Regular City Council Meeting October 1, 2024

El Cerrito City Council Chamber, hybrid · 36 minutes · adjourned in memory of Judy Katz · 252 caption units

Council: Tessa Rudnick, Mayor · Carolyn Wysinger, Mayor Pro Tem · Paul Fadelli · Lisa Motoyama · Gabe Quinto

Staff: Karen Pinkos, City Manager · Holly Charléty, City Clerk · Paul Keith, Police Chief (speaking personally)

Also present: Patricia Durham, Wall of Fame nominee · Dave Weinstein, El Cerrito Historical Society · Reverend William McDaniel, St. Peter CME

A thirty-six minute meeting. The city wins two Government Finance Officers Association awards, having not applied for three fiscal years because staffing was too depleted. The El Cerrito and Kensington libraries close early because heat inside had reached unsafe levels for staff and patrons. And the Council approves the one nomination received for the Wall of Fame — Patricia Durham — with the police chief speaking for her as a resident.

These summaries are written with AI. An AI model (Claude, by Anthropic) drafted the summaries, titles and notes from each meeting’s closed captions, and they were checked against those captions. They can still be wrong, leave out something that matters, or weigh things differently than you would.

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Check anything that matters against the captions beside each summary, or the City’s recording. How these pages are made

SSignificantXCross-referenceNNoteCouncil action (in Contents)

Contents

10 sections
  1. 01Two awards, and a library too hot to stay openSX
  2. 02Centurions, and Jimmy Carter
  3. 03A proclamation, and a law firm
  4. 04One applicationSN
  5. 05“Stood up to those leaders”S
  6. 06“You know who to talk to, and you're not afraid”
  7. 07“Stronger in numbers”
  8. 08A mother and daughterX
  9. 09Pickleball, and a school district
  10. 10Judy KatzN

01 Two awards, and a library too hot to stay open captions 1–23

0:00:30Okay.

0:00:35Good evening, everyone. It's 6.0 6, and I'd love to welcome you to our regular El Cerrito City Council meeting for October 1st

0:00:43will the city clerk please call Roll

0:00:45Mayor Rednick, present mayor pro tem. Weisinger, present council member Fideli. Here Council, member Motiama, here councilmember Quinto. Here we have a quorum, all right. Since we have a quorum, I'll move on to our second item, which is a pledge of allegiance to the flag or a moment of silence.

0:01:01I keep.

0:01:03We're so used to being over here, and that's over here.

0:01:07I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation, under God, indivisible with liberty and justice for all.

0:01:24All right now on to item 3, which is teleconference and public comment. Instruction.

0:01:30City clerk.

0:01:32Thank you, Mayor.

0:01:35This hybrid meeting provides an option to participate in person, or via Zoom with closed captions available meetings of the City Council are subject to the Brown act, and held for the purpose of conducting city business. The Brown Act also ensures the public's right to be heard, and while city council may not be 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.

0:02:01Public comments will only be taken in person, and a request to speak can be submitted to the city clerk by completing a Speaker card.

0:02:08The Council's adopted rules of order and procedure specify that public speakers address the City council in an orderly and respectful manner, precede their comments with their name and city of residence, and be respectful of time limits. Thank you, Mayor. That concludes my instructions. Thank you so much. The next item is our Council and Staff Communications City manager. Do we have any staff announcements.

0:02:29Yes, thank you, your honor. I'm Karen Pincus City Manager. I have a couple of announcements. The 1st one is that I'm thrilled to share that the city of El Cerrito has been awarded the distinguished budget presentation award for our biennial budget. For fiscal years, 25 and 26.

0:02:45This council will recall that for the last 3 fiscal years the city did not apply for this award.

0:02:51Mostly because we had obviously a very depleted staff. But we also were focusing on presenting a very simplified annual budget for the past 3 fiscal years, and it would not have met the criteria for the award. However, this year we've upgraded our budget document. We have a full and very talented staff team finance staff team. So we were able to produce a budget that met the guidelines for presenting which. And I'll quote from the Gfoa. This is the

0:03:16The Government Finance Officers Association, distinguished budget presentation award reflects the commitment of the governing body and staff to meeting the highest principles of governmental budgeting. So I'm obviously very thankful to the City Council for your leadership and your direction. I'm very, very proud of the entire executive team, and especially our finance Director Crystal Reams, our budget and finance manager, Claire Coleman, and will provost our assistant to the city manager who really worked hard on the Budget document this year.

0:03:46I believe that this is a huge, another milestone in our recovery. And that we are dedicated to being fiscally responsible, transparent and sustainable. And I have breaking news that you do not know.

0:04:00That I just received an email just about a half hour ago that we have also been notified that we have received the the Gfoa Government Finance Officers Association certificate of achievement for excellence in financial reporting for our fiscal year 2023 annual comprehensive financial report. So that's 2 major awards from Gfoa. We're really excited about.

0:04:23thank you. And again thank you to the City Council for your leadership on this.

0:04:27and then I have some kind of unfortunate news. We have been notified that the El Cerrito Library has to close early today, due to excessive heat. We have been talking about the library building a lot lately, and one of the unfortunate realities is that it does not have an air conditioning.

