Regular City Council Meeting May 21, 2024

0:00:07Mayor, we're ready whenever you are

0:00:09all right. Thank you so much.

0:00:15The May 20 First City Council meeting is called to order at 601 Pm. City clerk. Lily, please call roll Mayor Redneck, President, Mayor Paten Yinger, President, Council, member Kinto Council, member Fideli Council, member Motiama. Here we have a quorum.

0:00:30All right. Excellent. So next we're going to move on to Item 2, which is the pledge of allegiance or an observance of a moment of silence.

0:00:39I pledge allegiance to the flag United States of America

0:00:44and to the Republic for which it stands.

0:00:47One nation, an underground in individuals.

0:00:51literally a minute.

0:00:56It's very cool to hear that with the different age categories of voices in this room. So it was quite great. Thank you for the young folks for being here. Next, I'm going to move on to

0:01:08Teleconference and public comment instructions.

0:01:12city clerk, please proceed. Thank you, Mayor.

0:01:15This 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 are 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 for members of the public who wish to provide oral testimony, the mayor will announce the time for public comment on each applicable item.

0:01:42Public comments will only be taken in person, and a request to speak can be submitted to the city clerk by by completing a speaker card.

0:01:49The Council's adopted rules of order and procedures, specify public speakers, address the city council in an orderly and respectful manner, proceed their comments with their name and city of residence, and be respectful of time limits. Thank you, Mayor, that concludes my announcements alright. Next we're moving on to our Council and Staff communications. City manager. Do we have any staff communications? I do not have any staff communications at this time. Alright, thank you. So much do we have any communications from my colleagues?

0:02:17Councilmember Motiama? Thank you, Mayor. I just want to congratulate the El Cida High School jazz ensemble and quintet which both won the 2024 California jazz championships competing against 30 groups statewide. So congratulations to them.

0:02:33Alright! Thank you so much. Anything

0:02:36click over here over here. Yes.

0:02:38councilmember, Fideli. Thank you. I was just talking to

0:02:42Councilmember Quinto about our July fourth event.

0:02:45which he and I have been working to get sponsorships for, and I just wanted to say that

0:02:50our community sponsored. July fourth World. One event is

0:02:55great fun, important El Cerrito, and there's still plenty of time to get sponsorships, because this is a budget issue.

0:03:02keeps money

0:03:04in our general fund that we can use other services to provide it for you guys. So thank you. Also, 2 quick things that a city that I just noticed going around our city that maybe don't get publicized so much. But the city is constantly working to improve

0:03:21various services for us. One is that

0:03:24I stopped. I've been away for a little bit on visiting my daughter and Arlington Park is almost done. The renovation

0:03:31and I stopped by, and the the picnic area is

0:03:36picnic. Areas are done and the clubhouse looks marvelous. Could be. We can rent it for more money, maybe, now that it's improved.

0:03:45So I'm looking forward to that opening.

0:03:48and secondly, on the corner of Stockton and San Pablo Avenue at the Stop sign. There are some new pedestrian assistance mechanisms there where you don't have to push to get a pedestrian signal across the street. You can just wave your hand now for people that might not be able to push in so little things. But our cities moving forward, and it's nice to know. So things. Thank you.

0:04:11Council Member Quinto.

0:04:12Right? There's a few things for me, one I'd like to share that I know. We have a lot of construction going on around town on the north side, especially all along San Pablo we see that it's getting all dug up. But this is for the greater good of our community. We're gonna have protected bike lanes better pedestrian access, better traffic flow. So one of those pardon our dust, we know, really appreciate the community as we're doing these really important improvements as well as along Richmond.

0:04:40A lot of folks that I've I've heard from folks about the challenges, especially during school pickups and drop offs. And during our you know, this commute time. So I really appreciate the folks who are patient as we are doing these much needed improvements in our city.

0:04:54On May thirtieth we're having a safety element community workshop. And on June second, there's going to be a Baxter Creek cleanup. So if those are interesting to you, there's more information on our city website

0:05:06and also on May thirteenth I signed letters of support for 16 different pieces of State legislation that would make meaningful statutory changes to addressing this increase in retail theft in California. It's one of those challenges. So hopefully, in a city bell, Cerrito is standing behind trying to really address the challenges of retail theft.

0:05:28Alright. Next item. Well, so we're going to take things a little bit out of order, because I see that we have

0:05:34community members here who are not usually here, so I think it would be good if possible. If you guys don't mind if we move out of order a little bit to item 6 or sorry 7 a could we? City clerk is at fine, we're gonna we're gonna move on to Item 7, A,

0:05:49which is the wildcat for H. Club's tenth anniversary proclamation.

0:05:54so that I'll move

0:05:56alright. I'll second. Oh, wait!

0:06:01There's still few on their way.

0:06:06Mayor, if I may. Do you want to maybe do the presentation first. Sure, let's go to presentation and get some time for them to arrive. Excellent! Thank you. So we're going to move on to Item 6 a. We will get to Item 5. But want to make sure that we have external folks that we're able to address first. So we're going to move to item 6, a. Which is a presentation on the revised maps of earthquake, fault zones and scientific hazard zones.

0:06:29Jeremy, you are up on screen. If you would like to share your presentation. You can control that yourself, or, if you'd like, I can share it on your behalf. You just need to let me know.

0:06:38Jeremy Lancaster (State Geologist): Great. Thank you. I can share it. Here. Give me just a second.

0:06:47And Mr. Lancaster, if I may. We have our 4 H club here in the audience. So it's almost like they're getting a little bit of a science lesson, so

0:06:55take it away.

0:06:56Jeremy Lancaster (State Geologist): Oh, fantastic! Well, great thank you. Mayor Redneck and Council members for the the invitation or for the request.

0:07:07my name's Jeremy Lancaster. I'm the State geologist and the director of the California Geological Survey.

0:07:14Just

0:07:16a note. The California Geological Survey is

0:07:19a division within the Department of Conservation. We've been around since 1,860.

0:07:27We provide. Our mission is to provide scientific products and services about the State's geology, seismology, mineral resources, and their related hazards that could affect the health.

0:07:39safety, and business interests of the people of California. So one of our primary mission areas is to is to develop maps

0:07:49of hazards and resources that support wise land, use decision making.

0:07:53So I'll move to the next slide

0:07:56and talk a little bit about those maps.

0:07:59You know, the the primary reason why I was invited is because on February 20, s of this year 2024, we issued some new maps

0:08:11for Contra Costa County, including the city of El Cerrito, and these are maps of earthquake. They're called earthquake hazard zones or earthquake zones of required investigation. They depict areas where geologic data

0:08:29in proximity to earthquake faults

0:08:31indicate the potential for earthquake, triggered ground failure.

0:08:36And and so I have 3 images on the screen that I'll speak to here. So when I'm talking about earthquake triggered ground failure. I'll be talking about faults. So surface rupture from faults, landslides, and a phenomenon we call liquefaction.

0:08:54So the

0:08:55the photo on the left depicts

0:08:58the surface rupture from a fault that goes through a structure for human occupancy, that you'll see a line going through the structure on the middle left

0:09:09that is between the 2 arrows. So that is a that's what we call surface rupture. It can. Surface rupture can damage or destroy buildings. That are constructed across active faults.

0:09:25earthquake induced landslides is depicted in the middle one. Landslide, I should say.

0:09:31and those occur in areas where they're steep, topography, weak geologic units, geologic formations.

0:09:38That are subject to to strong ground shaking and amplification of ground, shaking that disable destabilizes those steep hill slopes and can cause catastrophic failure and movement.

0:09:51And then the last photo is for a photo of liquefaction in induced ground failure. This photo is from the Marina district after the 1989. Loma Prieta earthquake

0:10:03liquefaction is a is a phenomenon where there are loose soils that are saturated with groundwater in the subsurface, and when they're subject to strong shaking, those soils, settle the waters expelled, and that can destabilize the subsurface cause settlement of a building foundation, or even complete collapse of the building foundation.

0:10:28So these are. These are the types of geologic hazards that we map as part of these earthquake zones of required investigation.

0:10:40and I'll provide a little bit more detail, and we'll then we'll focus in on the map for the city of El Cerrito.

0:10:47So a little bit little bit more background here

0:10:50Jeremy Lancaster (State Geologist): the seismic Hazards Mapping Act was passed in 1990 after the Loma Prieta quake. That's the the the image on the left or the map on the left depicts in red all of the areas where we've performed

0:11:08seismic hazards, mapping. And and so that's

0:11:12There's 2 things there that's liquefaction and landslides.

0:11:16So that started that that work really started in 1994. The law was passed. The act was passed in 1990, but the actual production, the funding in the production started in 1994. So we've mapped a significant portion of the Bay area and a significant portion of several Southern California communities.

0:11:37And then the map on the right

0:11:39Depicts areas where we've mapped active faults and prepared earthquake zones of an required investigation for surface rupture hazards. Now

0:11:50that work stems from the Alquisola earthquake fault zoning Act of 19 that was passed in 1972

0:11:58funded and work began in 1,974. So we've actually been doing that mapping for almost 50 years now.

0:12:04And so the map depicts all of the areas that we've completed.

0:12:08Okay, so that's a lot of lot of background information. Now, we'll jump into the city of El Cerrito and mapping that is pertinent to the city.

0:12:19so so why, now, why are we doing some additional seismic hazards mapping around the city of El Cerrito. Well, it it is

0:12:30you know, part of our

0:12:32our our strategy to map all of the seismic hazards within Contra Costa County.

0:12:40and so the map on the right depicts

0:12:44Contra Costa County outlined with a dash line and then

0:12:49the maps that we released on the 20 s on February 20 s are black rectangles

0:12:57and Richmond, the Richmond quadrangle. We use the Usgs 7 and a half minute quadrangle nomenclature, and and that's the basis for our our mapping the Richmond quadrangle here is it includes the in within it the city of Elsa Rita. So it's our goal to map the entirety of Contra Costa County.

0:13:19We completed 6 maps on February twenty-twond. We've just completed another 7 maps that will fill in the holes within the county that will be going out actually, this week. So that's here. On May twenty-third they go out for public review, and they'll be finalized by the end of the year. So we're.

0:13:39you know, our our our goal of completing contra cost accounting will will be realized by the end of this calendar year. So by December 2024,

0:13:50okay,

0:13:54this is so. This slide shows on the left the official

0:13:59Earthquake zones of required investigation for the Richmond quadrank. And then within that map you can see a blackout outline that is the city of El Cerritos boundaries

0:14:11and then in the middle, the middle frame. Here.

0:14:16The map depicts

0:14:18all 3 hazards.

0:14:20So if we looked on the say, the left margin of the map. There's a green polygon.

0:14:27It's pretty continuous with some little disconnect or disconnected green polygons. These are liquefaction zones. These are areas where there's historical occurrence of liquefaction.

0:14:41or local, geological or geotechnical and groundwater conditions indicate the the potential

0:14:48for permanent ground failure during that could occur from an earthquake that triggers liquefaction.

0:14:55Similarly for earthquake-induced landslide hazards. Those are in blue

0:15:00these are areas where we've seen previous landslide movement, or there's local topographic, geologic, or geotechnical conditions that indicate the potential for earthquake induced land slides.

0:15:16and then the yellow the yellow zone on the right side, or really kind of the northeast side of this map area is the earthquake fault zone for the Hayward fault. And so the the the black dashed lines that go through the middle of that zone depict areas where a geologist has been able to map

0:15:44the surface trace of the fault where that fault has ruptured sediments.

0:15:51And the zone is drawn around those surface traces, those black surface traces with about 500 feet on either side. And the the goal of this mapping is to depict those surface traces. But we recognize that there's in in

0:16:10a surface rupture event from a large earthquake there's there tends to be, or there can be, some distributed rupture. And so we buffer those black lines by 500 feet

0:16:24knowing that sometimes the zone of earthquake ground failure can be much larger. It can be outside of those those

0:16:32those black lines. Faults are actually much more complex than a single line surface so and and and just for the sake of of history. Here, the last time we had a major earthquake

0:16:48on the Hayward fault was was 1868, I believe, and it was a magnitude 7.1. That was the map, the last major surface rupturing earthquake.

0:16:58Okay. So

0:17:01that is

0:17:02the extent of mapping within the city boundaries

0:17:07associated with the official map. Release?

0:17:11I should say one thing.

0:17:13The

0:17:14the zone around the Hayward fault is not new.

0:17:18That has been that that previously existed in an official map for an out for the Aquis Priolo earthquake fault zone.

0:17:28Only the liquefaction green areas and the earthquake induced landslide. Blue areas are new. To this, to this effort.

0:17:41Jeremy Lancaster (State Geologist): so

0:17:42one other thing here I just wanted to show you is so I showed you some static maps there. Those are on our web pages. Pdfs, but we also have this web map application that's called Eq's app.

0:17:57that one can go in and you can interact actually interact with

0:18:01the the earthquake zone data. And so one can go into this. I've provided the link on the screen here, but one can go into this webmap service. You can click on a on a particular parcel, and it'll tell you if you, if if there is an earthquake hazard zone associated with that parcel, you can click on

0:18:22any point on the map. And it'll give you information about that point.

0:18:29so a few other things

0:18:33to note with regards to to this mapping is, there are. There are some requirements associated with

0:18:42the seismic hazards, mapping act, and that hopeless prey, low earthquake fault, zoning act.

0:18:48one requirement is that these maps and data are incorporated in the safety element of the general plan.

0:18:57That's that's one of them.

0:18:59A second requirement is that all new construction projects in

0:19:06size and hazard zones.

0:19:09So that's the liquefaction and landslide zones must require a geotechnical report.

0:19:16So there! That's why we call them zones of required investigation.

0:19:21and and this is, you know, this is

0:19:24a way in which, you know, we can increase. You know, community resilience

0:19:29by ensuring that there's investigation, characterization, and mitigation of the hazard prior to construction moving forward and then within the outquis earthquake fault zones the yellow areas.

0:19:44A geologic report is required to evaluate the potential for surface rupture affecting

0:19:51whatever project is being proposed.

0:19:55And then, lastly, if with with the sale of a property

0:20:03there is the requirement that the the information, the the seismic hazard zone information is disclosed in in the sale of property. So this is this information will come up on a natural hazards, disclosure, statement.

0:20:21And so those are. Those are the primary requirements related to the 2 acts that I mentioned.

0:20:29and with that I have

0:20:35nothing else here to to present you.

0:20:39I can. I can take questions. I'm happy to to take questions on the science and

0:20:46the products.

0:20:48If if those are

0:20:51readily available.

0:20:53All right. Do we have questions on the science and the product that are readily available.

0:20:57Jeremy Lancaster (State Geologist): Men.

0:20:58That are brief, knowing that we've got some young folks in the audience. All right.

0:21:02Council Member Motoyama. Thank you, Mayor. So I thank you so much for this presentation. I did get heads up on this from at a Kelsey's conference, and I was the one that requested this presentation, because I think it does have a broad impact on people in El Cerrito. So it's really helpful to understand how these maps are integrated.

0:21:26does the it

0:21:28home insurance industry? Use these maps as well.

0:21:34Jeremy Lancaster (State Geologist): I can't. I can't.

0:21:36I can't really weigh in on that, because I'm not. I'm I'm a I'm a geoscientist, and I'm my role is to provide, you know, scientific products. And I'm I can't really. I'm not an insurance specialist. They they may, but I can't say for sure. And what

0:21:51and what situations they would.

0:21:53Okay, but they they. This information does become readily available because it's in the standard. Natural hazards, disclosure

0:22:02for real estate seats.

0:22:03Jeremy Lancaster (State Geologist): Yes. Yeah.

0:22:05And then just on the landslide and liquefaction zones. I know that in previous maps they just weren't there, and that's because you hadn't done the

0:22:16the production yet for the maps. It's not that these are new areas. They've always been here right.

0:22:23Jeremy Lancaster (State Geologist): Yes, thank you. Thank you for that. That clarification. And I should have. I should have stated it in that way. It's not that that the hazard just became present. The hazard was present. We just we acquired new data, subsurface borehole data. We acquired new information on groundwater data.

0:22:45new topographic data for the region, so that allowed us to prepare the the new zoning effort.

0:22:54And then how precise? I mean this, like the liquefaction zones, they look really specific. How precise is the data that you get in in? Where does it come from?

0:23:06Jeremy Lancaster (State Geologist): That? That's a that's a really great question. So the

0:23:11you know, we're we're we're dealing with the subsurface when it comes to liquefaction. So those are the green areas.

0:23:17And we're dependent upon geotechnical borehole data that is is done for investigations of of structures, homes, infrastructure.

0:23:29So

0:23:30so in in some areas, there's a high density of data. And so we have really great fidelity. And in other areas, it's sparse.

0:23:40So you know, we use the best available data. And so, for example, if we are evaluating groundwater levels, you know, we're going to have to contour

0:23:52the groundwater data with the best available with the best available data we have. So it's it's, you know.

0:24:01I I think that's the best I can say it. It. It varies across the map area, depending upon the data sources that we have.

0:24:10Okay. So the data comes from other people doing geotechnical studies for whatever reason they're doing it. Street repair or home foundation repair whatever that that goes into a database somewhere so that you can access that.

0:24:25Jeremy Lancaster (State Geologist): Ex exactly. Exactly. And then and then you know other resources like department of water resources. The water Water Resources Control board also has groundwater data that's available. And then we have.

0:24:40you know, the the survey conducts the the geological mapping and the geological modeling of the subsurface.

0:24:50Thank you very much. Alright, Council Member Fidelity. Thank you.

0:24:53I was going to ask you.

0:24:56By the way, thank you for your presentation. And I was gonna ask you about what your thoughts were about community emergency response teams at the Fema

0:25:04would like all communities to be involved with. But it doesn't sound like you want to make any comments past your scientific background. So I will just say that it's really important that else Rio, get it. Cert back together

0:25:16where, after Covid, we've had a tough time dealing with this. We need to have our volunteers in our community even more. Now you've reaffirmed it tonight

0:25:26more important that we're ready, and our volunteers are ready for any disaster that might come to El Cerrito. Thank you.

0:25:32Thank you for joining us, Miss Sterling. Christopher. We appreciate the presentation.

0:25:36Great work.

0:25:38Jeremy Lancaster (State Geologist): Thank you.

0:25:39Right.

0:25:40So now we're gonna you know. Continue this out of order and go to item 7, a.

0:25:44Which is

0:25:46wildcat 4. H. Club's tenth anniversary proclamation.

0:25:50and I did hear a motion from Councillor Motiyama, and I'd like to take the moral privilege of seconding that.

0:25:57So

0:26:00all those in favor please say, aye, aye, any opposed motion carries all right. Thank you so much. So if someone from 4 H Club would like to come and say something, and then we will provide you this proclamation.

0:26:19I'll start by saying that the city of El Cerrito annually has been doing presentations for the 4 H. Club. We did one a few months ago, and which our city clerk did an incredible job of explaining the public process, explaining what elections are. We had our city manager there, talk about what a city manager is and does. And so it's great to see. You know, young folks in our community learning more about what we do here. So

0:26:45you want to go to the lectern?

0:26:50I've learned it's a lecter, not a podium.

0:26:53but just a bit of background. Sure

0:26:56my wife, Jen and I started the club 10 years ago. And can you, can you speak into the microphone so those online can hear you as well, thank you. Gotcha. Okay.

0:27:06So my wife, Jen and I started the club 10 years ago. As the community club leaders. But then handed over the reins to Caroline and some other parent volunteers.

0:27:18not here. But yeah. Oh, there she is. Yeah. Before I just stand up to show we have a bunch of kids who are basically our officers, parents, and they're here to

0:27:29Sort of they've been with the club, and they're here to

0:27:33going in this celebration or this proclamation.

0:27:37So everyone from the 4 H community can come up for a picture, and then we'll come down and take a picture with you guys.

0:27:56Just gonna say one thing, we still have a few founding members. So kids that started when they were 5,

0:28:03which was Jack and Elliot

0:28:06at Shindo. So we have 2 founding kids that were part of our founding.

0:29:42Hey?

0:29:47Alright, thank you guys so much.

0:29:52All right, we're going to go back into order. So now we're going to go to Item 5, which is oral communications from the public.

0:29:58How many speakers do we have, Madam City clerk.

0:30:02Alright. Give me 1 s. Thank you.

0:30:052, I think 52.

0:30:13We have 15 speakers at this time here. Alright. So if we can set a 2 min time limit.

0:30:17Thank you.

0:30:30Right?

0:30:31So now is the time of members for the public who wish to provide public comments regarding matters not on the agenda consent items and presentation items request to speak can be submitted to the city clerk by submitting a speaker card. Public comments will be taken in person. Only please remember to identify yourself and your city of residence at the beginning of your comments.

0:30:49City clerk. Please proceed.

0:30:52Thank you, Mayor. We'll start with our first Speaker, Michael Fisher, followed by Sue Duncan and Lucinda Cassin.

0:31:02Mayor and Council members. I'm Michael Fisher, Library Commissioner since 2017,

0:31:09as the Council

0:31:11excuse me, is no doubt aware this summer marks the 70 fifth anniversary of our library, and is a good reminder that we need a new, larger, safe, and accessible library.

0:31:25Still, as I know, 75 years is important to celebrate.

0:31:29and our senior community library manager, Heidi Goldstein, and her staff.

0:31:35with the co-sponsorship of our El Cerrito Library Foundation.

0:31:39developed a series consisting of 5 authors here.

0:31:43who have either lived here, went to school here, or some other connection of their city.

0:31:50The first event. Saturday, May 11,

0:31:53featured Author Gail Sukiyama, author of 9 very wonderful books.

0:31:59who commented several times in her remarks about the need for a larger library

0:32:06and as a regular library user she ought to know.

0:32:10And the over 100 people attending the program showing in photos I sent to the Council demonstrate the inadequacy of our library to handle that group.

0:32:22Future events all at 1030 A. M. On Saturdays will feature children's author and illustrator, Robert Lew Trujillo. On July thirteenth.

0:32:34children's author, Serena Allen, on August tenth.

0:32:38el Cerrito's new poet Laureate, Tess Taylor on September fourteenth

0:32:44and El Cerido's Inaugural poet Laureate, Ma Shane Wynn. On November ninth.

0:32:50A new library at the Plaza station will enable many more programs of this type.

0:32:56So we urge all who wish to help in this effort to join us at the Committee for Applaza Station Library.

0:33:04Thank you for Psl. Thank you. Your time has ended. Our next speaker, Sue Duncan, followed by Lucinda Cassin, and you go.

0:33:22Good evening. I'm Sue Duncan, resident of El Cerrito on behalf of make El Cerrito firesafe I want to thank Fire Chief Sailors, Police Chief Keith, Yvette Ortiz, head of Public Works, Marie Al Qin, engineer and public

0:33:38works, and all of the staff who have worked on the restricted parking on red, flag-based project.

0:33:44Thank you to the Council also for supporting it.

0:33:47We are happy to finally see this happening as we have been pushing for it. Since we started our group in September of 2,018 it only took 5 and a half years.

0:33:58We hope that Elsrito residents will understand that it is for their safety that it will make their evacuation safer. While allowing the first responders to enter the area.

0:34:09We hope that after this year-long pilot program ends that more narrow streets, and El Cerrito will be added, and then it will become permanent. Thank you.

0:34:21Thank you. Our next speaker is Lucinda Cassin, followed by Yuko, followed by Rosa Esquival.

0:34:30Madam Mayor, members of the City Council. I'm Lucinda Cassin. I'm a member of Temple Beth Hillel West Contra Costa County's only reform synagogue.

0:34:402 weeks ago one of the speakers, advocating, putting a gossamer ceasefire resolution on the agenda, dismissed the concerns of others such as myself about the divisiveness of doing so.

0:34:53That person was clearly not at the Richmond City Council meeting in October, where such a resolution was on the agenda, but I was there, and I can tell you there were a few frightening moments moments when members of Law enforcement had to step in

0:35:08according to the Anti-defamation League there were 1,266 anti-semitic incidents reported in California in 2,023, an increase from the previous year.

0:35:21In April, FBI. Director, Chris Ray, warned that racially and ethnically motivated violent extremists are the top domestic terror threat in this country, and it is these extremists who are spreading conspiracy theories that blame Jews for all of America's societal problems.

0:35:38This heightens the threat of violence toward Jews, because external propaganda advocates violence against Jews.

0:35:46In addition to extremist conspiracy theories, American Jews are being painted with a broad brush and held accountable for the actions of the Net and Yahoo government.

0:35:55I pray that Hamas will return all the hostages, and a two-state solution will be found that is fair to both Israelis and Palestinians. But actions such as these resolutions which inflame the situation for Jews here in this community are not part of the solution, they are only contributing to the problem.

0:36:21Our next speaker is Yoko, followed by Rosa Escoval, followed by Buddhakis.

0:36:32This is from El Cerrito, resident voila, and I'm Yuko. I'm also resident

0:36:37city council members. How many more mothers in Gaza must wrap their children in shrouds and bury them. Israel has killed over 15,000 children in the last 8 months. A child in Gaza is killed or wounded every 10 min.

0:36:49How many more children must lose their parents in Gaza, according to the UN. At least 17,000 children in Gaza, have been orphaned or separated from their families due to the war.

0:36:586,000 mothers have been killed. That's 37 mothers killed each day since October seventh or 2 mothers every hour.

0:37:05How many more pregnant women must suffer in Gaza?

0:37:08Approximately 60,000 pregnant women have little to no access to adequate prenatal

0:37:13health services, at least 183 women are giving birth in Gaza every day, and most do not have access to midwives, doctors, or healthcare facilities during or after delivery.

0:37:24How many more people have to starve in Gaza? 1.9 million innocent civilians are being systematically starved by Israel, who is blocking vital humanitarian aid.

0:37:3432 people, 28 of them children, have died of malnutrition and dehydration.

0:37:39How many more hospitals, schools, and universities must be destroyed in Gaza?

