Regular City Council Meeting March 5, 2024

0:00:04Hey, Mayor, we are ready to begin when you are.

0:00:08Good evening.

0:00:10Yeah. The March fifth, 2024 regular City Council meeting is called to order at 603. Will the city clerk please call roll Mayor Rednick, present mayor pro tem. We singer, president, councilmember Fideli. Here councilmember Motiama here. Councilmember Quinto. Here we have a quorum. Alright. Thank you so much. And happy election day super Tuesday. We are all here, so we don't need to do any considerations under a

0:00:37so we will now tis the pledge of allegiance or a moment of silence

0:00:44to the

0:00:46we have the figures.

0:00:50and finally.

0:00:52and the result

0:00:54difficult

0:00:56for all.

0:01:00Alright, excellent! Thank you so much.

0:01:03The next item on the agenda is teleconference and public comment instructions.

0:01:09Thank you, Mayor. This hybrid meeting provides an option to participate in person, or via Zoom with closed captions. Available meetings of the City Council are subject to the Brown Act, and held 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

0:01:29for 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 be taken in person only, and a request to speak can be submitted to the city clerk by completing a Speaker card.

0:01:43The 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.

0:01:54Time may not be yielded from one speaker to another.

0:01:57and disruptive behavior, such as shouting, applause, booze, speaking out of turn, or approaching the dais or podium without consent, is also prohibited. We ask that everyone be respectful in observing these roles, so all speakers feel comfortable making their comments. Thank you, Mayor, that concludes my instructions. Alright.

0:02:14Thank you so much.

0:02:16The next item on our agenda is council and staff Communications city manager. Do we have any communication? Thank you, your honor. I'm city manager, Karen Pincus, and I also wanted to say happy election day. Hope everyone in the room voted. I would actually like to call up, please, Chief Paul Keith to provide an announcement to the City Council.

0:02:37Good evening, Mayor and council members. I'm Paul Keith, your chief of police. one to update council on a significant case that generate a lot of interest amongst our community members. January sixth. Our officers began hate crime investigation into a robbery that happened during a protest event in El Cerrito.

0:02:54After the initial case our investigators began taking a deep look into the case, and conducted a series of investigative actions that ultimately led to the identity of the suspect.

0:03:05They did a effort to do a digital evidence search for the evidence of the person's identity. They also reached out to the public to get information from the public that might lead to the identity of our suspect.

0:03:18Both of those routes ended up proving fruitful. I identified a suspect, Christopher Husseri, and on

0:03:25February 20 eighth 7 in the morning our investigators traveled to his house and arrested him in Hayward.

0:03:31After his arrest, our investigators prepared a case for the district attorney's office, asking for charges of

0:03:38Grant that from a person robbery and arson with hate, crime, enhancements. the district attorney's office convened a hate crime panel

0:03:47and reviewed the case and ultimately decided to proceed with not only the criminal charges, but also the hate, crime enhancements.

0:03:54I'm very proud of the work that our detectives did, and I'm also very thankful to the community members that came forward that helped us identify the mass individual that victimized our community members that day.

0:04:07That is the conclusion of my update.

0:04:10Thank you, Chief, and I also wanted to announce that we're very excited, and some of you may address this tomorrow. We are having a groundbreaking ceremony for the Elsorito del Marte. Transit Oriented Development Complete Streets Improvement Project. This will be tomorrow March sixth. At 10 Am. At Mayfair station. We're really excited for this transformative project that will be coming online finally.

0:04:35And I want to give a huge respect and shout out to our public works, director of that Ortiz and her team, who has worked really hard to put all of this together so very excited about that, and we'll see most of you tomorrow.

0:04:46And with that

0:04:47concludes my remarks. Thank you, your honor, alright. Thank you so much. City manager, and then move on to announcements from the Council

0:04:54have any Council announcement?

0:04:56Thank you. I know that we've mentioned that it's election day, but just for anyone that's listening that has not yet voted.

0:05:06Polls are open until 8 pm. And we do have a drop off box in front of the City Hall on the parking lot side. Thank you. Thank you so much. Anything from this slide. Yeah. Councilmember, Fidel, I wanted to make it unanimous on the voting. Our parking lot is

0:05:20jamming right now we've got a voting box here, and at Hana Gardens, next door is another polling place.

0:05:26very good to see that people are voting on this important day in our country. Also, I spoke to the City manager, agreed that as the Financial Advisory Board liaison to the city, that I should make a

0:05:39short statement on Dick Patterson, who is for 10 years his work on our Financial Advisory Board, Fab. He's about to step down

0:05:48just a couple of comments. Dick was a graduate of Uc. Berkeley.

0:05:54he got his masters in finance. He was a financial economist at Pg. And E. For many years.

0:06:00and just as he's been through a lot of changes and financial changes at Pg. And E. Over the past 10 years. He's have seen a lot of financial ups and downs here in El Cerrito

0:06:10over the past 10 years. So, thanks for getting us to a much better place over the last 3 years, Dick, we appreciate all of your advice and recommendations. but especially your insistence and persistence, that this city established an economic and disaster recovery fund or emergencies. We got it established before your tenth anniversary. We really appreciate that.

0:06:31and there's plenty of life beyond Fab, because I see him most days walking up and down mows your Lane. So congratulations on that. And hopefully, Dick, we can

0:06:41congratulate you more and other volunteers of our advisory boards later in the year at an event that we hope we can all celebrate. Thank you. Thank you so much. Anything. Councilmember Quinto. Yeah.

0:06:52thank you. Mayor. Just wanted to announce that I'll be flying out to Washington for the National League of Cities Conference and a Second Vice President of the League of California Cities. Will my Executive committee will be meeting with members of Congress, our 2 Us. Senators. I'll be meeting with Congressman Schiff, Salud Karzai

0:07:19again, John Gear, Mande, David Valla Dow.

0:07:22Jim Costa Pete Aguilar, and Linda Sanchez. And we'll be speaking on

0:07:31what cities need across the country and look forward to representing El Cerrito on that. And I know a couple of us will be joining the the League, the National League of Cities Conference. So look forward to seeing my my colleagues here.

0:07:49Thank you so much. All right, excellent.

0:07:53So we're going to be taking a few items out of order tonight before the public comment. As you can see, we have many police officers here today because we have some exciting proclamations. And the next item we're going to do. Or actually, I shouldn't mention that we're going to hear from these presentations, and then we'll provide public comment for all of these proclamations. And then we're going to vote for approval. And the Council's going to come down and take pictures, and then we're going to proceed to public comment.

0:08:23Alright. So I would like, if possible, we have the police chief come back down

0:08:28and we have the police department employee recognition for the officer of the year professional staff of the year and volunteer of the year.

0:08:37Good evening, Mayor and Council. Thank you again for having me up.

0:08:40So I'm a police chief, Paul Keith, here tonight to recognize some great work from some of our employees. So I'm gonna invite them all up so that they can all stand here and hear me say all the nice things about them. So I'd like to invite up Corporal Kenneth Hashimoto, record specialist, Veronica Sayha and Volunteer Alan Kane.

0:08:59All right. So let's start off with Corporal Kenneth Hashimoto he started with the Austria Police Department back in 2,013. He has repeatedly stood out as an important team member for all of our department efforts

0:09:102018 and 2020. He was a member of the Safe Streets task force where he built his investigative skills, targeting organized violent crime through the use of wiretaps, undercover operations, and apprehension teams. He came back to headquarters headquarters

0:09:25during the pandemic, where he was awarded with the unit citation for his efforts to address civil unrest across the county as part of the Mutual Aid Mobile Field Force.

0:09:35Since coming back to the police department, he's taken those skills and passed them on to new employees. He trained 12 officers in the past 2 years in field training, and last year he held 8 classes for a total of 72 participants in arrest and control tactics. He's part of an investigative team that shut down a theft ring operating on an abandoned residence in El Cerrito.

0:09:54He helped identify and apprehend a person making shooting threats and bomb threats to a local school. and he was also part of the team that cleared 2 homicides last year requiring significant digital forensics.

0:10:06Corporal Hashimoto is a very humble man. that is, for sure.

0:10:10and we know that he contributes to his teams in a major way, he makes them more effective, focused and cohesive. He was an easy choice for our officer of the year, so I said, he's a Humomax. I'm gonna invite him up to make some comments. If you'd like to.

0:10:27Mayor City Council, I just want to say, Thank you.

0:10:30Chief. Thank you.

0:10:38Okay.

0:10:40Next up. I'd like to talk about senior record specialist, Veronica Seja.

0:10:44So you probably recognize specialists say Han, because she was here last year

0:10:482023. She was recognized for her work in the previous year, and building teamwork and camaraderie, as well as her willingness to step up to fill in for multiple roles at the police department

0:10:58this last year. She built on those same themes. Specialists say how organizes informal workplace events like lunches and holiday themed holiday-themed get-togethers, build camaraderie and community

0:11:09she advocates for her coworkers, solves problems and improves the workplace. Whether it's addressing uniform needs or changes in procedure. Early as we came into the cold months. Specialists say I was like, it is freezing in this building. We need some jackets. And so she organized the uniform change, got all this specialist together. So now they all have matching jackets so they can wear them in our cold, cold station. Thank you. Right there. Yeah.

0:11:35She's also the person responsible for teaching our 3 record specialists all in the last 2 years, the ins and outs of the job. She continues to lead the way and ensuring our staff members receive the training need to lawfully use our law enforcement telecommunications system

0:11:49in a lot of ways both large and small. Specialists. Sayha makes employees feel appreciated and heard. She is our professional staffer of the year.

0:11:58I'd like to invite her up to say some comments.

0:12:04I can't beat what Akimoto said, but thank you guys for having it.

0:12:15Okay.

0:12:16Next up, I'd like to introduce our volunteer of the year, Alan Kane.

0:12:21So I've known Alan for many years from his presence in and around our community. In his day job Alan helps organize community events and businesses in Albany. I know that policing and police work are Alan's passions.

0:12:33Allen took our Community Police Academy in 2,018 and began his volunteer work in 2,019.

0:12:38Since then he's attended, outreach events and helped with projects at the Pd.

0:12:42He's really made 2 big contributions, training and public events.

0:12:47But Allen might be one of the most patient people I've ever met. When it comes to kids.

0:12:51He's helped at our July Fourth celebration repeatedly.

0:12:54and he often takes the role of supervising the police car that the kids get to experience. And so you know, it's basically an entire day of kids honking the horn or hitting the siren. Well.

0:13:06Alan Telson, please stop doing that.

0:13:10A really patient guy but really puts on a great professional appearance for our police department. Very friendly, too.

0:13:18He also plays a big role in our training at the police department and at the Academy. So at the police department, we have a lot of training needs from helping set up ranges and

0:13:26other training events at the police department to scenario-based training that involve role players. So both at the Academy and at police department, he's done, and he's played the role player in a number of training events.

0:13:36So these are scenarios where sometimes there's paint guns in play and you end up getting shot by the officers as they respond to, you know, hypothetical scenarios, and so he really has sacrificed his body for the professional train of our officers when he's been hit repeatedly as a suspect in a lot of scenarios.

0:13:56Alan always represents our agency in the best way possible, and we were proud to call him our volunteer of the year. I'd like to invite Alan up to make some remarks. I think he actually came

0:14:05the art stuff

0:14:09down to 3 min and 30 s. No, thank you. Mayor, City Council and city Manager.

0:14:16I'd like to thank the Elsria Police Department and specifically Chief Paul Keith, Lieutenant Lieutenant Caputo and Sergeant Wentworth for the support and encouragement I've received throughout this journey.

0:14:26Thank you. Yeah.

0:14:34And that concludes my comments.

0:14:36All right. Are there any council comments.

0:14:41Yeah, I'll start my program.

0:14:43I'll start first, and I'm gonna keep it just as short as brief, because I think we've already celebrated at least

0:14:48Corporal Hashimoto earlier in in in February. But it's been a great joy to get to meet all of our officers and see the great work that you all just building community within your department and within here in El Cerrito. So thank you all for all your great work.

0:15:06So I just want to extend my thanks as well

0:15:10that you know you. You represent us in the best possible way. So thank you.

0:15:16Councilmember Fidelian, and then Council Member Quinto. Yes, thank you all very much for helping our city, and I just want to say to Officer Hashimoto, you're also consistent. At the dinner we went to you said the same exact speech.

0:15:29Thank you very much.

0:15:32Thank you. Mayor. I want to say congratulations. Well done.

0:15:36And now how much our community supports our El Cerrita police department. You look at cities around us where they have a shortage of police, and I'm just so proud that you have chosen our city

0:15:50to work and look forward to having you here for many, many years. Congratulations.

0:15:59and I would my heartfelt appreciation and thank you for what you guys do. You are so visible in our community. And you represent the best of this department, and we are just even to everyone here. Thank you so much for being here. And it really shows the camaraderie by you guys being here and representing. And I really, if we could just rotate and have everyone be able to have this moment? Because, we're so appreciative for the work that you guys are doing. Thank you.

0:16:28Alright. Oh, but we actually do have to have a moment of public comment. So now is the time for members of the public who wish to provide public comment regarding this item request to speak can be submitted via 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 comments.

0:16:47City clerk, please proceed. Thank you, Mayor. We just have one request to speak. Cordel and Mayor. Alright. Come on up.

0:16:54Okay.

0:16:56that good holly.

0:16:57So good evening. Mayor rugged. Council! Cuddle handler. I'm a rich and resident, so

0:17:03thank you that els real Pd. For what y'all do

0:17:06you make? You make me come here like every so often, and it's like it's just so honored to see some smiling faces, and I said.

0:17:14and for you a volunteer, can I got a little piece of advice for you? When you deal with kids have a little pet, you gotta have a patience of a saint, so please do. Have have some patience with them. So this is such an honor, so

0:17:27make sure you treat the officers with kind. They've been treating, treating us with kindness and other things, so I think they deserve a round of applause. Don't y'all think everyone.

0:17:40And that concludes my comments. Thank you so much. And that, concludes public comment. Mayor, all right. Should we also add in the additional proclamation.

0:17:51for

0:17:52American Red Cross month. We do that and then vote on that winner.

0:17:55I would take them a separate night. Okay, perfect. So do I have a motion to approve these proclamations.

0:18:01All right. Move by Motoyama, second seconded by Weissinger.

0:18:04all those all those in favor, please say aye, aye, any opposed motion carries great. Thank you so much. So we're going to come down and take some photos

0:19:30alright. So one more proclamation with in-person. recipient. And it is the American Red Cross Month Proclamation.

0:19:40We have a speaker on this item. Thank you so much.

0:19:47Good evening, everybody. Thanks for having me. My name is Natalie Minare, and I am the disaster program manager for the Red Cross of Contra Costa County. It is a great honor to accept this special proclamation, declaring March as Red Cross Month.

0:20:01Our mission wouldn't be possible without the community heroes who are Red Cross volunteers. During our annual Red Cross Month celebration in march. We honor their commitment to support individuals and families in need and on someone's darkest day. Be that beacon of hope.

0:20:15Today, our work is powered by 90% volunteers, along with generous financial and blood donors, community partners and people trained in vital health and safety skills. And we're always looking to add additional volunteers to our team.

0:20:29Our Red Cross volunteers are on Call 24, 7

0:20:32to respond to large disasters, apartment fires, and home fires, 5 of which were in El Cerrito in 2023, as well as one already in 2024. Their support is critical, as large disasters, like floods and wildfires, grow in frequency and intensity, and home fires continue to upend lives each day.

