also talks about timing. We have the hurry up thing again.

1:19:48Hurry up. Let's get the money out to get new trucks. And I'd really like to know. In fact, we do have a problem with these trucks. Can they not last for 2 more years you talk about.

1:19:58you know, timing of fuel systems, and maybe the technology of those other trucks will be better. And we can. So

1:20:05I I'm kind of in this. I'd like to see the proof that these 2 trucks can't last 2 more years when we might be better positioned to get better technology for these trucks. First.

1:20:16do you want to add anything to this?

1:20:18Answer it. But these trucks will not last 2 more years. Is that what you're saying.

1:20:32It will practice to operate trucks beyond their 10 years of normal, useful life.

1:20:39Virtually every municipally run operation in the State turns over their trucks on a 7 year. Schedule maximum 10 with rigor.

1:20:50The private operations will turn it over between 8 and 10, maybe bleed into the eleventh and twelfth year for a truck that is used not on a 8 to 10 h day every day. So there's industry standards that are just an applied rule in those public fleet operations. So anybody that goes to

1:21:10Solid waste association of North America training around fleet operations will get these applied rules partially because it's difficult to gather the information that you're asking for. So the standard is applied specifically to be able to put public operations, fleet managers, fleet operators, in the place of knowing what they need to do in order to have a reliable and safe

1:21:34fleet. Operation on safety is what we're talking about, and and knowing that our city's goal is to get greater technology, fire pollution. And all these other things

1:21:44we need to ask, are we really pushing these out prematurely, or are they unsafe. II don't have any facts before us to show

1:21:52this truck and this truck are not safe, and I think one of the issues is, you don't know. They're unsafe until you have a safety incident of some, absolutely. But I can tell you, having looked at what other operations throughout the State do 100 cities at a time is that they don't operate trucks into their fifteenth year on a regular daily running route, and certainly don't go into a seventeenth year.

1:22:16which is what that action would require of these additional trucks. So I think the concern from Staff's perspective is, it's just going to be a repeating treadmill of that. But these 2 trucks are not

1:22:29demonstrably problematic in El Salvador doing its service. I can't speak to that myself, because I'm not running against someone I mean.

1:22:38just demonstrably unsafe to use. So we do have to have them repaired more frequently. They get all the standard preventative maintenance that all of the vehicles get and as well as the safety inspections. So if there was anything that was unsafe, they would be removed from the road and repaired until they could be returned to the road. So that that's just a fact. We won't put our staff in safe vehicle and send them out on the road and then

1:23:08potentially make the public unsafe. So that that's a fact. But I think you brought up something earlier when you said, Couldn't we wait 2 years, and that it's the risk of waiting 2 years and not having a vehicle because it takes

1:23:22a year to get one. And right now there's this scarcity of the parts to build them and make them, and if we miss this opportunity yes, we can wait. We can order an electrically.

1:23:37It will cost more, and we'll have to do all the infrastructure upgrades to have that one truck running or 2 analysis kind of talks about into words. Things will be breakout a little bit better for the so that's why I'm asking about waiting about not spending huge amount of money right now.

1:23:55and I would like to be convinced of that. And and as our eastbound cemetery folks here, Doc, we're not here. I'd love to hear if they had issues with bucks

1:24:05reliable service. This is our recommendation, so that we can run a fleet of trucks that are safe. Can I also ask you, mentioned Santa Cruz?

1:24:29Did you do a survey of a lot of other cities? Are there any other cities that have made purchases

1:24:34with different technology that we can use the technology? Yes.

1:24:40I can speak to that as well. So there has been one pilot vehicle in place in Palo Alto for some time, I think 5 or 6 years as of my last communications with their staff. The first 3 years of that vehicle were just troubleshooting. I think it had yet to complete a full route.