0:37:43This is a trick question, because all of them have been bombed and attacked by Israel. The next generation of voters across almost 140 Us. College campuses are protesting this ongoing genocide. Students have often been on the right side of history. If you call yourself a parent, a feminist and academic, a public servant or a human.

0:38:00How are you not verified by this unbearable suffering? How could you not do whatever you could, no matter how seemingly insignificant?

0:38:08Are Palestinians not worthy of basic human rights. We urge you to uphold your civic duty, agendize a ceasefire resolution, and don't allow your fear or your privilege to keep you on the wrong side of history. Thank you.

0:38:20Our next speaker is Rosa Escoval, followed by Buddy Akasic and Dean Cortezi.

0:38:26Good afternoon, City Council and members of the public. I'm Rosa is given resident of El Cerrito, and I'm also the member of the Cctta Contra Costa transportation authority citizens Advisory Committee, and I'm here to confirm that I there's a meeting tomorrow, and we do need

0:38:44public comment. So the Citizens Advisory Committee for Contra Costa transportation authority. My message to to the city of El Cerrito is 3 things.

0:38:55public comment on all these projects that affect transportation.

0:38:59Please be aware that there's the San Pablo specific quarter plan that is going to affect

0:39:05traffic in San Pablo. We also have the Contra Costa County wide transportation plan, and my feedback as noted when I do feedback

0:39:15the engineers.

0:39:16they do, they do take your advice. So so please give comment on all these projects, and I do want to confirm. El Cerrito met all this. All the guidelines. Yvette, our teams made the presentation, and we approved. El Cerritos.

0:39:33there's a plan you have to. You have to meet all these guidelines, and we met it. Thank you. And then the last item for everyone.

0:39:39The Cctta sponsors go momentum. I don't know if you've heard of what go. Momentum is all about. But it's about bringing jobs to the Bay area. Our director wants you to know that it's about bringing safe autonomous vehicles and efficient mobility.

0:39:55But what I saw was job creation and Contra Costa County. So please call the Ccta. If you wanna get a tour of gold momentum. It's actually we are doing a a lot of high tech companies. Anybody can apply and get a lease.

0:40:10and you can go in and experiment on a timeliness vehicle. So anything else that you want to do? Thank you. Thank you for your time.

0:40:17Our next speaker is Buddhist, followed by Dean Cortezi. And, faith, M.

0:40:33Good evening. I'm Buddy Akasica.

0:40:36your next-door neighbor at Hona Gardens for the last 5 years. Love it there.

0:40:413 things I'd like to

0:40:44present this evening.

0:40:46For the

0:40:48El Cerrito City, Velserito's wall of fame that you you need to pass through to come into this

0:40:54building right here.

0:40:56Janet Abelson.

0:40:58I've

0:40:59put some

0:41:00application nomination forms

0:41:03to you guys this evening, and

0:41:06to me the name Jen at Abelson speaks for itself.

0:41:09Thanks.

0:41:11I can't imagine

0:41:12anybody

0:41:14more qualified

0:41:16be on that wall. And this is this is you're used to it. This is but emotional. I'm not gonna cry. I just am an emotional guy.

0:41:26So the so the second thing is,

0:41:28the Oserito community center at 7 0 0 7 Mosa Lane. The

0:41:35senior community has the perception that it's neglected needs help.

0:41:41and I'm willing to make a contribution. I'm thinking of it in terms of the

0:41:47world. One world festival I kicked in money the last 2 years.

0:41:52I'm going to kick in money again this year, but it's going to go to beautifying the front of the illustrator Community center. It needs help.

0:42:03I've I've spoken to the Arts and Culture Commission about this and the Garden Club, and I'm getting good vibes and cooperation from everyone where all of the belief that it needs help.

0:42:16The last item is

0:42:19June the thirteenth. At one PM. Circle that date

0:42:26John Joya is working on

0:42:29leading a group tour of the veterans building

0:42:33on Stockton Avenue.

0:42:35It's not locked in confirmed yet, but we're close, thank you. But your time has ended. Thank you. Our next speaker is Dean Cortezi, followed by Faith, M. And BL.

0:42:56Good evening.

0:42:57members of the Alfredo City Council.

0:43:01I. Along with most else residents. I'm committed to peace and to a peaceful resolution of the conflict between Palestinians and Israelis, one that recognizes and fulfills both parties, legitimate rights.

0:43:14self-determination

0:43:16to live in peace and security.

0:43:19I remain opposed to putting a ceasefire resolution on the agenda.

0:43:24because it will first of all invite hate and vitriol

0:43:29into the city council chambers

0:43:31calls for Israel's elimination.

0:43:36I say this because

0:43:38if the call was legitimate

0:43:40there would be a recognition

0:43:42that both sides have a part in the war.

0:43:45and both sides need to lay down their arms, and if you hear the Ceasefire activists speaking, they never speak of the Hamas attack on

0:43:55October seventh. They never speak of the hostages that still remain in captivity. They never speak of Hamas refusing ceasefire resolutions. A genuine desire for a ceasefire recognizes both sides are at fault.

0:44:12Both sides need to come to the table, and both sides need to make peace. Do not be pulled into a desire by some to have the city take sides in this conflict. The human suffering is unbearable.

0:44:28It will only end when both sides decide it is time to make peace.

0:44:33Don't pick a side.

0:44:38Our next speaker is Faith M, followed by BL. And D. Weiss.

0:44:46Thank you.

0:44:49For months there have been attempts to hijack our municipal government in an attempt to target one of America's closest allies engaged in a fight against an internationally recognized terrorist group.

0:45:01The rhetoric we have been hearing is simply wrong.

0:45:04creating more

0:45:05neat then right?

0:45:07There is no starvation. Since the beginning of the war, over one half a million tons of humanitarian aid has fled into Gaza.

0:45:16There is no genocide in our lifetime. There have been many wars, built reactions and insurrections. The second Gaza, the second Congo War, left 5 million dead. The Vietnam war left 4 million dead. The Soviet Afghan War left 2 million dead. The Sydney Civil War left 1.5 million dead Syrian Civil war, 600,000 dead. Ethan War, 900,000 dead.

0:45:43John Spencer, chair of Urban Warfare studies at West Point.

0:45:47has said, Israel has done more to prevent civilian casualties in war than any other military in history, setting a standard that will be hard and problematic

0:45:57to repeat above and beyond what international law requires, and more than what the US. Did in its wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.

0:46:07The calls we hear are not for peace, they are for ceasefire. These are calls for Israel to surrender and to allow more. October seventh. Please do not involve our city in this stand strong.

0:46:19thank you.

0:46:21Our next speaker is BL. Followed by D. Weiss and Samuel Salkin.

0:46:29Good evening.

0:46:30A meme found on social media lately says, if you ever ever wonder what you would have done during the rise of Hitler or the Nazi years. You're doing it now.

0:46:41Another more famous quote is attributed to a prominent German pastor, Martin E. Muller after World War 2, Nie Muller openly spoke about his early complicity with Nazism and his eventual change of heart. His powerful words about guilt and responsibilities still resonate today.

0:47:02First they came for the Socialists, and I did not speak out because I was not a Socialist. Then, like they came for the trade Unionists, and I did not speak out because I was not a trade Unionist.

0:47:13Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out because I was not a Jew. Then they came for me, and there was no one left to speak for me.

0:47:23Continue working on city business, as is your task, and ignore the demands of ceasefire or divestment by these modern brown shirts, who wish to see the destruction of the only Jewish State. Remember, there are 57 Muslim States existing today

0:47:42a ceasefire. Now with Hamas, a genocidal supremacist, Jihadi army still in power means the extinction of half the Jewish population of the world.

0:47:52The only hope for peace will come after a total defeat of Hamas.

0:47:57I know you'll take a moral stand, ignore irrational demands, and continue taking care of El Cerrito. Remember, they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out because I was not a Jew, but then they came for me, and there was no one left to speak for me. Thank you.

0:48:16Our next speaker is D. Weiss, followed by Samuel Sulkin and Fred Bialy.

0:48:25Thank you so much. So

0:48:27here we are again. I think most of our

0:48:31points. You guys have heard before. If you can, please speak into the microphone. So both online can hear you. I think most of most of the points you guys have heard about the ceasefire. No ceasefire, you guys have heard many times, so I'll be very brief.

0:48:44I am a resident on the El Cerrito border.

0:48:50ceasefire. Sure like like my friend here said, what's happening over there is atrocious. It's horrible, but ceasefire in a balanced way that also respects the rights

0:49:00of Israelis, who are by all means not all Jewish. There are plenty of black, and also Arab Israelis living in the country respecting Israeli citizens right for security and safety as well. So ceasefire that

0:49:14respects

0:49:15everyone's right to security and safety.

0:49:18The other point I wanted to bring up is that

0:49:23as has been mentioned already, the rise in anti-semitism since October seventh happened. So we're looking at rates in cities that have continued to

0:49:31accept these conversations about international politics arise in anti-jewish behavior upwards of 600. I personally can say, as recently as this last weekend I've been screamed at, pushed, shoved. I've had my signs pulled out of my hand. I've been threatened and menaced, and people coming right into my face. People are very contentious and angry and aggressive. We have a database of

0:49:56the graffiti and the local incidents.

0:49:59and it's already I'm telling you, as a Jewish person that supports Israel's right to exist. It's threatening out there. And passing these kind of resolutions, we see across the whole Us. There's data

0:50:10rise and anti-semitism in those cities upwards of 600 compared to cities that say, like other California cities, you know, international politics is not in our milieu. Thank you. Conversation about international politics is over. We focus on the many pressing issues at hand. Those area time has ended. Our next speaker is Samuel Salkin, followed by Fred Bialy and Toby Bloom.

0:50:37Mayor Redneck.

0:50:39Mayor pro tem. Weisinger and Council members, Fideli, Motayama, and Quinto.

0:50:44My name is Sam Salkin.

0:50:46I'm a 33 year resident of Contra Costa County, and a

0:50:5113 year resident of El Cerrito.

0:50:54I want to commend you.

0:50:57Topic being the Israel Hamas War.

0:51:01There's a lot of emotion. There's a lot of pain. There's a lot of death.

0:51:05There's a lot of suffering.

0:51:07and you've taken the high road

0:51:09because it's exceedingly complicated.

0:51:12exceedingly complicated, and we know God only knows. We have all a myriad of issues facing us in our community here in El Cerrito, in the State of California, with a budget that we don't really don't know how we're going to balance, etc. So I want to commend you for listening.

0:51:29taking into account what you've heard, and taking the high road of not

0:51:36at all getting involved in the question of a ceasefire or in divestment.

0:51:41The last time I was here I made the following point.

0:51:45on October 6, 2023, there was a formal ceasefire that had been been been in place for years between Israel and the Hamas Government in in Gaza

0:51:57for years there was a ceasefire in place. Hamas unilaterally broke that ceasefire

0:52:05unilaterally.

0:52:07So calling for a ceasefire today will only reward them

0:52:12for the behavior that they engaged in

0:52:15Israel's fighting a war with Hamas, not with the Palestinian people. It's fighting a war with Hamas that it did not seek

0:52:23against an enemy that's sworn to its destruction, and holding scores of its civilian citizens hostage.

0:52:31There can be a ceasefire tomorrow.

0:52:33If Hamas frees all of the hostages and lays down its arms. This war can come to an end, thinking the time is ended. Our next speaker is Fred Bialy, followed by Toby Bloem and Samaya. N,

0:52:54yeah, I'm Fred Bialy. I live in El Cerrito.

0:52:58and I've been traveling for about 5 weeks. I thought I would come back and find

0:53:04that the City Council decided to

0:53:08pursue a Democratic process and put up

0:53:11a ceasefire resolution

0:53:13for consideration, and let all the city council members voice their position

0:53:20on this issue.

0:53:22I actually support a lot of the comments of the opposing

0:53:27a group.

0:53:28I do want peace in the Middle East. I do want the

0:53:36rights of self-determination and security for both

0:53:39Israelis and Palestinians.

0:53:44The issue at hand, though, is that there's a lot of people being killed

0:53:49by bombing

0:53:52the war that's going on in Gaza

0:53:55and increasingly by the

0:53:58shutting off of humanitarian aid.

0:54:03The recent

0:54:04start of hostilities and Rapha has closed down the Rapp border.

0:54:09I think that means that humanitarian aid has been cut off.

0:54:14Is Israeli. Settlers are stopping trucks and dismantling them, selling things

0:54:23on the ground, destroying the humanitarian aid that is being sent in.

0:54:29The first step is to stop the the

0:54:34blockade. Stop the killing that's known as a ceasefire and then move forward. I want the killing to stop.

0:54:42I hope that you will put this on the city council agenda so that we can move forward on this issue. Thank you.

0:54:52Our next speaker is Toby Blohm, followed by Samaya, N. And Dorthea Duren.

0:55:05Hello! That was my husband speaking, we've been traveling for several weeks.

0:55:09And

0:55:11yeah, it's it's disappointing to have to keep coming back here and see no movement on this issue. This very important issue

0:55:18as influencing students all over the country in the thousands

0:55:22to organize encampments at their campuses.

0:55:26It's the students of our country that are always the most educated and aware

0:55:31of the truth.

0:55:33And if we don't pay attention to the movement of the students and we're we're failing our nation.

0:55:38I beg of you.

0:55:41Mayor, to open up

0:55:44this subject and let the city council decide. You have the power by yourself.

0:55:49and I've asked you to recuse. Recuse yourself because of your

0:55:53bias on the topic.

0:55:55and if you can't recuse yourself, then at least open it up and let the city council have meaningful discussion on this.

0:56:02It's a dire situation in Gaza right now.

0:56:06We've heard that over and over again. It keeps getting worse. And now people are starving.

0:56:10and Israel is not allowing food, basic food, necessity to stay alive, to get into Gaza to feed very hungry people.

0:56:20I'm ashamed of my country.

0:56:22Let me shame it. My President, who

0:56:24applauds when he's at at the University. He's asked to speak at

0:56:29applauds for

0:56:32calling for a ceasefire. And yet he's sending weapons to a country that's committing genocide.

0:56:37You all have a responsibility. Here

0:56:41we have a country.

0:56:44the the land! And Gaza is so so demolished right now you just have to see the photographs. You don't have to know the facts.

0:56:51Just look at the photographs of all the towns and the homes have been demolished.

0:56:56and you can do an era photograph over Israel. There's no comparison to the 2.

0:57:01You have a responsibility, and I hope that you pay attention to it. Thank you.

0:57:07Our next speaker is Samaya, N. Followed by Dorothea Darenis.

0:57:20so earlier today, I sent you a document over 100 pages long, authored by

0:57:26UN human rights. Legal experts from 5 different American universities, asserting that what's happening in Palestine is, in fact, the genocide.

0:57:342 weeks ago an individual came up here, though, and made fun of, literally laughed at how small the number of murdered Palestinians was.

0:57:43If someone's heart feels nothing for a murdered, innocent soul, because that person lives on the other side of their apartheid wall. Then the heart won't feel anything for 40,000 souls, even if the numbers were to climb to 1 million or 6 million. Even that racist and corrupt heart will not feel a single damn thing.

0:58:00So Ramsey Tahami said much of the work in a genocide is not pulling the trigger, but instead minimizing and denying that a genocide is going on.

0:58:08And then, Omar Sony, man, said, the overarching disease of this colonialist project is that they believe they are superior to the other. They make fun of children, they have murdered and orphans, and caused homeless. But the only thing these Zionists prove to the world is their own self to gravity.

0:58:23So I mentioned this to remind you how your very political voice to be silent and in action emboldens such emboldens, such anti-arab and anti-palasanian rhetoric and sentiment

0:58:34within these chambers and within the city.

0:58:37So we have witnessed you share your words and shed your tears.

0:58:43when one group of people was targeted, even though it's not a local issue.

0:58:48and on the other side of the same coin. You have not given a single word.

0:58:52or even acknowledged the 40,000 lives horrifically slaughtered, the 2 million lives destroyed by Israel. Not a single word for them or for the people within this community that grieve and mourn, and you every single day after they.

0:59:06We're 226 days now

0:59:08you are not leaders of this community. You have made the city less democratic, you have made it more divided, and you have made it less safe, and your stamps make makes absolutely no ethical, moral, or rational sense.

0:59:19unless your goal, of course, is to ensure you're behind me

0:59:24also. Your time has ended. Thank you for seeing your racist.

0:59:31Our next speaker is Dorthia Darence.

0:59:35Good evening, City Council. I wanted to

0:59:39thank you very much for working on the needs of the city.

0:59:43This month is a Jewish American heritage month.

0:59:47So I'm hoping that you will commemorate that

0:59:51and recognize the values that

0:59:54Jewish Americans have

0:59:56given to our communities, both nationally statewide and in our cities and all the contributions. It's also Asian American

1:00:05Heritage month, so I hope that was also commemorated or will be, it's almost over.

1:00:13So I think that

1:00:16I think that by not supporting a ceasefire

1:00:20resolution you are actually staying on the side of everyone.

1:00:24because it's not your job. And I really think it's so important that you take care of the needs of the city.

1:00:31And, as the previous person said, if the people who want the row to end.

1:00:37they should be screaming from us, not at you guys.

1:00:40I'm asking on the rail by surrendering, giving up the hostages. The war would be over.

1:00:45but they're not doing that, and the people who support them

1:00:49are out of sync with Hamas Hamas rejected at least 6 offers that Israel made for the ceasefire. They are absolutely not on the same page.

1:01:00Well, I hope that everything goes well for the city.

1:01:04Thank you, Mayor. That concludes our request to speak at this time, please. Just

1:01:10all right.

1:01:11we're gonna go into recess.

1:01:15I bet it's

1:06:27city clerk we're good to go.

1:06:29Yes, Mayor, alright! 707. We're back in session.

1:06:33So now we're going to move on to the consent calendar. We've already done. Item 7 a. That was exciting.

1:06:39So now we have, item 7 B. Jewish American heritage month, proclamation. Item C. Mental health awareness, month Proclamation, item d. The monthly disbursement check and register report for April 2024.

1:06:51Item E. Fiscal year 2324, third quarter crash and investment report.

1:06:57Item 7 F. Resolution to amend the city's classification plan.

1:07:03Anyone like to pull an item, or

1:07:07I have questions on A

1:07:10and comments on 3 items.

1:07:12and which are those items 7 d. 7 E. And 7 F.

1:07:17DE. And F.

1:07:21Anyone else.

1:07:23Nope.

1:07:24all right, let's start with. Item D, the disbursement check.

1:07:29So I just have a couple of questions on 2 checks.

1:07:38Hello, Crystal Reims, finance director.

1:07:41Thank you for answering my questions. So the first is 8, 9, 5, 1 8, the Walnut Creek Ford for the 2024 Ford Maverick for $32,559 and 99 cents.

1:07:54I don't remember us approving a car. So

1:07:57yes, so that actually fell underneath the threshold for A $45,000. So it was not brought to council. It was within the city managers. Threshold and that was a hybrid vehicle purchase for a recreation department. No, I'm sorry our police department.

1:08:16and that replaces a gasoline vehicle.

1:08:20I think so. Yes, I believe so.

1:08:22Okay. And then my next question is 2, 7, 8, 2 pars, 1 15 initial deposit of 1,000,003, 58, and $99.

1:08:32So is that that's our the total deposit we're making. So we had money segregated somewhere. And now it's going into the trust. Yes, we established the section 1, 15 Trust, and our initial deposit was supposed to be the 1 million dollars. We had some back and forth with trying to finalize an investment policy and what the requirements were to actually make the initial deposit. And so just the way the timing worked out. In that we made the initial deposit, plus the 300

1:08:5550,000 and some change for the waterfall effect from 2,013 that was made. That deposit was made on April 19 or April ninth.

1:09:04Okay? And that is in a specific funds. Or it just is still being held until the fund. So then, funds have actually been transferred to the investment company believes us or no, Kate, I'm sorry it's changed now to

1:09:19is no longer high, mark, and I'm totally drawing a name on the blank. But no, it's it is not with us. We're accounting for it, you know fund wise within our financial statements. But no, the funds actually have been transferred. So there is a financial policy pursuant to which this fund was chosen and was invested. It's currently within a money market right now until we

1:09:38finalize the formal investment policy related to 1 15. We I don't remember us approving any financial just sitting in in a very

1:09:47stable money market account, just like our our own money market. That account that we have within our bank.

1:09:53Thank you. Hmm.

1:09:54And then I on 7 E. Don't move.

1:09:58I just wanted to say Thank you, Crystal. Oh, I wanted to say thank you on. Item 7 e. Because it's so much easier to see what the interest rate is, and what the status is, and how much is in each account. And so I know I always ask you questions and kinda feel like I'm picking at you. But really I I'm not. I really appreciate your work. And in this instance, I really just wanted to say, Thank you, no problem. And and I will say that the the account balance for our general checking is higher than.

1:10:25and it's because we had a payroll coming up and some debt service payments. And I was actually on vacation. So I had to make those deposits a little bit earlier, but we are really trying to maximize all of our our money market account and our life account, and keeping as little as possible in our general checking. Okay, thank you.

1:10:42And also, item, bef.

1:10:447 F.

1:10:47Is that

1:10:49Shannon?

1:10:50Better see?

1:10:57Hello. Good evening, Shannon Basi, senior human resources analyst. Hey? Thank you, Shannon. I want to say, thank you for making the change in the job description for the Public Works director to make it consistent with the other engineering positions to make a Master's degree desirable. So thank you for that. And then I had a couple of questions about

1:11:20the staff report. You said that there's no budgetary impacts. So these are just position descriptions. What's you know?

1:11:28I know that there's 2 new positions.

1:11:31So does that have a budgetary impact.

1:11:33No, it does not. So this resolution is simply amending the job descriptions or classification descriptions.

1:11:42For each position or classification that we have in the city. This particular batch is for the ones listed included in this resolution. But there's no budgetary impact. It's simply modifying the description that we store in our library for future use?

1:11:57And are the are the job workloads changing?

1:12:02Are are people doing, you know.

1:12:05more defined work less work.

1:12:07So yeah, that's a great question through. So through the study that was conducted by coffin associates, that was the assessment that was done to see what is accurately the workload that's accurately being performed at this moment.

1:12:22And so these descriptions accurately reflect the work that's being performed. I would say it's not necessarily a workload that is increased or decreased. It's more so what are the tasks that are are being performed?

1:12:34Okay? So there's no change. It's not like we're taking work off of a position and and shifting it somewhere else. No, okay.

1:12:44great. Thank you very much. No problem. Thank you.

1:12:48Anything else.

1:12:50I would move the consent. Calendar a second so moved and seconded by so moved by fidelity, seconded by Quinto, and just for the record to clarify that includes the modification that was included in the supplemental kit today. Indeed, thank you. All those in favor, please say aye, aye, any opposed motion carries alright. Thank you moving right along

1:13:13public hearing time, we have item 8 a. Which is our master fee schedule.

1:13:23So earlier council Member Fideli was talking about the

1:13:27Arlington Park facility almost ready to go. So I was thinking to myself, We're hearing the master fee schedule very soon, and that's what this is related to. So

1:13:36it all comes for a so full circle.

1:13:38We have a staff report, please.

1:13:48Good evening. Alright. I'm on. Good evening wearing the counsel my name is Clark Coleman. I'm your budget and finance manager. I'm here to speak with you this evening about the master Fee schedule recommendations.

1:14:01we are updating, recommending updates in accordance with State law and the El Cerrito municipal code. Our municip municipal code stipulates that we should adopt a master fee schedule annually

1:14:12and so this is something that you have all seen before. So this

1:14:18The the municipal code also includes some specific provisions for some of the changes. In particular, the municipal code specifies the process through which we change the city's business license tax annually. So that's one of the main reasons that there's a difference between many of the recommended fee changes at approximately 4% average and the business license tax recommendation because that is included in the city's municipal code.

1:14:41The feast updates are also subject to the provisions of proposition 26. This stipulates that we may not charge more than the cost of providing the service, with about 7 exceptions and the really relevant ones. There are rental charges. A lot of recreation type programs, and then fees and fines and citations are going to be many of the ones that are exempt from proposition. 26. Within the city's master fee schedule.

1:15:07The city is seeing escalating costs, and this is something we have spoken with you about for the last several months, and we'll continue to talk about over the next 2 months as we talk as we move towards budget adoption at the second meeting of June.

1:15:22We are seeing costs escalate very quickly in areas, including staffing insurance costs for consultants and professional services which impacts the fees in areas like planning and building when we need expert engineering support, we're seeing increasing costs in areas, including materials.

1:15:40So across the board, the costs of providing all of these services arising very, very rapidly, which is why it is critical that we continue to reevaluate our master fee schedule annually, and make sure that we can provide, afford to provide these services to the public. As a reminder. The master fee. Schedule covers, fees that provide specific individual benefit. And

1:15:59things that have a public good are either often subsidized or they're funded through taxes. So public safety is difficult to quantify. It's not in the fee schedule that's funded through taxes, but things like a building permit for something on your house is a specific personal benefit, and that is why it falls under that fee category.

1:16:16So as we talk about fees as we talk about escalating costs, one of the key. Things that we're looking towards is in the next year the city city staff and the finance department in particular are going to be managing a citywide cost, allocation, plan and fee study.

1:16:33And so we expect to bring that back to you hopefully in the next year. Sometimes these things take a little longer, so we'll see how long the study takes to actually complete. But we expect to issue an Rfp. In the next month or 2 for that study to really evaluate all of the city's fees, make sure we understand the full costs of doing business as a city, and then bring those fees to council for approval, for recommendations on where it makes sense and where the Council's value values align with certain subsidies.

1:17:01So with that, that's kind of the high level on the master fee schedule. There's an enormous amount of detail by fee in the stock report and in the fee schedule, and I know most of our department directors are here this evening and can provide feedback and answer questions about any of the specific fees. If you have questions.