0:20:50working alongside county government and community partners. The Red Cross provides sheltering, feeding, and recovery to those affected by disasters.

0:20:58So on behalf of the American Red Cross, we thank you for this proclamation, but most of all we'd also like to thank you and many of your city staff members who have worked closely with the American Red Cross over the years to be a better prepared city for all types of emergencies or future disasters in our communities. Thank you.

0:21:15Next, we have any council comments on this item.

0:21:19Alright. Well, it's so good to have you back again. Thank you for being here, and we will take some pictures awesome. Sorry to make you come down again

0:21:28and, Mayor, you do public comment. Pardon me. Thank you so much. Now is the time for members of the public who wish to provide public comment regarding this item. We have any. We don't have any speakers on this one, but you do need to approve the proclamation as well. Okay, alright. Do I have a motion to approve the proclamation alright move by Quinto. Oh, second, and seconded by Motoyama, all those in favor, please say aye, aye, any opposed motion carries

0:22:50right

0:22:52now we're at Item 5, which is oral communications from the public. Now is the time for members of the public who wish to provide public car 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.

0:23:08Public comments will be taken in person. Only please remember to identify yourself and your city of residence at the beginning of your comment. City clerk, please proceed. Thank you, Mayor. At this time we? We have

0:23:2216 requests to speak. 16. Okay.

0:23:25Reset the time for 2 min, please. Yes, Mayor, 1 s.

0:23:43Okay. So I'll go ahead and start with our

0:23:47first speaker, who? Which is Stewart? Sonatina, followed by Cordell, Hindler, and Jessica. N.

0:23:56Okay.

0:24:03hey? There, Stuart, Sorantina el Cerrito. 2 Wednesdays ago, my 4 year old. Lonnie got hit by a car while riding his bike in front of our house on a cul-de-sac.

0:24:15The driver couldn't see him through his tinted front windows and pulled out of a parking spot right into Lonnie.

0:24:21I scooped him up, and carrying him back inside, while trying not to think about how he was this close to having his soft insides squeezed out of him like toothpaste by the 4,000 pounds of distracted driver.

0:24:33This scenario is exactly what's keeping our cities from being nice places to live. Parents are scared to allow their kids out onto the streets which makes for another generation of car dependent people, which in turn continues the trend of building cities for cars instead of people.

0:24:48I, along with all the parents I know, cannot allow my kids to play outside the fence without the guilt of knowing and risking their lives.

0:24:55Today every street right down to my 400 foot long cul-de-sac

0:25:00is a death trap for children. If you want your kid to practice their bike, you have to

0:25:05strap them and their bike into your car. Drive 10 blocks to Sierrita Vista Park.

0:25:10and then have them write a couple laps until they're bored.

0:25:13Given the beloved Crown jewel of multimodal transit, the lonely bikeway is punctuated by surface highways like Stockton Moser, and cutting with 0 traffic calming at those crossings.

0:25:25I know I'm supposed to be congratulating you on your plans to build stuff with all the right buzz words that should be done in the next 10 years or so.

0:25:33But the words feel wrong when I look around and see 0 protected bike lanes, and just as plentiful free street parking as there was in 2,007. My current requests are not for additional funding or new projects with more buzz words. I'm asking for a change of mindset.

0:25:50Our streets should be safe for humans and accommodate cars when necessary. Not the other way around. Next time maintenance restripes a car lane, make sure it's less than 9 feet wide. Next time a street gets resealed. Don't put the bike lane between the traffic and the parked cars. Thank you. Your time has ended. Our next speaker is Cordel Himler, followed by Jessica N. And Robin Winton.

0:26:12Thanks, Stewart. So good evening. Mayor Rudnick,

0:26:16council! I am Quidll Hanlon. I'm a Richmond resident, so I'll finish. My thoughts! So

0:26:223 things that have occurred. So number one for a future agenda is to invite Dr. Alvarez to come. Speak to you all about the 30 by 30 initiative from East Bay Regional Park, because, as someone who

0:26:34who goes to the Park, you know. on a daily basis, it's like, it's it's nice to have, like, you know, some

0:26:41to embrace, you know, like what nature is all about. So that's one idea. Then the second idea is to have Danny, Juan or Designee to come. Speak to all about the port of Oakland like you know what are. Their plans are for economic development? Because if you recall at the special meeting back in January. You wanted it and bring in some economic development. But what I'm seeing there's a lot of vacant properties around El Cerrito at which that has not been, which been collecting dust for quite some time, and I said.

0:27:08What would people want to see in El Cerrito? I'll tell you what they want to see. They want to bring in some like, you know, restaurants and that type of thing. So hopefully, those 2 presenters will like to come for a future meeting. So

0:27:20that's 2. And then the third one is

0:27:22as Stuart has mentioned, because I come down Ashbury Avenue every day, and it's getting more worse by the minute. Between 8 0 A. M. And 8 29 A. M. Cars be going

0:27:33flying, and it's like, and it's getting to be an issue because I talked to some of the businesses along that corridor, and they're saying the same thing there is. There's not enough speed bumps, because if you recall. Back in December 2022, there was an item on the consent calendar regarding speed bumps along as if the city of Albany could have speed bumps along Key Route so can else riddle. So I'm hoping that it can be coming back to you all at a later point. That's it.

0:28:01Our next speaker is Jessica, N. Followed by Robin Winton and Paola Sensi Isolani.

0:28:11My name is Jessica, and I have been an El Cerrito resident for over 12 years. I'm an American Jew who knows how it feels to be othered, and often the only Jew in the room. I unfortunately understood from a young age that was judged and initially be judged by my culture and faith. The small city I grew up in 45 min away from here provided many core memories from elementary middle and high school.

0:28:30I was different for, being a Jew. I moved to San Francisco for college, and often was still the only Jewish person in the room. I fell in love with El Cerrito, and believe it to be a great community to raise a family, and to give my children a better experience than myself, a place for my kids to be around people of all walks of life backgrounds, including small but wonderful Jewish community. I believe it still is, we need to focus on local issues and supporting everyone in this community, not resolutions that will do nothing to help Israelis or Palestinians in the Middle East, but will continue to divide our community and promote fear and hate and othering

0:28:58othering members of this community. I want to be clear majority of the Jews around the world. In Israel, including myself, support Israel's right to exist. We do not support its current government leadership. We support free and hostages. We support freeing Palestinians from Hamas, we, a real, peaceful 2 state solution that takes both sides and make it happen, takes both sides to make it happen.

0:29:17All I want to see. Sorry, nervous.

0:29:20All I wanna see, all I see from the ceasefire. Initiatives are no calls for the return for the hostages, no calls for open dialogue, promoting acts of violence. I see anti-jewish propaganda, fear, hate being spread, and support for the cause. We can't support this as a community. 2 things can be true at the same time. Hamas is a terrorist organization that has made it clear that it wants to eradicate Israel and every Jew on earth, and that must be stopped. And there are innocent Palestinians and Gaza living in horror, death and need help, real, vibrant solutions outside war. We need to build bridges, not tear each other down.

0:29:47criticizing the Israeli government is valid, denying Israel's right to exist, and attacking Jews around the world for being a Jew is pure hate. When you support Hamas propaganda as fax, you put Jewish lies in danger, proven by the recent events in San Diego, adopting one sided cease by resolutions thousands of miles away from people affected by this war helps no one but the murder

0:30:04governments that want to keep everyone divided around the world. Remember, there was a ceasefire in place.

0:30:10Thank you. If I could just remind members of the public to please speak into the microphone. So everyone watching the mood, watching the meeting remotely, is also able to hear comments. The next speaker is Robin Wilton, followed by Pat

0:30:22Teola, Cynthi, Isolani, and Reya James.

0:30:32Thank you. My name's Robin Winton. I live in El Cerrito.

0:30:36I'm here to talk about the tree removal and vegetation removal at the top of Mosure that happened this summer.

0:30:45and I came home from being away for about a week, and I was devastated to see dramatic difference that one block had had happen

0:30:56while I was away, and it turns out that Pg, and

0:31:01or what we're not quite sure of. Why, decided that that whole section needed to

0:31:09erased in the past several years, since the 2,017 fire

0:31:14season, I've noticed that this, that

0:31:18strip of mosure had been maintained very nicely, selectively. Removing a lot of the dead undergrowth and and and deadly

0:31:28awesome.

0:31:32devastating, and I always appreciate it.

0:31:35the beauty of what would otherwise be a very sort of industrial, you know, electrical power towers where instead, we have service

0:31:45green belt.

0:31:49I was a little concerned when I spoke to Pg and

0:31:53quarter one or 2

0:31:55to determine what this year's

0:31:59vegetation removal projects would be, and I'm just not knowing if it was for height. Concerns, or if it was for

0:32:10complaints from neighbors. Well.

0:32:14what the fee would be for the other blocks there, that if it's

0:32:18that's their method. So I'm encouraging the Council, if they would take this issue to Pg and E, and see if there's a way to

0:32:27to manage that section. In a. In a way that is advantageous to both sides, both our community and to our you know our fire needs.

0:32:36And

0:32:39that's it, if anybody needs to. I have.

0:32:42thank thank you. Your time has ended. Our next speaker is Pilot

0:32:48Cyncy Isilani, followed by Reya James, and Miguel Gravelle.

0:32:53I'm Paola Santi Zolani, longtime resident of El Cerrito Emerita, Professor of Anthropology. I am quoting from the declaration made by the Commissioner General of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency to the UN General Assembly, just a few days ago

0:33:12this war, where, in a period of just 5 months, more children, more journalists, more medical personnel, and more UN. Staff have been killed than anywhere in the world during a conflict.

0:33:28The death toll in Gaza is staggering. More than 30,000 Palestinians have reportedly been killed in just a hundred 50 days.

0:33:375% of the population is dead, injured or missing. It's impossible to adequately describe the suffering in Gaza. Doctors are amputating the limbs of injured children without anesthetic

0:33:51hunger is everywhere a man made. Famine is looming. More than a hundred people were shot by Israeli soldiers a few days ago, while desperately seeking food.

0:34:05Babies, just a few months old, are dying of malnutrition and dehydration. This is not propaganda. This is the Commissioner of

0:34:15the General Commissioner General of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency. The speech that he gave to the General Assembly is very long. I could quote a lot more. I won't, but I think you understand what he is trying to tell us what he is reporting to us. That is happening right now.

0:34:36and our dollars are funding, funding these horrors. So I am pleading with you. If you have an ounce of humanity

0:34:46to speak out.

0:34:48your silence says that the city of Elsuito supports this genocide and thank you. Your time has ended.

0:34:57Please reframe from any audible disruptions, so all speakers feel comfortable, providing their comments. Our next speaker is Rhea James, followed by Miguel Gravelle and Walla Oregit.

0:35:08I'm going to read an excerpt from an article that was written by Seth Morrison in the Contra Costa News. El Cerrito has a history of passing resolutions on human rights issues most recently condemning Russian attacks on Ukraine.

0:35:21They also passed resolutions against South African apartheid and annually commemorate the Tibetan uprising against China. Our city council does not have a problem talking about international issues.

0:35:32but for some reason they are all remaining silent, and actually throwing Tessa Redneck under the bus by not speaking up and using Tessa Redneck as saying, we don't want to speak out against her, and we want her to take the lead. You can all speak up. You do not have to depend upon one person. Tessa Redneck can recuse herself if she chooses to but if she's not going to, you guys do have a responsibility to speak up and stop remaining silent.

0:35:57I was very disappointed by, and a lot of the Black Muslim community point was disappointed by Carolyn Weisinger's comments. We hope to really take a chance to help you be educated more about black Palestinian solidarity, as well as the many black Palestinian people that exist that you just don't know about and have decided to ignore. The history. Isla, of Islamophobia in this country.

0:36:18I know a lot of people will say that they are frightened and will be afraid, and are nervous, and are anxious. I think that the importance of having these discussions and allowing dialogue so that our communities can have a safe space to, or not a safe space, but a place in which conflict can be discussed together. I have in El Cerrito and Albany have experienced over 12 interactions with the police. I had to leave because I cannot listen to propaganda.

0:36:43I have had nothing but negative interactions being followed down the Greenway in SU. V's have been stopped just for carrying a mop home from CV. Esque.

0:36:52I do not think that

0:36:54many people are going to experience the level of harassment that I have experienced by our police departments. And if you do speak up, let us, as a community, try to find a way to engage in dialogue,

0:37:09with education, with information, with learning, and without. Thank you. Your time knowing the fact that a genocide is occurring. Thank you. Your time has ended. Our next speaker is Miguel Gravelle, followed by Walla Origet and Samaya Nacef

0:37:29greetings council members. I'm here to testify to the fact that over 60% of Americans currently support a permanent ceasefire in Gaza.

0:37:38and this is a first step in ending the genocide of the Palestinian people within Gaza being perpetuated

0:37:45by the Israeli Government. Now the fact that you

0:37:49have not yet passed a ceasefire. Resolution likely means that you have only been exposed to the Palestine and Israel conflict from the point of view of the governments of Israel and its closest allies, such as the U.S.A.

0:38:02And of course the mainstream media of such countries also supports that

0:38:06perspective. Now this one sided analysis does not lead to sound decision making.

0:38:13This is even more problematic. Given that the current relationship between the Israeli Government and the occupied Palestine is being labeled a Genocide, Occupation and apartheid by most of the world and the United Nations.

0:38:27One comprehensive, well-researched source from a Palestinian perspective to help balance this out could be. The Palestinian is called

0:38:35Decolonize palestine.com. Now, this website helps balance out key areas of misunderstanding

0:38:43on the conflict where mainstream discourse perpetually centers the Israeli perspective alone unfortunate. Leaving out this Palestinian perspective.

0:38:53my hope is that you, as a council, will stand up for what is morally righteous

0:38:58and make a permanent ceasefire resolution that meets the standards set forth

0:39:02by the alliance between El Cerrito, Palestinians, and Jews, that is supported by many

0:39:08who wish to see equal rights.

0:39:10justice, safety for Jews and Arabs in occupied Palestine.

0:39:16I encourage people again to please, go to decolonize palestine.com to debunk common myths, such as the myths I heard early about Hamas wanting to eradicate all Jews on planet Earth.

0:39:27Thank you.

0:39:29Thank you. Our next speaker is Walla Origet, followed by Samaya, Nisseth and Toby Bloom.

0:39:41Good evening.

0:39:44Me and my community have been coming here every 2 weeks. For the past few months. We've been struggling with a profound sense of frustration and helplessness. And honestly, I don't even know what to say or and anymore to help. You see our humanity.

0:40:01We've shared countless stories and statistics about the genocide happening in Palestine. hoping to desperately be heard.

0:40:11Do you hear us?

0:40:14As I mentioned in my first public comment, I'm a first generation Palestinian American.

0:40:19Ever since I was a child, I learned about the injustices happening to my people. I watched people who looked just like me being murdered since before I can remember.

0:40:31But I will say something. One thing I never learned was to hate Jews.

0:40:37That's never something that was refrain from audible disruptions. Thank you.

0:40:43And contrary to what you might think, that's not our goal here is to like fuel hate against Jews. This is not about religion. This is about humanity.

0:40:56At this point I've given up trying to convince you that we deserve to live.

0:41:02I'm here because it helps me keep my own humanity alive.