1:24:57There's been one that I know of in a commercial application, meaning kind of flat streets in, you know, not hilly, not residential curbside areas in place in Sacramento County. Last time I spoke to their staff they needed 2 trucks to complete one tracks worth of routes. We've been some, my firm. We do procurements of mean, private, solid waste collection agreements all up and down the State. And

1:25:21every city does want to have an electric truck, and we inquire with every single one of those contracted providers? Can you provide us with one now? And their answer has been up until you know ultimately, really, this year I haven't seen one agreed to for implementation on day. One of a new agreement. Well, we have been able to secure in those as a commitment to do a pilot program.

1:25:43But they've been. The haulers have been reluctant to do so within their current compensate. So really, we've seen, I think, 3, or maybe 4, in the State. We hear a little the Santa Cruz one was news to me. We looked into that. It's one of 27 in their full fleet, and in those cases they can afford to really test and kind of stretch the boundaries of it, because that, in fact that it might have an issue. You have plenty of other fleets

1:26:07to be able to backfill for that. So it's really just a handful that I'm aware of on a state wide scale at this. Thank you. Until last council meeting. I think we gave the city manager the authority to use the new

1:26:19Diesel, that. And that's what would be used in this, these new, absolutely we anticipate that these will be available to pull out of our vehicles by the end of this evening.

1:26:29and so we'll start using that right away.

1:26:33On in all the vehicles, and the new ones would also use use that fuel. Thank you.

1:26:40Okay, so I have a question for you. That kind of goes back to the if it's one truck, it's 500,000,

1:26:49and if it's 2 trucks, it's the 1.1. My my concern here is that we will get one truck, and it will be $600,000.

1:26:58So because, you know, as we have seen from other items everything seems to cost a little bit more. And so I feel like what we're really authorizing you is

1:27:10probably one truck that's gonna cost more than $500,000. You have up to 1.2, so it will be more expensive, and that will take away the ability to get that second vehicle without getting additional authorization. So that kinda doesn't make sense to me.

1:27:37And

1:27:39we could

1:28:002 vehicles at that price if the 2 vehicles are available.

1:28:06and then what? I guess I understand that this competitiveness about purchasing engines and things like that but once we sign an agreement at 550,000, where's the question? Is it just they won't sell us a second truck because they're so scarce, I mean, I guess what is what is preventing us from getting 2 trucks at 1.1. It's just the availability of the engines. So it's not the body of the truck or the man. It's the engine.

1:28:33which is the scarcity issue right now. So

1:28:38if they have one available with certainly purchase that if they have 2 we'll buy that we did speak to sales. Source. Well, salesperson they they are the ones who gave us the prices. They weren't like official price quotes, but they were quotes that are as close as you know, official as they could be. Because we didn't have the authorization yet to to move forward. And they believe they could get us 2 trucks.

1:29:05But when we began working on this they weren't even sure that they could get us the 2 engines that we needed to get to trucks.

1:29:15So I know, I say this every time we have a vehicle procurement. And every time it seems that there's largely an infrastructure problem to get us

1:29:28over the hop to get to more electric vehicles. And

1:29:33I think at this point. I really don't wanna hear that? Oh, well, we don't have the infrastructure, and the infrastructure is gonna be complicated, and the infrastructure is gonna be expensive. So we can't do that because I don't think it's never gonna be uncomplicated. It's never gonna be not expensive.

1:29:51and the writing is on the wall. We have to do this. So you know, I think what I really would like to understand if we approve this is to see that orderly planning that we're gonna need to do for having the infrastructure

1:30:07citing all these electrical charging stations and having a sense of what that's going to cost us, because we will not have much of a choice after 2024, which is next year. So

1:30:20I you know II know that I sound like a broken record on this. But II really feel like we need something actionable. We need to. We know this is coming. We, wanna you know, we need to plan we need to understand, because

1:30:35maybe the the answer here is we get one truck and

1:30:41how the money goes to the infrastructure.

1:30:44So yes, we are. We need to plan. We are going. We are doing that now, and we do love that

1:30:54that we have. So we have to. We have to do it. There's no you know about it. So

1:31:07I'm sorry. Oh, go ahead. So I know that. Please continue

1:31:12doing okay.

1:31:14Okay? So with the going plan for the easy transition we have to and we want to help this identify grant phone. That's infrastructure planning and implementation. So we have that

1:31:34right now.