1:17:19Thank you so much for the presentation, Miss Coleman. I'm gonna ask my really short questions first, and then I'll open up to my colleagues. I remember 2 years ago we had a real discrepancy in a lot of our fees, so a lot of work was done to align to make sure that the fees were, you know. So there was a lot of deviation, so we made sure to kind of realign it.

1:17:38And then last year was really the first year that it was kind of more bulk. I think there was a few kind of one off items, but mostly it was just kind of bulk increase, and I forget what was that amount last? And I know that you're you're still newer to the organization. But do you know what that percentage increase was from last year to this year, so I believe last year most of the fees were increased by 4

1:18:00last year had particularly high inflation.

1:18:04inflation is a good metric, but it's not always the only metric we use, because there are many other cost factors that affect us beyond the kind of regional inflation statistics. So we factor that in in addition to some other cost components.

1:18:17and if we're going out for an Rfp to do a fee schedule study which ultimately is about making sure that the residents are

1:18:25paying fees that are aligned with what is market rate and making sure that, you know it's either. If it's over under, it's just making sure we're similar, and I know if we're going through an Rfp. We certainly could not say this is how much it's going to cost, because, you know, we are in an Rfp. That's how it works. But what do cities generally expect to pay, or what's kind of the range of how much a fee schedule study would be.

1:18:48So in studies I've done, it's a little hard, because many of them are under council approval threshold. So actually, a lot of them are not public. So the ones that I found are typically between 25 to 50,000, depending on the size of the city and the scope of the fee. Study. Many of those are from a few years ago, so some of that will depend on current costs. And maybe competitive proposals. If we have some consultants who are really excited to work with us.

1:19:14Excellent, just for the the public's information, because it was brought up during one of the questions from Council Member Motoyama. What is that threshold for spending authority? For when it goes to, when it's under the city manager's approval versus when it comes to the Council. Yes, so any expenditure that is over 45,000 is gonna come to the Council for approval.

1:19:32So over 40, 45,000 is the city managers signing authority, and that's for any single expense. Over 45,000, or cumulative expenses with a specific vendor over 45,000 within a fiscal year. Thank you so much. Alright. So I'm going to open up to questions from my colleagues. Start on this end.

1:19:47You have any questions.

1:19:49do, sir, and we're gonna go down this way.

1:19:52Okay, okay, we'll start here. And okay. 3 questions. I'm seeing. And and I refer previously to the renovation, Arlington Park. The clubhouse, I see renovated

1:20:07properties in the clubhouses do get more money than non renovated.

1:20:12I believe recreation. Director Chris Jones is here and can answer. So this is paying us back by renovating

1:20:19a clubhouse. We can get more money and have more parties and things like that.

1:20:23Yes, that's correct. Thank you. Okay, that's good news. That's good news.

1:20:29Also, you might want to stay there. Chris, Chris, come back.

1:20:33There's a line in here for pickleball

1:20:36that some folks may be very happy to see, and that's it says, $8. I'm assuming

1:20:42this is premature. This is not complete yet. There will be other pricing or just per game. What is the $8? It's $8 per court per hour.

1:20:53And when are we due to have? I know the magic number going forward. The magic date is what?

1:21:01Well, that's to be determined. We're we're working with our project manager and public works. We're gonna sit down with the pickleball folks, confirm the scope of the project

1:21:11and then

1:21:13and then an Rfp. Will be issued.

1:21:16and that $8 is for hours a general going. Yeah. So you know, there's not a lot of examples in the area, but essentially a pickleball court.

1:21:28Picks up

1:21:30half of a traditional tennis court, but on the on the flip side of that

1:21:37in the situation that we have right now, you know, if you take one pickleball court, you wipe out a whole tennis court. So we tried to

1:21:44acknowledge the fact that it's less space, but also the fact that

1:21:48it, you know, it takes up more space. So I think our tennis court

1:21:59These are proposed to go up to 1050.

1:22:03So

1:22:05Anyway, we played around with those numbers. We looked at other cities and arrived at that

1:22:11conclusion, and then just also keep in mind that on Castro it will have 6 pickleball courts as opposed to the traditional 2 tennis courts. I was. Gonna say, if tennis courts

1:22:22cost more charge more.

1:22:24yeah, they charge more, but at full capacity, applicable courts will bring in more revenue. I was gonna ask you that. Thank you very much. Thank you. Last question is, and I'm hoping I'm a I'm a little

1:22:37at the first time, but I'm a little confused.

1:22:40About the Hannah senior center

1:22:43across the street. I'll come back, Chris. Yes, I I've always had the impression. Can you explain how the renting of this works, because I

1:22:53I always assumed it's not part of our city. Part of our agreement is we could rent that place, but

1:22:59payment for rental comes to us.

1:23:02cause we're not using it enough, are we? Are we getting? Are we advertising it and getting? We are using it? We are advertising it. We've seen a pretty big uptick in its usage, especially

1:23:13weekend rentals. That's where we host for almost 3 months 3 days a week. Our aarp tax preparation assistance

1:23:24we also have various classes there throughout the day. There could certainly be more there, hey? I don't see it advertised, and

1:23:31there's confusion about. Is it a senior center, is it not? I mean, let's jump this up a little bit. Certainly the rental of it is advertised everywhere that we advertise our facility rentals.

1:23:42it is. It is the seniors, the see, the city leases, the space for a dollar per year, and we're allowed to treat it as any other. Recreation facility we get the revenue for. So we get the revenue for it. Yes, hey? You learn some every day. Thank you

1:23:59councilmember Quintu. Okay, thank you, Mayor.

1:24:01have a question regarding parking permits.

1:24:05So with parking permits.

1:24:08especially on the north side, will be break breaking ground in the new affordable housing site. There are a lot of cars parked there right now, and as I understand that area is supposed to be transit oriented development. So yeah, my neighbors in that area are concerned about all that parking and all that.

1:24:31you know, and and residents are concerned about that. I see that the permit now is at

1:24:42was that $40, or something like that, or 39? And you'd like to up it to $40. Is that correct per year per year.

1:24:52But is there a possibility to have a 3 year cycle that just pay for 3 years instead of having to pay for this over and over again. That's and there's a requirement actually, that it's paid for in 3 year cycle. So the city is divided up into zone, so that we're not handling them all at once. But the permits are

1:25:12$40 per year, but you are required to buy it for 3 years. I think that we just you can. We are also able to.

1:25:22One of the biggest requests we get is when people say they're not going to live there for a year, you know, for more than a period of time, and so we still require that it's bought for 3 years. But if somebody does move.

1:25:34I've asked Staff to go ahead if they do move and they approve and they surrender the permit that we can probably refund. But we can't obviously do it at the front end. Have you looked at other prices from surrounding cities? I did. And it's so we're going to be going through it. You're gonna hear a lot about parking over the next several years. But right now it's in between. It's a little bit lower than Berkeley, but not much. Okay, that's good to know. So

1:26:01so residents that are watching this right now that are living in the the Dod

1:26:09housing on the north side, such as the Mayfair and the future affordable housing projects, you know. But I I hope you can look at this and think about this in the future. If you really do need this car because you did move into transit oriented development, this is a little more complicated than that. We probably don't want to get it into it too much tonight, but not every address right now is eligible for Rpp. So we're doing

1:26:33various. We're we're looking at a lot of different options. Yeah. Have you looked at and spoken to Bart regarding the possibility of having them parked there in a very active conversation again, it would be anything like that would be interim.

1:26:49It's more looking at how we're going to manage our streets as other properties get redeveloped. But we are in conversation with them as well. Okay, thank you. Regarding a rent registry. How are we doing

1:26:59on the rent registry? Do we have

1:27:02100 compliance on this? Do we have people that have small businesses and and renting out their their apartments and homes for specific numbers? Aisa is probably on the call, but I can give you a general answer. Okay. So no 100. No. I remember we were at what

1:27:23I think we're at like 80, 85, and we will also be giving I think Aisa felt by about August she could get you the most recent data and reports what we have been doing. You might remember some people work. Some landlords were concerned that some landlords were still not, didn't have business licenses and might not have been complying with rent registry. So we have been doing a very active

1:27:44looking at business licenses that are delinquent, identifying multifamily properties for 2 purposes, one to get everybody into the fold on, on the appropriate business license, but also so that they respond to the rent registry fairly, and we have them in that information as well as the residential rental inspection program. And one thing I did wanna state.

1:28:02And this year we're still do allowing paper submittals of the rent registry. But in what we send out we are going to be letting everybody know that next year it will be digital. Only that'll save a lot of time in terms of data analysis. We do expect that that not every we still, most people still are using paper? So

1:28:19when we switch to digital only, we will make ourselves available to help people. But we are hoping to get everybody. Digital so the majority of our developers are are not doing anything. Can you give us an update on

1:28:35yeah. But I wanted to find out if if there is something that we can do in the future regarding property owners that are not building. So I think on Master Fee right now, and I will be tonight giving a presentation and happy to entertain those questions for sure. And Council Member Kinto Aisa did. Let us know that there's about 80% complaints. Currently fantastic. Good job.

1:29:01right

1:29:02questions. Thank you. Council Member. Keen to and council member for daily for stealing all of my questions. But, Melanie, you can come back

1:29:09if we're not cut.

1:29:11It was I just wanted to follow up. I mean, of course, like Council, Member Kinto said. There's a lot of concern around parking with the new developments that are going up, and I saw that the as he alluded to the prices of the the parking fees are going are ticking up. Is that something that we will continue to see, or that you're projecting over time? It'll kind of tick up $1, $2 every few years or the residential parking permit. That's right. So they're different than many of our fees are only on a cost recovery basis.

1:29:39But parking is a a tool for managing a a resource that needs to be allocated. So tap typically a parking management program would see that as the demand gets greater increase somewhat. And and and what are we doing? I know you mentioned in a lot of residents again at Mayfair have mentioned that I think Mayfair itself is not eligible for the residential parking permit. What are we doing, or what needs to be done for them to be eligible, especially since we kicked them out of their parking spaces. A week ago.

1:30:10Do you want me to come back at the end of the presentation and stick with fees now and then, when I'm in my presentation.

1:30:16get into that Mayor

1:30:18City manager it it

1:30:20it seems to deviate slightly from masterpie schedule.

1:30:23but I'm happy to talk about it, and I can talk whenever from a flow standpoint, I mean at this point, describing the issue with the fees. But as we as so, if it's more about the greater parking program. Melanie's prepared to talk about that later. But but so with the fee question, yes, otherwise, how do we equitably. And how do we get there? And what are we doing in the interim? I can talk about all that later. Okay, great. I do have another question about parking is chief on the is he on the

1:30:51yes, let's let's chase that online. Okay? So my question. And this, this may also vary from fee scheduling, too. But are we doing anything? I know that also. Again, speaking about Mayfair, then residents just from we got the notification that the 3 retail spaces are going to be opening at the end of this year. Are we doing anything? Are we considering anything that's going to make those parking fees a little bit more equitable or accessible, since there's again not going to be really

1:31:15enough parking into into your point, Councilor King. So I'm one of those people who decided to get rid of their car. But other people have it so. I can talk about that again later, too. So is that if it's not really. That's not a fee question. It's still a parking management. But what are we gonna do to support those businesses so that people can

1:31:31tickets and all that good stuff. Yeah, and not getting. Yeah. So curbside management is the technical term. But we can talk about that a little later, too. But I'm glad you're bringing it up, because it's a really active conversation and a change. That we need to be adapting to

1:31:49Council Member Motama. Thank you, Mayor. So I did see a Chief Keith on. I have a question about a parking ticket prices, I mean parking violations. I I knows that our fees are fairly low, and is that intended to be because it's harder to or we. We have fewer resources. Sort of monitoring, parking like what is driving the parking violation fees.

1:32:17Paul Keith (Police Chief): Good evening, Mayor and Council. I'm Paul Keith, your chief of police.

1:32:20So when you look at fines for parking violations, those are punitive fines set by the city council

1:32:29when that are levied against people when they break parking laws in El Cerrito. So each of those sections is a violation where municipal code.

1:32:37So when you're approving them, you're setting what the penalty is for breaking the law.

1:32:42When I did a review of our fines, and they go up. But typically with inflation.

1:32:49They're very similar to the fine set by the city of Richmond and the city of Hayward.

1:32:54So when you look at them, if you feel like they are too light. It is, of course, in the city Council's purview to levy us stricter fines for parking violations.

1:33:07But with some of the mid size cities in our general area, I think that we're probably more or less in the market. And so these were the finds that we recommend. These are the modifications to the existing finds that we recommend.

1:33:20But they're not bound by any rules like Limited to a cost recovery. For example.

1:33:28Paul Keith (Police Chief): Correct, not in the same way as other fees might be.

1:33:31Okay, and I

1:33:34I guess this is more on the budget side. But revenues are up for for parking violations, because you're there's more people

1:33:42checking right

1:33:44for staffing.

1:33:47Paul Keith (Police Chief): I have a entire slide to talk about parking revenues in the budget portion of it, so I'd be happy to talk about there.

1:33:54Okay, thank you

1:33:57any more questions.

1:33:59I asked my question at the top of the call, but since I have the police chief on here. I it's not a big one, but I I was really pleased to see that we have a Bingo permit. So if anyone wants to play Bingo, in the city of El Cerrito. You do need to get a Bingo permit from the police department.

1:34:14Paul Keith (Police Chief): It does come up sometimes. So there are Bingo games, I think, up at the Country Club, so

1:34:20does come up.

1:34:21It does come up. And then my one question actually is, is a little bit more of a real question. So with

1:34:28with neighborhood block parties and the block party permits. I have had community members say, why do you need to charge for a block party? And I'll explain that there actually is labor that comes from the city when we have block parties, you know, we do need to pay for staff to come for the materials of blocking it, and and that all takes time. Is there any consideration? And this can be kind of again

1:34:48parlays into our conversation a little bit later on. But around programs for waiving those fees. If it's for, let's say, a cert event or something where there's community members who are getting together similarly to when we do national night out. But if folks are doing that type of work, if there's some sort of program we can think of to waive those fees. If the event is for something, neighborhood, public safety related.

1:35:13Paul Keith (Police Chief): We could certainly consider that. So just as a reminder, when you look at the fees for block parties.

1:35:18It's not just the administration part of you know us filling out the permit and collecting the money. It's also staff members predominantly for public works who take barricades out, put them in place.

1:35:30So a portion of those fees are there to help fund those staff members?

1:35:36Some things that you might consider we over the last few years have kind of suspended increases on things like block parties and street closure permits.

1:35:44because we wanted to

1:35:47help encourage people to hold those neighborhood events, because we think they're important in our city.

1:35:52So something the Council may decide to do is to say this year, perhaps. Don't have an increase on those so that you maintain the same level.

1:36:00I think it's just important to realize that even at the current level we are

1:36:05this is subsidized service, so it is not full cost recovery. We have a street closure.

1:36:13Thank you for that. And and Mayor, there are other cities doing the same thing, taking away those fees

1:36:18to make the community to make people be active. Yep.

1:36:22thank you so much.

1:36:25Alright. So

1:36:28this, technically, is a public hearing. So

1:36:33the public hearing is now open. Now is the time for members to the public who wish to provide public comments regarding this item. Request to speak can be submitted to the city clerk by completing Speaker card. Public comments will be taken in person. Only please remember to identify yourself and your city of residence. Do we have any speakers for this item? We do not, Mayor, so I read all that for nothing.

1:36:55Good practice. It is good practice, all right. Do I have a motion to close the publish? Alright? I can.

1:37:03Sorry. Was that council member Motiama. Yes, thank you. All those in favor, Pci. Aye, any opposed motion carries with council member or mayor pretend wecing or absent

1:37:16it.

1:37:18so do I have a motion to approve.

1:37:21I'll move to approve resolution

1:37:24of the city council of the city of Elstree to adopting revisions to the master fee schedule for fiscal year 2024, 25. I have a second.

1:37:35I'll second

1:37:36alright.

1:37:37So I have a motion from Motama, and a second from Fideli. All those in favor, please say aye, aye, any opposed motion carries, and May Mayor Putam yinger absent

1:37:48alright.

1:37:50The the second item, which is item B public hearing to confirm the diagram and to levy the assessment for fiscal year 2425 for landscaping and lighting assessment district number 1988, one also known as Lad.

1:38:08Hello, Mayor, Council members, crystal reams, finance director. So I'm not going to read the whole entire staff report but I will give some highlights, and we do have our consultants. From Nvs on the call as well to be able to answer some any questions. So as you apply familiar. This is a yearly process. To confirm the diagram and the levy, the assessment for fiscal year 25

1:38:32little bit of background. This was established. Student 6, 1988. Since then we've levied approximately 780,000 $785,000 to support the activities.

1:38:45For this this fiscal year Nbs. Has provided estimates that it will generate approximately 801,000 $662,000 in revenue, which is included in the total revenue estimate for the city's fiscal year 2425 budget

1:39:03in the past the general fund has subsidized the the maintenance for the lad. It started out at being around 400 2,800

1:39:15It has grown to approximately 685,000. We are looking at changing some of our accounting practices. Cause currently we

1:39:25our housing a part of the expenditures within the general fund that is being subsidized by the general fund, and then we have the lab expenditures in the lad fund, so it can be a little bit deceiving when you're looking at our financials. But we will be working with our auditors. This year to house all those in one fund under the lad. So it's a little bit clearer. What the total cost actually is.

1:39:49That was the general overview. Is there any questions.

1:39:52Are there any questions from the Council?

1:39:54I'm seeing none.

1:39:57Oh, I get to do this again.

1:40:00Public hearing is now open.

1:40:02Are there any public comments on this item we do not have any requests to speak. Mayor. Alright! Do I have a motion to close the public hearing. So moved, I, moved by Quinto, seconded by Motoyama. All those in favor, please say, aye, aye, opposed motion carries right?

1:40:19Oh.

1:40:20any council comments.

1:40:21See? None.

1:40:23Yes.

1:40:24I saw finger.

1:40:26She's gonna probably say the same thing. No.

1:40:30So

1:40:31these are. Oh.

1:40:33so. And maybe it's in the form of a question, because every year we we have a shortage right for the past.

1:40:41And did you kind of come up with a plan as what we're going to do? I mean, I was saying, when are we? Every year? I ask the same question.

1:40:49Nothing personal. Just it gets to our general fund. And we know there's a problem.

1:40:55So how do we think about how we resolve this? Well, so back in what was it? 2,006, we tried to do? An assessment to increase the fees, and it did not pass. I I yeah, that's the history. And so

1:41:08other than that, I am not sure that there's been an appetite. So I will turn that over to last year, unless the City Council intends to try to do yet another pop. 218 election to

1:41:26to issue a new assessment district with a higher rate. Then, all lad, eligible activities.

1:41:35which is over a million dollars at this point or 800,000 plus actually, it's 1.5 million dollars

1:41:43would have to be subsidized either by the general fund or another funding source. So yes, unless we are able to do a new assessment district to raise that rate. It will be subsidized all the eligible activities. I should note that

1:41:57eligible activities that are included within what is able to be paid by the district could be paid by the general fund, and the district subsidizes the general fund. That's really, actually what's happening if we're being honest because we're getting $800,000 a year to subsidize all the activities that we do, all the maintenance and the landscaping and all of the things that are eligible. So

1:42:17again, short an election and again, also, please remember a prop. 2, 18 election is very different than a regular ballot measure. It's a property owner election. It's conducted in a completely different way. And May. It needs to have a majority protest. So it's a it's a very involved and very

1:42:35in 2,006 I was part of the process. And so it's a very different election. And if the Council were to

1:42:42direct us to try to look into that. But it's also a very difficult election. I I was gonna say, it's a tough election. I was. Gonna say, do we not as a council do we need? Maybe there's a resolution saying, Let's just stop talking about this every year, and just

1:42:56it's worth, or the general fund as a budget item. So we we don't keep saying we have a deficit, and there's a problem, I think, as as crystal indicated. What we want to do is make it very clear. Because, again, whether it's subsidizing the general fund or the general fund subsidizing the lad, I think that having that drawn out in our financial statements, so that it's very clear what that

1:43:17subsidy is each year is the good first step.

1:43:20and then the Council can take a look and see where that's growing. Also, remember, it's a property related tax. So the more properties that come online like if some of these buildings get built.

1:43:31it does add to that, I mean, when I started it was less than it was around $700,000. Now it's grown with the more properties that have come online, so will it make up the whole gap? Probably not. But I think, having the clear picture as Crystal indicated when our financial statement, so that the Council really has the best information to make a decision later on. If you would like to move forward.

1:43:53having the financial statements. Good. Do we have a budget line? So we do. Coming up. There will be a line. It's considered a special fund. So you'll see that in the Budget document. Absolutely. Thank you.

1:44:06Alright, Councillor Moto. So I do. I wanna say, thank you, Crystal, for for working on this because reading the staff report and trying to understand what is the total total of the lad? It's you can't tell. It's just like, Oh, trust us. You're gonna need to put about $700,000 of general fund in here. So it, it will be helpful next year to have the actual total cost here, so that we can see that that difference.

1:44:35I think one of the things that is really important that this tells us is that when we do measures like this, we really need to have a you know, an inflation factor included because it was fine when this was passed.

1:44:51You know

1:44:53whenever that was 1972, or

1:44:56whenever. But it's not keeping up with actual costs. And so this goes back to the master fee schedule, which goes up by a certain percentage every year. And the reason for that is we don't want to ever get behind like we are behind here because it's us that is going to pay for it as city services in the future. So I think that's that's kind of our cautionary

1:45:17tale for this one. So thank you.

1:45:22Alright.

1:45:24Thank you for the council comments. Is there a motion to approve?

1:45:29I'll move. Move by Motoyama.

1:45:33Second, I can invite Quinto. All those in favor, please say, aye, aye, any opposed motion carries all right.

1:45:41So we have a third item.

1:45:43So it's the public hearing regarding fiscal year 2425.

1:45:47Storm drain, annual report and method of collecting storm Drain fees.

1:45:53Hi, crystal Reims again. Finance director. So again, this is along the same lines. Public hearing to establish the fees our consultants, Nbs prepared. These engineers reports for us.

1:46:06A little bit of background.

1:46:09In March 90 93, the voters of El Cerrito approved the issuance of 6.3 million in revenue bonds for the reconstruction of the city storm drain system. These bonds were paid off in fiscal year

1:46:22I lost my highlight. I think it was 1314,

1:46:26and since the funds have been going to maintenance.

1:46:30so the financial considerations for this the Storm Dream Fee will continue to be assessed at $58 for each single family resident unit. Such a rate is expected to generate annual annual revenues of approximately 709,000, which is included in the total revenue estimate for the city's 2425 budget.

1:46:47The yeah. The last Deb. Service was paid in at 1314.

1:46:54All right. Are there any questions from the Council?

1:46:58None. I see none, I see none. Alright.

1:47:01Be sure

1:47:02I would move this item.

1:47:04Well, first I have to see I have to hit. I have to pick up my gavel again.

1:47:09Alright! Public hearing is now open are there any members of the public who would like to speak on this item? We do not have any requests to speak. Mayor. Alright. Do I have a motion to close the public hearing? All right. Moved by Quinto.

1:47:21second seconded by Motoyama, all those in favor, please say aye, aye, any opposed motion carries all right. Now it's time for council comments

1:47:30any.

1:47:31I just have one comment. Yes. Comment. So I

1:47:36I think that it's it's it's great that we have paid off the the debt service. But I think it's really great that we have these funds, because I don't know if people remember with the big storms having public works, have the ability to go out and clean all the catch basins really saved us from having property damage in the city. So I think this is a really important resource and an important part of the work that public works does.

1:48:03though

1:48:03also a really good way to show how the Finance Department and the Public Works Department and all these things kind of come together to to keep everyone safe?

1:48:13Right? Do I have a motion to approve.

1:48:15So move move by Motoyama, seconded by Fideli. All those in favor, please say, aye, aye, any opposed motion carries all right.

1:48:25Not gonna hit my gavel again until the end of the meeting. All right. Item, 9. A policy matters. We're gonna start with fiscal year 2324, general fund budget Quarterly. Update through March 2024.

1:48:39We have a lot of director reams tonight. This is excellent

1:49:21for those of you watching at home. We are setting up the technology.

1:49:49Okay.

1:49:50Mayor, members of the Council, crystal reams, finance director. Today I have for you the third quarter, 2324, general fund. Budget quarterly. Update instead of reading the staff. Report to you. As I have done in the past, I apologize. We decided to do a presentation to kind of walk through some things, to talk about, a little bit more to highlight. So

1:50:21hold on.

1:50:22Sorry technical difficulties. 1 s, 1 s.

1:50:27hold on. Tried to be so efficient.

1:50:29Technology.

1:50:44I do that and share. If not, I can just put it with my laptop.

1:51:44Okay, apologies. I am so sorry about that.

1:51:47Okay.

1:51:50so, taking a look at revenues again, I always want to remind that our revenue is not received in equal monthly allotments. So it's really a timing game. So that's why we find it helpful in the charts within the staff report and the update that we outlined the same quarter of the previous year to kind of track our percentages to see if we're along the same lines.

1:52:10And so overall revenues are about 65% of the budget which is in line with our trends. So we're kind of seeing it normalize out a little bit. Last year. It was about 66%

1:52:22sales tax. We are now calling out, measure R separately, kind of like we do with the real property transfer tax that's clearly outlined.

1:52:31the franchise. And oh, I'm sorry! Skipped the real property transfer tax. I did want to outline that. We do receive those in the lag, and so we have received 2 payments. Since this report was

1:52:42finalized. We received a March payment of 176,000, and then we had a really good month in April, where we see 534,000. So if we take those into consideration

1:52:54that bumps us up to about 77% of the budgeted amount. So

1:52:59we're looking good. It's still kind of one of those volatile ones where we're really at the mercy of the of the market. But it is, it's looking, it's looking promising.