0:41:07You might have heard the story of Aaron Bushnell, a 25 year old active Air Force member, who, self-imulated in protest of what is happening inside. The

0:41:17his final words were, free, Palestine!

0:41:20Something that I've been chanting at protests since. Before I could walk

0:41:26I have more in common with that young man on fire than anyone here who is against what is happening against Palestine, and who is walking around like nothing is wrong.

0:41:38I urge you to just open up a dialogue with us. I'd love to have a long time has ended. Thank you. Can you please state your name for the record? I think we got our speakers out of order.

0:41:48Voila! Thank you. Our next speaker is Samaya, followed by Toby Bloom and Fred Bialy

0:41:56and I will again ask the audience to please refrain from any audible disruptions, so all speakers feel comfortable providing their comments. Thank you. Hi again.

0:42:06So thank you, Councilman Fideli, for speaking out 2 weeks ago. At that time you said if you thought our resolution would save lives, you would push more for one.

0:42:15But what really is the alternative complicity with the collective punishment of millions.

0:42:20There's no neutrality with genocide. You're either against it

0:42:25or you're complicit worse than complicit because we're paying for it. Some of us are trying to rectify that. What are you doing

0:42:35when others, like Aaron Bushnell, are literally sacrificing their lives to make this world a little more tolerable for other people.

0:42:42What are you doing like? Literally nothing.

0:42:47God forbid that meetings get a little awkward for standing up for an innocent life. How terrible that would be for you in the Iraqi War, Iraq War. 9,000 children were killed in a span of 20 years

0:43:01in Afghanistan. It took about 8 years to reach a similar toll

0:43:04in 5 months

0:43:07Israel has massacred 13 1,000 children.

0:43:12I should. I really shouldn't have to say any more than that for you to see Israel's depravity

0:43:20like how many more have to die for you to have some inkling of remorse for your silence?

0:43:26Because, you see, Mayor, if this wasn't a genocide. If it was actually a war, if bombs were falling in on the heads of anyone else except Palestinian children, if anyone but Palestinians were literally starving to death, you would have used your position of power to call for a ceasefire months ago.

0:43:45so you can lie to yourself as much as you want about caring for Palestinians. We know exactly what you think.

0:43:53and I truly pity anyone that believes their sense of safety and peace is bound to the suffering and devastation of others.

0:44:00And another thing, if you're still kinda confused about which side is right, just look at the rallies.

0:44:06look at the pro Palestinian rallies the diversity. How many Jewish people are there supporting and asking for a ceasefire? And then look at the Zionist rallies. How many Palestinians you see there. Thank you. You're not his end wide

0:44:20because the oppressed, they could see ended, sympathize with the oppressors and colonizers. Do not have any humanity. We cannot force it into your hearts.

0:44:34Our next speaker is Toby Bloom, followed by Fred Bialy and Miguel Gravelle. Apologies! Faith, M.

0:44:53My name's Toby. I've been a resident in El Cerrito for almost 30 years.

0:44:58I will keep coming back to this council until my representatives in this city do the right thing. I'm here to bring the name Erin Buschino. I'm glad name was mentioned already.

0:45:11Most of you must know his story pretty well. I hope some of you have taken the time to look at the video. This man was at 25 years old. actively involved

0:45:25in genocide.

0:45:29He by seeing videos, he was a computer analyst. We don't know exactly his role, but he was involved.

0:45:37and he couldn't live with it.

0:45:40And we have suicide rates in our military that are skyrocketing.

0:45:45I wouldn't be surprised if in Israel the suicide rates and the

0:45:50the Israeli army forces

0:45:53are skyrocketing. We are calling for an end to the genocide which will save lives of people in Israel and people here.

0:46:02And this this bloodshed needs to stop, Aaron said, when he was preparing to do this extreme act.

0:46:09I will no longer.

0:46:12I will be no longer complicit in genocide. I am about to engage in an extreme act of protest, but compared to what people have been experiencing in Palestine

0:46:22at the hands of their colonizers. It is not extreme at all. This is what our ruling class has decided will be normal. Does this council

0:46:34believe that this what's going on is normal.

0:46:38and that's when he set fire to his body. He stood as long as he could, shouting out free Palestine! Free Palestine! Free Palestine! I will never forget

0:46:48Aaron Bushnell. I hope none of you do

0:46:52one of the things you said on a social media just hours or days before committing this act.

0:46:58I just want to finish just one thought. Thank you. Your time has II want to finish this one thought, I'm you're gonna you're gonna have to give this to me

0:47:13often question ourselves. What would we please take a seat. Your time has ended. You are currently disrupting the meeting by not taking your seat. You are being provided with a warning to return to your seat and allow the meeting to come to order

0:47:30responsibility. If you wouldn't.

0:47:32the bloodshed needs to stop.

0:47:35Aaron told us. They're us troops on the ground.

0:47:39Wendy, give you another warning that you are disrupting this meeting by by declining to return to your seat and speaking after your time has ended.

0:47:52Our next speaker.

0:47:54Our next speaker, is Fred Bialy, followed by faith, M. And Dean Kertz Curtesi.

0:48:10So I'm Fred Bialy. I live in El Cerrito. I also want to thank councilmember Fideli for his comments at the last meeting for us, who are sickened and distraught by the carnage and destruction to the level of genocide in Gaza.

0:48:25It was a relief to know that one city council member felt the same. I hope and suspect

0:48:31that all members of the city council, as well as residents of El Cerrito, even those who oppose a ceasefire resolution, want a ceasefire in Gaza.

0:48:41as Fideli stated, who can oppose a bilateral ceasefire at this time that will stop the daily horrors that we continue to see

0:48:51that tear us apart.

0:48:53I'm glad that Vice President Harris has finally spoken out for an immediate ceasefire, but she mentioned a 6 week time period. What will happen then? Presumption of the bombing in an attempt to fully eliminate Hamas, and in the process, all of Gaza.

0:49:09So there is still urgency for a permanent ceasefire and a good faith process that finally recognizes the dignity, humanity, and rights of Palestinians. The city council should join that effort. The more voices calling for justice, the more likely that justice will fail.

0:49:27Though, Mayor Rudnick, since you control the city council agendas, I ask again that you recuse yourself from that role on this issue.

0:49:35I think it is wrong and just a smear tactic that a member of the public called this request anti Semitic. It has nothing to do with you. Being Jewish, it has to do with your personal views obstructing the Democratic process on a vital issue.

0:49:51Last night the Albany City Council decided to form a subcommittee to formulate a cease fire resolution with input from the community. I urge you to follow their example. I hope that those of you who oppose supporting, let alone considering a cease fire. Resolution, for whatever reason, will finally agree. Thank you. Enough is enough.

0:50:12Our next speaker is Faith M. Followed by Dean Kertz, Kurtesy, and Rabbi Yankee Bell.

0:50:23Hi! I've been a resident of El Cerrito for almost 30 years.

0:50:26Some people are falsely charged at what happened is in the Middle East as a genocide, using this term dishonors the memories of the Armenians, the Jews, the Cambodians, and the Rwandans killed in actual genocides. Rather, this is a war that Hamas is losing. We don't expect you to have the expertise to debunk these lies, because that's not why we elected you, since it's not, maybe it's not appropriate for this Council to take a position that relies on such lies.

0:50:56Genocide is a lie based on Hamas's own statistics.

0:51:01Hamas has never stated how many of their own jihadi fighters were killed, or how many deaths resulted from their own misfired rockets, 20% of which have fallen within Gaza. If Israel were trying to commit genocide, they wouldn't send in ground troops risking the lives of their young men. If Israel was trying to commit genocide they wouldn't have sent in almost 300,000 tons of food in 15,000 trucks since the start of the war.

0:51:30Why are so many people desperate to have El Cerrito endorse keeping Hamas in power cause? That's the inevitable result of a permanent ceasefire? Now, why do they insist that a homophobic misogynist, Islamic terror organization be allowed to maintain control over Gaza.

0:51:49Israel has proposed several cease fires that have all been rejected by Hamas.

0:51:54there is a current cease, fire proposed that Hamas is rejected, so who exactly would a ceasefire proposal be directed towards right now

0:52:05Hezbollah is lobbing missiles in from the north.

0:52:11I'm perfect.

0:52:13There have been over 50 missiles to day. Is the Cease fire proposal directed towards Hezbollah as well.

0:52:21We should stop pretending that this is a debate about a cease fire. It's about whether Hamas will be allowed to stay in power in Gaza. Thank you, and time has entered civilians as human feels.

0:52:32Our next speaker is Dean Cortez, followed by Rabbi Yankee Bell and Dorothea Dorens.

0:52:46Hello! My name is Dean Kertz. I'm a lifelong resident of El Cerrito. I come before you once again to urge you not to put a ceasefire on the agenda, on the resolution, not because I am opposed to a ceasefire. In fact, I support a ceasefire.

0:53:03We supported the ceasefire that was in existence that was broken on October seventh.

0:53:09When Hamas attacked.

0:53:12I support the ceasefire that's on the table. Now that Israel has accepted, and Hamas has not yet.

0:53:18I won't say they've rejected it, but they have done nothing for 5 days the fighting could have ended 5 days ago. There will be no permanent cease fire, because Hamas has said they will attack again, so this any cease, fire will be temporary. But the main reason I am asking you not to do this, as we have seen in Richmond, in Oakland, in San Francisco, and other cities throughout the country.

0:53:42When a resolution like this gets put on the agenda, it's not about peace.

0:53:47There will be some people who in good faith will call for peace. There will be others who will demonize Israel.

0:53:54There will be others who will call for Israel's destruction, and there will be other people who will spew hate against Jews. We don't need that here, so, please. There may be ways we could come together in dialogue.

0:54:07but a city Council resolution is not the way to do it. Thank you.

0:54:12Our next speaker is Rabbi Yankee Bell, followed by Dorothea Durnz and Rochelle Nassan.

0:54:22II am Rabbi Yankee bell from the Haba Jewish center of El Cerrito.

0:54:27I'm not going to comment on something which is rightfully, not on the agenda on the meeting agenda.

0:54:32I am here today to take a moment to express the gratitude of our community and the people at El Cerrito. To each one of you

0:54:41our dearest dedicated City Council members. Each one of you has chosen graciously to give your heart and soul for our city, because you care. You care for society, and you care deeply for El Cerrito?

0:54:52Thank you.

0:54:53Establishing course of law and government bodies. To ensure justice in our world is a God given duty communicated to Noah after the great blood. By fulfilling your work, you are representing every member of our city in the sacred mission of restoring harmony to our world and synchronizing it with a supernal order.

0:55:11Thank you, Tessa. Thank you, Gabe. Thank you, Paul.

0:55:15Thank you, Carolyn. Thank you, Lisa. Thank you for your heartfelt words at the last meeting.

0:55:20Thank you for the entire staff

0:55:22for being here and doing what you're doing. I and thousands of others, Jews and non-jews are deeply proud to live in El Cerrito, and to have you as our city council. We have had to put up with appalling comments, ridicule, and much upheaval over the past few weeks.

0:55:37Still you stand firmly and securely upholding the good spirit of our city.

0:55:42People are clearly in pain. I empathize with everyone who is in pain

0:55:46that the pain doesn't justify. Using the sacred space to ridicule the very people

0:55:50dedicate themselves with heart and soul to be there for us and our families.

0:55:54Let's add an acts of goodness, kindness, and charity. Let's light up this world with love and care for each other. Let's remember that when we shine light. The darkness is pushed away automatically, and a little bit of light pushes away a lot of darkness.

0:56:08I pray that our collective acts of kindness, even while as humans we can disagree will bring about a time when, in the words of Isaiah, no nation shall take up a sword against another.

0:56:18There was. There's never again no war, but the earth will be filled with the knowledge of Lord as the water covers decision. Your time has ended.

0:56:26Our next speaker is Dorothea Durnz, followed by Rochelle, Nathan, and Jeff Rosenfield.

0:56:33Please refrain from any audible disruptions, so all speakers feel comfortable, providing their comments. Hi my name is Dorothyodurens. II am doing a lot of shopping and living in El Cerrito, so I have a lot of concern about El Cerrito. I want to thank the police for apprehending Mister Husari, who attacked us on January sixth

0:56:55and convicting him with hate. Crime, felony hate crimes. So it's really important that the Elfrida police followed up on his attack on us when we were protesting against the Ceasefire resolution that did not call for any anything from Hamas.

0:57:13So I have

0:57:15my own ceasefire resolution. I hope you don't pass it, or any resolution.

0:57:21Hamas, to surrender and return the hostages, Hamas, to stop stealing humanitarian aid and killing civilians who need it. Elimination of Unra, that collaborated in killing Israelis no further rule in Gaza by Hamas, no aid to Hamas and Islamic jihad by Qatar.

0:57:39when the bombing by Hezbollah in the north. and the funds

0:57:44from frozen assets of O used the ones from frozen assets of Hamas to pay reparations from Israeli, families of murdered relatives by Hamas, reparations to the 6,000 Israelis injured fighting Hamas on October seventh.

0:57:59Imprisonment upon me of her as fighting in Qatar imprisonment of other Hamas and Israeli jihad leaders were hiding in Turkey. We can show the ad hoc committee in Albany, for example, how utterly ridiculous it is to aspir by asking for all of these things. Maybe we will see the light about how ridiculous it is.

0:58:21So. As for ceasefire when it takes 2 parties to agree to one, and especially what one party. Hamas does not want one.

0:58:30The Muslim leader should be brought to the Hague and charged with war crimes.

0:58:34So I want you to know that if you are shamed by the people here who are telling you that you have no heart, that is not the truth throwing.

0:58:44supporting a resolution. Thank you. Your time and your space right now. So thank you for doing city business. Thank you. Your time has ended. Our next speaker is Richelle Nissan, followed by Jeff Rosenfield and Sonia.

0:58:57Good evening. My name is Rochelle Nason. I'm a resident of Albany, although I do a lot of my shopping, and certainly a lot of my restaurant visits here in El Cerrito absolutely love your your business community and all the amazing things that this town has to offer. It's important to me. And I'm I'm not even gonna try to touch on any of the substance here.

0:59:23I think that to do justice. If you were to decide that you wanted to take up this issue, I think you'd pretty much have to put everything else aside for a very long time.

0:59:34It's very wise not to jump into A a such a complex and ancient issue that is, is causing so much division. I wanna thank you. And II speak as someone who did sit on the Albany City Council for about 8 and a half years.

0:59:53I am painfully aware of how complex running a city has become over the decades. It seems like with every year there is something more that a city council must deal with. It has become unbelievably complex, and I think that you are wise and judicious to keep the community united, to keep it free of violence to the best of your ability, free of hate.

1:00:22and keep your focus on the work of the city. It's very much appreciated, and and I congratulate you for for your wisdom and your kindness to both of the the groups of people who are in so much pain here. Thank you very much.

1:00:42Our next speaker is Jeff Rosenfield, followed by Sonya and Elena

1:00:47Stelton.

1:00:59Thank you for this opportunity. My name is Jeff Rosenfeld, and I applaud you.

1:01:05I know you are leaders. Since community I do not envy you. That is a difficult job in this room. I have been here for other city council meetings.

1:01:15It is a sacred place to me. As far as I'm concerned. Anything that happens here has to depend on your sense of

1:01:22justice, fairness, and dispassionate decision making. We are unfortunately under the fog of war. There's a veil of tears everywhere in this world when people die.

1:01:34and there is no way

1:01:36that justice and dispassionate discussion can happen in this room on a subject like Ceasefire.