1:31:37and if I may, can I jump in here? I know this has been a very long item and a very long conversation, and you're bright, your honor. We have been talking about this a long time, and, as you know, we're we are absolutely looking to redo our cip. We are really looking to do our planning. We are looking. And now event has only just been staffed up fully in the last

1:31:57couple of weeks months. And so this is absolutely something on our radar. We know that this is the Council's concern, and we know that this is the Council's desire. It's the public's desire. It's ours as well.

1:32:07and so we can assure you that this is something we're looking into. But in the meantime we need to make sure our safety all of our staff is safe, and we need to be able to the services that everyone expects us to continue to do. And so just please know that that is absolutely something we're looking into. We're looking at Grants. We're looking at all the things that you have spoken about. We hear you and we will be working on that

1:32:31so

1:32:33like to check with city clerk. This is not a public hearing. We do have one request to speak at that at this time, and if there's any additional request to speak now would be the time to submit a speaker card.

1:32:47and I'll just invite Howdy app to provide comments.

1:32:53Thank you, Julia.

1:32:56Good evening, Mayor and council. My name is Howdy Gaudi, and I live in El Cerrito. So

1:33:02I appreciate some of your skepticism and questioning. I think it's totally appropriate. This is not a good plan. This is not a good direction. It's really backward thinking, and all of your questions about. You know. What about this? What about this? These are the things that should have been happening for years. This is not the first time I've spoken on this topic, as you well know.

1:33:21it's been year after year of oh, yeah, we'll do that sometime. We'll do that sometime. You're looking at spending 1.1 million dollars. We just heard with 1.1 million dollars. You could buy an Ev truck and you could buy a charger for it. So right now tonight you could. You could make that purchase instead of 2 Diesel trucks.

1:33:39and those 2 Diesel trucks are unnecessary. You really only need one at most, and you should not authorize anything more than one.

1:33:48because what buying 2 trucks gives you is the opportunity to rotate out a 4 year old truck as backup. That is not responsible use of your investment 4 years ago. It's it's ludicrous, and you know we really can't have it both ways with

1:34:05you. Know our our fleet management is more cost effective. Oh, but we're too small to do the things we know we need to do if we're too small to do those things. We have to get an organization with the size to bring us the technology that we need today. Because

1:34:21this is really, I think we need to come back to the idea.

1:34:25El Cerrito used to pride itself. At least all the years I've been coming to these meetings really prided itself on environmental lead on environmental leadership. Right? And you know, you carry that mantle. This is what we want to be.

1:34:39You have not done that for years, and this is as antithetical to that as possible. The State is telling us, you know. Make this transition. You're doing an end. Run around those regulations by buying 2 trucks instead of one that you kind of need today. But you're gonna rotate out, and you know a perfectly good 4 year old truck to buy 2 of them now, so that you can use Diesel as long into the future as possible, and that's just transparently

1:35:06obvious and wrong. And you should be giving direction to do the research that you asked for and are not getting. This is not a sufficient plan to make the decision you're being asked to make. And it's just bad reasoning. It's anti-invental. It's our financial resources. And it really sickens me to see the same excuses used over and over again, instead of just making the change we know we need to make. You know, maintenance is

1:35:33really easy, right? It's you don't throw away something. The whole idea of the recycling center is, you know, you make things work for you as long as possible. Well, why do you throw a truck at 7 years at 10 years

1:35:47doesn't make any sense. You know the Us. Military has planes flying that are 30 or 40 years old. They maintain the hell out of them, that's all you have to do, you? You have 1.1 million dollars to spend invest in some maintenance. It already sounds like they're just doing.

1:36:03you know, deferred maintenance. Kind of, you know, troubleshooting instead of actually thinking ahead and doing the right work. Thank you. Our next speaker, Veronica.

1:36:18Thank you.