1:53:09I also wanted to call out a few things that I thought would be beneficial. As I was going through the report and thinking to myself like what what kind of questions would but the Council on the public like to like to know. So I wanted to kind of outline that our franchise tax again. It's not received monthly, and it's not something our franchise tax and our ut tax we're kind of at the mercy of our vendors that sometimes some send monthly, some send bimonthly, some send quarterly, so it's really not something that we can track on a monthly basis.

1:53:40moving on to the uses of money and property. But like that was a really broad category. And I just wanted to highlight that that includes interest earned and rental charges

1:53:52also our intergovernmental that includes vlf, and lou fees, which is about 1.8 million. It also includes our oes reimbursements of 600,000, our Kensington reimbursements of 2.4 million

1:54:06fire inspection fees of 75,000, and then

1:54:11a one time revenue that we have classified as other revenue, which was the Contra Costa County fema reimbursement that we received. I believe it was presented as a check. A few council meetings back. So that was a not budgeted, unanticipated revenue. We're never quite sure if we're going to get those fema reimbursements, and so that one was a swing in the right direction.

1:54:31Other revenue, the main category of that one is going to be our Canada cannabis revenue. Which again kind of falls in line with the timings.

1:54:40and then our other financing.

1:54:42Oh, sorry.

1:54:45Oh, no, I'm still here, the other financing sources. Yep. Sorry. Sorry. So then the other 5. Yes, I'm just at the bottom line. Just kind of outlining what's in these other kind of generalized topics to just educate some council in the public of what's going into these. So our other financing sources is mainly transfers that's going to be transfers out of the general fund, where we're doing those kind of subsidies which, if all goes well for our next budget, you will see a set, a transfer going out for. So it'll be increased. We can include that as a transfer for the lad.

1:55:17Our expenditures, our expenditures, are actually tracking a tiny bit under overall tracking is just that under 71%. Again, it's timing. Typically, invoices are going to be paid after the goods or services have been performed. So we're typically on a lag. We'll spend the next few months analyzing transactions that are coming in to make sure that we have received the goods and the services and or the services have been performed. So we're recording those items in the correct fiscal year. So

1:55:48I did wanna call out. Our personnel is, of course, our largest expenditure. What I did wanna call out, and I will be getting to this in the next slide. But the personnel is normally about 72. But if you did, your own calculation on the actual chart in the

1:56:05in the presentation.

1:56:07it ends up being about 64%. And that's because of the all the one-time fund balance expenditures. So our expenditures went way up because we had all those one-time asks of about 5

1:56:17little over 5 million dollars. And so it kind of skews. The percentage just for for this quarter

1:56:26property and capital includes heavy office and other types of equipment and other financing uses includes transfers out for cip and for debt.

1:56:36and we had about 350,000 transferred out to the Del Norte, Cip, 2.7 transfers out for the cip for various projects, and about 290,000 transfers out for the City Hall.

1:56:49Don's debt payment.

1:56:54and the I'm gonna kind of go, tiny. But no, I'm not. I lied so I did want to call out this year because we did have midyear adjustments and other approved adjustments that were approved from fund balance that does not generate revenue.

1:57:10So if you just look at the charts that are within the within the presentation. In the general fund update, you could potentially see that we're looking like we have a deficit of 6.9 million dollars. That's not the case. The fund balance does not generate new revenue, so we increased our expenditures, knowing that we're going to draw down our fund balance.

1:57:29and that would be the 3.1 and the 2.2

1:57:322 million dollars.

1:57:35And of course those were for the church purchase one-time cip deferred maintenance, and there was about 420,000 in other requests.

1:57:44So a more accurate picture of where we are ending up with the fund balance or with the revenues over expenditures.

1:57:52I broke it down just to be a little clearer to show that we have the revenue budget at 48 million

1:57:58we had one time fund balance of 5 5.4. The section 1 15 was not included in that 1.4. So, looking up here at this chart, we can see that the there's a line for the kind of right in the middle. There's a line for the 1 million. So that's not included in the 5 5 million. So I just wanted to call that out separately. And because this report is dated March 30 first, did not include yet the expenditure of the 1 15 trust for that 1 million. So

1:58:28doing the math, it lines out exactly to what our original budget, our proposed surplus was was the 93, 93,000.

1:58:39Yeah.

1:58:45So in closing revenues, 65% of overall budget, which is pretty much in line with what we're expecting to see based on the third quarter expenditures are tracking a little bit lower.

1:58:57That probably will materialize out by the end of the year. And Staff does continue to monitor revenue and expenditures, particularly now when we're preparing the budget and gearing up for audit.

1:59:08I hope this presentation was a little bit more informative and interesting, and I welcome any questions.

1:59:14Alright, I'm gonna start on this side. Are there any questions. Hey?

1:59:18I have. First question, is the property taxes from April? When do they tend to show up in our budget? I think I put that as a note in here.

1:59:33we got the deposit. It was about 4.8 million.

1:59:36We got April in in April, about 4.8 million. So we receive that towards the end of April. Okay, so that's that's helpful to know, because this is just before that exactly. That will balance out the property taxes. And then what accounts for community development and rec program revenues over 80.

1:59:59They have just been knocking it out of the park. I mean, that's that's really it. There can be some timing differences with recreation depending on

2:00:09the they will often pay in advance. So that's something we typically deal with at your end. So

2:00:16we do like an accrual and a reversal to where funds might be. We might have received the funds in

2:00:22in June. But then they're actually for July. So there's some timing differences for that. But we've

2:00:29pretty much ironed those out, and they're really just exceeding expectations at this point, and I think that both of those directors are here. If they wanted to speak to speak to that.

2:00:38that forthcoming in the departmental presentations.

2:00:43probably. Okay. I saw some nods. Great. Thank you.

2:00:47Any questions.

2:00:48Alright questions.

2:00:50Councilmember Quintill. Oh,

2:00:52no pressure regarding you know I did get the little postcard the other day of of home sold, and it was just encouraging to see

2:01:06a whole page full of homes sold and people were. There was a yeah, we're just doing fine with the homes that are being sold. And we have multiple bids. And people are

2:01:20paying over the asking price.

2:01:23Great to see a house that cost 3 million dollars in Alsredo and

2:01:29So I just wanted to point that out with the real estate property tax that. And you know people over betting and paying a lot more money for the asking price. So you know, even though we have a lack of housing being sold, the houses being sold are, we're doing just fine. So know that I know

2:01:50folks in my neighborhood that I've talked to. They're waiting, and hopefully, they will.

2:01:57Yeah, Bob.

2:01:59sell their homes in the summer, and they're they're just waiting for the summertime for better weather and for people to for them to have multiple beds. And I know we're having that and the off season. And and so it's it's beneficial. And it's good for our city that we are still a desirable place to live. So you know, things are are looking better, in my opinion. So looking at the property transfer tax and looking at what

2:02:26has transpired this last month.

2:02:30you know, looking at interest rates and most likely interest rates are not going to happen, you know, until maybe the fall.

2:02:38So you know. But it's

2:02:41we're kind of at this. Wait and see period right now. So. But I just tell residents to just stay tuned, you know, and

2:02:50but there will be homes being sold definitely cause people. You know where my mom's

2:02:56generation. Many of my classmates, their parents are moving on to, but assisted living. So

2:03:05that, this is what we're seeing, and it just goes on and on and on.

2:03:10So well.

2:03:11thank you councilmember Fideli, then alright.

2:03:15thank you for the presentation. Appreciate it

2:03:19all right.

2:03:21Are there any members of the public who wish to provide public comment on this item

2:03:27we do not have any request to speak, Mayor. None. Alright.

2:03:31So this is a receive and file. So there's no action needed. Appreciate the presentation.

2:03:37And now it's time for the really exciting

2:03:41the finale of the night, which is again. We've been waiting a long time for this, so it's great, which is our fiscal year 2425, and 2526. This is a biennial budget study session.

2:03:54So for folks of the public a study session is when every department director is going to give a little highlight of things that they are proposing in this next budget cycle. It's a way for us to see kind of how performance has been where performance is going, and it's something I've been looking forward to a lot so.

2:04:17and it looks like we'll get kicked off with the assistance of the city manager or the city manager. I will kick this things out, and then I will turn that over to my amazing team. So again, I'm Karen Pincus. I'm the city manager. I'm very happy to be here tonight.

2:04:31To provide this budget study session and look over all of the departments, especially to give them the opportunity to speak to you and to and to the community about what they've been up to, and what their goal their own work plans are for this year. So and I would. Yes, introduce will Provost to the assistant to the city manager, and he's going to be driving the presentation this evening. So

2:04:57so again, this is a study session, so no action will be taken tonight, but it offers the opportunity for the city council to review all of the departments and ask questions.

2:05:11Some of which you've already generated. So Melanie's ready, especially so this is a high level draft of what the will be looking at. Kind of the big overview. There's not

2:05:23The budget numbers and the budget totals will are still being finalized and will be brought to the budget document will be released at the end of this week. So this is an opportunity we will be the opportunity to discuss all of the budget numbers in detail will be

2:05:40at the June Fourth City Council meeting. So this is the preview of that. So we'll be looking at things like staffing the highlights of the year and their work plan for the next 2 fiscal years. But the line item detail is, we're we're in progress. We're doing final edits right now for the first draft that will be released like I said at the end of this week to the City Council and to the Fab, and will be published. So that is, that is all in the works.

2:06:05We've got a a very busy couple of meetings ahead of us. So next slide.

2:06:11So just to review, this is what was discussed. Actually, the last council meeting, the budget priorities for 2425, and 2526 fiscal years. Thank you. Those. These are all completely in alignment with the strategic plan that was adopted in December 2023, and again make banking on things like the high performing organization, community safety, environmental sustainability.

2:06:35liveability and belonging and infrastructure and amenities. Those are our major strategic goals, and you can see that what's listed under there, and what the departments will be

2:06:45discussing within their own within their own presentations. I do want to call out, as we discussed at the last meeting, the local measure renewal. You will be seeing more information on this, and the public is going to be seeing more information on this

2:06:59within the budget document, and with some community outreach

2:07:03as the Council considers placing a renewal measure on the ballot for measure R, which is our one cent sales tax so that we have that

2:07:13local source solidified for us. It's a it's it's almost 10% of our budget. It's a major revenue source for our general fund. And we're gonna be focusing a lot on looking at the general fund, as you know, as we have in the past

2:07:27next slide.

2:07:29So again, strategic plan. I just read out the goals. We are working on an internal with Staff and implementation Action Plan, which we are looking at short term, long midterm and long term work plan for each of these strategic goals and the objectives under the strategic goals. So you'll be seeing that to come. But you will also see in the Budget document that we have asked all of the departments

2:07:54to align their goals and objectives for the year specifically with the strategic plan. So we're very excited to kind of re-energize that process.

2:08:03And again.

2:08:05our budget is indeed a reflection of our values and a reflection of what it is that we are intending to do for our community that is guided by our strategic plan goals. So you will see that in the document. And tonight, as we talk about that.

2:08:20So at the last meeting, I referenced some budget strategies that the departments have all come together.

2:08:28As this year's budget is going to be very tight. We will have. It is balanced budget, and both years are balanced just

2:08:36and you will see that in the in the documentation. Once we finalize that at the end of this week.

2:08:43But what I had also alluded to was ensuring that we did have budget strategies in place for the next 2 fiscal years. This is a combination of some

2:08:54of some adjustments, some cuts

2:08:58and revenue enhancements. Some are one time savings as as I can address right here. So the big one the biggest one, actually is proposing to eliminate a vacant position that was intended to be shared. It was a management assistant position that was intended to be shared by the Finance and City manager's office, that

2:09:17while that was approved 2 years ago. It was never filled. And we and we kept that vacant and it actually helped us with salary savings. At this point we are proposing to eliminate that for an ongoing budget reduction. We also made adjustments to professional services, travel and training. This came up at the last Council meeting, when the city council discussed their budget.

2:09:42all of our departments went back and and did exactly what the city Council did, and went through all of the training that was necessary in the trainings that we want to make sure that we're able to to attend, whether it's conferences, webinars, a specific mandated training for some of our public safety. So we went through and and and really right sized

2:10:04those categories.

2:10:05There is some deferred maintenance and facility. Repairs which, as we've talked about, is painful for us to to have to look at. However, there are, if there's urgent repairs that we would come to you for some one time, funding, remembering that the one time funding that we have

2:10:22that last year as Crystal alluded to in the or during this current fiscal year. I'm sorry I'm already ahead of myself. In the next fiscal year.

2:10:30At mid year, when we made a lot of adjustments. We purchased the property. We used all of that in fund balance. So we still have the 9 million dollars, which is restricted for emergencies, and we have 4.8 ish 1 million dollars, which represents the minimum 10. So we do have about 1.5 million dollars in discretionary funding, if you will, which we need to make sure that we're very careful and thoughtful about any potential one time.

2:10:58Budget adjustments or asks for one time funds. So that is going to be. We're we're kind of being a bit protective about that. So when I say we're deferring maintenance and facility repairs, it's not meant to be forever. But this also alludes to the fact that we do need to do some more strategies in the out years to make sure that we're not depleting the fund balance.

2:11:18We did receive months into settlement funds as city Council knows

2:11:23and so we have been use. We will be using those this year, and with the landscape and lighting Assessment District Fund balance that we have to cover some ongoing costs. This is a temporary for the next 2 fiscal years, so trying to relieve some of the general fund and use some of our special funds to do some of the eligible costs.

2:11:42We are deferring a purchase on a maintenance utility truck and dump truck replacements. So. But we're keeping an eye on those. Again. If there are emergency issues or urgent issues. We will. We're out and monitor that. And then we have reduced line items for supplies, equipment. Some technology replacements again. Nothing, Major. This is all. Just again sharpening our pencils, slicing where we can, and looking to see what we might be able to

2:12:08to handle throughout the next 2 fiscal years. So the the departments have been diligent about this. They've been great with collaborating. Every single department has come up with solutions, and then the overall arching, as Claire had indicated during the master Fee schedule discussion. The first thing we also are looking to is enhance some revenues. So, looking at the cost, allocation plan, and the fee study to see if there's any

2:12:31to make sure that we're not leaving money on the table if you will. And then later on, looking at service delivery, so just to note that the City Council approved a fiscal responsibility and sustainability plan. Back in August 2022. So as I was looking to

2:12:48place the updated one in in our budget document this year, I noted that we've gone through and and taken care of almost every single

2:12:58th. This more than just the recommendations from the State auditor. But every single issue that the Council had brought up, we have fulfilled those which is really great. So it begs the question we'll look to for the next sustainability plan. Once we get through these 2 fiscal years

2:13:14but one of the things in there that had been contemplated. Post con post classification and compensation study was doing a service delivery study. So that's already been in our sustainability plan. So those are the things that we're going to work on over the next

2:13:29fiscal year, going into the following fiscal year, so that we're right sizing the budget again. You saw the the chart at the last City Council meeting. We don't want that to dip below the 10% threshold. And so what we're going to be doing as a staff

2:13:44is looking at our sustainability plan, looking at all of the things that we can that we can do in the short term and the long term to ensure our fiscal sustainability. So again, I just wanna thank the city Council for your leadership, and essentially changing the culture to ensure that we are not just.

2:14:03you know, looking to dip into fund balance. And one more note before I turn it over. As far as all of the departments.

2:14:10I've been looking at a lot of budgets, and I've talking to a lot of my colleagues and every single city, every single agency. Actually, I will go to like school districts and counties are facing the same issues that we're facing with flat, stagnant

2:14:25yeah, revenues. But costs are increasing. Inflation is an issue. Still, interest rates are an issue. Still, every single city is facing this. So we're not alone in this, but also what I will say is that a lot of cities and a lot of my colleagues are dipping into reserves to balance budgets, or they're looking at what some cities have what's called like a budget stability fund or some sort of budget reserve fund for these types of issues which is great, that they have, that

2:14:52we are not proposing to balance this budget on any sort of a fund balance or draw down on reserves. So I just again wanna thank our department heads for being so diligent and sharpening their pencils, but also because the culture is now we want to maintain our fund reserves, and we're doing everything humanly possible to make sure that that is true. So I just wanna say, thank you for your leadership, and thank the staff for all the work that they've done to put this budget together. It was not easy.

2:15:19and it was, as you'll see going into the next council meeting, but I just wanna give a huge shout out to all of our directors they are. You have a very talented crew that works here, and I'm just really proud to to work with all of you.

2:15:32And with that I think we are up

2:15:35first.

2:15:36the city management. I will turn this over to Will.

2:15:39Great. Thank you. City Manager Pinkus.

2:15:42So you'll be hearing from all the departments. But I'll start off by talking about the city management department and providing an overview of what the city management department does. Some of our recent accomplishments

2:15:51and our focus areas for the next couple years in this budget cycle.

2:15:55So really, broadly, the city management department provides leadership and direction for other city departments. We serve as a central liaison for the public taking in requests. We're often the primary or first point of contact for complaints and requests and coordinate internally. After that.

2:16:11I mean, and then ensuring implementation by way of the city manager. The City Council's direction on policy matters and otherwise for all department

2:16:20core city functions include the city management staff. City manager, assistant city manager, myself, but also our city clerk, our human resources team, our it, and we maintain the contract for the city attorney and manage that budget.

2:16:36This slide shows you our department overview and staffing, and what you can see is related to what the city manager highlighted is in from 2023 to 24 to 2425, and beyond reducing and eliminating that a vacant management assistant position. And so these duties, after the pandemic. That position wasn't ever filled when it was when we.

2:16:57you know, receive, appointed or established management assistant classification again. But so those duties have been absorbed by other staff already. And they'll continue to be, and we can continue to do that on an ongoing basis.

2:17:15But to talk about some of our highlights and accomplishments shift. In December the city council, after it was developed over a course of a year, adopted the strategic plan 2024 through 2029

2:17:26and with leadership from city management, General Fund Fund reserves are at their highest level in over 10 years. And that includes establishment of the emergency disaster, recovery fund, and the section 1, 15, trust and both of those not just establishment of those things, but actually funding them, I should say.

2:17:43We've also been actively exploring, as you know, the opportunity for a new library.

2:17:47and just to touch on that the opportunities at the Illustrative Plaza Transit Oriented Development Project to build a library that's more than 3 times as big as our current library at a far reduced cost are leveraging the development that's already happening.

2:18:01And I'll touch on that more later. In the presentation

2:18:05we also did a national community survey. And one thing to highlight there was that 89% of respondents rated elsewhere as a as an excellent or good place to live, which is a really positive response from our community.

2:18:17We've also been enhancing public information. So we've done a print news and views. We're doing print news and views newsletters twice per per year, which really helps to reach people that don't follow us on social media or don't read, read our emails or go to our website or come to meetings like this one.

2:18:31We're also are enhancing our social media presence and doing a lot more virtually and digitally as well.

2:18:38And then, as the city manager noted, we began the process for consideration of an extension of measure R, which is a really important revenue source for our general fund, providing nearly 10% of the general fund revenue, and really providing our

2:18:53enabling us to provide core to city services, including public safety and fire.

2:18:57And we'll be continuing that work

2:19:00and then also expanding grant writing efforts. And so this has been a concentrated effort. And one thing, just very positive piece of news to share which the public Works Director will likely touch on later is we just received word that we're gonna receive a $200,000 grant from Mtc.

2:19:14To develop a plan for transitioning our fleet to electric vehicles. And so that's very important work that we would need to do, anyway, to comply with State mandates in the arena, but also to implement the goals of our climate action plan. So that's work. We would be already doing that. Now we have are able to expedite and fund with outside resources, and really

2:19:34is the result of our concentrated efforts in this area.

2:19:39And then on legislative advocacy. We've also had focus effort trying to be proactive instead of reactive rather than just respond responding to state mandates and implementing them. And as you'll hear from other departments having to do a great amount of work to implement state mandates trying to do some work on the front end to see where we can incorporate changes into legislation, impacting Al Cerrito.

2:20:06under Hr. The the classification and compensation study is probably the biggest highlight. It was a multi-year effort, involving literally every member of this organization, reviewing their position, description but really led by human resources. And behind the scenes doing a lot of work, filling full time positions, part time positions focused on employee retention and hiring

2:20:30for the city clerk. You saw 4 H. Earlier in the evening, and this photo here is actually from the the mayor mentioned this workshop with them earlier this year, teaching them about elections and local government. It's really a positive thing that's been championed by our city clerk, and has been expanded recently.

2:20:47The city clerk also navigated and developed new regulations for advisory bodies, working with you all as ad hoc, and then as a full body to implement new regulations for membership and applications and appointment, as well as meeting frequency. And those are being implemented now.

2:21:05and, as you can see by from these numbers, there's a lot of work behind the scenes to 344 public records requests is one that stands out, but also just making sure all our public meetings are following the Brown act and are facilitated properly, and that our

2:21:20advisory body members are trained and so on.

2:21:24In it they focused on updating our networks and preparing our networks and cyber security systems, including physical systems. So physical video security surveillance systems and upgrading those. Has been a priority and a major accomplishment.

2:21:39And then so, too, under city attorney, we did successfully transition to Redwood public law.

2:21:47And you'll see a lot of these focus areas for the next 2 years really build out of what the work we've already been doing things like implementing the strategic plan developing the implementation action plan that was discussed earlier, working with departments to really tie the activities in each department to the strategic plan goals and strategies. But probably the number one priority also mentioned is exploring consideration of an extension of measure. R, because that is such an important revenue source for us.

2:22:16And really the alternative would be looking at severe cutbacks to core city services.

2:22:23And so we'll be doing a lot of public information around that to just educate the community about what that the current revenue stream is is spent on, and how valuable it is to the services that we provide.

2:22:36As mentioned, we're still very much exploring the opportunity for a new library. It is a very compelling opportunity, and I didn't want to take this. This opportunity to highlight that. We're going to have a workshop on June eleventh at 6 PM. At the Elserito Library to discuss this proposal. So just calling anybody listening that's interested, please do come. It's June

2:22:57eleventh at 6 PM. At the Oserito library.

2:23:00and we'll be looking for input at that time.

2:23:04We're also developing strategies for ongoing budget adjustments as mentioned to ensure long-term fiscal sustainability, improve continuing to improve technology for efficiency and cybersecurity.

2:23:14leveraging the work and utilizing it from the class and comp study for negotiations, for market adjustments, reorganization. So making sure that we use that work that was completed.

2:23:24and then continuing to pursue grants and monitoring State legislation to build on the success we've had so far.

2:23:30We'll be doing mandatory di training, and of course, focusing on employee engagement, hiring and retention.

2:23:37So that concludes with my overview of the city management department. Of course, I'm here our city manager, assistant city manager, city clerk, to answer any questions.

2:23:49Councilmember Fideli. Yes, good, good job, good

2:23:53Powerpoint, so far. And I just want to say, I've really noticed the

2:23:59great upgrade in the public information and social media the city puts out.

2:24:05It's his. They're all pointing to him right? He's done it. On lots of different forums, a lot of different places. We're identified. Looks like we're active because we are active. We just haven't gotten the word out previously is the job that we're freezing. That was in your department. Would they have done some additional

2:24:25outreach? Is that part of the outreach that we're yeah. So we hadn't fully conceived of what the new position would do after trying to bring it back. Post pandemic but they would have been half in finance, half in the City managers department. Some of the work they would have been done doing would have been public information. Some of it would have been implementing our ordinances that we already have on the books like our tobacco retailer ordinance.

2:24:49yeah. So so they would have been doing a variety of things. I certainly would have helped, you know, use them to help leverage and build enhance our public information even further. But I think what we're realizing is, you know, just the importance of fiscal sustainability and long term we're already getting by and managing to. You know, do these tasks without that position, and so to continue at least for the next 2 years on that course. And that's 2 years.

2:25:13Yes, in both both years, that position as we move toward the 2 year budget. Thank you. And beyond, yeah, in our fire forecast.

2:25:21Yeah, I definitely appreciate your presentation. Yeah. Looking at what all cities city manager mentioned it, that the

2:25:31Cities are gonna have difficult times the next couple of years, because of the state budget and their huge deficit. The deficit is gonna be split every. We thought that everything would be taken care of this year. He's extending it to next year.

2:25:48So we will also have a 26 billion dollar deficit at least. You know, Key, the Governor mentioned clawbacks. Are we using every penny that the State has given to us.

2:26:02Oh, absolutely! And we're asking for more if they would give it to us. Absolutely. We have, you know again, it's

2:26:11what ends up happening with the State. As you know, we have had issues in the past with state takeaways. We have had issues in the past with

2:26:19dissolving redevelopment, agency, and and all of the things that we have, the the sometimes the love, hate, fiscal relationship we have with the State.

2:26:28I believe you know at this point I don't. I haven't heard any issues about

2:26:33callbacks or takeaways at this time, and and you know you and I are both very engaged in cal cities, so I believe we would have heard at this point. It's just a matter of.

2:26:42but them attempting to be able to fulfill the things that they've talked about, and be able to fund things that would benefit cities. So at least at this point it doesn't. I don't believe we're in any danger of any clawbacks, but certainly any grants, as as you all know, we just you know, that was a successful grant application. That was great.

2:27:03but we're we're ask. We're speaking to our legislators. We're speaking to our Congress people. For that matter. We're applying for every grant that we can, that that makes sense for us. And so there's there's no doubt that we are definitely, closely monitoring what's happening with the State to ensure that it doesn't impact us as as much as possible. Again, that's why the focus on local funding for us is so important.

2:27:25Thank you. Any questions on the side.

2:27:29Just a comment. I I appreciate your starting with the strategic plan and talking about strategic plan implementation. I think there is. You know, I just wanna call attention to the supplemental materials, the recommendations from the Eqc. I think, particularly the ones around the budget. There's a lot of budget neutral

2:27:53items in there as well. That should be incorporated, I think. You know, I think we've we've always prided ourselves on being a very Green City, and I think it's always good to just reinforce that. It's not just

2:28:05one department's job to be doing things that are climate friendly or adaptive. It's really the whole city. So I hope that we can keep that in mind absolutely, and we'll be excited to bring you the climate.