1:01:43I do not believe you should be

1:01:45taking it up here, as a resolution is simply clear. There is no truth that people accept on

1:01:52any side of this issue. There's not common ground to and have a discussion.

1:01:58There's not a comment or ground to make a decision. We all disagree on basic facts about what is happening far, far, far, far away.

1:02:08Let's not be like colonizers and make decisions for the rest of the world. Let's make dispassionate

1:02:15discussion here on city issues

1:02:18and recognize the passion and emotion that this issue brings to us. It destroys the ability to make true, dispassionate

1:02:28decision-making. I want to be able to come into this room next time.

1:02:31or issues that affect my city and understand that you, as leaders, know

1:02:36we are not questioning your manity. Your humanity is clear from your courage

1:02:42to make decisions here. So let's do it dispassionately on facts that we can agree on.

1:02:49Thank you very much for everything you do for the city.

1:02:54Our next speaker is Sonya, followed by Elaine Stilton.

1:03:00Hi! Good evening. My name's Sony. I'm an El Cerrito resident. Thank you all for being here and for your public service. It's election night, and I know that I have been

1:03:10helping people in their in their elections and canvassing for people that II support. And there's just been a lot of discussions around. Why, why we become public servants, why we take these positions, and I'm not here to

1:03:28and ask for your opinion. I'm here to remind you of your obligation and public service which is to reflect the will of the people. And in case you haven't noticed.

1:03:38every institution is addressing this hospitals, school rules, government agencies, city after city educational institutions.

1:03:47People are addressing this. And so if we want to uphold the democratic process and

1:03:55encourage dialogue and encourage the unity that

1:03:58many of my neighbors talked about tonight, which is peace and love. And all this we can't do that without understanding. We can't do that without a conversation. And so what a ceasefire resolution does is it allows for people to speak.

1:04:13and it allows for people to have a discussion and to see where you all stand, so that we know where you stand. So I just encourage you to put this on the agenda, so we can have this discussion. And

1:04:26Hi.

1:04:29it's it's just an incredibly painful time for a lot of people I know. I don't feel safe. I know other people of color in El Cerrito don't feel safe. We don't want to be here. And that is me growing up in our largely Jewish community with friends who lived in Israel and Palestinian family, and I had grew up with a very.

1:04:50I grew up with everybody. and I love everybody.

1:04:54but there is no 2 sides in genocide, and there is no 2 sides in occupation, and there is no 2 sides in history. And so I'm asking you to please have this discussion. Thank you. Your time has ended, and to give space for everyone to share. Thank you. Ever see, your time is ended. The next speaker is Elaine Stilton.

1:05:15So, council. I do not live in El Cerrito. I did go to El Cerrito high. I thank you very much for your service.

1:05:24I know all of us deeply want peace, and

1:05:28it is very hard to negotiate a peace. Deal with an entity like Hamas. Let me please read to you Hamas's own words from their charter.

1:05:39This is from the Charter, the covenant of the Islamic Resistance movement was issued April eighteenth, 1988. The Islamic resistance movement, also known as Hamas, is an extremist, fundamental fundamentalist. Islamic organization operating in the Territories under Israeli control.

1:05:59Its covenant is a comprehensive manifesto comprised of 36 separate articles, all of which promote the basic Hamas goal of destroying the state of Israel through jihad, which is the Islamic Holy War.

1:06:15The following are excerpts of the Hamas

1:06:18covenant. The Islamic resistance movement is a distinguished Palestinian movement, whose allegiance is to Allah. and the way of life is Islam. It strives to raise the fine.

1:06:31Excuse me.

1:06:33Okay, let me get to the important part.

1:06:37The rejection of a negotiated peace settlement.

1:06:42peace initiatives and so-called peace solutions and international conferences are in contradiction to the principles of Islamic resistance movements.

1:06:52Those conferences are in no way means.

1:06:57They are the means of infidels as arbiters in the land of Israel.

1:07:02There is no solution for the Palestinian problem except jihad

1:07:07initiatives, proposals, and international conferences are a waste of time

1:07:13and exercise in futility. That is your time has ended.

1:07:19Mayor. That concludes our request to speak alright. Thank you so much. Yeah.

1:07:26we are going to move to the adoption of the consent. Calendar.

1:07:30Oh, presentation! Oh, presentation! Are you right? Your class and com study? Thank you so much. Thank you so much. Everyone for your public comment.

1:08:15Please please stop disrupting this meeting.

1:08:20Please stop disrupting this meeting. Public comments have closed. We're moving on to the next item on the agenda. Thank you.

1:08:33Good evening, Mayor and City Council. My name is Shannon Bassi, senior Human Resources analyst, Nhr.

1:08:39Just before we start our presentation. I did just want to start off this agenda item with a thank you for everyone involved including our department heads, managers that were assisting along the way and providing input our various unions within the city and employee groups that were also providing input and meeting with Hr and our city negotiator

1:09:05along with coffin associates for conducting the study. So with that, I'd like to introduce Katie Connectico, who is our project manager over this study. As a representative of coffin associates, and we'll have a presentation for you, and we'll be available for any questions at the end. So with that I'll turn it over to Katie. Thank you.

1:09:35Okay.

1:09:37Testing. Okay. Good evening. Thank you very much for having me here this evening. My name is Katie Connectico, as Shannon and indicated. And I'm here to represent Coffin associates who conducted the classification and total compensation study on behalf of the city of El Cerrito.

1:09:53So what I'm going to do this evening is walk you through the study process, and

1:10:02we'll talk a little bit about our methodology and approaching the study, and we always approach classification first in phase, one. To get a good understanding of the body of work being performed within the city.

1:10:15and then phase 2 was the compensation study, so I'll approach it accordingly. and then speak briefly about the study results and kind of the next steps after. Now that you have all of the data.

1:10:29But no.

1:10:33okay. So the classification start study started. Roughly, about a year and a little over a year ago, where we sat down with the project team, Shannon and

1:10:47Alex, and discussed the timeline.

1:10:51What the different steps were going to be. This process, since we are studying the work of all the employees is very inclusive.

1:10:58and we held employee orientations to

1:11:02walk them through the study process. We introduced our tool, which is a position description questionnaire where employees indicated provided us input about the work that they're performing.

1:11:14That Pdq was then reviewed by their immediate supervisor and the next level up manager so we could get perspectives of all different stakeholders within the city.

1:11:26The Pdq's were reviewed by our team. We held interviews with employees who requested

1:11:33interviews so that we could get examples of some of the the work that they were performing. Let them provide additional information that's sometimes difficult to put all the context and nuance about work on a piece of paper. So it was important to get that conversation and questions answered. To get further understanding. We also met with supervisors, and all the way up through department heads to get the perspective on the workload

1:12:02and excel

1:12:04once those interviews were concluded, our team went back and

1:12:10revisited, based on our experience, working with other cities, looking at the work being performed, making suggestions on on some title, changes that would be more aligned with what we would typically see.

1:12:22In some cases there were refinements to ensure that the work was updated to reflect any technology changes or regulatory changes that might impact the work.

1:12:34And another goal of the study was to ensure that we had consistent levels and titles associated with those levels. And so there were some title changes to reflect that. And if I interrupt you for just a moment, sorry.

1:12:49great I just wanna for members of the public who are watching. I realize, as I was listening, that we haven't quite translated this yet for members of the public of what it is that we're doing with the class and Comp study. So classification compensation is for the city of El Cerrito. We have many, many positions in the city, we actually now can quantify it. So we are doing an analysis of all of the positions within El Cerrito.

1:13:14That's the classification of those positions. And then the compensation is what those positions are being paid and how it's being benchmarked against

1:13:22other municipalities. So I was. I realized that the table wasn't set, and I was just looking at the audience and realizing oh, we didn't explain that part of it so apologies for interrupting. But I want to make sure, at least, that the table is set so that we can

1:13:36so that the I audience understand this is almost 2 years into the making of this, so, as Bassy framed it, it is. This is a really big deal, so we're excited to hear this. There you go on. Thank you very much for framing that. So right now, we're in the class piece where we're studying the work.

1:13:53And the goal is to ensure that you have a consistent system and a system reflective of the work being performed by all of the city of El Cerrito's employees.

1:14:04So

1:14:05Once we had the interviews, Con concluded. We developed these class concepts defined, you know, the different responsibility levels

1:14:15an individual contributor level at a supervisor level, at a manager level at a department head level.

1:14:21and and then, of course, the types of duties that would be performed be performed in each job, family or functional area.

1:14:29And then we went through and worked with the city on developing a format that was consistent for all of the class descriptions, and updated each one of them to ensure that it was current and up to date, and reflective of the work and the concepts that were developed.

1:14:47and we went through a process of review by management to make sure that they were comfortable, that the class descriptions are represented, and that is where we are today. Just fine finalizing those class descriptions which I believe will be coming forward

1:15:03later, at a later point.

1:15:08And we studied 93 classifications through this process. And in some cases we created levels that made sense to reflect and to give the city more flexibility in hiring.

1:15:21It is a very tight labor market right now. Sometimes it's necessary to hire in people with less experience, so that they can learn on the job. So we added what we call flexibly staffed classifications to allow for flexibility depending on what your applicant pool looks like.

1:15:38we also created 17 new classifications. Part of that was to expand the series, to reflect the career path and and potential growth for hiring less experienced individuals and into classifications.

1:15:52In other cases there were, there was in future

1:16:00fire marshal or fire prevention office.

1:16:04So those were the main outcomes of the classification study

1:16:12and and again, the goal is to to be very clear on the different levels of work that exist within job families, job, families are equivalent to departments.

1:16:24any questions on the class study. So far. Okay.

1:16:29so moving, once we complete the class study. It's really important to have a current understanding of the work be performed.

1:16:37and we are now ready to

1:16:39begin phase 2 of, or the compensation study so that we can go out and find what other agencies, whether similar agencies, are paying for similar work.

1:16:52And so we work with the city to determine the comparator agencies. We

1:16:58went ahead and moved forward with the 18 historical agencies that the city has used.

1:17:04that was to encompass the full range of duties, including police and fire, which every municipality doesn't have.

1:17:13We selected. Roughly, two-thirds of all classifications to survey. We wanna make sure that we go get good market information

1:17:23at each level within a job family to ensure that we have a good framework to build out recommendations for all classifications within the city. So there were 62, what we call benchmark classifications, and these are classifications that we survey in the market.

1:17:40And then we got. We agreed upon the benefits, data that we were going to collect which focused on base salary. We we collected the top

1:17:49monthly step in the salary schedule for each of the agencies, and we focused on collecting benefits for retirement and health insurance.

1:18:03This. These are the 18 comparator agencies that were used for 15 of them were other cities. And then there were 3 fire districts for fire positions. Only

1:18:22when we collect the data we go into each agency's classification system. We match the newly crafted class descriptions to their class descriptions. We look for similarity and the definition, the reason those positions exist, the duties that they're performing. We look at minimum qualifications.

1:18:42and we know that no 2 agencies are going to be exactly alike. They're going to be structured a little bit differently. They may not have all the same levels or needs as your community, but we look for at least 70% similarity within each of these agencies, or we don't make the match.

1:18:58and we have to have at least 4 matches for each benchmark in order to provide any sort of statistical information back to the city. So of course, it's key. When we're selecting the comparator agencies to find other agencies that are similar and are going to provide similar work.

1:19:16We look at Mo, use, we look at org charts, we look at a budget, documents, we look at allocation documents. We go description to description to ensure that we have solid data that reflects the work being performed in El Cerrito. So it was a very thorough process, and in doing conducting our matching.

1:19:37So at the end of the study we had surveyed 62 classifications. and we found that overall, when looking at base salary. the the city was 7.9 below the market Median

1:19:53and that was a pretty wide swing there. There were some classifications that were above market by as much as 10.9% when we looked at base. And there were some classifications that were below market by as much as 36.6%. When we looked at

1:20:08the the the base salary as well

1:20:13total compensation, and put the city in a more competitive position. The contributions to both retirement and healthcare were very competitive.

1:20:24and so you can see the difference when overall. The the results were that the city was 1.9 below the Market Median, when we took benefits into consideration.

1:20:35And again, this was a range from

1:20:39you know, of all the 62 benchmarks, 12.7 were above market

1:20:43to as low as 23.1 below, above market and below market.

1:20:49So there's a.

1:20:51you know, good impact of the benefits on compensation. In a situation like this, we would normally recommend

1:21:00that compensate that the benefits package be taken into consideration in making future decisions, because it puts you in a more competitive position.

1:21:13So this is just a summary of the total comp market findings that that we would be suggesting we move forward with

1:21:21in. When looking at total Comp, there were 20 of the benchmark classifications that were above market, or about 16 that were within 5% of the market we do consider being within 5% of the market to be in a competitive range.

1:21:36Then there were 9 classifications that were within 5 to 10% below market.

1:21:41There were 4 classifications that were below market between 10 and 20%, and then 2 classifications that were more than 20%.

1:21:51There were 6 classifications that, and we did not find 4 matches for.

1:21:56And so they were insufficient data. We won't provide a statistical analysis related to those we'll then when it comes. Time, make recommendations on internal alignment to other market data that we have.

1:22:13And as I just mentioned, we consider the market Median a good target it is not does not take into consideration

1:22:24high paying agencies and low paying agencies like the average does, it tends to be where most agencies cluster. And so we normally recommend to clients to to use the market median data to help formulate decisions in in targeting the market.

1:22:41And of course, within 5% of the market meeting is considered additive.

1:22:47And of course, you know, all of this data is to be used as as tools and decision making, and, of course, fiscal responsibility and other considerations have to be weighted in as well.

1:23:00And this is just a slide, suggesting in the future that, you know, there's some sort of consistent target market target that you need to use to make decisions.

1:23:13The the next steps is is really for the city to use use the market data point as a reference

1:23:20and decide compensation philosophy. I know historically, the city has used market median total compensation. And we would support that based on the data that we received

1:23:31course and where you're able to pay related to that market. Median has a lot to do with your fiscal sustainability. So that needs to be taken into consideration as well.

1:23:42And you want to design a consistent compensation structure. We usually recommend one salary range and placement of all of the classifications within the city. In that salary range structure in a consistent fashion, targeting some sort, some agreed upon Market Point.

1:24:02and of course,

1:24:05actual employee pay would be based on, you know, current pay and movement into that structure, so that you want to come up with a consistent plan to transfer trans transfer

1:24:15employees into a updated market competitive range.

1:24:22And then from there, once you have this structure in place, and a consistent

1:24:26formula to to

1:24:29place classifications within that structure. You want to continue to watch the market, look for trends in cost of living increases, and that kind of thing to maintain the the schedule.

1:24:44and that is my summary of the process. I'm happy to answer any questions that you might have.

1:24:50Thank you so much for your presentation and to a reminder, the members of public. This is just a presentation. So there's no action that we're going to be taking at this point from it. This is a receive and file moment.

1:25:02So I. And that also means that we're not taking comment on it, it would have been at the earlier part of the

1:25:09meeting when it was, or do we do comments on this

1:25:13sorry mayor based on the comments earlier. I did what I did only have one request to speak on this item, and I did hold it back so perfect. So then we'll just we'll do that one public comment. But I would like to invite members of my call or my my colleagues, members of the Council, if they have any questions or comments.