1:36:20Hello, Mayor. Hello, City Council. I'm Linda Kane. I live in El Cerrito for almost 30 years, maybe over. I forget, anyway. Wow! Because I just went through a similar thing. I had a car that was 13 years old, and all of a sudden some little thing happened, and I went in and had it to get it fixed. And they said, It's gonna cost $7,000 to fix the things that are really wrong with it. So was I gonna spend $7,000 on a

1:36:46when I could get a even better use car for like $14,000. And I didn't want to have to redo my electric. I don't have solar power on my roof. I'm not ready for the whole infrastructure change on my garage, so I just couldn't do it. I needed a car right away. So I kind of made the city

1:37:05kind of decision. You know, it's like, Gosh, I need a car right now. I'm sorry it's gonna be gas. Maybe kind of make my long term plan be to kind of electrify, solarize, and all those things that would be great. I don't want to keep breathing exhaust from Diesels, either hopefully, at least, it will be from the

1:37:24from the recycled. you know, natural products, or whatever. I guess that would be an improvement. But

1:37:31when I heard that the city was about to to have a 15 year old truck, I thought about my 15 year old car, and for a minute in a minute it turned from. I can still go out and drive my car to gosh, you need to buy a new one, and you're in a hurry, and it's a lot easier for me to get a car in a hurry than for you to get a new recycling truck

1:37:51because it takes 2 years, so I'm very, you know. II know howdy. Gaddy is probably not happy to hear me say this, but but I feel kind of like we kind of have to be realistic. And

1:38:02and we shouldn't be driving 15 year old car or truck, because.

1:38:06boom, all of a sudden. You have no truck, you know. And then when you do so, that's just what I'm thinking. Okay, thanks. Thank you. Thank you. That concludes other questions to speak.

1:38:17Okay.

1:38:19so are there any additional discussion that Council would like to have on this item?

1:38:27Is there a motion to approve or motion to do anything with these trucks? Yeah?

1:38:37Or maybe we, I think we it feels like there's more discussion it that feels about right? Because

1:38:45II see lots of perspectives on this. But

1:38:50the reality is is that we want to make sure that our personnel are safe.

1:38:55But we do not want to continue to invest in technology that we know we need to be moving away from. So it really is this

1:39:02challenge where

1:39:06I could. And also even the language of up to 2 is challenging for me, because it's very hard for me to prove something, and not knowing how much I'm actually getting it from it.

1:39:17have to do one. I thank you, Mayor. I agree with my colleague, Mayor pro tem. I also know for a fact that there are grants available. So I wanna make sure that folks look at this closely and see what's available. I do support the purchase of one, but not to. So you know, with that infrastructure.

1:39:41That President Biden did a lot of Federal grants available, so I would like to have Staff

1:39:49fairly look at that and work with my staff at morning plane energy and work with our advisors. And look at this cause. All cities are looking at this, and I appreciate what Got said that not many cities have invested on this. They're going through the same thing and the same decision making that we have to go through. But looking at what the Air Board is doing, and my colleagues under Air board like Supervisor Joya

1:40:13and the Council member, Martinez. Looking at what they are doing. They're being very bold about this, and they know the importance of changing over by 2027 all gas appliances, and then 2,029 selling no gas appliances. So we we need to step up and participate. Councilman.

1:40:37It is a motion to the purchase of just one, and can some in the talk about the additional funding, as Mayor talked about infrastructure

1:40:49processing coming back to us with a plan on what that might mean

1:40:55that. Are you amending and making a friendly motion council member.

1:40:59Okay, is there a second second? Hey? We have an amendment? True, before the Council is a resolution.

1:41:11because they do need the resolution or authorize the staff to move forward. The resolution is set up to authorize up to 2 vehicles for a total not to exceed amount of 1.1

1:41:22so I just want to clarify is the option to revise the resolution to authorize the purchase of one truck with it not to exceed amount of estimated amount of of $550,000. Correct. Okay. Just want to clarify that it sounds like there may be some additional direction to Staff, but just wanted to clarify that the motion is to adopt the resolution with that change.

1:41:47So it sounds like, if we wanted to have staff bring something back to us. That's just direction separate from the resolution. That's correct.

1:41:56Okay, okay, so we have a motion.