2:28:19climate, action, and adaptation plan in why, and we'll have a really great discussion about that. We're very, very excited to bring that.

2:28:27Thank you

2:28:28all right.

2:28:29Thank you so much. Appreciate it. Really.

2:28:33So just so public knows we're going to be going through every single department. We have about 30 slides still to go in this presentation, so I'll buckle up kind of be quick. Yes, thank you. Crystal reams. Finance director.

2:28:48We have had a lot happen in the past year. I?

2:28:54I'm happy to say that we're fully staffed now.

2:28:57But anyway, some of the core functions that finance does budget treasury cash management financial reporting accounts, receivable accounts, payable payroll, purchasing debt management.

2:29:09You know we serve the city internally. We also serve the Council public externally to provide a reliable, accurate financial information. In a timely manner. So we take a lot of pride in that.

2:29:22Our staffing, as Will and city manager have already mentioned. We're not filling that half a position. So our staffing is staying the same at 6, at 6 of us.

2:29:33Which we are

2:29:35fully there. So we're very, very happy. All of the staff, except for one person, is less than a year with the city. So there's definitely a little bit of a learning curve.

2:29:45and for the highlights and the accomplishments. So again we are fully staffed. I could not be more excited about. Sorry it's been a it's been a I've been here not quite a year, so we're we're coming up on a year, and it's been it's been an adventure.

2:30:00but we are fully staffed. We submitted the our annual financial reports. Just about 2 months late. So not, you know. Not too bad for being understaffed and being brand new to the city, we were able to put those out. We were also able to apply for the Gfoa, the Governmental Finance Officers Association for the for the award.

2:30:22We assisted in the implementation of the section 1, 15, trust

2:30:27and funding of and creating internally the edrf the Edrf funds.

2:30:35I think. I'm trying to go through these. So our focus is overhead. This is something that we have. We have big dreams for this. We all being new to the city? In finance. We want to make sure that there's adequate documentation and training procedures. That's one thing that we've noticed that is

2:30:52severely lacking. Being a smaller city, we are very decentralized. So our goal is to make sure that all of our departments that are assisting us provide the information that we're all doing it consistently and accurately, and that everybody has the training resources that they need. So that's a big priority for us.

2:31:09Main areas are going to be Ap purchasing payroll and our cash receipts, because those are kind of spread out throughout the city where all the departments help us with those kind of things.

2:31:19We are outsourcing our ut administration to hdl they have recently adopted a program to take that off of our hands. So we are hoping that that will bring in a little bit of extra revenue. We we don't know if that will quite materialize, but they will definitely be focusing on enforcement fines, penalties, and the audit process of of all that is a very labor intensive process. So we are hoping that that will go live at the beginning of the fiscal year.

2:31:46As city manager mentioned, a cost allocation plan that is huge for us in finance because we are very data driven. We need to know what our total costs are to make sure that we're actually charging the appropriate fees, and that we're counting for these things correctly.

2:32:00Cost allocation plan will help us allocate overhead. So for kind of your internal funds like Finance and Hr. And it. City clerk. These kind of things aren't revenue generating. So our costs need to be allocated throughout the city so that we we could actually determine how much we should be charging, because part of what we do goes to assist. All of the other departments.

2:32:24That'll also allow us to start saving for future costs. That is something that we have definitely heard from. From the departments, our deferred maintenance, our vehicle replacement or information technology. We are actually actually had a conversation with our auditors today, we're doing interim audit. And that's a concern for them as well, establishing internal service funds, making sure we're funding those that goes into our cost allocation plan. We need to make sure that we're able to

2:32:50put money into those.

2:32:52So again, the goal of the cost of the Allocation plan is to make sure that we're allocating. The city's overhead costs accurately to all the departments.

2:32:59including focusing on incorporating the vehicle replacement and the deferred maintenance. This will then tie in directly with a fee study. So, after we determine how much it costs for our departments to do these kind of services, then we can assess our fees, whether it's increasing our fees, subsidizing fees, or that will be at Council's discretion.

2:33:17We also will be assisting and supporting the citywide delivery study. So this is kind of analyzing what we're doing, what it takes to do that are we? Do we have the appropriate staffing levels. Are we allocating enough? All these things will kind of work hand in hand together in a waterfall down. So it's a it's a big big ask for for all of us, but over the next 2 years we're confident that we'll be able to assist in all these areas.

2:33:41One of the final areas that we're looking at is a complete system overhaul. So we have had the same Erp system

2:33:48for at least 10 or 15 years. Yeah, Erp, what is the Erp as our enterprise, enterprise, resource, planning system? So that's where we do everything. That is where

2:34:00our finance people live. It's all of our payroll, all of our revenue. It's where all our financial reports are generated. It's all of that we originally contracted with new World systems, I think when I got here so about 2,002 or 3, so it it's been upgraded over time. But yes, we've been working with the same system for decades.

2:34:19But with that, and with all of the changes in finance over the past, I mean, just even the past 5 years there's been a lot of change.

2:34:27A lot of that history and the how's and the what's and the whys of why, why, the system is the way that it is, or the logic behind. Why, it was set up. A lot of that's been lost in translation translation. So we are actually going to be working with the support team at New World to completely overhaul all the aspects. We're hoping to gain efficiencies. Automate lots of processes that are currently very, very manual for us.

2:34:51Including our our AR process. And

2:34:55yeah, mainly AR, and our cash reconciliation process. But so we definitely want to take advantage of streamlining anything where we can, being being staffed as such a lean study, it's important that we take

2:35:08into consideration all the aspects that we are currently paying for with our system and making sure that we're providing the highest level of service to our departments and for all our financial reporting needs.

2:35:19I think that was it for me? All right, I'm gonna jump into a question right on what you're talking about. So

2:35:26for the Erp system. We have a lot of questions about that one. Is the the thought is to

2:35:33improve what we have and use their support team.

2:35:38But what is the benefit of that versus doing an upgrade to one of the other Tyler products, since New World is was purchased by Tyler, so it's in under the same umbrella. So is there an advantage or disadvantage, or what? What is the process? And the thought behind staying with a product that is older and potentially won't be supported in the future.

2:36:00I asked the same questions myself. So we have looked at both. We've talked with both New World support, because I think that was my biggest concern coming on board is that it's such an old system, and I'm very familiar with Tyler and Tyler products.

2:36:15and they are starting to sunset, older, older, older programs. And so that was a big concern of mine. And so I did talk with a representative. I think it was at the Csmfo Conference, and there is no plans to sunset it.

2:36:28So they are continually. They have a

2:36:31quite a large number of clients still using New world. So they're still continuing to support it. Still, putting out updates. It is not on the horizon to to sunset that so then it comes down to economically. It's it's a very good system.

2:36:48Yeah. I think once we do get everything situated, the way that we want it to be and make sure that our permissions and our controls and our securities, and all of these things that I'm a big nerd about are taken care of. I think we'll be able to use it, for you know quite a while longer how about things like dashboards and any kind of Etls built into other systems?

2:37:09It's not that cool. Yeah. And that's that's the challenge. And so that's like for for me, sitting in on this side of the fence versus that side of the fence, I'm thinking to myself, you know the challenges is yes, we have this system, and it is very tried and true. But I

2:37:23so I went to a New World Conference many years ago, and they did this big thing out. We'll never be bought out. We're gonna stay independent. And then, maybe 2 months later there's a press release that they were bought out by Tyler. So I don't trust when these really large companies say, Oh, we're gonna maintain it. It's fine. My big concern is if we're investing into our financial backbone to do this kind of.

2:37:44you know.

2:37:45configuration to make it work for us better what happens in 2 or 3 years when they decide? Because yes, there are clients that using it now, but it is in their benefit to move us into these more cloud-based modern systems like Munis.

2:37:59Yeah.

2:38:01a. Again, it's gonna come back to economically for the functions cause new world. I implemented Munis at my previous city. And so, while it is very cool and flashy and has lots dashboards, the functionality is the same, and it's that cost benefit ratio like I. We're not in a position right now to be going through a a huge staff, wise and

2:38:25economically. I think our best. Our better choice is to put in the time and the money to really utilize New world

2:38:35and continue to watch cause I am skeptical as you to continue to watch and see if that if it, if they give any inkling of sun setting, and then we can, we would have to pivot. But I think right now. It is really our best option to to overhaul it and make it work for us, because there's there are features in it that we're just not using alright. This could be hours, long conversations. Yeah, I will. I won't go down that. But I'll look to my colleagues. I started on this side. So I'll start on this side next any questions for finance, finance, questions, finance?

2:39:03All right, one from this one. I know, going forward. I asked this here because you'll be in the development of the 2 year budget

2:39:11that we have going forward?

2:39:13And we have to discuss the budget every year. But is there something that will not be discussed in the second year of a budget? Is, will there be a different presentation

2:39:24that we get information in one year that we don't get in the next

2:39:28I will turn that over. I don't think so, but I'll turn that over to City Manager Pinkis. So.

2:39:34we did do 2 year, 2 year budgets in the past. As you know, the city Council still has to pass a budget resolution every single year. So it doesn't. So the the layout of it doesn't impact the the yearly, you know, annual spending authority and resolution. I think the one of the biggest benefits of a 2 year budget for me is that automatic forecasting?

2:39:59Right? So you're seeing that, you know automatically the increase over 2 years. So we can plan for that. We can make modifications, of course, just as we do for Midyear or mid cycle in this case. So if there were.

2:40:12you know, if revenues really went great, then we could make some. You know, we can make some different decisions for the Council during the second year.

2:40:20The biggest thing will be that the budget documents will only be produced every other year. So that is a huge that's a big, heavy lift for staff and for the finance team to put the budget document together. So that is one thing that won't. We won't have to redo the the book every single year, or the budget document online, mostly. So although it we still call it the budget book,

2:40:43but also I do think that it affords us the opportunity to take that pause into

2:40:48We still would like to do community workshops to review the budget as opposed to. You know, this time we focused a lot on the strategic plan setting priorities and looking at you know what are the what are the priorities? We have especially looking to measure R and all of the different things that we're gonna be talking about this year. Next year. If we're talking about the library, for example, or we're talking about any other major issue that we have. I think that gives us the opportunity to engage the community

2:41:16in this in in the same way, but with different with a different focus, as opposed to creating the budget. It would be more like sustaining the budget or any additional feedback. So that's how I see it. And I think that it's gonna be a really like, I said, it's it certainly will be

2:41:32selfishly. It's a little bit easier on staff to only have to do this major lift every other year. But I again, I think that the benefits of being able to have that forward thinking is just is very great.

2:41:43Thank you.

2:41:45Thank you so much. Appreciate it, director Eams

2:41:49and I will note that at this point we got the 2 administrative, mostly boring departments out of the way, and I don't mean to this finance or me, but we went backwards alphabetically. Just so, you know. So I with that we'll start with recreation.

2:42:05Thank you. Honorable Mayor and City Council members. I'm Chris Jones, your recreation director.

2:42:11Aside from renting out the Arlington clubhouse and doing pickleball. Your Recreation department runs a full range of programs and services for all ages.

2:42:23especially out of the community center at the swim center at our elementary schools in town.

2:42:29as well as the various parks and clubhouses.

2:42:33We also responsible on a citywide basis for custodial services

2:42:39next slide.

2:42:41Our staffing has been relatively stable prior to the pandemic we had 23 approved full time positions.

2:42:49We added back 2 of those

2:42:51and plan to stay there

2:42:53for the next 2 years at least.

2:42:56In addition to these 20 full time employees, you know, almost 2 thirds of them are programmatic staff.

2:43:02We have 5 custodians, and then we have Admin staff

2:43:06to help make sure that everything gets registered for

2:43:11and we're gearing up for summer and summertime we'll have as many as 150 part time employees and volunteers

2:43:20and as we get more into this, just let you know that despite the various economic factors that have impacted the city's budget on kind of a a macro level.

2:43:29the Recreation Department's programs and services remain robust

2:43:34and and continue to increase our cost recovery.

2:43:40So

2:43:41here we're highlighting some senior and adult program area

2:43:47accomplishments, as you can see.

2:43:50despite the fact that we moved the the majority of senior services from

2:43:55midtown Activity Center to the community center. We have actually seen an increase in overall attendance

2:44:02in programs offered to adults and and seniors, as well as a wider age, range and ability range of folks that we're serving. And I think that's for a variety of reasons. You know, the community center is bigger. We can have bigger classes. We have new, bigger classes, such as line dancing, which you can't find parking at the community center during that class, because there's like 80 people there.

2:44:25Just for one example.

2:44:27And there's also, I think, some certain synergies at the community center. You know the pool is there, and

2:44:35and I think folks

2:44:37honestly in this generation of of baby boomers tend to it sounds easier to be like, you know what? I'm gonna go down and do a program at the community center as opposed to a senior center. So program registrations, services and classes are definitely up.

2:44:56Other highlights here are is that we worked with our partners at the West Contra Costa unified school district to extend our joint facility usage agreement.

2:45:07which basically means that we can use each other's facilities

2:45:11for a little to no cost as long as there's not like an additional cost because of that usage. So, for example, if if you wanted, if we wanted to use the gym on the weekends, and there's not already a custodian scheduled. We'd have to pay for that custodian, but we wouldn't have to pay rental fees, and if we can, and same thing with us when their swim team is at the pool

2:45:31they'll pay for like one lifeguard

2:45:35But other than that.

2:45:37they don't have to

2:45:38reimburse us beyond their fees.

2:45:42And the other agreement that we finalized was the Castro Park

2:45:45agreement, which is the site specific agreement.

2:45:49You may or may not know that Castro Park is basically a city managed park on school district property.

2:45:56and that agreement was up for renewal. And one thing that was kind of driving the need for that renewal was, was our

2:46:05the plan to install pickleball courts there. So we're excited that that can

2:46:11finally move forward.

2:46:14Also, Fourth of July. Last year we were able to raise $44,000

2:46:19through sponsorships and individual donations.

2:46:23That was a pretty that was probably the most we've raised ever for the Fourth of July. Thanks, and no small part to couple of council members up here as, and some very active community members.

2:46:34This year we're on track. We have currently, we have $20,000 in either

2:46:40money in hand or commitments. And then we have several of our folks that

2:46:44in the queue. So I think we're well on our way, and also last night the Art and Culture Commission

2:46:52approved recommendation for $12,000 from the city's Art and Public Places Fund to fund

2:46:59the world one festival performers.

2:47:02So

2:47:03we're well on our way there

2:47:05and then. We've also

2:47:08honored 2 years in a row, to be a recipient of some best and ill cereal awards by the from the Chamber of Commerce.

2:47:14which is a nice recognition

2:47:17as well as we've. We're kind of fully back and board with our special events, our indoor special events that were canceled during the pandemic. We've also added some new ones, since such as some line dancing

2:47:29events, in addition to bringing back the senior resource fair of crab feed

2:47:38next one

2:47:39on the youth side of things.

2:47:42We are also seeing a significant increase in enrollment

2:47:46from past years.

2:47:48our traditional or discount day, which is the first day of

2:47:52summer camp enrollment.

2:47:54If folks enroll on that day they get a 10% discount

2:47:58kind of creates a

2:47:59little bit of feeding frenzy which is not the most fun thing for parents. But it's definitely a good thing for

2:48:04filling our programs. This year we saw a 28% increase in day of registrations on discount day.

2:48:13and already our total enrollment year to date by the end of last month.

2:48:19Is.

2:48:21we're we're definitely on track to exceed last year's summer camp totals.

2:48:27And then on the non-camp side, you can see that these programs are actually have fully recovered from the pandemic and have increased in size as well.

2:48:38we're also. We really continue to be a winner of the

2:48:41best of Contra Costa. Awards from Parents press. We won

2:48:4511 top 5 awards and 10

2:48:5011. Excuse me, we are the winner in 11 categories and top 5 and 10 other categories. And I think that's really a reflection. I mean. The readers of parents press are are motivated to both, nominate our programs and then vote for them.

2:49:04And it's it's nice because it's a countywide thing.

2:49:09And then, in terms of our special events, we brought back several events, including the pancake breakfast.

2:49:16And we've added the new play like a girl plus event, which was very popular, and we hope we'll

2:49:23grow this coming fall

2:49:25as well as we've started some gymnastics inner squad meets at the community center, which

2:49:32the girls are very proud of mostly girls, I should say, are very proud of.

2:49:37I do wanna highlight. I think you've seen this slide before

2:49:43the Recreation Department. No cerito for departments of its type meaning recreation focused

2:49:50not not heavy into the park maintenance. That's for public works here.

2:49:56we do have a significantly high cost recovery.

2:50:00We're essentially funded 84% by user fees and 16% by the general fund.

2:50:06And that amounts to about

2:50:082% of the overall general fund expenses. So

2:50:122 cents on the dollar, I guess you could say.

2:50:16you know, this is certainly good in preserving our programs that we can offer to the public.

2:50:22But also when we start to think about, you know

2:50:26everything being affordable and accessible to folks.

2:50:29I do, you know. Certainly it's our goal to look at more strategies on, on how to be.

2:50:35how to increase equity in that regard when we're placed such a heavy emphasis on the cost recovery.

2:50:45And finally, for our work plan.

2:50:49you know, we really need to. We're having a difficult time. I think you noticed in your last meeting

2:50:57we're using like temps more for for childcare

2:51:01we do need to increase our recruitment and retention of part time employees and childcare

2:51:08and aquatics, as well as things like paratransit.

2:51:13both to save money and to increase our revenues because we're

2:51:19swim lessons, for example, is a big area.

2:51:21And we're not alone in this, where we're kind of leaving money on the table because we can't meet the demand of that. That's out there because of lack of staff.

2:51:30But we are certainly working on a solution to that.

2:51:34We want to look towards expanding our senior services as as space permits. Basically. Yes, we have Hannah Gardens.

2:51:44They love the community center, you know. They love the parking at the community center. And so we are trying. We're looking at some creative ways. We, you know, one of the things that has not increased that is actually doesn't exist from the Mid 10 Activity Center is really that

2:52:00space for informal gathering socialization which is super important for folks, especially if they live alone, or.

2:52:07you know, aren't able to get out as much.

2:52:10And so we're looking to kind of create some some times for that.

2:52:14for that. Maybe a senior lounge or or social space

2:52:18where folks can come, and you know, do some informal activities, and and then maybe stay for lunch as well. So not not like the lobby, where folks could kind of hang out all day, but certainly

2:52:30something better than than what we have now

2:52:33we also want to look at

2:52:36utilizing our Paratransit funds to

2:52:41to potentially subsidize either taxi rides or rideshare services for folks to go to like medical appointments outside of El Cerino.

2:52:49Currently, our easy ride service.

2:52:52Only basically, we're limited to the the confines of Elsrito with a few

2:52:59stores just outside of town.

2:53:01And then we're looking to expand the number of days that we offer the senior nutrition program that we serve lunch currently 2 times a week.

2:53:09We'd like to expand that, you know. At least. At

2:53:12well, we'd like to go all week, but at least within next year, you know at least 2 days.

2:53:17and see where we go from there.

2:53:21And you know, finally, we're always looking to

2:53:25streamline and improve efficiencies.

2:53:28we're also leaning into our software program wreck track

2:53:33to make sure that we're fully utilizing things and implement enhancements as they come on board.

2:53:40And so that way, you know, folks.

2:53:43staff especially can focus more on program quality safety. You know all the all, the all the good things, and not so much on the nitty gritty of of

2:53:53of the admin part of registration.

2:53:58So I think I can leave it there and answer any questions you might have right missed out on this side of the dais on this side. Okay? Any questions. And it's okay. If you don't, I have. Just can you talk about how, I guess? Why, suddenly the rep revenues went over 80% of the estimated budget for the period.

2:54:21Well, certainly, we're seeing, you know. It's

2:54:26we don't budget for the

2:54:28best case scenario, and when it comes to revenues, so certainly we're seeing higher than budgeted for summer camp enrollment childcare enrollment, which are huge components of our budget.

2:54:40But we're also just in general. So like I was mentioning the adult programs. Are way over expectations. But there is also the factor that

2:54:51revenue that you're seeing now that we started collecting in summer, as Crystal mentioned that we started collecting in February for summer. Some of that money will be pushed forward to the next fiscal year, but we, but on the back end.

2:55:07money from last that was collected last fiscal year has already been moved into this year's budget.

2:55:12Okay? And then you brought up the issue of kind of the cost recovery versus equity.

2:55:19Are you seeing people not be able to participate because of the cost? I mean, how often does that come up? I know we have the David Hunter memorial scholarship that offsets some. Is it? Do we need more scholarships? What what is what is needed to balance that equity versus cost recovery

2:55:37conundrum.

2:55:38Yeah, I mean, I scholarships can help. I think.

2:55:42You know, there's a little bit of a stigma for applying for funds. Certainly what we provide now you might be able to subsidize 2 weeks of summer camp, but a full week of summer camp

2:55:52not so much, you know. We could. We could look at a sliding scale or something like that. We could look for

2:56:01you know. Unfortunately, Elsa, Rita. There's just not a lot of services out there.

2:56:08you know, based on our demographics, even though there's folks that are definitely in need.

2:56:13But we do work as much as we can with, like, say, subsidized childcare providers and other things in that area.

2:56:21But yeah, resources one way or another.

2:56:26But we're not turning away a whole lot of people because they

2:56:30or we're not. I guess that's the question is that is how big of a need is there that we're not meeting on the equity side.

2:56:38you know. I'm not sure if I'm you know we don't necessarily track, you know who comes and says, that's too expensive. But I do think that since every you know, the majority of our folks

2:56:49get their information online, especially in the the younger demographic. And so I imagine there's a significant number of people that maybe see the prices and just

2:57:00don't bother, maybe, but I can't quantify that.

2:57:04Thank you and thank you for the presentation. Thank you, Andy.

2:57:08Yes, I had. I just had one quick question I may have asked this last year. I don't recall. I don't recall last week, but in regards to you mentioned the mover program that we have for seniors. Have we

2:57:22looked into the capacity I was speaking to some reps from our Assembly Members Office, and we were talking about the capacity to capacity to expand that to our youth, even if it was during maybe a couple of hours after school, or anything like that? Have we talked about the capacity of expanding that so we can get more youth into the center.

2:57:39Are you talking about our our para transit? Oh, pair of transit, or any type of mover system that we might have? And we talked about that

2:57:50transit that we operate is is provided through measure J, and it's specifically for seniors and adults with with disabilities. We it. It doesn't apply

2:58:03for

2:58:04other age categories. So we'd have to find another source of funding and basically create it from the ground up.

2:58:10Yeah, like, we don't have a Richmond moves type of

2:58:14funding source where I know it's been helpful in getting kids to school, or you know.

2:58:19and things like that.

2:58:21Thank you.

2:58:22We're here none.

2:58:24Yeah. I I just wanted to say Thank you, Chris, for I know Karen talked about the boring things for taking care of the healthy fun assets that we have in El Cerrito.

2:58:33Really, there's a lot of good things there, and especially for your efforts that

2:58:37supporting the community sponsored Fourth of July. We really appreciate that. I thank you.

2:58:43And we received public comment from someone who talked about the pickleball retrofit. Now that we have the agreement with the district and that the pickleball organization has raised $70,000. Is there any thought, or what is what is kind of the next steps on the city side as far as

2:59:03Would that then help to supplement the project? How much would the project cost? And is that being considered in this next budget cycle.

2:59:11Yeah. Well, the the plan for Pickle ball has always been that it would be up 100 through donations.

2:59:19Because it actually, because it's it's a popular thing, but it actually isn't in the top criteria of the parks and Rec master plan

2:59:28but and they fully realize that coming in and and understand that. And so the the process would be that we would come to the Council, where you could take action on at least 3 things, accepting the donation, amending the budget and awarding the contract.

2:59:46And so we we hope that that will be done

2:59:51summer. That'll be underway summer.

2:59:54and thank you for your timing. Yeah, thank you for using the rainbow logo. That was great in the presentation. And you know, I'll talk about it at the very end of the meeting. But the tea party was excellent. The first annual tea party. I'm glad to see that that picture was used, and continue the great work, looking forward to seeing the budget at the end of the year, and Council Member Quinto had one quick question regarding

3:00:18the Jpa with the ball fields, and Gilman

3:00:22the Tom Bates ball fields. I heard that they planned on putting pickle ball courts. Is that gonna happen?

3:00:30You know I'm not as up at that on that as I should I? I've heard that as well. But how firm those plans are. I could get that information for you.

3:00:40I'm the representative for Jpa. And yes, they are included in the plan. The first phase is the bathroom facilities and parking lot and accessibility improvements, and then pickle ball will be in the second phase, 7 courts there, or else residents participating

3:00:59at the ball fields.

3:01:01Yes, they are. They. I know that

3:01:04soccer teams use the fields extensively, but that's partly why we're supporting the facilities upgrades there, and that's all part of that cause. I know outfans improvements to this as a pedestrian walkway and the 2 roundabouts make it safer to go there. Okay, cause I I know next door the city of Richmond. No one uses the ball fields, and and it's very frustrating. Yeah, so alright, thank you.

3:01:31Thank you so much appreciate. It looks like public works is going to be the next step.

3:01:47Good evening, Mayor and council members. I mean that orthese the city's public Works director. Thank you for the opportunity to present. Provide an overview of the Public Works Department tonight.

3:01:56As you are aware, and for the public's benefit. Just a quick snapshot of what public works does we maintain and enhance the city's buildings, infrastructure streets, transportation parks, playfields, open space creeks

3:02:12and also provide integrated waste management services and environmental programs.

3:02:18Our core functions are listed here. They range from engineering to temporal improvement programs, maintenance recycling collection and also emergency response for severe weather events and signal and street

3:02:31knockdowns. For example.