1:25:28Yeah, I'll start with Mayor, pretend, Weissger, and then go to councilmember. Motoyama is very, very short, because, of course, as a new council member, this is the first classic Comp study that I've gone through. And I did. I wanted to thank you for making it so easily accessible for someone who's doing it for the first time? Very short. No real just saying Thank you for that

1:25:49councilmember, Wasayama. Thank you, Mayor. Thank you for this report. It's really thorough. I do have a couple of questions. One is about the the new class.

1:26:01There are some positions that were entirely new classifications. So can you tell me is, are you? Is this some recommendation of new positions.

1:26:13or are they because it because there's some classifications that are adjustments to existing positions. But there's some absolutely new one. So can you tell me what those are telling me?

1:26:25There's a combination as I mentioned, in some cases we increase levels within a class series to allow some flexibility and being able to hire less experienced individuals, so that would be included as as a new classification. In other cases there was a desire, I think, to provide services that the city hasn't been provided, for example, that Fire Marshall

1:26:49classification or the the Fire prevention officer, I know, were classifications that would meet a future need of the city.

1:26:57Okay? And then

1:27:00I had a question about other trends. So I was wondering if you were seeing clustering of positions that were below the Median in like more higher compensated positions, or clustering around lower compensated positions, and kind of what? What any kind of.

1:27:17you know, sort of bigger picture analysis that you can tell us about what's going on in terms of compensation. Yeah, that's a great question. I mean, I think there were. There was a mix of classifications above and below market that crossed over between different levels within the organization.

1:27:34I will say, in my experience, I think those that were further below market tend to be more management positions.

1:27:43This I do see typically in organizations, because there's more competition at that level. There, there's not as many manage, not as much management talent out in the market right now. And so I do see that trend within most organizations that moves at a different pace.

1:28:02Sat compensation in those positions

1:28:06to be competitive and attract talent, for example, and

1:28:10you know, year and a half ago I was hearing from many, many clients. They just, you know, finance directors were very, very difficult to hire in the Bay area. And so that would be a trend. And and as a result, agencies had to adjust compensation, to be able to bring in the talent.

1:28:26Okay? And then one last question for me is about the compaction. So

1:28:34I do understand why there has to be separation between sort of managerial positions or supervisory positions, and their staff, in order to kind of maintain that separation when you take compaction and you overlay it. With this.

1:28:50a

1:28:50kind of the the Median compensation. You know.

1:28:56I know that we have some compassion issues. Does that affect kind of what you recommend than not just the Median position. But kind of

1:29:05where? Where does? Where, how do those 2 things come together in in a recommendation?

1:29:10Fortunately, when you're surveying other like agencies, they often have similar structures of progression within job families. The market does tend to be pretty logical.

1:29:23The next steps in this whole process would be to actually create some models. Based on.

1:29:31and what the city wants to try to target to particularly get those classifications that are behind market in a more competitive range

1:29:39and we are going to be making, you know, rationale for internal alignment and placement, and we would certainly be viewing within a job family any compaction issues. And

1:29:53I would suspect the market is going to negate that that it is pretty logical in that way, but would certainly, if we ran into issues based on the data. Make some recommendations very transparently, perhaps, to override the market.

1:30:09Thank you.

1:30:12Councilmember. Fideli.

1:30:14Yeah, thank you very much for this. We've

1:30:17the city's been waiting for this for a long time, so we appreciate this. It's a lot of work.

1:30:22and what it reminded me of when we had an initial meeting about this is that our city does have a pretty good retirement formula.

1:30:32right to attract folks who may have good health benefits. So it's a good place to work.

1:30:36Would you agree that that 1.9% is also pretty good?

1:30:43Yeah, II mean, I would say there, there were some classifications that were, I would say, significantly below Mark, yes, but overall overall the overall number as a city moving for without

1:30:54without testing it for so long a decade to find that out is a pretty good thing, and then I'm not sure if this is okay. I wanted to ask Staff, and maybe our city manager, and I'm not sure if she can't answer or wants to at this point, but going forward in a city with still some financial issues.

1:31:12What is your philosophy on dealing with

1:31:16fixing what needs to be fixed? Is that basically the greatest discrepancies get fixed first? Is that the direction you may go.

1:31:25Well, that's actually a good question. So we have, you know, obviously the difference between. And and you know we'll also be looking to Katie. For this she did have some in the in the report. She did have some options that we could consider that could take, you know, a year, couple of years, or how to kind of as a broad range.

1:31:44certainly there's a difference between the bargaining units who are under contract, and that we would be negotiating our contract with them. So I think that that implementation would go along with those negotiations for management and confidential, since they're not in a bargaining unit that is governed by a contract. I think we have a little bit more leeway. But

1:32:04either way, as Katie indicated this being a tool to show us where we are and the different ranges and the different options we can do, and and and your point about compaction, council member modem is also something. All of these things are taken into consideration. So bottom line will be that as we're continuing to assess our budget, which will be talking about a little bit later, and in the coming months that that is something that we're going to have to work with Katie to come up

1:32:28with what we, and also with our negotiators. You, you know, a good implement, a good implementation plan that doesn't set things too far out, but that will be able to try to move the needle a little bit if we can. Again, we have more leeway with those that are unrepresented. But that also is is very much dependent upon our financial position.

1:32:50I hope that answers your question. Indeed. Thank you. Anything else. I have a few questions. for one, I want to acknowledge, and I did at the top of

1:33:01I mean I when I interjected. But I do want to kind of bringing forward how important it is that we're doing this work. This is the type of work that

1:33:09seems, you know, for for us in the space

1:33:14having a really good metric, having more substantial

1:33:19substantive data. It really helps us so that we are able to do the kind of comparative analysis when we are doing both short-term and long term planning for the city.

1:33:31you know we have someone here in the audience who has been championing this for a long time. So I do wanna give a special shout out to Cordel Handler, who, understood the importance of a class and Comp. Study. We have not done a class and Comp. Study in El Cerrito in

1:33:45quite literal decades. So you got here just at the right time, Mayor, put some white singer because we we have with most things we have. Yeah, this is our first time doing. It's really important work. Also, this was a recommendation from the state auditor. So that's one of the things I do really wanna tie back that this was in response to the auditor because it was really challenging to figure out some of these benchmark salaries which brings me to my first question. We did have a

1:34:12closed session meeting beforehand, so we have a little bit of a sense of it. But one of the things that came out of. I can't talk about what's in close, but just the thought about the cities themselves.

1:34:23The cities that were chosen for this comparative analysis. Can you explain a little bit more about why these are the cities that are chosen? Yes, So

1:34:32there were 18 cities that the city of El Cerrito has historically used. that that's a a number that's a little bit larger than than we would otherwise recommend. You could probably get away with about 12,

1:34:47but we wanted to make sure that we had sufficient data for police and fire.

1:34:53It, it did seem, since it had been so long. And you know, usually the agreement on cities is is, there's different stakeholder views on that.

1:35:03So I think the decision was made to just kind of go with this 18 that that city has historically and sounds like a silly question. But I think it's an important one also that is there a connection between the size of a city and the compensation of staff?

1:35:21No, there is not II you would be surprised. There's all different philosophies out there in each city is going to have their own, and there are a lot of considerations that they have the community themselves and the values that they place on the different services that are provided. Certainly fiscal considerations as well, and

1:35:42influence. You know the philosophies of each of the cities, and

1:35:46you know there are plenty of cities out there who haven't done studies in quite a while as well, and we're seeing in the last few years that at trend. There's a lot of interest since the pandemic and ensuring that they have good relevant market data.

1:36:02But it it there's no direct correlation.

1:36:07I would say, you know, management positions. There are different philosophies on. and

1:36:15compensation, or just even what are what's more challenging about being a manager in a large organization versus a small and I don't think any of that directly ties to to compensation, but

1:36:27when you're in a smaller organization you have to wear a lot of hats. You're probably more involved in rolling up your sleeves when you're in a larger organization. Probably the biggest challenge is to get everybody on the same page about the direction that you're going, the leadership skills. Again, another silly question, but an important one. What tends to happen to cities? If positions are

1:36:47at below market rate positions. What tends to happen to those cities?

1:36:53Difficult recruiting and retaining staff

1:36:56right? Because the whole purpose of a study like this is to just make sure you have data to ensure that you get the best quality staff that you can to to execute the services that you do for your community.

1:37:09Thank you so much. And with that, is there any final final? All right. If we have members of the public who wish to provide public comment.

1:37:18Now is your time.

1:37:20Go ahead, Cordel. Yeah, I thought, I thought, I get 3 min.

1:37:25So

1:37:26is it? 3 min or 2.

1:37:29The mayor said it, too. So okay, so good evening. Mayor Rugen and Council members. I am Kodel Hanlon. I am a fantastic, rich, and resident. So thank you. Sharon, Ka and Katie for this presentation. So

1:37:42I was looking at the the first slide and the

1:37:45the the others comparable cities. And I'm like, thank goodness, Richard is on that list. Thank goodness, cause it's like they have not had done a study, and God knows how long. So it's like it's great that you compare it to other cities so like, and I do want the regular to reflect that it was my idea to have coffin associates to help you all because

1:38:03I have seen them work with other cities. And I'm like looking at their studies. And I'm like.

1:38:08Wow. this is. This is very impressive, and I'm like.

1:38:12I'm glad that it's all coming to to together. And it's like

1:38:17it's amazing that a coffin associated has done the job. And so they looked at all the data and I was looking at. And I know this sounds like a silly question, but it's like

1:38:26I've looked at other org charts from other cities, and I'm like this is nothing compared to like other cities. And I'm like. I'm just glad that the orchards is on the as part of the data. So

1:38:38I'm just excited about this study. So hopefully they will come back with with some positions. Coming forward at a later date. So that's all

1:38:49that concludes the request to speak. Mayor. Great.

1:38:52Thank you so much again for being here tonight for having me. Thank you.

1:38:58I had inadvertently went to the wrong item before. But now we're gonna go back at the right time, which is the adoption of the consent. Calendar. We have the following items, item, a. A women's History month proclamation.

1:39:11We already had. Item B, item C. Arbor, week proclamation, item D, prescription, drug abuse, awareness, proclamation, proclamation, item E, environmental quality committee, appointment recommendations.

1:39:24item F authorization to amend professional services, contract with 4 leaf to increase the contract authority and to provide additional building services.

1:39:33Item G. Resolution in support of the Mayfair affordable project

1:39:37and item H. Resolution authoring the Pro Housing Incentive Program application. Would any of my colleagues like to pull an item

1:39:47going once going twice.

1:39:48all right, move the consent. Calendar. Moved by Fideli, seconded by Motoyama. All those in favor, please say aye, aye, any opposed motion carries

1:39:58alright. We are moving through this. We are on to

1:40:02item 9, a policy matters to adopt. Oh, yes, I see them the microphone going down. Do you go? Please read the title, and then I'll make my comment. Thank you. Alright. Item, a is adoption, adopt a resolution authorizing the city manager to execute an agreement for legal services with Redwood, public Law, Llp. And naming Sky Woodrif to continue serving a city attorney.

1:40:27I am going to step away from the staff area to avoid any appearance that I am participating in this item as in my official capacity, but I am certainly available for any questions that Council may have about this item.

1:40:40Thank you so much.

1:40:42Good evening, Mayor and City Council. I am Holly Charlottetier, city clerk. The item before you is a resolution to authorize an agreement for legal services with Redwood, public Law group and name Sky Woodruff to continue serving as city attorney. Mr. Woodruff, a principal with Myers Navi, was appointed to serve as the city attorney in 2,008, and has provided legal services to the city of El Cerrito for the past 15 years.

1:41:06He is an experienced attorney, with over 2 decades of service to various cities, including El Cerrito, and has consistently provided excellent and timely legal services to the city.

1:41:16In February Mister Woodruff informed the city that, along with several other Meyer Navi principals and attorneys, he would be forming a new law firm called Redwood Public Law, and leaving Myers no bay, the new firm would will be focused on public agency representation, and includes a number of attorneys who, Si serve other cities in the Bay area and beyond the full team that provides legal services currently to the city will also be joining the new firm

1:41:42based on the direction of City Council. The recommendation tonight is that council consider a resolution to approve and authorize the city manager to execute a legal services agreement with Redwood, public law, and for Sky Woodrift to be named and continue services as the city attorney.

1:41:58That concludes my report, the city manager and I are both available. If you have, if there are any questions alright. So we're gonna structure this well and that. First it'll be questions, and then it'll be members of the public comment, and then we will give our comments. So are there any questions on this item.

1:42:15none

1:42:16was that one. I have a comment. Okay, so yeah, hold the comments, the questions, and now we're gonna have time with members of the public who wish to provide public comment on this item.

1:42:26Are there any?

1:42:30Did you? Okay? Yes, we have one request to speak alright, perfect. Thank you so much

1:42:34this baby. So good evening again, Mayor Rudnick. Council. I am kodel Handler, and I'm a rich and resident, so

1:42:42I'll get right to the point. So I read the resolution and

1:42:46think that Skye has done a wonderful job. And so

1:42:49I looked at the resolution. I said, I don't have no objections to it. So it's up to you.

1:42:54Counsel to follow the direction that where this is going, so that's all.

1:43:00Thank you. That concludes our request to speak.

1:43:02All right. So now is comments from the

1:43:05colleagues. I'm gonna start on this end. And then, oh, we are. Yeah, okay.

1:43:10I just have a very short comment. I'm very pleased about this, and I love seeing Skye sitting in the audience listening to us.

1:43:19Then you can come back and be part of your new team. Welcome, Redwood, too!

1:43:25I echo what my colleague just mentioned, and as someone who

1:43:30worked at a law firm for for many years, II know what it's like to go through these mergers and splits and it's a lot of work. And

1:43:42but I appreciate sky letting us know about this and fully support. The this change and this new law firm. I know many of the

1:43:54of your colleagues, and have worked with them and other regional boards that this council belongs to, so in full support of that. So thank you for your service. I, wouldrofen look forward to working with you

1:44:09once again with this new law firm

1:44:11Redwood public blob.

1:44:15I'm just going to say congratulations for starting your own business. That's that's a really big deal. and and I appreciate you always and and true to then, even when you let me know this was happening, he said, where are you? Where are you at.

1:44:27So thank you. Sky.

1:44:30Last, but not least, thank you. Mayor. So I just wanted to echo. I'm really happy that we have continuity, and it sounds like we're just getting

1:44:42the same service with a new name, and I think that that is great.

1:44:46I do have a comment about the agreement.

1:44:50No, I'm totally supportive of it. But I did look at the liability limits. I see that they're a a million dollars per currency, which seems strangely low for these times, and I hope that City manager you'll look into through best practice for that cause. I think my understanding is this agreement is coming over from Myers Navi kind of

1:45:11just the same, and

1:45:13I don't want to miss an opportunity for us to be more tight in. In addressing this.

1:45:19I I'm also happy to address that if you'd like so this contract is actually many provisions of it date back to the 2,008 agreement. That was one that was part of the Rfp. That Myers Navi responded to. So it's not actually a Myers Navi template

1:45:37so I just carried forward the the, the amounts of insurance. But we actually have a significantly higher insurance amounts than that. I would be happy to to share with you the certificate of insurance. Once we once the contract signed.

1:45:51assuming it's approved so that you can understand what our actual limits are. Yes, in in fact, it's a requirement of the agreement that you assess with that insurance. And those are minimums. Yes, absolutely. But we'll certainly, if we were to renegotiate a contract or update the contract later, then we can be more specific for sure.

1:46:09Thank you.