1:42:01The second from Council Member Weissinger to purchase one truck for $550,000, authorizing city manager to sign subcont contract

1:42:14Update in the future

1:42:18for some other staff resolution if I'm

1:42:23shouldn't you? And then the solution for one track could see 550,000 to prevent factor to look for it to

1:42:30the vacation potential. Yes.

1:42:36Okay. so do we have. That is that correct? So motion is one vehicle not to exceed $550,000. Second thought from motion from Council member came to a second by Councilmember Weissinger.

1:42:53Okay, so should I. Can you come back?

1:42:58If it was 2 at 550 each, I think. Leave it at 550.

1:43:05Thank you. Gonna work

1:43:09is that I guess I would like to know from staff that there would that would absolutely not work for one vehicle.

1:43:16Well, I think Staff stated that they wanted they had the urgency, because right now they had the 550,000, and and if we waited too long, then it would be over 550,000. So I don't think that there is, it's necessary to make it higher than that.

1:43:30because then there you eliminate the urgency.

1:43:38So so, checking in with our consultant and staff. The $600,000 would give us some flexibility just because taxes or other costs.

1:43:50So it's possible. 1.1 million witness sufficed. Anyway.

1:43:57the 2 trucks. There's 2 different trucks that we were planning, which is seen don't cost more than the other one, but some total they would be not more than 1,100,000.

1:44:08So one depending. Which truck it is, that's the preference, and that we're able to buy the taxes may push us over that 5, 550 that that's the only issue there.

1:44:23There was no 2 different tracks, those the same 2 same. Are they both the same, Papa Chuck.

1:44:31What's the difference of the entry truck that has both a tipping arm on one side and a an arm on the other side to dump the carts. It's a truck you can drive from either side of the streets, and so on all the runway streets. We would use that truck so you can load from either side of the street.

1:44:58And it's also if we had a shortage of staff or a shortage

1:45:03one of the other trucks broke down. You could send 2 people out on this truck, and they can complete the rents faster than if it wasn't

1:45:11truck. So that truck is a more expensive truck than a curbside recycling truck with just one arm on the side that we use on most streets. So it's only a matter of preference.

1:45:23Well, it's a matter of safety as well, but

1:45:27at. you know, we would have something in our fleet that makes it safe cause

1:45:33they don't have to run on the one way. Streets don't have to run around or in, so you only want to spend 550,000, and we can get a suitable one truck. Correct? You could. And it's and it's

1:45:46pretty much safe except for the preference that they don't have to run around the truck

1:45:51it. Yes, it would help the operations to have the other truck the more expensive one, and it's only slightly more expensive than the other. But when you add the taxes to that truck it goes a little bit over.

1:46:04It'll go a little bit over 550, whereas the other ones just slightly cheaper. You add the taxes to that. It comes to a total of 1,000,100. But if you want to authorize 550. We can manage with that as well.

1:46:17I think. Mayor per chair just in in a preview of the staff report again, and I know, understand that the truck selection process, that it's not that you have the exact make and model

1:46:28everything in the staff. Report made it seem that these are 2 trucks, which yes, they are 2 trucks. But from the information we're getting now that these are different models, and that you're specing out different models. So I'm a little disappointed that that wasn't information that was given to us that would have helped us get in the formulation of how it is that we want to approach this? Because then it becomes if we're authorizing one. Which one is it

1:46:52because we didn't realize and at no point in the staff report in the presentation. Was there any kind of delineation between the different vehicles?

1:47:01I'm glad whoever sent us down this road sent us down this road, because, if I may, your honor, I apologize if you would be able to authorize the staff for up to 550,000 we can. If you're if you are able to authorize the spending authority, then we I can work with our staff to develop the appropriate, appropriate truck to bring.

1:47:25and that does not have to come back to the Council. You're authorizing spending authority.

1:47:29If you're able to authorize $550,000, we will make that work.

1:47:33Thank you.