3:02:35yeah, moving on to the Public works. Organization and staffing. The department currently consists of just over 27 employees and 2 divisions, the engineering division which operates out of City Hall and our operations and Environmental Services Division, which operates out of the recycling center and the corporation yard.

3:02:56The Oestd, as as it's known, is the biggest of the 2 divisions, with over 22 employees, while the remaining 5 employees are in engineering and department level.

3:03:09In the past year we filled 3 vacant positions to fully restore in the engineering team for the first time since 2020. So like our finance director, I'm super excited about that, and you'll see that reflected in some of the metrics

3:03:24over the last year and a half. We have also been evaluating

3:03:28of the reorganization, the potential reorganization of the operations and environmental services, division to increase capacity for city goals related to deferred maintenance, facilities and environment.

3:03:41To this end last year we brought on a part-time senior program manager this was in the spring of 2023

3:03:48at this time, given our very tightly violent, our tightly balanced budget.

3:03:54we are pausing any further reorganization and moving forward with recruiting for a new operations and environmental services manager, which is the current position. This position has been vacant. Has been not vacant, but build on in a part time basis since spring 2023. When will Provost joined the city manager's office?

3:04:17So moving on to? Just highlights and accomplishments for

3:04:22for my department. Here on this slide are just some couple of

3:04:27keep performance indicators. On the top is our maintenance team. On the bottom is engineering team. In terms of maintenance. In in addition to our routine work done by our our team of 6 maintenance workers, they also respond to work requests from the public and university departments the number of requests have generally ranged from 1,200 to 1,300 a year, with a slight decrease in 2020 and 2021, due to the pandemic.

3:04:56and this past year the request numbered about 1,200, 1,230, with the highest number of requests related to overgrown vegetation, illegal dumping, and city property maintenance.

3:05:09As for engineering, we have 4 metrics shown here, but I'll just highlight to in terms of because we were able to fill in our engineering team, we have been able to process traffic requests from our community. We had dipped down to about 15 and 2020 and are now close to 123

3:05:29in terms of engineering from a state range from about 500 to just over 700 per year. With the last 3 years being around 700. There's been a lot of utility work in the city. As you everybody can see at T. Pg and ebay, all the telecom company companies have definitely kept us busy

3:05:50moving on to next slide.

3:05:53I'll highlight a few more like. One time accomplishments.

3:05:59As I said, because we filled in our engineering team. We've also been able to reconvene our Ada Advisory group that helps the city staff prioritize requests for accessibility improvements throughout the city. We've reinvigorated our traffic safety program, including enhanced pedestrian and intersection big lighting at many locations throughout the city. And we've updated our residential blue curve program, including updated forms that are easier to use for our public.

3:06:27We upgraded the Ev. Charging stations here at City Hall, with 2 knee dual port stations, including an accessible space we began construction of some major along anticipated projects, including the Arlington Park improvements, then not the complete streets, the hillside natural area trail signage project which should be done by the end of June, and our Ada sidewalk project, which Council just awarded

3:06:52month ago, or a few weeks ago.

3:06:55also in collaboration with the fire and police departments and make us cerrito fire safe. We developed a red flag parking pilot program for implementation this fire season, which starts in early June. So we've been working on getting the word out. We bailed notices to the affected blocks. There's 3, I mean, not blocks, but 3 segments of of roadways, and we've nailed out

3:07:18notices to those residents and are starting getting the word out through our other outreach.

3:07:24channels.

3:07:26We this may be some small, but it's important, because it's a deferred maintenance. High priority project is that we replace the Castor Park clubhouse sewer sanitary sewer. And that was a definitely urgent need. That council approval and time general fund support for. And that's been done, and we're working on the some of the other

3:07:46high priority projects like the community center roof repair

3:07:51we also secured West Contra Costa transportation advisory

3:07:55funding for for the design of the new green Uptown Improvements Project

3:08:00and the Elserita Plaza, Bart. TOD. East-west and launch the local Road Safety Plan in collaboration with our Community Development Department

3:08:11in terms of operations and environmental services.

3:08:15We procured renewable diesel for city fleets and secured a tech like Will, mentioned earlier, secured a technical assistance grant for public fleet electrification planning. These are both early wins for climate action. And so I just wanted to highlight that

3:08:30we also completed the citywide recycling and garbage cart swap to comply with state requirements, but also I mean the purpose of that is to make it easier for the public to sort their materials correctly.

3:08:44We are developing very close to presenting to council in July the climate action adaptation plan and initiated the hillside natural area plan. And that's also coming to council. In the next 6 months

3:09:00we procured our new landscape maintenance agreements for the lonely streets, lonely Greenway streetscape and building grounds and hosted Coastal Cleanup, Arbor Day and Earth Day events in collaboration with our Environmental Quality Committee and Urban Forest Committee and other community organizations.

3:09:17You skip the Food food wear guide. Oh, I was just

3:09:21highlighting some. But yes, don't want to forget about. Okay, you're right. Thank you for adding that one

3:09:26in terms of our focus over the next 2 years.

3:09:32many are carrying forward from what you've just heard, the plans that are ongoing.

3:09:37And but we're also going to be working with our departments to develop a transition plan for the public or public fleet electricification, using the technical assistance grant.

3:09:49There's many projects in the works. And so we'll design then and construct a variety of storm grain, high priority, facility, repair and transportation improvement projects, and we'll also seek grant funds to supplement and funding for those projects.

3:10:04We're going to enhance the sidewalk shaving program. And this past year we actually were able to remove 260 approximately 260 tripping hazards through that sidewalk shaving program. And it's just an efficient way of addressing those tripping hazards. And we're going to be enhancing that program, using our special funds for transportation, such as Sb, one.

3:10:27we're going to continue to support the Community Development Department with the Eserito Plaza, TOD. Project

3:10:33and then also importantly conduct the current processes for the solid waste, collect solid waste post collection Services Agreement, which expires in 2025 and our street sweeping services agreement, which also expires next year.

3:10:49Finally,

3:10:51And importantly, we will continue to implement numerous state mandates related to clean water, clean vehicles, and Sb, 1383. So organics recycling those are definitely keep us busy as well.

3:11:05And one other thing is, we're going to continue to work with Eastbay sanitary to implement some of the programs that were provided as part of the new agreement, including routing software for integration with our recycling collection and fire prevention, debris boxes.

3:11:23That we can can be set out in community in neighborhoods when residents are doing fire abatement related work

3:11:33that concludes my presentation. Thank you. And I'm available to answer your questions.

3:11:38Now I'll start on this side. Keep hearing.

3:11:41Just thanks, you bet! Thank you for all you do appreciate it. Thank you.

3:11:45I echo what Council Member Fidelity said, thank you. Thanks, Preston.

3:11:50Nothing. I'm just playing good job.

3:11:55Yeah, just echoing the thank you for all you do. This is a lot. Thank you. It's incredible. What's such a small department.

3:12:03and very few folks with your leadership are doing for the city. So it's it's really amazing if you can go into a little bit more about the fire abatement and kind of the vegetation management

3:12:15a little bit more about that, because it is very interesting. Right? As when, when we were negotiating our new agreement with East Bay Sanitary, we were looking for enhanced services as part of that agreement.

3:12:27and we had heard from our community about the need, for when they did we they got any fire abatement letters about, and they had a significant amount of material that they needed to dispose of that. It would be helpful to have the be boxes in the neighborhood so that they could dispose of that material. It'd make it easier for everybody to clean up their homes in their yards. And so East Sanitary agreed to it.

3:12:52It's in their agreement to I think it's about 20 per year to set out these debris boxes, and so we just need to develop that program to get the word out and coordinate with these play sanitary on those neighborhoods that need those boxes.

3:13:07The 2 programs, so that one, I think, is really important. The other one is the the bulky waste pickup that every household is allowed, 2 of them annually. And that's a huge cost savings for our community. So if there's ways I'm looking over in Will's direction around public information, so that folks know that these resources are available to them as residents, and how neighborhoods can get together, especially if there's going to be that

3:13:32increased amount of debris from people doing vegetation management on their properties, that they know that that's available to them, because that's one of the biggest hindrance to get folks to clean up their properties. How expensive the hauling is of that material, once they've cleaned it off their properties.

3:13:48So thank you.

3:13:51like, the police department is next.

3:13:55Paul Keith (Police Chief): Good evening, Mayor and Council. I'm Paul Keith, your chief of police.

3:13:58I would love to be there in person, because these are much easier to do face to face. But I'm happy to be in front of you tonight.

3:14:05So the mission of Police department is, protect our community, solve crime, pursue justice.

3:14:10We also work to foster an environment, collaboration, honesty and respect. Each member of the community department, our allied agencies.

3:14:17those 2 statements are important because they really guide

3:14:21the accomplishments, the focus and the staff deployment of our police department.

3:14:27We move on to the next slide.

3:14:31So here's some department

3:14:33kind of key statistics as well as our overall staff.

3:14:37Now you can see our staffing has stayed fairly steady from the

3:14:41fiscal year 22 onward.

3:14:45We are realizing some staff savings in the current year, because, going into the summer, we have 6 sworn vacancies.

3:14:53Currently, 3 of them have recruits identified to fill that vacancy, and we're still looking to fill an additional 3 vacancies. So our 6 one vacancies right now means we don't have actual

3:15:05full time coughs on the street, but half of them are filled with trainees, the other half we're still recruiting for

3:15:12so, taking a look at 2023. This is for the calendar. Year 2023

3:15:17we saw violent crimes rise a bit. 7% property crimes were down overall and overall. Crime was down as well.

3:15:24The trend we've been seeing on violent crimes

3:15:26really focuses on retail theft incidents the term violent. This is something you've heard me talk about before that same trend of

3:15:35shoplifting, turning violent continued into the current year.

3:15:39as you can see, calls for service were up significantly this last year.

3:15:43And that was due to the fact that our staffing levels rose significantly as well. So this last year we actually hit full staffing for a very brief period of time in December of 2023 before we had a couple of staff departures.

3:15:59So the bad news is a violent crime. So good news is that we've been doing a good job of clearing them.

3:16:05And of course it is a it is unfortunate that employees continue to be victimized in these cases.

3:16:12So let's you see some stats there on moving violations and park violations. A lot of that does have to do with the chart next

3:16:202. So community service officers last year

3:16:23and our staff really focused on traffic safety

3:16:27so we could move on to the next slide. I want to talk about department revenues a bit

3:16:32now. Sometimes I hear from the community they'll see our police officers out raise some tickets, and they'll say, oh, they're just out there making some money.

3:16:41So that's not really the reason that we do.

3:16:44Via we do moving violation enforcement. It's really about traffic safety.

3:16:49It's about trying to bring speeds down in town

3:16:53increase people following things like stop sign violations. You know. Red light signals

3:17:00on the parking side is also about ensuring there are roadways. Parking lots are available to all members of the public in an equitable manner.

3:17:08So, as you take a look at the chart. You can see that in 2019, both parking violations, movie violations, we wrote a significant number of both of those types of tickets

3:17:18on the moving violation side. That was due to the fact. We had a full time traffic officer 2019, and part of 2020,

3:17:25and on the parking violation side. It represented being fully staffed with community service officers.

3:17:31Now, as you can see on the right side of the citations, issue chart parking violations increased significantly last year

3:17:38as well as moving violations.

3:17:40Now something I'd like to draw your attention to is this, I, this average revenue per ticket that you see.

3:17:49So on the on the moving violation side we get about $61 back for every ticket we write now the ticket that we write may be for several $100. Of that, several $100. We get $61 on average tickets a week for moving violations

3:18:05on the parking side is about $30 per ticket, and if you think about the type of

3:18:11volume that an officer has to do to say, pay for a position.

3:18:16Typically a traffic officer would have to write about 2,000 moving violations a year to offset their salary.

3:18:24On the Cso. Side it placed to about 2,000 parking tickets a year to offset the cost of their salary.

3:18:31So in some ways it is a revenue generator that does help pay. Subsidize our staff.

3:18:38particularly our staffing, whose main focus is

3:18:42parking enforcement and moving violation enforcement.

3:18:45If you look at the 2 charts. You may notice that there's a bit of an offset between the year the citations were issued and the fiscal year represented, and that's because there's about a 3 to 6 month. Delay on revenues that you collect from the tickets that we write.

3:18:59So we do plan to see fiscal year 2024 continue to rise throughout the end of the year to representing that increased ticket activity in 2023.

3:19:10We're gonna be presenting some budget numbers that may be bringing these revenues up a bit into next year, but we are anticipating some disruptions due to Cso. Becoming a police officer.

3:19:23We can move on to the next slide.

3:19:26So some of our highlights and accomplishments last year. Sorry, as I said, we reached full staffing momentarily in December of 2023.

3:19:33We also deployed a community liaison officer to help with.

3:19:37I'm

3:19:38informing the public on all of the work that our department does.

3:19:42We complete an important training agency, wide training that the training curriculum is called integrating communication, assessment and tactics.

3:19:50It is a curriculum that is sponsored by the police executive research forum

3:19:55and really focuses on providing officers with tools to de escalate incidents, to buy themselves time and critical incidents, and to try to reduce the severity of force use to bring an incident to a successful conclusion

3:20:11last year. I'm sure you'll remember that we installed 40 license plate reading cameras around town.

3:20:17and these cameras have shown some

3:20:20early benefits.

3:20:23Paul Keith (Police Chief): We've seen a 64% increase in recovery. Solar vehicles.

3:20:27also, seeing a hundred 77% increase stolen vehicle arrests. So these are arrests of people that are in possession of stolen vehicles.

3:20:35And they've also really

3:20:37made a big impact on some significant cases. We had in the last year.

3:20:41So we are still analyzing

3:20:43their impact on our overall case solve rate. But they've been very helpful in some high profile. Incidents like the marijuana dispensary robberies that we experienced last summer.

3:20:52an attempted murder case that happened near 24 h fitness and a major collaborative investigation with the town Capitola, involving homicide

3:21:02last year. Our detectives and officers also maintained high clearance rates some very significant crimes.

3:21:08They saw 53% of all the rest. In 2023. Sorry of all assaults in 2023.

3:21:13So 35% of all robberies, 50% of rapes.

3:21:17and some of those rapes that have not been solved yet are still under investigation. Some of them are just waiting for DNA analysis to be done before our officers follow up further

3:21:28Paul Keith (Police Chief): move on to the next slide, our focus.

3:21:32So our focus over the next 2 years are continuing to do training collaborations.

3:21:37We have a collaboration plan with Punch across the probation department called policing the teenage brain.

3:21:42This is a 3 year training plan. They're trying to roll out to all agencies in the county. It involves the probation department training internal structures who will then go on to train the entire department and different tactics and techniques for interacting with teenagers

3:21:57for those of us that have teenagers. I'm sure you can understand that it takes some special skills and communication. Sometimes

3:22:04we're also working with the local company called Human Tell was a global reputation for interview interrogation communications to develop some introductory communications training for our officers on how to be more effective in everyday communications. When they're getting information about cases or when they're interacting with suspects

3:22:28on the technology side.

3:22:30we're continuing to look at retail theft and violent crime case tools.

3:22:342 brands we're looking at are products from Peregrine and celebrate.

3:22:39Now, Peregrine is a company that sells a system that is more like a real time crime center system. It

3:22:49takes data from multiple sources, including a license plate reader databases our own internal rms system. And it provides access to all those data sources to investigators. That is seamless.

3:23:03That has a very intuitive ui, and it really saves investigators, time and leads to other collaborations between other agencies in our region.

3:23:13To make them more effective in some cases

3:23:15celebrate is a cell phone tool.

3:23:18Paul Keith (Police Chief): Currently, we rely on neighboring agencies. We have major case involves the need to do cell phone forensics.

3:23:25We are hoping in this coming year to bring our own forensics, subscription online so that we can do in-house cell phones.

3:23:34forensics when we have a search warrant in a major case involves multiple suspects.

3:23:39That is, very common in these retail theft cases or violent crime cases. We have multiple suspects. It's really forensics that brings the case together to takes it from, you know, an individual acting alone to somebody who's part of a criminal conspiracy or criminal group.

3:23:57We're also planning to increase our drone deployment New Year. We have really been unsatisfied with the number of deployments that our drones have gone on. We know they can be used in a lot of

3:24:08a lot of cases to really help provide perspective and photography after a crime has occurred.

3:24:16And some of the things we're really lacking are qualified drone pilots and drones that can be assigned out to officers on different teams

3:24:26and the last tech big tech item that we're working on is trying to get dash cams incorporating to our police vehicles. We have body more cameras. They've been very helpful in handling street incidents.

3:24:38Dash cameras, help provide additional data points for us. When we're dealing with cases involving high speed responses or pursuits. So they can provide valuable evidence especially when you look at cases that involve reckless driving or people turned into, they capture by the police

3:24:55on the staffing dot staffing side.

3:24:58We're looking at 2 primary focuses for the next 2 years. First is we want to get the traffic officer back operational.

3:25:05We found that

3:25:07traffic safety is continues to be a big concern for our residents.

3:25:12and it is, although our patrol officers have been doing a good job.

3:25:17It's hard to replace somebody who's a dedicated traffic officer that you can really assign out to go handle those community complaints.

3:25:25We're also looking at adding a facility dog to our canine program. Now you're probably seeing Bosco around from time to time. He is an apprehension. Canine

3:25:35facility. Dog is used to aid in interviewing people who may have been victim of a crime. It's a calm, relaxed dog

3:25:45that can be petted without the biting anyone. So agencies use these both for round buildings as a wellness aid but, more important, more importantly, they use it to connect with victims, to provide stress out lets for victims, to make it easier for someone in the aftermath. The significant incident to

3:26:07be able to come down out of that high level stress to provide valuable information that allows us to investigate an incident and hopefully get people into custody and quicker amount of time.

3:26:19Okay, so I just hit a lot of areas.

3:26:22And I know you have more stuff front of you tonight.

3:26:26I hope that gave you a good idea, our focus and some of our accomplishments.

3:26:32And I'm happy to answer any questions you might have. Once I'll delve deeper into any of those topics.

3:26:41Alright got it. Thank you, chief. Appreciate that.

3:26:44regarding technology and the the tools that

3:26:49you are asking for for this year or next year?

3:26:55for the paragraph and celebrate

3:26:59is that through? Are are you? Are you

3:27:04asking for funding for this?

3:27:08Or is this going to go through grants.

3:27:12Paul Keith (Police Chief): We have asked for funding a couple of different times from a couple of different sources have not yet been successful with it.

3:27:20We do understand that these are important tools that will dramatically increase our officers ability to close cases.

3:27:27So we are planning in the New Year to use funding from the State Law Enforcement Services Fund. Grant that we get

3:27:36to pay for paragraph celebrate and dash camera in an additional drone deployment.

3:27:43No, I appreciate that, because I I truly believe that this will help solve crimes and and protect our residents and our police officers. So in full support of that, whatever we can do to add tech for our police department, it's so important. And you look at the new people moving into our cities.

3:28:02These are people that have had enough of San Francisco and Oakland, and and they're moving here, young families, and these are the ones that already own homes, and these are the lucky ones, and they're moving here because we know we did not defund the police here. So the imports about Public Safety number one here.

3:28:21and for the city of El Cerrito, because we look at the crimes that have gone forth in the northern part of our city, the north side, and and these are crimes that have spilled over from Richmond, and both the cities of San Pablo and El Cerrito are tired of this, because.

3:28:41you know, they can't solve their crimes because they defunded their police twice. So I wanna make sure our residents know the that your police department. Our police department is working overtime because of spilling over a crime because they can't.

3:28:56that they don't even have police. You know, squad cars to stop the crime that has that is spilling over to Tessa, and

3:29:08the mayors and the Mayor Protam and my side of town. This is a very frustrating our new neighbors, who have bought homes at an all time high price.

3:29:19And and you're seeing cars crashed and gun violence and drugs and gangs, and we've had enough on the north side of town, so know how much we appreciate public safety. And that's why residents are buying homes at an all time high, because they know we did not defund our police. So you have my support, chief. Thank you.

3:29:39Quick question

3:29:40about the pair grain, because it's a really cool software. I've seen it before.

3:29:44because part of the power of it is, it's interoperability. Is this something that would be sole source contracting? Or are there other agencies in in the region who are also going to be using this platform.

3:29:57Paul Keith (Police Chief): So there are other brands out there that are in that same realm.

3:30:03So basically,

3:30:05you know, connecting various data sources together. So Peregrine isn't alone in that realm.

3:30:11However, there are some key components of paragraph that make it very attractive to us.

3:30:16One of the one of the components is the ability to file electronically to file criminal cases. Electronically, the da's office.

3:30:25Which, if you look at it, that costs between about $8,000 a year, just the printing costs for all of those paper reports that have to get taken over by hand to the da's office

3:30:36and it also would match up well with other agencies in the county. Paragraph has a very wide deployment in the county city of Richmond, city of Saint Paolo City, Hercules, just out here at West End

3:30:46moving into Central, I believe Wanna Creek, Concord Antioch, Pittsburgh. I think Martinez has it, and Brown was looking at it. So the the nice thing about that is that it would also connect seamlessly with those other cities, so it would broaden the data sources because of the interoperability of the system.

3:31:05But sounds like would be a sole source contract.

3:31:07Paul Keith (Police Chief): Yes.

3:31:08Any questions. Council Member Fidelity.

3:31:11juj, just to comment. I I mentioned direct department assets, and I just wanted to thank you.

3:31:16Chief, for helping make the El Cerino police department an asset.

3:31:20The community.

3:31:23Paul Keith (Police Chief): Thank you. I know our officers appreciate that.

3:31:26Just one quick question about the. And this is not really a a money question per se, but are any of the other surrounding agencies using drone deployment? Or would we be the first.

3:31:39Paul Keith (Police Chief): Oh, there are. Most of the agencies around us do have a drone program. There's some agencies that are going quite advanced in city of San Pablo. They're working on transitioning to a drone as a first responder program.

3:31:52So I would say that we're we're kind of in the early stages of deploying drones. But in San Pablo's case they're looking to get to a point where, when they get a call for service, Drone will launch from nest

3:32:04and fly autonomously to the scene of the crime. Start filming the scene so that officers get

3:32:10live updates on what they're going into. The officers can access the feed and see, you know from the air what they're replying, what they're responding to

3:32:18down in Southern California. True, that this has a program like that.

3:32:21So with that said I will say that although there are drones of other agencies, we do get called on

3:32:28fairly often to help other agencies when they don't have a drone operator on duty.

3:32:33So it isn't just like in the

3:32:36in the personal realm, you know. If you wanted to buy a drone, you could just go fly. Don't necessarily need a whole lot of training but in the professional realm where you have company or an organization like police department. You have to have a trained pilots. You have to have certification for the Faa to operate.

3:32:54So sometimes we do provide those services to some of our neighboring agencies when they need help.

3:32:59And and just one last question. So I'm understanding we don't have dash cams right now. Correct.

3:33:07Paul Keith (Police Chief): That is correct. We don't have dash cams I will tell you that

3:33:12be prepared for sticker shock when I bring that forward. They're not cheap.

3:33:18Okay, thank you.

3:33:19Councilmember, Motoma. Thank you, Mayor. So thank you, Chief, for all that you do. I do have a couple of questions.

3:33:28I really appreciate the kind of background work that you do when you bring us a new system

3:33:34on Peregrine and celebrate. Are there any sort of data privacy issues that need to be addressed or limitations. Or, you know, I think everybody's very sensitive about sharing of data with other. You know entities outside of California, things like that that we should know about. And then, you know.

3:33:57how does how does that all work with these kinds of systems.

3:34:01Paul Keith (Police Chief): So on the Peregrine side.

3:34:04much of the information that actually draws is already available through a system called Aries. In contrast, county

3:34:11Ares can achieve some of the things that paragraph could do. Paragraph basically uses

3:34:18an interface that does a lot of the deduction for you when it comes to an investigator looking at a case. But those pieces of data are currently available to other agencies in our county. The same agencies we'd be sharing with

3:34:32on the celebrate side. When you're talking about cell phone data. That is really dictated by, you know, search warrants that you get before you have access to data. So these aren't cases where, you know, information that we get off somebody's cell phones to be automatically shared with another agency.

3:34:48They'd be shared if we were collaborating on a case on a criminal investigation. But it's not something that just gets, you know, automatically released.

3:34:56I hope that helps answer that.

3:34:59Yeah, thank you. And then I do have a question about the facility dog.

3:35:03It sounds really nice.

3:35:06I'm just wondering how often do you need a facility dog.

3:35:11Paul Keith (Police Chief): Well, a lot of agencies are looking at them as another element of their overall wellness program.

3:35:16So when it comes to, you know major cases. It might be, you know, once a week that we might use it for the victim of a violent crime. Perhaps.

3:35:27Paul Keith (Police Chief): They're also commonly used when you're doing presentations with youth groups or public events.

3:35:33So the the other half of it is that the facility dog itself is a very economical animal. It's not like a police canine that

3:35:44costs thousands and thousands of dollars. Most part you get them for free from organizations that this is what they do. They train dogs for this purpose.

3:35:54So you know it. It can help the other thing to think about when it comes to a facility dog.

3:36:00Let's say we

3:36:03We respond to like a domestic violence system with kids in the house.

3:36:07So a way, you might use a facility dog is to use the dog as an aid during the interview of the kids.

3:36:14and then, later on, if they're called upon to go to court or to testify, and something they've seen, then you'd have that facility dog accompany them through the process. As well. Be like, you know that kind of steady presence, you know. Obviously you don't use it if someone doesn't like dogs, but for a lot of people

3:36:33facility dog is not the scary experience.

3:36:36It's a reassuring experience.

3:36:39Okay, thank you. That that makes it clear. I thought

3:36:42all police dogs were very, very expensive and needed extensive training. So that's good to know.

3:36:48Thank you.

3:36:49Paul Keith (Police Chief): Sure.