1:46:10Alright. We're really fortunate in El Cerrito to have your legal mind sky. It's it's it's a really important service. And it's of the invisible service that happens that keep our local agencies going. And you know, to the mayor proteins point. But there's this kind of entrepreneurial spirit and being able to center the practice on the public base. So

1:46:33yeah, let's look, we can take this vote, and I'll entertain a motion.

1:46:39I'll move. Moved by Motoyama, seconded by Weissinger. All those in favor, please say aye, aye, congratulations.

1:46:50congratulations!

1:46:56Thank you all so much I've I've really appreciated in all of our individual conversations. The level of support and congratulations that you've all expressed about this and also, you know I've been.

1:47:11It's been a. It's been a very happy part of the experience to be able to share with you all by long term plans and desire for continuity to to succession plan for the long term, legal services for the for the city, to ensure that the level of service that you've been receiving for my entire time as city attorney is something that you will have available to you in perpetuity, because.

1:47:31to the mayor's point, I really do seriously take this as as part of the invisible service that helps make local government function. And and that's really a core part of the mission for the new firm.

1:47:43all of our clients, because we care about our

1:47:45see it for here. Okay. thank you all.

1:47:49Thank you.

1:47:52Alright.

1:47:55So with that, we're moving on to item B, fiscal year, 2,02320 24, Midyear budget update. do we have a staff report.

1:48:06oh, my.

1:48:12while we're getting set up. I'd like to welcome Director Reeves

1:48:35and Ms. Coleman

1:48:44while while we wait here. I just want to say that I am rather sick, and I apologize for being here, but I did not want to miss this part of the meeting.

1:48:54So

1:48:55that's a good thing for El Cerrito. We are. We are lucky to have your service Council member. So thank you for hanging in there.

1:49:06If you get. See if you get kind of like groupy and craggy. Don't like.

1:49:16If it's on. Yeah, there we go. Thank you. Good evening, Marian Council. My name is Clerk Coleman, and I'm your budget and financial services manager. This evening. We're going to provide you with a midyear update on the fiscal year 2324 budget and we'll review the recommended adjustments outlined in the staff report.

1:49:36So we'll start briefly by going back to last fiscal year. Fiscal year 2223, which ended on June thirtieth.

1:49:43Our annual audit is now complete. Yeah, and the annual comprehensive financial report, Ak. Fur will be presented at the next Council meeting on March nineteenth. Our incredible finance Director Crystal, has been working very hard on this audit for a long time, and we're really excited to bring that to you.

1:49:59The city ended the year with a surplus of 6.9 million dollars, due to higher than anticipated revenues from a strong economy, including an unusually strong property market.

1:50:09The city also had a large number of vacant positions leading to salary savings.

1:50:14The city's comprehensive financial policies outline a process for using a budget surplus. We call this the waterfall

1:50:20and staff will bring a resolution to council with the act, for at the next Council meeting to formalize the waterfall contributions, and we've gone over this with you a few times, but I included the waterfall process here, and that's the steps that we go through when there's a city surplus

1:50:36this evening. We want to first talk to you about the purchase order, rule forward that we are recommending the city utilizes, purchase orders for purchases of goods or services above $5,000

1:50:46each year. The large majority of purchase orders are completed by June thirtieth.

1:50:51but some are unable to be completed on time. This happens every year. In every city I've ever worked with. Typical reasons for this include consultant or service provider availability. There can be supply chain delays, item or vehicle availability. Even short staffing can make it very difficult for purchases to be completed, or even picked up before June 30.

1:51:13So for fiscal year 2223, there were a total of 1.9 million dollars in purchase, orders that were incomplete remaining after June thirtieth.

1:51:22These are purchases of goods or services that were budgeted and planned, and which contributed to the and and the by leaving them incomplete. It contributed to that budget surplus that we that we're seeing

1:51:34staff primarily crystal, performed a very detailed analysis of every single remaining incomplete purchase order. She determined that 300,000 of that 1.9 million were no longer needed and were able to be closed. But Staff do recommend rolling forward a total of 1.6 million dollars from all funds, a total of 1 million from the general fund and point 6 from other revenue funds.

1:51:55To and utilizing the fiscal year year end surplus to support those purchase orders

1:52:02in the future. We plan to implement a new process where we bring role forwards of purchase orders to you at the end of the summer. Typically, on June thirtieth we'll have a pretty well. We'll definitely have a good sense of what has been completed and what has not. And so, as we complete our year-end close process. Then we'll bring those purchase orders to you as soon as we feel we're able to do so accurately.

1:52:26So, moving on to the midyear budget.

1:52:30I will go into a little bit more. Well, actually, a lot more detail on the recommended adjustments in the next few slides. But here's a brief summary of the current budget trends that we are projecting.

1:52:39In short, we're projecting lower revenues, higher expenditures. But the city remains in a very strong financial position due to healthy reserves

1:52:48to develop the midyear budget. What we do is we review all of our projected revenues, and we estimate them based on the cyclicality of each unique revenue type, and we project out to understand our year-end position on the revenue side.

1:53:01We also work with departments, and we created this year a very detailed worksheet, and so we worked with every single department to go through their budget in detail, make it very easy for us to understand where they were expecting to be above or below budget any discrepancies that they were expecting to see, and we intend moving forward to utilize that same worksheet every single month to provide departments with a very easy and very clear system, to review their budgets and provide us that detail on an ongoing basis.

1:53:31A brief summary of some of the adjustments, and I know it's a lot of text on this slide. So if anyone is interested in the detail, I highly recommend the staff report because it's hard to fit the tables and the the detail on a slide deck. But we are projecting, as I mentioned, lower than budgeted revenues due to challenging economic conditions.

1:53:48Crystal and I have many peers in the Finance City finance world. I don't know of any city who is not dealing with a financial challenge this year. There are many different reasons that the economy is complicated for us in El Cerrito. One of the largest ones is the property transfer tax. Unfortunately, property markets are exceptionally slow.

1:54:08we are seeing very stable and we're very lucky. We've talked about this on the sales tax side. El Cerrito sales tax revenues are very stable, and our property taxes remain very stable. So we're still in a good position. But we're seeing some decreases on the revenue side.

1:54:22Concurrently, the public works, community development and recreation departments are projecting increases in their fee revenues, and those come from increased permit. Activity, increased sign ups for recreation classes, but many of those increases in revenue also come with a concurrent increase in service needs. So if the Recreation Department gets a lot more sign up for classes, they have to hire more instructors to actually provide those classes. So there's a kind of an offsetting effect of most of those additional revenues from those 3 departments.

1:54:51We're also seeing unexpected costs contributing to some of these expenditure increases. Some of those include the recent cyber attack against the city last year.

1:54:59We're seeing an increase in insurance premiums

1:55:02which is very consistent. The city has seen our insurance costs triple in the last 5 years, and this is very consistent with our peers across the board. Litigation expenses are going up, and I'm sure our city attorney can speak to this much better than I can on the impacts that we're seeing on our liability costs.

1:55:18we are also seeing some emergency fire engine repairs and some fire overtime costs that are higher than we expected.

1:55:24We're aiming to improve our budget process. We're working very hard to start to build this process for this year and for future years. To get this as accurate as possible and try to avoid unexpected changes. Reality is sometimes these things just come up.

1:55:39So this is the one of those tables. If for those looking at the screen it's probably a little hard to read, but this was included as an attachment to the staff report. This shows the high level overview of the changes that are being recommended.

1:55:52The total recommended appropriation from the general fund balance is 2.2 9 million dollars, and that is the net of the increase in revenues that we are expecting and the decree, the increase in revenues. So it's a slight increase at the end of the day, and then that increase in expenditures that we were also expecting.

1:56:10This also includes that 350,000 contribution. If you recall your conversation from last fall about concluding the Msc. Loan to the general fund, or the from the general fund to the Msc. This 350,000 would then be a transfer to the Capital Improvement Fund, and fulfill the terms of that agreement.

1:56:32So here's another table for you today. This is the list of existing approved uses of general fund balance. So these are things that the Council has already reviewed and approved.

1:56:42The top half of the table are things that were approved before December 30 first, and are included in our midyear numbers. The midyear numbers only look at the period from July first, through December 30 first, so it won't include the second half of that table, but we do include that later in my presentation in our analysis of the general fund balance. So we wanna be very complete in that analysis, but also truthful to the midyear numbers that we're analyzing today.

1:57:07This includes all kinds of different investments in the city. So the uses of fund balance were for investments in infrastructure, like park improvements, deferred maintenance purchase of the city of the church property near City Hall, and it includes an investment of 1 million dollars into the section 1, 15, or pension obligations.

1:57:28Speaking of the general fund balance.

1:57:30So this is a review of the city's financial position. As you can see the city is in an exceptionally strong financial position. Right now we are doing very well. The total bought, the number at the bottom of the table can be a little scary cause. It says the remaining unassigned fund balance. But that's the remaining after the 10% general fund, which is 4.4 million dollars. That's what remains after the Edr. Ff. Of 9 million dollars. The city also has over half a million dollars reserved for pension costs. After the surplus this year, which is

1:58:00that resolution that we'll bring to you at the next council meeting. So the total in reserves for the general fund is 15.7 million dollars.

1:58:08that doesn't also include the 1 million dollars in the section 1, 15 trust, because that's in a separate fund. But that can also be used to support general fund operations and pension costs. So

1:58:19even with all of the recommendations brought forward by Staff today, the city continues to have over 15 million dollars in general fund reserves alone.

1:58:29So speaking of a forecast we have now completed an update of the city's long range general fund forecast, and I can show you a preview of that today. The forecast is based on the current budget year and carefully considered assumptions.

1:58:42Unfortunately, no forecast is ever going to be perfect or 100% accurate. It's just the name of the game for forecasting for our assumptions within that model. We've included moderate revenue growth based on historic trends. We've included conservative expenditure growth. But as accurate as we feel, we can be given our existing labor contracts and ongoing inflationary costs.

1:59:06It does include the impact of the dissolution of the successor agency in fiscal year 2526,

1:59:12and it includes, an export from calipers of their own actuarial analyses and estimates.

1:59:18We will include this core this forecast in our budget process. And we can say that our preliminary estimates for fiscal year 2425 show that

1:59:29our revenues are relatively stagnant, as the economy still continues to have some challenges, especially with high interest. Rates. Investment is low.

1:59:38And oops excuse me, and costs from inflation continue, and we do have labor costs increases as a result of our existing contracts.

1:59:47But this is what this looks like. So this is the current budget year. If we made no changes.

1:59:52The graph on the left shows the total general fund balance, including the Edr. Ff.

1:59:58But not including the section 1, 15. Trust.

2:00:01The graph on the right is the unrestricted general fund balance, not including the Edrf relative to the city's 10% general fund reserve goal. So that line in blue is that 10% reserve goal, and the green line is the same slope that you'll see on the left. So on the left, it's showing the Edrf. With the General Fund reserve on top of it

2:00:21and on the right. It's just showing that unassigned reserve. And again, this is, if the city does not make any changes. This is a point in time based on the current budget.

2:00:31This is not a prediction of the future. This is not a a statement by staff that we believe this is what it will look like, but rather this is what it would look like if we did not make any changes, or it could look like if we did not make any changes.

2:00:44The steep drop that you see in fiscal 2324. That's things like the investment that 4 million dollars of investment in city infrastructure and different areas.

2:00:56Now, we wanted to present you with a scenario what it looks like to correct

2:01:00for these, for that

2:01:02downturn that you're seeing in the reserves. And so here is what it looks like if we implement 1 million dollars of budget adjustments beginning in the next fiscal year, and that can be any combination of revenue and expenditure adjustments to see a 1 million dollars in ongoing changes. As you can see, it has an enormous impact. And so Staff are

2:01:23obviously considering this and including this in our budget analyses and we will bring you updated versions of this forecast as we bring our budget forward. And as we continue with our budget discussions and community outreach.

2:01:36so at this time that concludes my presentation, and we're happy to answer any questions you have.

2:01:43Alright. So stick with the script of questions first, and we'll start with council. Member. Okay, I just wanna how you're feeling okay

2:01:54whenever you want it to be your turn, just tap, and it will be your turn. So I'll start with councilmember. Fideli.

2:02:00Okay.

2:02:01thank you for that good presentation. I really appreciated it. As you say, forecasting is not a precise

2:02:10occupation. Right? We can be wrong. We're always wrong, I would say, well, and what? And it's not to be feared, because I think I told the city manager this after the last 3 years. I'm glad we're in a position of having the

2:02:24financial assets to simply correct ourselves and to to review and to deal with what we're doing, to go forward.

2:02:30And, as every analysis has said, the City Council is continuing to closely. Monitor, I think, is the quote that's been used in every. So we are, and that's good. That's good news. A couple of quick things.

2:02:44The the purchase order, Rollovers.

2:02:48Which was a big amount of money. Can you just say why it happened.

2:02:54Why did that?

2:02:56Why did we skip that? Why did something happen that didn't? I can answer that Crystal ring's finance director. So it's a multitude of things so accounting wise, we cannot claim the expense in fiscal year 23, unless the goods were physically received or services rendered. So like Claire, mentioned, supply chain issues,

2:03:17staffing shortages with consulting, staffing shortages on our side.

2:03:21lots of different issues. We also have lots of the purchase orders were multi-year contracts, so those would need to be rolled as well.

2:03:33But wouldn't that have just been caught? Wouldn't

2:03:36I mean, why wasn't this done? Was this just human error or no. So it's not human error. So we have. Our availability period is 60 days after the fiscal year. So we don't actually cl, we won't actually close any of the purchase orders until August. So by that timeframe

2:03:55budgets already done. So, it's not something we can automatically roll forward and include in the next year's budget. It's always going to be something that we have to bring back.

2:04:04But we've caught. We're not gonna make that

2:04:08same process. We've corrected the process in the future. This won't happen again. There was a multitude of staffing changes and lots of different issues. Yeah, that attributed to the delay in that. So yes, next year it'll be a much more timely processing. Yes, if the Council recalls, are we lost our finance director at the end of May, we had an interim finance director, an interim consultant accountant, and Crystal didn't start until July. So that's

2:04:36now we have a full team here. Is that right almost, or

2:04:41the rates hikes and insurance. Is there any discussion a little bit on that? Is this you're saying it's normal. But is there a projection that may be even higher.

2:04:51Yes, so we get and I know assistant city measure or Logos works closely

2:04:58on the insurance questions. So I may hunt this one to you, but I know that Mpa. Gives us estimates, and so we're going to be very careful to

2:05:08incorporate the most up-to-date estimates that they provide us into the budget to to get as close as we possibly can. Our hope is to incorporate the expense into the budget, but we do expect it to continue increasing in the future. So that's also a forecasting

2:05:25issue. Is that right? Do we have to monitor the insurance rates to forecast that?

2:05:31Or do we just wait to see what the bill is?

2:05:34Some is forecastable. Some is an unpleasant surprise in my experience. Okay, so we just have to make sure we have enough money to deal with those changes.

2:05:44It typically, we should be able to budget for a year or 2 in advance. So we're hoping to be able to get very accurate on that. But every couple of years it it's not unlikely that our longer term forecast may have some adjustments. We need to make. Yeah, Alex can or I can talk a little bit about how that, how those premiums are

2:06:02are come to be through. Mpa. Yes, so our premiums are actually calculated on a 3 year average, based on our past liability. And so workers Comp and workers, comp, and so in terms of just the reasons why the insurance market is a little bit wild. It is a complex

2:06:21grouping of items. Obviously, we're recovering from the pandemic also the natural disasters that are happening based on climate change, wildfires, storms, winds, floods. Also rising inflation. That's creating a lot of instability in the market.