1:47:35So I actually feel that having this additional information about this truck can can do work from both sides. We do have very narrow streets. I mean, that's a truck that makes more sense for our community. But II don't know how much we're supposed to authorize for that one. So that's expensive. That's probably the more expensive one, because it has stuff on both sides up to 550,000. That would be our request.

1:48:04What do you think?

1:48:07Okay? So we have a motion from Council Member Quinto, and a second by Councilmember Weisinger, are we prepared to vote

1:48:21solution to purchase one vehicle with an amount to exceed $550, as well as provide $550,000. Thank you. If only and provide stack direction to look further into putting fund towards modifications for electric vehicle vehicle infrastructure. That's correct. Okay, all those in favor any opposed

1:48:43motion carries.

1:48:45Thank you. That was long, and but I think we learned a lot, and we appreciate staff taking, you know.

1:48:53giving us a very thorough staff report and answering all of our questions as well as getting the really great impact feedback from the community. And so.

1:49:01okay, our next item is amendment to city manager employment agreement. May we please have the staff report?

1:49:09Good evening, Council. I'm Sky Woodruff, your city attorney. This item comes to you from your ad hoc committee of Vice Mayor Rednick and Council Member Quinto. But I'll present the staff report. The city managers. Employment agreement with the city is currently scheduled to expire at the end of this calendar year. System Council, according to the subcommittee, to meet with the city manager to

1:49:33discussed terms of an extinction

1:49:36at this time at at the outcome of those discussions are at this time the Subcommittee is recommending an amendment to extend the term for one year, and to restore a previously suspended vehicle allowance any amount of $450 per month, but only if it's an eco-friendly vehicle. The idea of the one year extension is that with the class and calm study being expected

1:50:05at the end of this year, early next year. And also a potential extension of the sciu and negotiations with that bargaining unit, that that

1:50:17by the time that that early next year there will be more information available to understand the negotiations around the city managers contract, and so so subcommittee would meet with the city manager for additional discussions at that time, and so the short term recommendation is just a one year extension at the moment, with the $450 vehicle allowance, and that the $450 vehicle allowance is a non persuas amount. So

1:50:41it's just straight compensation for the vehicle. And I'm available for any questions, and the subcommittee may have some additional comments for you. Thank you for that staff report. Are there any council questions or comments

1:50:55related to. Yes, thank you. Mayor related to our last item. I do think that it's very important that we delineate. Make very clear that this is a an eco vehicle allowance that that we are giving this we want to make sure that we are shifting.

1:51:14You know all of our vehicles in the direction of, you know, thinking of the environment. And I'm really appreciative that the city manager was enthusiastic about this, and was very happy that you know, happy to have that plug in vehicle. These are the the little incremental shifts that we are making that will hopefully have a big difference, and also recognizing that

1:51:37the city manager is now either the second, lowest or the lowest paid manager in the county, and is continuing to maintain this contract again, as all the

1:51:50the reasons that the city attorney outlined. And we're really appreciative. So just wanted to to thank the city manager for her flexibility in this

1:52:01councilmember king, too. Yeah, I also agree with my colleague, and I want to say it was a pleasure working with you on the subcommittee, and as as someone who have has done reviews in the past with

1:52:16city managers this one. Ii definitely support. And I wanna say thank you again to Ken Pinkus and her staff, and we wouldn't made the changes of the sinking ship at this sinking city if it wasn't for our city manager, and she deserves being the lowest or so second, lowest

1:52:41city manager, and we heard the stuff that people would come up here at the city council meetings that attack her personally and saying all these things. But that were basically Bs.

1:52:54yeah. She turned the city around. She did exactly what I asked her to do, and exactly what previous mayors and council members have done. So again. Thank you. To City Manager Karen Pincus. And this is something that all cities can learn from the mistakes of pass

1:53:14over the past, and I know she will talk about this up and down the State of California, and how this small city was able to turn it around. We are nonpartisan there. We are not going to be pushed around by ideology and special interest groups. We're gonna do the right thing for now. So again, it's been a pleasure working with Karen Pincus and

1:53:37I support

1:53:39comments on this one

1:53:41councilmember for that. Yes, I just want to concurrent. Thank Ken Pinkus for her past and future great efforts in El Cerrito. Thank you. Ken

1:53:50I just want to thank the subcommittee for their work on this, and also say, Thank you also to Karen Pinkos, our city manager, I think, in in this sort of long, winded way, that we talk about these things.