3:36:51I wanna commend you also and your staff for some of the numbers around. What's the the term? The terminology is your clearance rates are really strong compared to some of the other agencies in the area. So really commend you for that, I appreciate all the work you guys are doing. Thank you.

3:37:10Paul Keith (Police Chief): Like you.

3:37:13Like time for the fire department.

3:37:21from one chief to another.

3:37:24Eric Saylors (Fire Chief): Good evening.

3:37:27Mayor and council members. I'm Eric Taylor is your fire chief.

3:37:30It's good to see you this evening. I wish I was there in person. But I am both attending and presenting at the California disaster

3:37:38site here in Indian Springs. So

3:37:43tonight we're gonna look at a brief overview of the fire department. Our mission is to protect life and property and safeguard the environment.

3:37:50We do this by responding to fires and rescue medical emergencies.

3:37:55hazmats and major disasters. 24, 7. Our constant staffing allows us to respond to these incidents very quickly, because there's no telling when they'll happen. There's no way to predict the timing of these. So we're available 24, 7 with minimum staffing and 3 stations to make sure that we can get there in a timely manner our core functions. We focus pretty much all of our training and tactics on fire suppression

3:38:21ems our code enforcement of our fire inspections, our vegetation reduction, and then finally, public education outreach so that we can help citizens protect themselves. No

3:38:33next slide, please.

3:38:36on a department overview over last year we responded to 3,900 calls.

3:38:4341 of those calls were fires.

3:38:46fires that you probably didn't hear about because we got to them so quickly and suppress them before they could grow any larger. Fire is the only thing that is self replicating and exponentially spreading contagion, that if you don't get a hold of it quickly, it will continue to eat everything in its network.

3:39:02Of these 41 fires 23 of them were vegetation fires that we got to fast enough before they were able to spread beyond critical mass. One of them, you probably remember. It took the efforts of our agency contra cost of fire and Richmond to hold to the hillside before they got into the homes.

3:39:21We also responded to 8 structure fires, fires that were caught very quickly before they could spread on. And getting there very quickly is important, because

3:39:32times have changed with the contents of fires and the 19 nineties there was something called a flashover study, which timed how long it took a room to hit a temperature that was on fire before every particle in the air flashed over, and the average time was about 12 min.

3:39:50Well, now, with modern day furniture that time has dropped down to roughly 5 min, which is really where we focus on our response times, because once a room flashes over that entire structure as it is in danger and has to be suppressed very quickly. Our response times continue to remain very fast. Our average response time is less than 8 min

3:40:14that is below the national standard for our type of city that 8 min is based on not only fire, response time, but clinical death.

3:40:23If in an Ems call, you usually take hit clinical death in about 8 min. If we can get to you before there and start Als treatment, you have a pretty good chance of surviving.

3:40:35But that response. Time is actually conservative. Because if you look at our response times to specifically fire and Ems calls were less than 7 min with an average response, time of 6 min and 38 s for fires, which is phenomenal and why you have a class one Iso fire department.

3:40:53Our staffing has remained fairly constant. Since we've hired our last 3 firefighters, and they've graduated from Richmond Academy, and will probably be stable for the next few years until we face any retirements.

3:41:07Thank you. Next slide, please.

3:41:09So our highlights and accomplishments over the last year we've enhanced our automatic aid agreements with the regional partners. This is important. There's a document that we all adhere to, called Nfpa. 1710. That tells us

3:41:22Eric Saylors (Fire Chief): how many firefighters and units it takes to suppress a standard house fire

3:41:27that is, about 17 firefighters to suppress the Standard House fire. So that is why every fire requires the assistance of outside agencies, and vice versa. Those outside agencies require our assistance, and we're continuing to enhance and ensure those auto aid agreements are there so that we can continue to get there in timely fashion.

3:41:48We've also submitted for 2 grants one for a type, one engine for 1.4 million dollars and one for our Scbas at $400,000.

3:41:59That type. One engine is at its lifespan, and engine's lifespan is about 15 years. Beyond that they start to become more expensive to maintain than they are to buy, because you are slowly replacing each part at roughly $200 an hour.

3:42:14The Scvas are mandated to time out by Osha. They have a 10 year stamp on them, and they have to be retired out. So we are attempting to get these grants before they time out, so that if we if we do have to purchase some, we'll know about ahead and ahead of time. But if we do get the grants then we can spend that money on other assets.

3:42:34As we said, we've hired 3 firefighters. They graduated from a joint Richmond Academy. Which was a big step for this agency. It's the first time it's done a fire academy since the early eighties.

3:42:44That will help push our culture forward

3:42:46and overall. We've saved 17.8 million dollars from property value in El Cerrito, from just fires that doesn't include the value of contents or the value of life of evacuating people out of homes.

3:42:58The photo to your right is an example of one of those fires that you may have not heard of, but it was a car fire in a car port underneath an apartment unit. And if that fire wasn't responded to quickly and suppress quickly, that would have spread into the apartment unit and then probably burning that entire unit, we would have had to protect the neighboring structures. But getting to it early is what allows that fire to remain almost a non event.

3:43:24so that.

3:43:26the value of that particular structure was roughly 8 million dollars

3:43:31and the training side we did exercise our emergency operations plan. During a 3 day earthquake drill participating in that drill was Kensington, Pd. Berkeley, Fire, and Richmond fire. They all came over to our Eoc, and they walked us through a 3 day earthquake drill

3:43:48Eric Saylors (Fire Chief): we also completed our trench rescue training for preparation for the Richmond pipeline replacement.

3:43:56and we also, as we said, completed a joint academy with Richmond fire

3:44:00and the public outreach domain. We partnered with the lombrendous cert training which allowed some of our citizens that were interested in restarting our team to go to the 7 basic classes. We did have some citizens do that. They are now interested in restarting our team. So that allows us to form our else ridal cert program.

3:44:21And you'll see in our next focus, we will schedule 7 cert classes coming up this year so that we can add more members to our team.

3:44:32And finally, we did host another successful Tri City Safety Day and continue to teach Cpr. Classes in the community.

3:44:42Thank you.

3:44:43So our focus for the next 2 years is we'll continue to pursue grants.

3:44:48Our radios will time out soon and we'll pursue grants for our radios. And then, finally, we have engine 3, 72, which is our type. 3 engine. It's our grass unit that will time out next year, and we will seek a grant for that as well. We also need to purchase new Vkg. Monitors.

3:45:06Those were timed out roughly 6 years ago. They have a lifespan of 8 years, and the ones that we have now are currently non serviceable. So our goal in the next 2 years is to get our Ek monitors

3:45:21and we will complete our records management system upgrade. We're currently on a 1980 S. Era records management system that is locally stored on our own servers. We'll be moving to a program called Image Trend, which is a cloud based records management system. It's much more secure. It'll allow us access to our data anywhere, and it'll also give us better data in our reports when it comes to response times, patient care reports and things of that nature

3:45:48in the training world. We're continuing to train with our neighbors, and we will complete our high rise training with Berkeley, Albany, and Richmond. And this is crucial, because take 17 firefighters to suppress the basic house fire. When you start to get into low, rise, mid rise, and high rise. Those numbers can go into the 100 200 firefighters to suppress a fire like that. So training with our neighbors is crucial because the expectations of what that next in rig is going to do.

3:46:18we'll determine how well that fire goes. So we'll continue to do this collaborative training with our neighbors.

3:46:24Eric Saylors (Fire Chief): In addition, our collaborative wildland drill will happen next month with our partners, because once again, that could be a major event, and it will include us all working together, regardless of where the fire starts. It's about where it's coming and how we can suppress it and hold it before it gets into our homes.

3:46:42We will host another earth earthquake exercise with the regional partners. This will be on the anniversary of the Lama Prieta earthquake

3:46:52and we will plan to involve you council members and some of our department heads to work our way through a basic exercise. So we can see how an eoc will operate while you go through the first operational period before we hand the incident off to what is called a type 3 Imt team.

3:47:12and we will host 7 cert classes. Those are the basic Cert curriculum classes to rebuild a team. The L suite fire department will provide the instructors for that. We'll host them at multiple locations depending on the curriculum whether they'll be at the Richmond training facility

3:47:29at the house at 9, 45 king or at one of our fire stations.

3:47:33and we'll announce those we have some tentative dates right now in October. Once we finalize them, we'll announce them to you.

3:47:40and in the operation world. We continue, maintain our response times below 8 min. That will be the ongoing goal for this agency to make sure that we can get to either the victim or the house fire in time to hold it to that unit of origin.

3:47:55We are trying to develop regional sogs for electric vehicles. Electric vehicle. Fires are a threat. That is that sort of great answer to right now, because there's no way to put that fire out, and they're becoming more and more common. When electric vehicles they carry their batteries in the bottom like a large skateboard, and what is happening in common accidents is they're driving over, stop signs or other

3:48:18sharp objects in the road, and it's breaching the bottom of the batteries, and then they go into what's called thermal runaway. And it's almost impossible to put them out.

3:48:27Not only that we're having problems with vehicles across the country that are being plugged into the homes and igniting, and once again, once they get started, it's very hard to put them out. You're looking at roughly. 45 min of continuous water flow on a battery that is in thermal runaway.

3:48:44and that's gonna take efforts from our neighboring agencies. They also release a ton of poisonous gases. That get into our turnouts and into our scans. We're trying to develop some collaborative standard operating guidelines within our agency and our neighboring agencies to help clean that equipment, clean our turnouts and make sure that we can maintain that water flow until we get that battery out.

3:49:08We'll also be trying to develop regional S. Ogs for active shooter events and intentional mass casualty events, because that is another one of those

3:49:17events that requires a ton of firefighters.

3:49:21Eric Saylors (Fire Chief): and we'll enhance our shared response with Berkeley Albany enrichment and on fire. We still continually have meetings to figure out how we can send units, not only battalion chiefs, engines, and trucks across borders to make sure that our response times stay low, and if anybody has a large fire we are working with each other to move units around, to fill in large gaps.

3:49:45and this collaborative effort has helped us a lot. We had a large fire in Richmond about a month ago, and Berkeley came over and covered El Cerrito while El Cerrito was over helping Richmond fight the fire. So we'll continue to pursue those.

3:50:00I know that was a lot of information very quickly. So I want to give you the opportunity to ask any questions you have of me.

3:50:09I'll start with the Council member Motiama. Thank you, Mayor, so thank you, Chief, for the presentation. I do have a question about how the civilian fire marshal is going. Has that been more efficient than using a firefighter for this position? And how is that working out.

3:50:26Eric Saylors (Fire Chief): Yeah. The civilian fire marshal is a certified inspector, and it helps a ton. When we get into our more complicated buildings, specifically, those low rises and mid rises. They have specific systems that have to be inspected by a certified person on a certain timeframe. And right now our Fire prevention officer is a 2 year assignment by a captain, and in the past their primary goal was vegetation abatement.

3:50:53And now that the city is growing into more complex buildings. This individual has helped us a ton, and spec those he's already issued quite a few citations on buildings that have not maintained their stamp pipes and their sprinkler systems. So he's getting them all up to code. So it has worked out quite well for us.

3:51:11Great. Thank you very much.

3:51:14No question.

3:51:16Thank you, Mayor. Chief sailors. Mike, I just have one question. Can you give me an update on the Kensington station, and when that will be ready.

3:51:29Eric Saylors (Fire Chief): Yeah. The Kensington station.

3:51:30we'll probably be done well is scheduled to be done with our current contractor by the end of June, and then we'll develop what's called a punch list, and we'll go through the building and see if there's any problems that need to be fixed. And then we'll start working on our small appliances and furnitures, being furniture furnitures being moved in we should be in that station and the towards the end of this year totally moved in.

3:51:59Thank you.

3:52:01Thank you. Hi, chief

3:52:04you've mentioned, and we all know that we there's some vehicles that need to be replaced.

3:52:11And we're not gonna see that in this budget year. Is that correct? I mean, you're not just going for grants. We're gonna see those in the next budget year.

3:52:19Eric Saylors (Fire Chief): So we already applied for the grant for our our primary problem, which is our type. One engine we've already submitted for that through a femur grant. Those are typically announced in September

3:52:32on whether you've won them or not. There's a 10% match for that grant. So 1.4 million dollars or 10% will be roughly a hundred 40,000 and then we can submit our order for that engine.

3:52:48One of the bad news about fire engines right now is their reflex time is being pushed out 2 to 3 years on the manufacturers, so even if we order it. It'll be a few years before we see it. But we wanted to get this, Grant submitted, and see if we could win it before we decided to actually make a commitment to purchase it. If we can't win it, then we're gonna have to wind up purchasing one.

3:53:11Okay, and that it would and and maybe next year's budget might be tight as well. But there's never a good time. But there's the need to move on these right.

3:53:21Eric Saylors (Fire Chief): There is a need to move, because, like I said, the maintenance on them will outpace the cost of buying a new one.

3:53:28Okay.

3:53:28Eric Saylors (Fire Chief): When they start going up and down these steep hills, and at 15 years they start to become very expensive, to maintain.

3:53:35Alright. In addition to everything else you've done, and thank you for that. I wanna thank you for your participation. The East Bay Wildfire Prevention coordinating group.

3:53:45which, of course, took place here in El Cerrito, and that we'll see how that goes over the next year, and what kind of grants, we might be able to get what kind of issues we might get resolution to it in a coordinated effort.

3:53:57So I appreciate that

3:54:00Our residents have been very successful in helping get Measure X funds for fire prevention in the hillside area. Will you continue to be working with them in the next year

3:54:11to facilitate that and to coordinate that effort in our hillside. Natural area.

3:54:16Eric Saylors (Fire Chief): Yes, absolutely so. How that process works is, contra, Costa County fire is the arbiter of those funds, and they have a portal where citizens can submit requests when those requests are submitted by the citizens. They then come to our fire Marshal, and our fire marshal ranks them, and then submits them back and approves them. So every request that we've received through the portal by one of our citizens. We've ranked at the highest priority and then submitted it back for approval.

3:54:45Is there a time.

3:54:46Eric Saylors (Fire Chief): Yeah.

3:54:47Something, you know, that we've gotten.

3:54:49Eric Saylors (Fire Chief): I'm sorry. Say that again.

3:54:50Is there a total money amount that you know that we've gotten for the from those funds for Measure X.

3:54:55Eric Saylors (Fire Chief): The city of Bell, Sr. Hasn't received any funds.

3:54:58City, to.

3:54:58Eric Saylors (Fire Chief): For Metro X. But.

3:55:00Just the funding from the county.

3:55:03Eric Saylors (Fire Chief): The services have been measured in dollars charged by the contract crews that they've sent in the hillside natural area, and that is roughly $320,000 to those contract crews because Crew 12 was not available.

3:55:19Crew. 12 was the crew that was supposed to do that work, but they were already committed to doing work in contra Costa County fires area. So they hired a contract crew to come into El Cerrito and do a few works with the work, and that was roughly $320,000 to that contract crew.

3:55:35It's really good to just have metrics to know how how successful we have been to the county since we talked to the Supervisor about this so much. Thank you.

3:55:43And then just one question for me. I really appreciate you highlighting the Sog. For E ev fires ev sales and contra cost accounting. I think they're counting for 20 of all new car sales, maybe even close to 25. At this point most people, including our own agency, we are adopting Evs.

3:56:03There is a downside to that which is exactly what you highlighted, that ev fires are much different than other vehicle fires, and they do pose a much greater risk, not only to the community around when this is a blaze, but also for our own professionals. As they're doing this. So my thought is, aside from the fact, I'm just really glad that it's being highlighted.

3:56:24Is there any potential that the work that would come from this regional sog, would require us to potentially have different forms of equipment.

3:56:36like, I'm thinking, especially as you highlighted what gets put on the turnouts. Anything that we need to on a council level, begin to think about that could be a potential fiscal impact. Because, you know, those Ekg monitors are very expensive. There's a few big ticket items coming in. But as an sog is being built for how we're going to be responding to these fires, I'm just thinking more about you know the the bottom line and the costs associated to that.

3:57:05Eric Saylors (Fire Chief): That's a great question, and I will prioritize all of our costs that required and this is an emerging topic right now across the nation. The electric vehicle fires. The fire service is searching for answers on how to do this right now. There are not any major pieces of equipment that appear to provide a good answer.

3:57:27But the cleaning of the turnouts has not been has not really been solved yet. There is a gas called hydrogen fluoride that gets released in tune, and that seems to seep right into those turnouts, and we haven't got a good answer on how to get that out. But to be more clear on my response.

3:57:44regardless of the amount of equipment that is required for it, I will continue to prioritize the need based on our overall mission, which is protecting lives and property.

3:57:54And then I I have a second question. I sorry lied. I don't have one question. I have too.

3:57:59Oh, one of the things, especially because today we had a proclamation for mental health awareness month, what type of work is being done, and I should have also asked this to the police chief, but also now it came to mind with speaking with you here. Around mental health support for our crews. What are those discussions like in what our current resources available to them.

3:58:22Eric Saylors (Fire Chief): So in the last year we did adopt an app called the portico app this has been led by one of our captains. That is very passionate about this topic. And this app is available to all of our firefighters that gives them access to resources. If they need to talk to anybody if they need any help.

3:58:40We have also joined the county team as a behavioral health unit and peer support response team in case we have any major event, and we continue to work closely with our neighbor Richmond, to develop processes for that. So currently, we have 2 members on our fire department that are a member of this county pure support team, and we'll continue to support that as we go forward.

3:59:06It would be great if in the next few months it doesn't need to be anything really formal, but just especially with

3:59:13police department and fire department. What is being done around those issues, and just to be able to to brief the Council, it would be excellent.

3:59:21Eric Saylors (Fire Chief): Yeah, I would love to do that as a topic. I'm very passionate about that. So if we find time, I'd love to brief you on the history of that, and where we're going with it in the fire service.

3:59:30Thank you so much. Alright.

3:59:32So we're in the final stretch, the the absolute final stretch, our last department. So everyone who's hung in here. Thank you so much.

3:59:42Last, but not least, we have community development.

3:59:51Okay, that was looking at the city's Instagram. Just so, you know.

3:59:57good evening. I am Melanie Ment. I am your community development director.

4:00:02And I just realized I'm trying to stand this way.

4:00:06So as you know. So the department is small but mighty in the computer in front of you, too. That's what you think some glasses do, some don't.

4:00:21But thank you.

4:00:25our core functions include planning which includes advanced planning as well as current planning. And I'll talk about everything a little more later. The building division, which is about 1,000 building permits a year, 1,200

4:00:39and in the building division we also have neighborhood preservation, which is 2 programs. So we we pack it in which is both code enforcement and our residential rental inspection program.

4:00:50Affordable housing, including the rent registry which Council created a couple of years ago.

4:00:55Economic development which really is just. We try to weave it in as much as possible to all we do.

4:01:01But our affordable housing program manager also does economic development.

4:01:05a sustainable transportation planning which is relatively new.

4:01:10We also at the front counter, in addition to building permits and planning, and we issue business licenses and renewals and parking permits. And then, of course, in our Admin division, which has become, it's like everybody, contract invoices, records, management communications, but it has become an increasing number of public records. Act requests.

4:01:30Next slide, please.

4:01:32Might as put this up. I obviously went over these programs pretty much, but it's interesting to look at

4:01:37in our Housing administration, economic development, Sustainable Transportation Division. There is about 4 and a half of us. So 2 of us.

4:01:46myself and the management assistant for the entire department are spread across all 3 divisions

4:01:53so housing admin economic development, sustainable transportation ends up being 4 and a half of us building 7 and a quarter and planning just 3 and a quarter. So each group does quite a bit again in at what we used to call admin it has actually become some pretty significant program areas with housing grants. That's where we get apply for and administer most of our grants. And now, transportation as well.

4:02:20So just some quick metrics like last year versus this year.

4:02:25There's one anomaly here which is more about a a data and looking at how what we call count and inspection.

4:02:31But we'll probably end up the year. This. These statistics were through April

4:02:37and so if you look at 1,200 permits, that's about 100 permits a month, obviously, spring being a high number. So we'll probably end up at about 1,200 permits building permits.

4:02:47the valuation will exceed last year's valuation. We're at about 35 million now, but we have a 30 million dollars pulling 30 million dollar valued

4:02:56multifamily project

4:02:57I'm pulling next month.

4:02:59Solar is down a little bit. Code enforcement is up a little bit. Business license, renewal, new and renewal are both up

4:03:08and planning permits. Are a little down.

4:03:12I'm in terms of kind of some highlights and accomplishments in the housing admin economic development. If anybody has a good

4:03:20acronym, I'm looking

4:03:23So that is again where we do housing and transportation grants, and we have secured about 22 million and have another 39 million that we should be hearing about in the next month or so in those 2 areas.

4:03:35Those are for the large grants. We also have one that we secured last year for

4:03:41to do some

4:03:43Sam Pablo having a specific plan, financial feasibility and anti-displacement work which is

4:03:49not in that

4:03:51we've also led. I know, public works referred to, but our sustainable transportation planner and community development is leading the local road safety plan.

4:03:59Obviously, in housing we coordinated

4:04:02with council and unhous solution Summit and worked with the city manager's office. On creating the new kind of core core contract.

4:04:10We have lots of new business openings.

4:04:14Dave's hot chicken, ikes, plank and power.

4:04:18What other one security public storage is under construction.

4:04:23We have Mayfair market, but just pulled its building permit. Marshalls just moved. So quite, quite, quite a large number of businesses. Actually.

4:04:33The plaza, Dod, while planning the planning current planning has been handling the entitlement.

4:04:40The trans. Jared has been handling a lot of the transportation planning.

4:04:45I'm going back to the local road safety plan, and that should be coming to you by the end of the summer early fall.

4:04:52I'm excited to say that we that the bridge affordable housing has fulfilled its funding stack, and there will be a groundbreaking in June.

4:05:00and we hosted a fun makers fair with community partners, with the Chamber of Commerce and a local

4:05:06Mover and Shaker and Realtor. And there's another one coming up on June eighth, which will be in the City Hall parking lot and also at Hanna Gardens. And it looks like it's going to be a lot of fun.

4:05:15I'm in planning, as you know, we were one of the cities, I guess. Early ish mid to get our housing element certified, which also enabled us to get some of the grants up above.

4:05:26We did entitle 350 unit 305 units at East Shore. You will be seeing that because it's been appealed

4:05:34and we have been working really hard on the Plaza TOD. Entitlement. In fact, today we were on a panel invited by an Mt. Mtc. A bag. We're hosting a workshop. And they had Berkeley and us to talk about what it is like to work with Bart on these projects.

4:05:49and that went well, and we also, as you know, because we came to you to start the contract, have initiated the safety element, which will be. There's a meeting next week and a public meeting next week.

4:06:00and it'll be before you next year as well.

4:06:03I'm in building. We're working on a mandatory online solar permitting platform. It's going to have to come in phases because we're having some technical issues, and we've reduced turnaround times, I think, for those of you who've been on council many years. You probably miss hearing about building permits.

4:06:19and we've coordinated a new permit review process with the fire department, which is going really well. And of course we reviewed, issued, inspected all those new businesses next slide, please.

4:06:31Kind of coming up. We. This is a condensed list.

4:06:36but the housing element is not like what it used to be, where you adopted a housing element, and it sat on the shelf. Hcd. Is asking for quite a bit of activity with us with strict milestones. So we'll be working on that and needing some outside help on that.

4:06:51Mtc has a new policy transit oriented communities. And in order to maintain eligibility for quite a few transportation funding sources, we also have to be developing and a lot of new policy.

4:07:03The Plaza TOD. We're expecting the first affordable housing project to submit its its building application by August.

4:07:12and then

4:07:13we are going to be issuing the entitlement. We have to issue the entitlement by January eighth.

4:07:19I'm June eighth

4:07:21and that entitlement is going to have a lot of other things that we still need to work on other agreements that are going to need to come to you.

4:07:29some stuff around open space. So lots still to do once we've issued that entitlement. But it's about a 17 page. Document conditions of approval for the next 5 buildings.

4:07:41Of course we'll be working on the safety element. The local road safety plan will be back in front of you. By December, with a new outdoor dining and retail ordinance, because our temporary one that we established during the pandemic will be expiring.

4:07:54There is a new law based on the tragic accident that happened in Berkeley several years ago. So we will be working on our on the cities aspect of the California balcony law, and hopefully we will see all our multifamies doing their mandatory inspections.

4:08:10By January

4:08:12we will have 2 affordable housing projects moving forward, Mayfair. Affordable housing will be in construction.

4:08:18Starting, as I said in June, and we will be doing plan check for the Elsrito Plaza South

4:08:24again. Solar online permitting. And since this is a 2 year budget, I just wanted to remind you that there will be a new building code in place in January of 26. So we will be having to work on that

4:08:33in the year prior.

4:08:36and I believe that that is all for me. Knowing that you have lots of questions, I kept it short

4:08:42before I go to the colleagues. You were asking for an acronym

4:08:47Sedar Steda

4:08:50sustainable transportation, economic development housing Admin

4:08:54stead off.

4:08:56You got you have that city clerk so we can refer to that, we'll have a contest. Yeah, alright, any questions.

4:09:04Yeah, I know it's been. I've been working since 8 am. So one of the things I should add, actually, I just realized so I will borrow from

4:09:12the recreation director. So

4:09:14this is a mostly cost recovery department. And so at budget. We often, and kind of going to some questions that Lisa will probably have about why our revenues tend to exceed budget

4:09:26and our expenses usually stay at or a little under

4:09:31We're also about

4:09:332% of the general fund. So our budget, my budget any year, could be

4:09:383.5 million dollars in expenses, and usually 2.5 million dollars in revenues. So we often start with.

4:09:45When we budget, there is more general fund sip support, you might call it at the end. We usually end up with less. But, like Chris, and especially so.