2:06:39Also especially with cities aging infrastructure. And then also just like in the world. In the court system, also just case law changing. And it's substantial legal judgements

2:06:56that have been occurring at the court level that have affected cities like us. So there's also other reasons as well. In addition to the international landscape right now, happening politically. So you know, II serve on the Mpa. Executive Committee. And the Board. And so we've been talking a lot with our actuarials

2:07:17about, how can we try to be able to better estimate future years? And our actuarials have been telling us it is wild everywhere. For private sector, insurance, for public sector insurance, and so we hope to get to a point where we can better estimate

2:07:35our our rates in future. But until then, I think in the next few years we are still gonna be kind of, you know.

2:07:43We will continue to closely monitor my my last question is what we on a forecasting issue previously, and what we've gotten a little bit of pushback from

2:07:55some residences that we mis forecast the real property transfer tax.

2:08:00And I thought at this juncture, tonight we were gonna

2:08:03you were going to tell us what the correction was going to be.

2:08:07Did W. Did I miss that on the slide? I don't. I'm not actually sure I was looking for that slide.

2:08:14and let's see I can share my screen. Can I do this?

2:08:19I may not have actually said it out loud. My apologies.

2:08:22And the

2:08:29we are, including a decrease of 1 million dollars in the property transfer tax as a part of this package of recommended adjustments. So the very top top left. It's a decrease in 1 million and forecasted property transfer tax revenues.

2:08:47based on what I'm currently seeing in

2:08:50various publications. A lot of experts are expecting property. They're expecting the fed to keep interest rates high through the rest of calendar year 24. So

2:09:00we believe that property transfer tax will remain lower

2:09:04for a little bit longer, but we are optimistic that it will improve, and I

2:09:10anecdotally simply believe that there will be a fair amount of pent up demand. But we can't budget and forecast for my anecdotal belief, and so we will try to budget and forecast for what is, we believe is accurate and prudent.

2:09:25Thank you and a For Sale sign, and went on the house next to me today. So I'll let you know next council meeting. Thank you very much.

2:09:34Alright, council, and then check them. Thank you for this update. I appreciate it. One of the things as councilmember Fideli mentioned is the real estate property transfer tax and

2:09:48you know, from what I've been hearing from from realtors in the area.

2:09:54But I will double check when I'm in Washington, DC.

2:09:58That hopefully by the summer they can

2:10:03lower interest rate because no one is buying cars right now. No one is buying property except in El Cerrito. When there is property available, we still have residents that are over bidding and are purchasing just like in my neighborhood. We're having a lot of homes being purchased above the asking rate. And and so you know. But you know I'm I'm excited about that, and I'm excited about

2:10:32the future of the lowered interest rate! And but I will get back to you on that when I meet with Senator Padilla and Senator Butler on that, including the Congress people that will be meeting with, because with Cal cities a lot of the mayors and a lot of the people on the board have been expecting a lower

2:10:56great on this. So even though

2:10:58you know, we you see a decrease in 1 million in forecasted property transfer tax. II truly believe we will see a surprise by the summer.

2:11:09because there are a lot of people that are just waiting for that. and we will see a selling and buying frenzy.

2:11:16And and that's what the real terms. And also reading that don't be so. Fingers crossed there. I am concerned with. The next 2 years, 3 years exactly where?

2:11:28You know, we still have to pay.

2:11:31The we're going to

2:11:33yeah, finish paying off the the things that are due.

2:11:38And after I believe it's 2026. Is that right? City manager that we will. Not have to do that ever again. So you know, II see.

2:11:51Better days ahead.

2:11:53But we still have to be yeah, especially fiscally responsible

2:11:59for the next few years to make sure we do not overspend so very much. Appreciate that both of you have been keeping an eye on this to make sure that we stay on track and and I'm going to make sure that we stay on track, because this is a

2:12:18you know, we're not gonna

2:12:20You know, we we have so many things that are on track with our developments at the El Cerrito Plaza, with our future library.

2:12:27and and developers that are just waiting for that lower interest rate so they can break ground. So so it's this domino thing. So yeah, I'm I'm I'm not pessimistic. II look forward to better days ahead. And

2:12:47but the number one thing I want to make sure is that we do pay our unfunded liabilities. And when

2:12:55just give me a date, when are we going to make these large payments? And I'm hoping, and you know, in in flush times that we'll be able to make more than I'd like to make a big dent on this, because you look at cities, the 18 cities that were mentioned.

2:13:13We're in the minority that has paid very, very little

2:13:16and you look at the major cities that have been paying for 10 years now. And we have. We have a lot of catching up to do so. Can you give me the picture of your crystal ball on on how we're gonna do this.

2:13:31And well, if I can just jump in before, if you wanted to give some for details, so, as the Council has already as as you as we've all talked about set aside money for a pension trust

2:13:44that can be used for those payments. But I wanna make it. Just make sure that you know, just to avoid any confusion. We are paying our unfunded liabilities. We pay that every single year we are not. We're not not paying it, so I don't want any confusion there. However, what we have not done is prepaid, and we have not overpaid, so we've been paying our mortgage all along with an interest rate.

2:14:08So what we're planning to do for for the first part of it is now that we actually have cash on hand, which, by the way, means we don't have to do a tran anymore as well. We have cash on hand. So next year our plan is to prepay it.

2:14:23So at the outset we can save interest rates. So we're prepaying our mortgage. We're pay paying down that principle in the future. As the fund is built up. That will be a decision for the Council to to see if there's additional that there's wanting to pay. But even still.

2:14:39and you can talk about this, as far as our financial statements are having, that asset of the trust on our books

2:14:47is considered part partially funding the plan.

2:14:52Can you talk about that a little bit? Because, again, what we're looking at is how much we are funded, and that is based on calpers, fluctuation. But us having that assign on hand is considered kind of

2:15:05the ability to for us to show that we are continuing. We are prefunding that. So if you can talk a little bit more about that, can. I'm probably not doing it as well as an account again. So the the section 1, 15 will offset the actual liability. So in.

2:15:21because some could argue that, you know, when we have those really really great years, and we have a drastic swing where our pension liability decreased, you know, by, I think, 40 million, and then it increased by, you know, 30 million. It versus paying that. We're offsetting it. And you know, saving that money for the 1 15 obligated to either be used, you know, for the unfunded liability, or to offset normal pension costs. So it's

2:15:47it's kind of doing double duty in that aspect. And we can use it for times that we really really need it.

2:15:54Okay, but that the Council made the decision to open the 115 Trust was a huge huge step in that direction, so that you have all may already taken that action.

2:16:03Thank you. Alright. Councilmember, mayor, protem weisinger, and then councilmember Motama. Oh, you know, councilmember Fideli and Quinto kind of stole my thunder here, but I would I just was going to say that, you know, when Councilmember Kinto and I were on the campaign trail last year. The real property transport tax was a very big conversation, and I think that the community appreciates the fact that we were able to forecast. And we we were saying openly that that tax went down, as many did predict predict.

2:16:31And we're still in a good financial pre situation. So I wanna thank the staff member to allow us to do that, but also thank you as the financial staff members for being honest about that, because I think that there were some in the public who thought that we would try and cover that up or not account for it. So thank you for for showing that clearly that we are accounting for that and still working towards it. And I believe in your your anecdotal what is it? Your anecdotal theory? And I agree with Councilmember Keto, that I think it is gonna bounce back. But I appreciate you for not putting that in the report.

2:17:05Thank you, Mayor. So thank you so much

2:17:09for this report and the level of detail that goes into it. One of the things that you know the the State Auditor halted us is that Council was not getting adequate information to make good decisions.

2:17:23So the fact that we can kind of

2:17:26get this level of detail and that general understanding of council and staff and the public about our budget is so much better. So I really want to say, Thank you, Staff. And and you know.

2:17:38this is where we're supposed to be. So this is really great, and you know, previewing that

2:17:44forecast.

2:17:46Thank you. Thank you. Back

2:17:49so. Yes, so I think. But that helps us understand where we're going and what some of these choices will mean, cause it's not about today. It's about 10 years from now. And

2:18:00you know, talking to some other cities, you know, is talking to someone and

2:18:05a council member from, and a similarly sized city, and say they have

2:18:11their moment of reckoning in terms of their surplus.

2:18:14and you know they don't know what to do. It's like, we know where we're. We know where we're going. We know what we need to do. So I really am very, very thankful for all this work.

2:18:27and

2:18:29this is now that we can see these things. I think

2:18:33there's 2 parts right. We did a ton of work. We were very lucky.

2:18:40Everything hit right for us, so that we have this very large. you know. 16 million dollars fund reserve. That's why, we can have things go south on us like the real property transfer tax

2:18:56and still be okay. And I think that's a really important thing to remember real property transfer tax went down.

2:19:04That's it's a pretty significant hit to our revenue. But we're okay because we have this fund reserve.

2:19:12That's robust.

2:19:16However, when we come back, and consistently every year there's been a few 1 million dollars of one time expenses that we need to draw against the Fund reserve.

2:19:27We're not going to have this big fund reserve

2:19:31forever. And, in fact and I know you said, Don't look at this bad number, but this is the bad number, the 1.8 million left in unrestricted fund reserve. That's all we have left for now.

2:19:44and going forward for any one time expenses.

2:19:47and I would imagine, at the end of our fiscal year in June.

2:19:53are.

2:19:55you know, our surplus is really not going to be there because of these changes because of what we've done, it will be roughly that 1.8.

2:20:04And so whatever roofs need to be fixed, whatever emergency purchases we need to do is kind of come out at 1.8, and it will be used up in the next year or 2.

2:20:15So that is the bigger picture concern that I have. I appreciate staff working really hard to come up with that 1 million dollars, and I think kind of looking back at where we've come in our discussions about that surplus. It's really not a surplus. It's really a differential between

2:20:35our revenue and expenses

2:20:38that so long as we maintain a million dollars differential. We can have more changes, unexpected things, things that we did not realize had different kinds of impacts.

2:20:50And we're going to be okay. And that's the. I think the long-term fiscal goal for me as a council person is to make sure, no matter what happens.

2:21:00stuff happens, we're always going to be okay.

2:21:03And so that is the perspective that I am going to use to look at how we're doing. And I know it's I know I've had conversations with city manager going. Yeah. You tell everybody I want to see a million bucks at the end. And this like, that's a big number.

2:21:18It's very different from how we've approached budgeting, and I know that lots of department heads and staff are in the room this evening. I don't know why they're all hanging around this late. But

2:21:31just let me telegraph to you and like, now I'm so in terms of that's what this is about.

2:21:37so to say.

2:21:39You know, if you had to make a cut

2:21:43all right. Do you know where that cut would be? Not? I'm not saying that budgets have to be slashed.

2:21:49But you. We want to get to the position where it's not a surprise if something happens.

2:21:54and at 1.8 million dollars there's not that much left there

2:21:59to kind of prevent that. And I know city manager really good at and playing the rabbit out of the hat every year.

2:22:05But we're running out of rabbits, and we're running out of hats.

2:22:09So that is kind of the big picture. Small picture. I you know, I'm reading our the report going.

2:22:18We have resolutions that we passed that were not included in the budget, and that was alarming to me, and that was the measure. J. Part-time position

2:22:29and the Oloney Greenway uptown district improvements and those are small dollar amounts that's like $62,000 total. But for that we passed these resolutions they had a budget impact.

2:22:41And they didn't show up like, how did how did that get lost? That makes me worry. That. Did we forget something else?

2:22:47What else? What else could be that we miss? Yeah, no, I can go ahead and address that so again, new finance team, lots of transition. So we have actually added a step in our staff report review process where finance is actually now reviewing. So

2:23:02that should not happen anymore. Between Claire and myself, we are reading the staff reports. We are analyzing the impacts, making sure that the fiscal impact statements are correct, making sure that when we need to appropriate funds, we are appropriating them at that time. So it's there should be no surprises going forward. So

2:23:19okay? And then my other question was about the purchase orders. And I really thank you for your deep dive into them.

2:23:27And I guess you know kind of going off of what councilmember fidelity says, like finding out in August that we have these other dollars that need to be in the budget seem a little strange when we get the purchase orders. Aren't we like automatically encumbering those funds and including them, so that when August comes you're really doing an adjustment.

2:23:50Turing up to kind of reduce whatever might be in our budget.

2:23:55Ye? Yes, because yes. So again there was a multitude of issues. With the way that the purchase orders were handled this year. It was a.

2:24:06It was errors on the processing portion. So we did have to

2:24:12literally analyze these. One by one. There was no report that we could run because of the timing of when the purchase orders were closed, and when the invoices were paid or not closed, and sorry when the purchase orders were rolled to the New Year, because when purchase orders are initiated.

2:24:27they're encumbered. It's basically that earmark to say, you know. Don't forget about me. You have committed this much. You know this much in your line. Item, don't spend that. Well, there just was issues with the way that process happened at your end, and we had to review these manually. I worked with all the departments to make sure. So we actually, there was the 1.9 total that we

2:24:52initially would need to be rolled over to the to the New Year, and would need to be encumbered. We were able to determine that 300,000 of that was not we do no longer needed. So we're able to close those purchase orders.

2:25:07I also was able to determine so of the like. There said of the 1.9 there was 1 million. That was general fund of that general fund. We've already spent all but 174,000 of it. So it's it's literally just timing of when goods are delivered of, when we have, when we can actually declare that expense, and they just ended up in timing issues. They ended up in 24.

2:25:32And one thing, I'll add, is presumably.

2:25:36if there is

2:25:37a large if there is, if there are any purchase orders that we are rolling forward, that is because we didn't spend the budget of that year. And so there would be the rolling of the purchase orders in the presence of a surplus from that fiscal year, because we did not spend those funds, and they were encumbered like you said

2:25:53so. Part of the reason we bring that to you is because

2:25:58for us to finalize those purchase orders and spend those funds in the following fiscal year, even though it's using the prior surplus, we still have to increase our appropriations threshold above what the city has approved for the budget. So it's

2:26:11last year's dollars last year's budget. It's from the surplus. But we still need that legal authority to actually spend the money. Otherwise we're going to hit our preparation ceiling before we've finished our planned budget for the year.

2:26:24So I guess

2:26:26you know, if I wrote, if I signed a contract for I don't know. This is gonna happen in my house, you know, replacing my plumbing.

2:26:36It's I've allocated those dollars somewhere in my household budget. How come we don't do that with the city budget. I mean, we close the books, and then we have to open them again.

2:26:46But wouldn't we carry if it was a million dollars of

2:26:51purchase orders. Wouldn't we have a million dollars in the the following year's budget already, and again come to Midyear and just reduce it back down because we

2:27:00didn't use all of it. I guess so it's it's gonna be the timing of it because we've already adopted the 24 budget, and we won't know the final fiscal impacts of what we have not. We're not able to actually expend in the prior year. So it's it's strictly timing. So if we have like, I said.