1:54:04The the point here is that our city manager cares about our city. Enough that she's going to extend her contract for a year without a raise for this nominal Eco eco car allowance. And I think that that's very bold, and it's a very strong leadership, and I really appreciate that.

1:54:23And I neglected to say that the the proposed action on this is to adopt a resolution to approve the second amendment to the employment agreement. I'll let that

1:54:35do. We have any public comment? We do have a request to speak on this site. And then again my apologies. It is not a public hearing, so I'll I'll invite. How do you back up to the podium?

1:54:53Thank you, Mayor and council. My name is Howdy Gowdy. I live in El Srido. So I mean, I support the idea of continuing pending the further study, and I support the

1:55:07eco-friendly car. I think it should probably be a little more explicit what that means. I mean a plugin

1:55:13electric vehicle, or whatever

1:55:16but but that's fine. The thing I'm actually, I know, slightly off topic, but it really, I think, is important. I didn't get to say it at the last comment, but

1:55:28and there was

1:55:30a comment made on a hot mic that I heard, and I think you heard it too, and it was a little shocking to me. It was. you know, Staff, directing a

1:55:42fairly offensive comment at another member of staff. And you know, at the beginning of this meeting there was very

1:55:48you know, poignant speeches made about. You know the hate speech that we've endured, and the importance for the staff to have a, you know, safe and respectful environment, and that seemed to just fly in the face of it, and for no one to say anything about it, not the leader of

1:56:04staff, not the council, is really quite shocking and offensive to me, and I would like to see it addressed, and I would like to see an apology, as has often been encouraged of some other people in the past when things have happened. This is really not acceptable. So thank you.

1:56:22Thank you. But I can put Derek questions to speak

1:56:25here.

1:56:27your honor. I'm happy to apologize. That was my fault. We unmuted when we were speaking to each other, Alex and I, and we are sorry for that comment.

1:56:37Thank you. City manager. I did not, you know, I think at the days we did not hear the comment. So we will follow up later. I think on that?

1:56:47do we have a motion? And a second?

1:56:51I think I had seconded Tessa, do you? Wanna

1:56:56so can we? Second plan motion, second plan motion. Okay, people are getting crunchy tonight. Okay? Yeah. So motion by councilmember Quinto, second by councilmember. Fideli.

1:57:10all those in favor please have any opposed motion case. hey?

1:57:19Hey? So the next item is city council, local and regional liaison assignments. Are there any council reports?

1:57:27Yes, okay.

1:57:29Yes. So pursuant to Ab, 1, 2, 3, 4, I attended the League of California Cities Conference. In

1:57:38in addition to my colleagues here on the device, and I presented a panel, which was unfortunately a timely panel, because it was 2 days after we had our own zoom bombing incident. But it was around what we can do as local elected officials in response to increase in hate, speech, and hate crimes, and it was a very well attended session. Thank you. To my colleagues who attended the session.

1:58:02and I was really appreciative for the learning that we were able to have at Cal Cities

1:58:11Councilman, too. I also attended the convention. I just wanna say it was a great presentation, and I was tripled up, and so I apologize for leaving in the middle. But part of my new duties as the new second Vice President, and I'm the first else written to be on the Executive Committee of the 125 year History of illegal cities and the 100 year plus of the city of El Cerrito.

1:58:40I'm looking forward to working in a nonpartisan manner to get things done and to represent all cities in California. We're seeing one party rule that doesn't add up in a lot of times, because we don't have another party, that the numbers in Sacramento any longer. So the League of Cities is the checks and balances

1:59:03what we do and what cities would like the State to do to work together instead of not including cities and their way or the highway. So I'll be there to build bridges and to work with Sacramento, who refuse to work on bipartisan legislation

1:59:27that had to do with wiping out fentanyl and changing property. 7 we saw the party representing, and the Assembly refusing to deal with that. But because the week of city stepped up and said, you need to deal with this. They've changed their mind, and they have worked at and approved a couple of more. And we'll work on this

1:59:52get started in November so far away. And we're gonna work with all of the police chiefs and our chiefs, city managers and mayors. Of course, some of the forward working with you as a new Vice Chair of Public Safety, and and excited to work with your brand name and welcome to our.