4:09:56for example, the building permit. That's going to be pulled next month. I

4:10:00knew it was coming. It's $315,000, but

4:10:05we did budget for it midyear by that point. I knew that the funding was secured, but we wouldn't put that in until we are certain. So we've really be been conservative on it. So I I usually feel that we're gonna end up where we are. But I'm really nervous until about 3 quarters away through the year. How that's really gonna work. Similarly, because we did do a cost allocation plan and a fee study in 2,01819, I think.

4:10:28Our fees are set to do full cost recovery, which does include overhead. So when we do do better than expected, it also brings some back to the general fund that we didn't. That didn't only support our expenses, but that support all of the expenses of the city. So it's logical that at the end there's more in fund balance usually another kind of anomaly, and our new staffed finance department

4:10:53might end up changing the way we do this. But

4:11:00I'm not sure exactly what it's going to say with it. But again the cost!

4:11:03Oh, I know the year over year. So sometimes when we pull in the 315, for example, next month. I still have 2 years of inspections to fund from that. So we're kind of looking at how we do that. So there is kind of a pay now for services that are going to be provided later. And the last thing I didn't share while I was saying it is. Our building division is largely been staffed through Temps for the past year. We have had a hard time

4:11:25until class encompassed them. We have not. We did do an executive recruitment, and we've done other recruitments, and we haven't been successful. But we have luckily had 4 leaf really pitching, really working with us. Obviously, you're not getting complaints. They work hard. They juggle with us. They're juggling with the fact that we have a new multi-family coming in, and I've still kept our expenses really as confined as can be. So those are 2 other pieces. Okay, I'm gonna start with Council Member Fideli.

4:11:52Another possible revenue

4:11:54producing thing in your shop might be. And can we have the status of the hotel?

4:12:00So we just worked with so the good news on the hotel is that the Hampton in Brand is still one, you know. I think the contract has been extended and then we just extended their building permit. So we are in conversation with them. They said them, you know it's just hard. Nobody's at these costs and revenues. People are not building those right now right here.

4:12:22So we have extended their building permit, and we we can do that for 180 days at a time, we hope and have expressed to them that because then they are in the last building cycle, their building permit, and there's going to be a new one, and we don't like to get one behind. So we are kind of

4:12:38planning to work with them. I've asked, as a condition of extending their building. Permit that we

4:12:44by January of 20. So it it can. It can't go past January of 20 sixth

4:12:49with some circumstances that could. What can go past that they're building. Permit and if it does, what happens, then they'd have to start fresh and then paying more money. Then right? Right? So so what we have asked them to do is sit down with us by January of 25, to make sure they have enough lead time to look at if they can do some value engineering to look at whether there's any way that the city could participate in any way with transit with the tot tax, any kind of rebate. Is there anything that we can do to keep them moving?

4:13:19Thank you. I was just away for 10 days here in a hotel and saw the bill.

4:13:24A lot of. And a lot of it was local.

4:13:27huge amount of local taxes. Yeah. And on that corner, right with the Del Norte complete streets and beware, and especially for Carolyn. She could go across the street, and

4:13:38and I don't want them to

4:13:42nowhere to say thank you. Thank you.

4:13:46Deb.

4:13:47It's funny that you mentioned that because I I've been when I've been staying at a hotel we've been traveling. We got the bill from Orange county and and downtown. La.

4:13:57and I thought about you know what's going on with our hotels? So anything moving on the East Shore

4:14:05Development, where the hotel was supposed to be built. Oh, not that, you short but the storage

4:14:11under construction and a housing. Yeah, nothing. With that other one I would, I hope, would hope that he would put that on the market. I think that that family

4:14:20same thing sort of the same thing. It hadn't gotten nearly as far, so the Hampton in has a building permit ready to pull, and the other one never fully started. They did have Hilton true at 1 point as a as a brand, and they started their concepts. But the pandemic hit and

4:14:38their family does has indicated that they're not likely going forward so somebody could get that on the market. Yeah, it's not based on redevelopment. It had to be sold with no strings attached.

4:14:51Also, regarding, I know that we were. We did get a lot of funding because we are now a pro housing designated city.

4:15:02I'm hoping that, you know callbacks are not going to take that away. Ha! You know, has has the city looked at that? Yeah. So we we received our first $620,000. It's on a reimbursement, but it doesn't look like that that is

4:15:18on the it's those are pretty small amounts compared to what's needed for affordable housing and so the first round we were awarded the second round we've applied for, and the first round we I think I don't know if we need to bring to council or not, but the first round we will be we need to spend it by December of 25, and it will be going to Del 3 to Plaza

4:15:41parcel a South. Also, it was included as a part of their funding package in their asic application. So it doesn't seem like that. I haven't seen that on the chopping block, but

4:15:51affordable housing funds are are oversubscribed. Every source gets oversubscribed on a kind of 10 to one basis. So in your own work, with legal cities, etc.

4:16:02these are entitled, they're all there, and the funding takes a long, and you know the first thing to go. Usually, you know, and looking at past deficits the State has had, and they've had a lot of them. First thing to go, they say, is housing and environmental.

4:16:18It's very frustrating, because there's still a lot of laws and a lot of zoning related things. But the funding to actually get it built. More and more cities will luckily have it entitled, Which is good news. But the it's very, very competitive. So the regional housing bond where there was a workshop hosted next door last week. Is going to be is A is a very, very important piece.

4:16:38and I know you have dealt with developers who we've been waiting and waiting and waiting for them to break ground. They haven't done anything. I know. There's some lots like in the southern part of El Cerrito that I I get emails and calls from like what what's going on down there on the south side of El Cerrito

4:16:57like around the the Central and San Pablo.

4:17:00Yeah. So we have some excites. So 6501. Fairmont is very so so I would. There's a couple of categories. There's a category of very serious developers who seem to really try to make it work. And there's some that are speculative, and we don't hear from 6501. Fairmont is just got a revision, approved a planning commission. They were waiting for some soil tests. They're they're definitely trying to pull it, you know, really does come down to your pro forma and does it pencil? But 6,501, Fairmont feels promising.

4:17:28and their building permit should be approved

4:17:31within soon. A month!

4:17:35If it isn't already, it might already be actually so. 6 5 0 one. Fairmont is very active, 10919 calls us, which is the one at Eureka. We talk to all the times, having a hard time pulling it all together.

4:17:49Similarly, he is working with some other projects, the one across the street.

4:17:54So they're all the those that are those that are talk to us often.

4:17:59Are are trying, but they are not. The financing isn't working. What can we do with problem lot? Some problem developers like the corner on right on the Richmond Elsa Rita border. That's been an eyesore. We do hear that that lender, you know. So so as a reminder the original developer defaulted on that.

4:18:18It went back to the lender. The lender you know, got caught in a time where values were super high. Hopes were really high. It was pre pandemic.

4:18:28We do hear that. It's in contract right now, but we'll see so often. They're looking. The affordable housing developers are looking for city money which we don't have. That's a typical piece. I like to say. For example, at Berkeley, North North Berkeley, Bart. Fif, Berkeley at 58 million dollars that it needed to put into so we'll see what happens. But it is in contract. So I I do know that I, those sellers, are motivated.

4:18:49And they're they're they're good owners. They clean up when we ask them to clean up. They participated in getting the fence up and working with Richmond. So you know they're it's not what they do. They don't build housing. They got it back. They lent

4:19:02so that one. The ones we don't hear anything from is Mcnevin. We don't hear anything from them, and that's been one of those 2 debt more than 2 decades.

4:19:11So it really, I can't emphasize enough the motivated property owners. But but who but there's a lot of roles that

4:19:19land plays in people's portfolios, same developers and Elsa Rita are the same developers in Berkeley, and you see them doing a lot of projects over there. But we were here first, and it's very frustrating

4:19:31for me to, you know. See them working every day in Berkeley when they should have been here first, because we worked with them, and from the beginning, from day one.

4:19:42And we're getting the runaround, so I can't tell you what how frustrating that's been.

4:19:47But thank you. I just appreciate all your work.

4:19:50And did have I? I see great things ahead with the the projects coming through really excited about the the affordable housing project at Mayfair and the Plaza Development and the future for life. We are really lucky to have that. What I mean. That's what both Berkeley and us said today on those meetings, like, I'm

4:20:10reminding ourselves how small we are, we still actually really have a lot of eggs in the basket, like way way more than we had 10 years ago, and I'm equally as frustrated that the really good projects, you know, and some of them I feel for the develop. Some of them are trying really hard and putting a lot of money on the line. And so we do try to work with them as much as we can. We are still doing a lot. Luckily, the Bart, the Bart site, creates an incredible opportunity. That's that's huge. So there is a lot, and hopefully the momentum will pick up again.

4:20:39Thank you for any questions over here. Yes. So back to this parking issue. And Mayfair. And it's I mean, I guess I understand that

4:20:48the building is zoned as retail, so the residents can't get parking permits, or something like that.

4:20:55Not exactly that. So when the residential parking permit was created in

4:21:021973,

4:21:04I don't know. So in Bart Plaza parking. So in general, I will try to do this isn't condensed. There's gonna be a little one on one part, though, in general reducing parking requirements.

4:21:14was an essential piece of getting anything to move. We used to require 2 parking spaces. We got nothing built.

4:21:20That was when council was mode, and then with a specific plan, we changed it to bring it in. To make these economically feasible, even if Council did not do that at this point the State has stepped in, and we can't require any parking anyway.

4:21:31So one way to think about it and educate your neighbors, too, is.

4:21:36nobody would have built that housing if they had to have built the parking as well.

4:21:40That's just how it is. So our streets are going to have to be rethought. We transportation agencies are going to have to provide way, more transportation. The alternative models are going to have to get more robust like the gig, car, etc.

4:21:51So it's it's it's it's a

4:21:54it's a dynamic situation over time.

4:21:58Well, I do think that there's sometimes a it depends on where, in general there's some choice involved in in where

4:22:05you live. And so there is in in these there is not parking. There's not going to be the off street parking. So on street parking. In general, I think what you were just getting to. At 1 point. It was San Pablo Avenue was not included in the Rpp. Because it wasn't. It was our commercial zone 1 h, so I do think.

4:22:24We're going to be rethinking that that is a part of why we brought the sustainable trance. But but it's more complicated than it sounds. We still need to make sure.

4:22:32So there's going to be a lot of equity issues involved. There's going to be making sure there's adequate parking for commercial

4:22:37so we do need to figure that out. And we always knew we were going to. And we're gonna have to be. I like to kind of say, I don't like to be on the very, very leading edge. But sometimes we end up having to be because we are innovative. And we're trying to solve some problems or some we're trying to

4:22:50proactively do some things. And there's things that come out of it. So at Mayfair there's a combination of things. The developers proactively reached out to Bart. We've reached out to Bart. There's a couple little obstacles

4:23:01currently, but that's one option is to do that. The other one is, but it's gonna take longer to figure out how we're going to revise the Rpp program and people might have questions about. So the conditions of approval for the plaza in case residents does include that, those will not have Rpp

4:23:21so really it it. We're also. We have a grant right now with the Federal transportation administration looking at like, what are the adequate Tdm measures that really can start to drive this down over time? It's a transition, right. It's a we all I, many of us have not gotten rid of our cars. You have

4:23:38but what are all the supportive programs that cities and Wicc. You know, a lot of money still in my mind, a lot of money still goes into widening highways and autonomous vehicles. I'm still like, what are you, gonna you know? Is it getting transit passes for everybody moves into a Dod

4:23:53you know. What is it that's really going to shift it? But it's still a work in progress. So I we're all gonna have to be patient as we figure it out. And then there will be items coming forward. So the Rpp is one piece. In the meantime, we're hoping potentially that that

4:24:07underutilized parking lot can

4:24:09can play a role.

4:24:11So it's yeah. I know it's the so working on it.

4:24:18Council member. Tamma.

4:24:19okay, thank you, Mary. So yeah, just a great appreciation for especially all the housing work that you do. It's really nice to be able to

4:24:31talk to people. And like other other city officials, come from other cities and go. We're doing pro housing, too. It's like, yeah, cause we are. You know, the

4:24:44show pony for for West County to say you, too, can do affordable housing. So I really appreciate that. And I think you know I think you underplayed how important it was for us to get our housing element approved. Lots of jurisdictions still don't have their approvals. And it was not an easy lift. So I think we we are

4:25:07fortunate to be the city that's doing all the right things, and you can see from this, from your highlights and accomplishments, just how much we're getting done. And so that's really great. I do. You have a question you. You mentioned this 315,000, or 300,

4:25:2415,000 per month. That's coming. Which project? So that's the made for affordable. That will be pulling the okay, that's right. Yeah, okay? So I thought there was, maybe some other. So again, that's a great example. There are.

4:25:37And I, when we talked to finance. So I have.

4:25:40So 6, 1, 1, 5. Petrello is close to having an approved permit. 6501 Fairmont, 10919 has one, and across the street has one. So I've we have 4 projects that are built that are very, very near or ready with a building permit did not budget for any of them necessarily pulling. If they did, that would obviously change budget at Midyear. It comes with expenses right? If if it's pulling a permit. It comes with inspection expenses. Elserito Plaza.

4:26:07South will be submitting for a building permit. So that comes within with a plan. Check expenses. I did. We know that's coming. So I think I did budget for those 2 things. So it's a little bit of a a puzzle that way. So it is that one that's known. And then there's 4 others that again, I what I've seen, even from those that are sluggish. It's like the

4:26:27it's close enough that they're calling a lot. Let's just say that so they could. Honestly, it could be 1, 2, 3, or

4:26:33or would be a lot.

4:26:34but it could be one or 2 or 3.

4:26:37So I I I do appreciate, like Council Member Quinto is always very thoughtful about things that the city can do to encourage developers. And I think that we in just for the public, we talk about encouraging developers. And the reason is when these buildings are built. They change our tax base.

4:26:59Affordable housing does have a welfare tax exemption. But these market rate buildings really impact our tax base. They bring residents that will spend money in our town. So I think the the benefits are really huge. And so I appreciate us moving, trying to move these projects forward as much as possible.

4:27:21I just want to touch on the parking when when we, when you, we give entitlements to say you're not going to do parking and then have that like that impact. And the cost come back to us is really not

4:27:34fair. I think it's to say we are giving a benefit to a developer to say you were creating this development with no parking. So you're addressing that in your marketing materials and talking about what you're gonna do, and to say, Oh, look! We have no parking. Oh, what city? What are you gonna do? Is really kind of disingenuous. So I hope that all the things that we do to address these things are are fair and equitable to the residents, but also to the city as well.

4:28:03Yeah, I mean, I do think it's a part I like, I said. I mean, cities are very involved in the transportation world, and I do think that this is I I think there will be equity issues. I think so agreed with you. It's chosen that like, instead of building 30 units and parking you, you do build 150 with I think, 80, 70, or 80 spaces. They use a lot of measures, but I do think it's something for all of us to solve. We want the housing, and they get so agreed with you

4:28:28that I don't think pointing fingers is necessarily the way to do it. And I think that's important. But I do think that

4:28:35you know, it's issues to be resolved for sure. Yeah, it does need to to be resolved, or you know to be, I mean, and and there isn't gonna be one solution, right? It's gonna be

4:28:45a combination of things. And it's going to be change. It is going to be one of those. Change things on on all sides. And then trying to figure out how to adequately support the residents recogn, and, you know, trying to be not too ideological about it, and yet understanding the realities of of that's right. So it is the. It is a developer who chooses. How many so a developer could choose could have chosen to do more parking spaces. But it wouldn't be economical. We wouldn't get the projects built. Honest.

4:29:12I mean, yeah, that numbers would be completely different. Yeah. Or we have a lot of parking in not much house. That's right. So that's why it becomes shared parking. That's why we've talked to Bart. You know. There, there's all there's I think, Jared, our sustainable transportation program would manager would be able. This give the numbers, but the number of parking spaces is more than adequate in the city. But it's how are they allocated? Where are they? What are we gonna do? Building new parking just as a reminder of a a structured parking space is about $80,000 a space plus about $1,000 a year to maintain

4:29:42a lot of money that could go into other things when there is. So it it's it's gonna we're gonna have to get educated and figure out what's the way that works the best? Recognizing the reality of how people move around, what.

4:29:53what businesses, how people get to businesses.

4:29:56all of that.

4:29:57Thank you.

4:30:00Got a lot of feedback, and you got a new acronym.

4:30:05Thank you so much. Really appreciate it. Thank you all for the support. And I want to thank all the directors for coming up, and it was the long one into colleagues. Thank you. I know we have one more next steps, but also want to thank the public who has participated in this process since really January, when this Budget Kickoff happened. So thank you to all, and will

4:30:29pardon.

4:30:30Well, Karen, for this next steps, I'll I'll wrap up so as you see the timeline before you. As we indicated the draft Budget document will be out by the published. By the end of this week the early drafts will go to directly to the City Council and the Financial Advisory Board. Financial Advisory Board is meeting on May 20 eighth, so they will get the first preview, if you will. Of the budget and be able to. I mean, they'll at that point they'll have

4:30:57received it and had the weekend to take a look at it. So we're not gonna quiz them on anything, but we'll be able to give them a a high level kind of kick off if you will. A preliminary view of the budget on June fourth. That'll be our first proposed biennial budget, hearing that will be here in City Hall at 6 o'clock, as when the meeting starts, and so

4:31:21we will be able to do the full budget presentation at that point. You know, the Council and the Fab will have been able to take a long look at the budget, and so we will be introducing all of the numbers to be able to ask any preliminary questions.

4:31:38The next Council meeting is June eighteenth. However, we do anticipate that, as usual, the Financial Advisory Board does

4:31:46tend to call a special meeting in between those 2 meetings to do a further review of the budget, and hopefully provide a recommendation to the City Council regarding the adoption, the adoption of the budget.

4:32:00So June eighteenth would be the first opportunity for the Council to consider adoption of the budget.

4:32:06We can certainly can the city council can ask for additional meetings if needed. We just need to be able to pass a budget the City Council needs to pass a budget by June thirtieth, at the beginning of our new fiscal year, starting on July first, and then the last bullet is we've been indicating we're gonna be looking at the cost allocation plan, the service delivery study and additional any strategies for ongoing budget adjustments.

4:32:32To be able to look through and preserve our fund balance and keep us financially sustainable. So I also wanna thank all the public who has stuck around. Not as many people left online that I saw. But maybe some people are still watching on our live feed on our website. Just wanna thank you all for holding out. This is the longest council meeting we've had in quite a while. We're still, I think, in a pretty good shape. But once again, thank the City Council for your leadership

4:33:00and moving forward. And we're very excited to bring you budget numbers in a few days. So with that we conclude our presentation, and once again, many thanks to department directors.

4:33:14Oh, yes, now is the time for members of the public to provide public comment. If we have any, do we have. How many do you have? One speaker on this item? Dan Schulman can come up to the podium.

4:33:27Thank you for sticking it out with us. Yes.

4:33:30you get an award. Good evening, Dan, show me else. Read a resident

4:33:37I'll try to be as article as I can for 1030.

4:33:42This is really interesting as a resident, just to hear everything about all the departments. It's a nice way to get a concise

4:33:48view of the whole city. So there were a few things on my mind listening.

4:33:52One was the library.

4:33:55It's cool to hear there's gonna be more workshops and enthusiasm for it. But I keep worrying about

4:34:02paying for it.

4:34:03And I didn't hear as much about that in the presentations tonight.

4:34:09and so I guess if obviously, we can't pay for a library out of the the general fund clearly. But

4:34:15but if it is such an important thing for the city

4:34:19what can be done to not make it exclusively beyond the backs of residents for a new line item on their property tax bill.

4:34:28I don't know what's possible there. But that was something I was thinking about.

4:34:31Another is street safety.

4:34:35okay, resin. I've been. I've been getting a lot of studies like the traffic safety study, and the climate study, and all these studies that make nice Pdfs and things that talk about the importance of street safety and active transportation.

4:34:46But

4:34:47could we just, instead of doing more studies and nice Pdfs, can we just get some paint and start striping some roads with some bike lanes? And you know, just

4:34:56focus on just

4:34:57implementing as much as we can as soon as we can, so that

4:35:01instead of talking about vision 0, can we just

4:35:04move towards executing on vision 0?

4:35:06So I was in one other thing, and I guess the the Ev. Thing from the fire department was really interesting.

4:35:11just I think it underscores the importance of

4:35:13of other ways to get around. Besides, just vehicles. Electric vehicles aren't the be all end all.

4:35:20One thing from the police department that was interesting was, and I had one question I had was around like traffic

4:35:26cameras like, can we? I think I heard that some cities now can do

4:35:31the cameras that write your ticket for speeding automatically. I don't know if El Cerrito can do that yet, but

4:35:36seems like a way to improve our street safety and might be more budget friendly.

4:35:41And then Rec department. That was earlier.

4:35:45I think I appreciated the director of highlighting the stress for families when the programs fill up like immediately

4:35:52and for it's it's kind of stinks if you're working at that hour when when they go on sale

4:35:58or when registration opens, I guess whatever you call it.

4:36:02If those programs are pretty cost neutral, if they have good cost recovery, I mean, in terms of access for families, I mean it might be, if we can run more of them, or expand the capacity that might be nice.

4:36:12That's all I had.

4:36:14Thank you very much. Yeah.

4:36:17that could conclude that request, Mayor. Thank you. I know we can't directly comment to any of these things. But,

4:36:24it's kind of like ticketmaster when you're trying to sign up, you know. 9 Am. On the on the day of the registration. So I I really feel that, and understand that one among other ones think it was worse when you had to go in person. Yes, when you had to then be in the line.

4:36:40All right. So

4:36:42final council comments.

4:36:45I do have a quick one. I I just wanted to

4:36:48thank the city manager for her comments on keeping the reserves. It's much appreciated. It's a goal we have.

4:36:54It's something we've worked hard for, and I'm glad that that's

4:36:58you know, gone down to the department heads. Thank you. Department heads. It's not easy to have a tight budget, but that's what we're all here to do, and we appreciate it. And that's our goal. So thank you.

4:37:09Yeah, yeah. So I I also want to thank all the department heads. I think.

4:37:16I I feel that you've really heard us, and that you are really thinking closely about the budget. I know it's not pleasant, but I really appreciate all the work that went into bringing this to us, and I really look forward to the budgets that you'll be bringing cause I know that's where the rubber meets the road. So I'm really looking forward to it. Thank you for your deep participation in creating a better budget and thank you, city manager, for for shepherding all that.

4:37:44So one of the things that we can do potentially is provide staff direction. Is there any proposals for staff direction?

4:37:53I think that's hard without looking at the numbers. True, but that is one of the opportunities that we could. We could make a motion here if we choose to, but it sounds, and and

4:38:04I I would still make the pitch for bicycle patrol the green thing

4:38:10that's that's coming up, I think. But

4:38:14all right. So

4:38:16I hear no formal emotions. So with that

4:38:19move on to the next item, which is city council, local rea, regional liaison assignments

4:38:26there, any updates from? Alright, I'll start on this direction we'll go this way. So on May fourteenth I attended and participated in the Contra Costa County Board of Supervisors, Asian American Native, Hawaiian Pacific Islander Heritage celebration. So it was really nice and if anyone has the opportunity to go in the future, I totally recommend it. It was very nice events with a cultural performances, videos and

4:38:54dim some lunch

4:38:55that was nice, and on May sixteenth I went and served on the as a representative to the abag executive board, and we talked about

4:39:08what's coming up in terms of the Fafa bond and budget for a bag itself. There's going to be the general meeting in June.

4:39:19So that will be all the cities and participating jurisdictions coming together to vote on the a bag budget. They, too, have a really bad budget situation, mostly because of unfunded pension liability. So over time, you know, that's why our cost to participate in a bag has been slowly.

4:39:39Hmm!

4:39:40That's it.

4:39:43Just 2 quick things.

4:39:45I attended the Tree Committee meeting and

4:39:49thank you to the Duncans who were there with me, and they requested to, instead of meeting Quarterly. They'd like to meet every month.

4:39:59So, but that's a a committee that works, and and they do a lot of work, and grateful to them.

4:40:07I also attended the as vice chair of burying. Clean energy attended the meeting and

4:40:13Sandra Bell last week, and we did discuss

4:40:19things on the future. And one of the things we're gonna look at is finding one location, and preferably it will be in Contra Costa, most likely in concert. So that's part of

4:40:31that's a centrally located located area

4:40:35will be a little more difficult for the elected officials and Moran to be stuck on the I 80 like me

4:40:44getting over there to conquer. But we we will. Soldier on it's a good time to buy a location. So we're gonna look at that. So there's a new committee that I'll be a part of looking at real estate. And looking at the the major future plans of marine clean energy, and look forward to meeting with Dr. Fine and the Abac crew. They'll be meeting with me here tomorrow.

4:41:133 o'clock.

4:41:15Thank you.

4:41:17Yes. To. In reference to what Melanie was talking about. Future transportation needs the Cal country. Costa transportation authority

4:41:26held a redefining mobility conference in San Ramon last week to talk about

4:41:32future options, so we can have less parking, less driving, less freeways in in again. It was in San Ramon.

4:41:39and it was pretty exciting thing. Thank you. Did you see the glide? And I have? Yes, I have a few Updates. So on the ninth I attended the recycle more meeting representing El Cerrito.

4:41:52On this last eighteenth I went to the Rec. Department's Tea party, as I briefly mentioned when Director Jones was speaking. It was an incredible event. So much fun had by all the Korematsu Middle School jazz band played there was watercolor artists. There's ceramics and really delicious food, and the pastries were made by a local high school student who has a small business doing pastry. So it's quite cool.

4:42:18also attended a ribbon cutting for a new preschool in town on the same day. I also had the honor of going to glide Memorial Church and celebrating Dr. Cecil Williams, who passed away last month. So it was really incredible to see the type of work that he did in San Francisco. But really that impacted the whole entire bay area. So

4:42:42with that

4:42:46it is now 1043,

4:42:47we are adjourned. The next regular City Council meeting is going to be Tuesday, June fourth, at 6 PM. Thank you all

4:42:55you.