2:27:19we should have a surplus if we are running. If we are, if we need to roll purchase orders so that it will come with that, and it will always come as a separate item for you guys to acknowledge to increase our appropriation limit. Okay, so that so that surplus is not really surplus. It is

2:27:35exactly so. It's deferred. So whenever you bring us that surplus, it should, you should have a license

2:27:41potential, you know, purchase orders unexpended, or something. So we know that that that money's not really

2:27:47unencumbered. Yes, and timing will be a lot more concise for next fiscal year. So this has been been very, very delayed, and we

2:27:58we'll be tightening that up for next year. And then I guess

2:28:02it's not just. I guess I'm just. It's hard to understand, like there's so many delays. But I guess

2:28:08it's just that's just the way this purchase order system works. It it is. And it's common it in every single city. I mean, it's, you know. Vehicles have been one of the biggest delays across cities, you know. You'll purchase the vehicle, and you're

2:28:22years behind in some instances, and then not only that, but if there's any upfitting that has to be done to a vehicle, and that's kind of the biggest example I can think of, but your I mean so we can't really declare that vehicle in service until it's completely done. So just the delays that go along with everything that goes into

2:28:40completing that purchase. Physically receiving those goods or having services rendered. All is

2:28:46accounted for.

2:28:48Okay, great. Thank you

2:28:52And

2:28:53again, just thank you for keeping us up to date.

2:28:57I did want to take one moment and talk about the purchase of the church

2:29:03cause, I think I'm sure someone's thinking, well, if you have this

2:29:07issue, why did we buy the church? And I think I've mentioned it before. But just to be super clear. This church is surrounded on 3 sides by city property. This is private property, and if we need that piece of property to do something in the future. We can only buy it if it's for sale.

2:29:25It became for sale at a time when we had enough surplus to purchase it. And it was really land banking for the future to give the city flexibility to to plan what we need to plan to do what we need to do with that site. So

2:29:39sometimes

2:29:40buying things is based on kind of everything lining up

2:29:45one day we will want to do something, and if we hadn't purchased that property. Now we would not be able to do that in the future. So that's

2:29:53the capitalist society. We had to rely on willing sellers.

2:29:58and that is why it was important for us to purchase it at the time we did

2:30:03so. Just wanted to touch on that. But thank you so much

2:30:08alright.

2:30:10I was thinking. This is my fourth year of midyear budgets, and the first that we've had a budget manager co-lead the presentation with a finance director.

2:30:23And it's also our first time seeing you here at the lectern, so

2:30:28different than it did when I was here about 3 and a half years ago. Yes, I'm very glad to be back, and I'm glad to be supporting the city in a much happier financial time. Yes, so I just want to acknowledge that. And and this was a position having a a Budget manager had been vacant for such a long time.

2:30:45and when I heard who the candidate was, and I and it was the the analogy is is like a first round draft. Pick

2:30:54the to. We are so lucky in El Cerrito to have

2:30:58this service, because this is what we have been needing so badly. So I echo everything that my colleagues were saying that this is just.

2:31:06It is so great that we are able to have this level of detail in our conversations. There's one thing that you brought up as you were talking about the framing of how it is that we're approaching budget. And you mentioned something about a monthly worksheet. Can you go into that a little bit more?

2:31:24Yes, our.

2:31:26I will say this also to my my colleagues in the room. Our goal is to not create extra work for anyone, but instead to create a tool that makes it very easy and straightforward for everyone to review their budgets on a monthly basis. We do a monthly close where, at the end of the month we close all of our books.

2:31:43and that allows us to have accurate numbers for that point in time at the end of the month. And so at that point in time, when we closed our books, is when we run all the numbers, we update these worksheets, and we send them out to departments. So they have full information. And they know, you know, if you're if you're driving down the road, you want to know what direction you're going. And so it allows departments to have full, clear information. Many directors are already doing an incredible job

2:32:04of running reports on a regular basis. This is not to say that they haven't been carefully watching their budgets for a very, very long time. It's just our goal to try to make something that makes it even easier and even simpler to

2:32:16analyze that data on a regular basis.

2:32:19And is there a way because it is so helpful at the staff level to get that sense, to have every department director have that monthly information so that they can work with their staff.

2:32:30Is.

2:32:31I'm just trying to think of the best way and then also going forward when we have our quarterly budget updates. Is that work, then rolls into those updates for us absolutely alright and part of the goal is, it would be the same worksheet for the Quarterly one. So during the Quarterly Updates, one of our goals is to do regular meetings, quarterly meetings with departments, because we don't. We don't know their operations. I would never pretend to know how to run any of these departments. So we rely on our our

2:32:59phenomenal director team and our incredible departments to tell us if something is different than they expect. We need that information from them. So it's really 2 way straight. The worksheet is trying to support them and giving an easy tool for their visibility into their finances, but also because we also need that information to be able to adjust and then provide information to you into the Fab.

2:33:20Thank you so much. And then there's also

2:33:23I wanna acknowledge, you know, all the departments. It was really clear from the presentation to me when reading it, the story of each department. I want to especially call out the Recreation Department because there is so much demand for the service, and it's that that is a part of what this midyear budget update is telling us also for the police department of $25,000 in parking citations which

2:33:51we haven't received any complaints.

2:33:53I thought we would get some complaints with that high of a number. But II haven't heard any yet, at least. So you heard. Okay, I take it back. Retract.

2:34:08But this is again a part of the work of the city, to make sure that we are aware, and that we are not being blindsided by any huge surprise. Because you know

2:34:21my my question council member Motion. Motoyama took those questions because because it's again these big, unexpected costs, because we know that these things are gonna happen. But it does feel really good that we have a cushion. Now, you know, this 15.7 is a really significant number, and then the 1 million earmark for the 1 15 trusts, I believe, from my understanding, is, in addition to that 15.7, so one could say, it's

2:34:4716 until we get that so we consider approving a 1 15 trust. So this is a a much different story. And even though the

2:34:58you know there there is, you know, we have to be mindful of where the budget is now. So that's why we those adjustments are being proposed to us, but to know that we are approaching it this way, and we are moving in the right direction, that we are not letting things bubble up and surprise us as they had in the not too distant past.

2:35:19I want to acknowledge that. And

2:35:22I think if there's anything else, I'm gonna move to public comment.

2:35:27So if now is the time for members of the public who wish to provide public comment regarding this item, do we have any public comment.

2:35:36we do have one. Alright.

2:35:39So good evening again, Mayor Rugen, and councilmembers. I am quotel handling. I am just overjoyed with this presentation. So thank you, Claire and Crystal, for that presentation. So

2:35:50one of the things that I don't think it was mentioned about the staffing vacancies. So

2:35:55I'm I was just looking at the that Pre, the second slide. It was like the vacant staff and vacancies, so

2:36:01I know that there are some departments that are like, you know.

2:36:05still trying to like fill some of these vacancies. So I was looking at it, and I said, I don't think it was mentioned about the staffing vacancies. So I'm hoping that

2:36:13once I look, look at the the overall presentation to figure out which departments is like.

2:36:19Is I trying to fill some of these certain positions. So I'm hoping that once I look at more detail about this vacancy level, because right now. each department is like

2:36:31it's getting better, but it's like it's not. I don't think it was mentioned about staff and vacancies. So hopefully staff will come back to provide more. Analysis on which departments it has them has the most vacancies, so

2:36:43I'll save that for the nineteenth

2:36:47we do have a few additional speakers. So next would be John's Dashi, followed by Linda Kane. Thank you so much.

2:36:56John Stashik el Cerino. Good job finance folks.

2:37:00On one of the slides there was a a note about measure. R, so I really would appreciate if you'd refresh my memory because and maybe we have to go to a longer term employee to do this, it seemed to me we passed a

2:37:16tax measure in 2,010, which I thought was a half percent sales tax. Is that the measure. R. And what do we use it for?

2:37:25Okay? And our next speaker is Linda Kane.

2:37:34Okay.

2:37:36Linda Kane, 30 year resident of El Cerrito. I just want to say

2:37:40I am not an expert on finances. I worked in human resources for the State of California, and sometimes I help with the classification studies. And even then I was like, this is a lot of work, you know. So I appreciate what you guys are doing because you sound so businesslike now, and I was watching during the pandemic. I was watching on the zoom all the time.

2:38:01and and the city council would ask questions, and the financial person kind of gave these vague answers. And now, as a non-financial person, I can see that you got a handle on it. And it that's like, Okay, El Cerrito is organized. It's doing what it's supposed to do as a city. So I am.

2:38:18I'm really impressed. And as a senior I keep seeing. So where are we gonna come up with a senior center? I sure you know, I know we gotta keep on. But balancing the budget. And now we got our classifications in order, and I think the Recreation Department for everything they're doing to keep senior activities going.

2:38:36But anyway, don't forget the seniors. But thank you so much for making us look like an organized city. That knows what it's doing.

2:38:45That concludes our request to speak. Mayor. Right? Any comment.

2:38:50Nope.

2:38:53councilmember motor. Thank you, Mayor. I think one of the speakers brought up measure R, and I know that there is a lot going on with that, and I would like, maybe city manager to speak on that, please.

2:39:06Certainly. Thank you. Councilmember measure. R is a one cent sales tax, that is, for general Government purposes. It was

2:39:1522,010, I believe, was when it was first passes a half cent sales tax in 2,014. Am I getting the numbers right. Thank you.

2:39:25Sorry. A lot of numbers in my head. It was renewed at a one cent level. It expires in April 2027. It can only go on a general election ballot because it is a general tax. Therefore we only have either this year or the following election year in 2026 to be able to put this on the ballot and as we have talked with our

2:39:48with our pollster, Brian Godby, as you all know him very well. We have brought forward a proposal to put it on this year's ballot

2:39:59in the hopeful case, that it will pass and if it doesn't, we still have 2026 as a backup, if you will. We didn't wanna wait and and risk that in in doing that, and you'll notice that we did have an appropriation request in this midyear budget for costs related to preparing for such an election. This would be for November. It would need to go on the ballot

2:40:24in July, I believe, or the Council would need to take action to put it on the ballot in July, if the Council so chose. But in order to prepare for that, we would do the customary things that we have done for elections as you're familiar with what we did last year with the library, where and before that measure? H and before that measure V, we've been through a lot of elections together ballot measures together we would do polling. That would ask

2:40:47that would that. Find out where the public is on this we would test things like, what what? What what people are looking for, how they feel about various components of the city?

2:41:00Would there be a sunset like there was the last time. So that's some of the things that would be done in the polling. And then public information. As you know, the city is not allowed to advocate for or against any sort of a ballot measure.

2:41:13but what we would do is we would be able to provide information to the public about what the measure is, what it pays for. It's about 4 million dollars of our general fund. It's not small. It's a big deal. And when you look at that chart, that Crystal or Claire put up

2:41:29if we took 4 million dollars out of that it would be extremely detrimental to the city. I'm sorry am I advocating by saying that? It is, but that's the truth. And this council knows that because in 2020 and in 2,021 we cut 4 million dollars out of the budget those years. And you all know what that felt like, and it meant layoffs. It meant reductions. So we actually know exactly what that 4 million dollars means to the city. And that's what measurer would represent. So throughout the

2:41:58Throughout the next several months we'll be gathering information, doing research, doing, polling, and providing information to the public. With the expectation that staff would bring a recommendation to you all in by July to be able to place this on the November ballot.

2:42:15Thank you.

2:42:18Alright.

2:42:21I will entertain a motion.

2:42:25I'll move all right. Move by Motoyama, seconded by Weissinger. All those in favor, please say aye, aye, any opposed motion carries.

2:42:34Thank you for your hard work.

2:42:40Alright! Now we are at item 10 city council, local and regional liaison assignment. Do we have any reports from the members?

2:42:48Mayor pro tem. We singer. Just one short report. Our school systems change collaboratively.

2:42:54Group is going to be meeting actually on this Thursday. And Chris from Parks and Rec. He's just hearing this for the first time. Not this Thursday. I'm sorry next week on the fourteenth. That's why he gave me that look.

2:43:05I won't be able to be there. I'll be coming back from the national legal cities with Mayor and Council Member Quinto. But I am excited, though that of course, Chris will be there representing, and also will be bringing in our superintendent, and hopefully, some other representatives from our county who are doing the education work on that on that program on that collaborative. So just looking forward to bringing back those reports from our county and from our school district and continuing to build better community schools in El Cerrito.

2:43:34I think. What do you have, Stephanie? Yeah.

2:43:38thank you, Mayor. So

2:43:40On February 20 sixth, I attended the Ulcer Arts and Culture Commission as the liaison, and I want to quickly thank george Gajer and Patrick Taylor for their service.

2:43:52On February 20 eighth attended the Park and rec commission, and want to thank Norman Laforce for his service on that commission. On the 20 ninth I attended the I held a

2:44:06sorry losing it. Councilmember. Patel and I had our final ad hoc subcommittee meeting on advisory boards in this iteration

2:44:14and also on the same day I served on the panel at the Golden School of public policy for a class of future city managers to talk about what it

2:44:23like, to be a mayor in a city. And then on March third, I was on a panel with.

2:44:30lots of local great women, including a career diplomat and a city controller from

2:44:39Los Angeles to address the Girl Scouts.

2:44:42our local Girl Scout troops so they can get their local government badge, and I was really impressed by their questions and their comments, and just kind of a high poweredness of Girl Scouts in general.

2:44:56Thank you. That's my report.

2:44:59And any

2:45:00yes, no one mentioned the East Bay Cal cities, Contra Costa College, which was great, and had the students that deal with cooking and restaurant, or did a great job supplying us with food, and we had a good time.

2:45:17Thank you. And I did attend that, and it was great to see.

2:45:21And Mayor and I gave an update regarding the State deficit, and it's one of the largest that we've had in a while. And they

2:45:34it's now at 73 billion dollars. And the first thing to go usually are housing legislation and environmental legislation. So know that there are 2 bonds that Cal cities is interested in. And II did speak to the Governor about that. And Assembly members and senators are looking closely at climate bonds at 15 billion.

2:46:01and and Buffy Wix, our Assembly member, Buffy Wix. She has a housing bond, and and hopefully that will be on the ballot, but this will be a way for us to deal with the housing and homelessness shortage that we have, and and dealing with climate change, because we look at so many counties. The 58 counties we had

2:46:28about 11 or 12 counties that were called disaster areas. And

2:46:34so you know, plan looking at that and and the future of climate bonds. It's it's so important that we deal with climate change now, and this will deal with disaster preparedness.

2:46:48things like that.

2:46:50and look forward to joining in Washington

2:46:54weekend. Alright.

2:46:56I have just a few. I also was at the Cal Cities East Bay Division meeting. It was excellent to hear from our State representatives, and I'm not just saying it. It's really the truth. It was the best food that we've had. The food was excellent, so huge kudos to the Contra Costa

2:47:13College culinary program. And they they really did such a good. They got an a and they they dealt with quite the interesting crowd. So I really appreciate in, in contrast to college in general, is such a gem in our community. So it was really nice to highlight that on Sunday I went to the Unity rally in San Francisco's supporting the rise in anti-semitism.

2:47:37It's great to hear from so many elected leaders, and last night I attended the Crime Prevention Committee meeting, and I gave an update that myself and Councilmember Fideli have formed a subcommittee to work directly with the committee to make sure that we are tailoring the needs of the community to that committee, so we can make sure that

2:47:58So we keep community safety and a comprehensive vision of that really aligned. And we have a space where our community members can collaborate where Staff is able to collaborate as well. And it was great to hear from the community. So

2:48:12on that note we are at item 11, which everyone's favorite.

2:48:17It is now 8, 52, and we are adjourned the next regularly scheduled city Council meeting is Tuesday, March nineteenth, at 6 pm. Thank you. Everyone for staying.