2:00:16We'll work with the Policy Committee on transportation, Paul Fidel, and look forward to having Councilmember Wiesenger be a part of this and what we do on a statewide level. Thank you.

2:00:31Announcements from yes.

2:00:34yes, II do have I was very happy, and I think it's appropriate, because one of our public commentators tonight about Mike

2:00:42improvements in our city to announce the less. Contra Costa Transportation Advisory Committee with Tech just made an announcement of a lot of grants money that will be coming to West County, and several solido projects will be impacted. And I wanna thank our staff, Yvette and others who are part of the tech that came up

2:01:02with the formula for funding means, and I just wanted to save these so that we we hear them. and this this money comes from developers that come into West County pay development money that goes into a fund, and every 2 or 3 years to get the money back and grants

2:01:19number one is $800,000 going to the elsewhere plaza access improvements

2:01:24for future tier d parking and bikes.

2:01:27The 180,000 is planned to go to elsewhere those uptown along by Greenway, from Conlon to Nott Avenue, so our

2:01:38a member will see the impacts of that money over on the north side of town 290 239,000 is scheduled to go to the elsewhere deposit Tlb. East-west Bikeway development

2:01:52along Central Avenue, Richmond Street, Carlson Boulevard, another bike improvement, and the famous one in State 80 Central Avenue interchange. There was 2, a million, $111,000 for engineering design and construction, and finally $325,000, with Elsur working at the city of Richmond

2:02:16and Ric. Tax staff to continue efforts for a possible plan to improve San Pablo Avenue safety and possible bus only lane and improvements to the bike lanes. So we are moving forward on bike improvements. And let's

2:02:31congratulate ourselves on that great news. Thank you. Thanks again, staff. Thank you.

2:02:37Okay. I have just a couple of announcements on this. So on

2:02:44September the 20 first and the 20 Si also attended the Cal Cities Conference in Sacramento on the

2:02:52September the twenty-fourth, I attended the play like a girl event, which is our first annual play, like a Girl plus event, which is our first one, and hopefully it will be annual along with it was a really great event was fun to see so much energy being strong. September 20 seventh. I attended a library workshop

2:03:22as well as the fifth anniversary, make Elserea fire safe event, and on September the 28, I attended the Elstree police department, swearing in ceremony and awards, which was really moving and very very wonderful.

2:03:38On September the thirtieth I attended the Dave's hot chicken ribbon cutting.

2:03:43It was delicious, and thank you.

2:03:57or II appreciate all these businesses coming into elsewhere. We are the envy of other cities. You know.

2:04:04Hercules, I'm talking to you. But so that was what I was was doing before the last. Since the last week, so are there any I was with chicken for their hottest pot. You actually have to sign a waiver. Yes.

2:04:20yes, there's Liz Library waiver. Madam Mayor, I want to point out that it's just amazing to see so many new small businesses opening up and new restaurants.

2:04:32and and to see doll is opening up soon, and I look at Oakland and San Francisco, and they're closing a lot of small businesses. They've had it, and they want to stick here, and and we welcome them. We welcome them to open their business in El Cerrito, and we're seeing that.

2:04:52And we have a number of other ribbon cuttings coming as well. So we have a lot of good things going on in El Cerrito. Okay, with that it is now

2:05:068 PM. And we are adjourned the next regularly scheduled city Council meeting is Tuesday, October seventeenth, 2023 at 6 PM. And I want to say extra. Thank you for all the public that came out to talk about things that are important to El Cerrito and our community. And

2:05:25please come again. Keep it up.

2:05:27Please participate. Thank you. Thank you.