0:04:44and it is at unsafe levels for their staff and for our patrons. So it they, and also the Kensington Library have closed today, due to excessive heat. So it obviously was a very hot day. Today it's supposed to be another hot day tomorrow. So please check the county website@ccclib.org and click on El Cerrito Library to see what our library hours are. But

0:05:07again, it's unfortunate, but we want to make sure we're keeping folks safe and our staff safe. So please make sure to check the website for hours if the library is open. Thank you, and that's all I have.

Called to order at 6:06 p.m., all five present.

The City Manager led with the Government Finance Officers Association Distinguished Budget Presentation Award, for the 2025–26 biennial budget [14].

“This council will recall that for the last 3 fiscal years the city did not apply for this award — mostly because we had obviously a very depleted staff,” and because the city had been presenting “a very simplified annual budget for the past 3 fiscal years.”

What the award signifies: “the commitment of the governing body and staff to meeting the highest” standards of budget presentation.

Her framing: “a huge, another milestone in our recovery.”

Then a second, arriving mid-meeting: “I just received an email just about a half hour ago that we have also been notified that we have received the” the GFOA Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting for the fiscal 2023 annual comprehensive financial report.

And then the unfortunate news. “The El Cerrito Library has to close early today, due to excessive heat.”

The reason: conditions inside were “at unsafe levels for their staff and for our patrons.” The Kensington Library closed too.

“We want to make sure we're keeping folks safe and our staff safe. So please make sure to check the website for hours if the library is” somewhere you were headed.

Significant

The library closed early because the building got too hot to occupy, and the City Manager ties it to “the library building” discussion: “one of the unfortunate realities is that it does not have an air conditioning.” Five months later, speakers advocating for a new library list “no air conditioning” among the existing building's defects, and county commissioners disclose that its 46 open hours are capped by “physical size of the building.”

Cross-reference

A city that stopped applying for the budget award, mostly for lack of staff and because its simplified budget would not have qualified, and now wins two finance awards in one evening. The same recovery is marked again on 4 March 2025, when the California Society of Municipal Finance Officers award is announced with the same explanation: “we had not been applying for these” until the finance team was rebuilt.

02 Centurions, and Jimmy Carter captions 24–55

0:05:19Thank you so much. Are there any announcements from my colleagues that are on the side?

0:05:24So there's a few. First, st is the, and I hopefully won't be canceled, is the friends of the Library book. Sale is on

0:05:32the 5th this Saturday, from 10 to 4

0:05:35the El Streeter Art Association has their opening artist reception on Friday from 7 to 9,

0:05:41and the citywide garage sale is October the 12th

0:05:46and October 10.th Through 13.th We have the 14th Annual Albany Film Festival in El Cerrito.

0:05:53Thank you so much. Any announcements.

0:05:55any announcements on the consent calendar I know we have Philippine Filipino history month, and I did attend the Board of Supervisors meeting in Martinez, where, we had a proclamation and I just want to say, thank you to Supervisor Candace Anderson and

0:06:17Newell, Arnitch and Danville, and they had a a young man who's in high school and and just spoke brilliantly about the importance of always remembering where you're from, and and he certainly did that. We did have our attorney General Rob Bonta there as our special guest and Mayor Gina Dawson from Lafayette. And we did have.

0:06:42Vice Mayor of Pinole Cameron Society. So yeah, Contra Costa. We have a lot of Filipinos and Kieran el Cerrito. We have a lot of old timers here and and the the next generation my generation. Most of us who grew up here moved out to

0:07:01less expensive areas like Hercules and Vallejo and along the northern shoreline. So we're everywhere here in Contra Costa County, and proud to see the next generation step up as well. So thank you. Council Member Fidelli. Yes, just a quick reminder as we

0:07:22are not watching the Vice presidential debate right now that most of us should have

0:07:28some. Some maybe folks are double tasking at home here, but our Contra Costa Voter Information Guide should have been mailed and received by most people. Also our city sent out information on voting here in El Cerrito, and the measure. G, that's going to be on the local ballot. I just want to remind everyone that next Monday most of the ballots will begin to be mailed and received at home, and that our dropbox here in our parking lot will be open

0:07:5829 days before the election, and remain open 24 7 until 8 pm. On election day.

0:08:06All right, and then I have 2 quick announcements, and then a nice little mini presentation. So for the 3rd quarter of 2024, which covers July. Through September I recognize El Cerrito centurion, Theodore Crum, who turned 103 in July.

0:08:23and he's received a mayoral certificate of recognition.

0:08:27and on that same note, September 25, th at El Cerrito Royale. It was the Centurion Day event, and Council Member Motoyama attended on my behalf and presented mayoral proclamations

0:08:40to recognize Betty Moore, who turned a hundred 2

0:08:44in January, Dorothy Chambers and Nicola

0:08:48Sk SEK.

0:08:53Okay.

0:08:54I apologize, Nicola, for not pronouncing your name correctly. If I didn't, who turned 103 in July

0:09:01and Penny Hender, who turned 104 this week. Couldn't imagine 104, and then my! My friend's mother, which I'm very excited. Phyllis Cobb. He turns 103 later this month.

0:09:16Madam Mayor, yeah, President, Jimmy Carter turned 100 today. We else Rito can send him a recognition. The political stuff going who turns 100 could be honored, and every single year is a huge accomplishment.

0:09:32And just a few little things. Also that I did on some Sunday was play like a girl plus and myself and councilmember Motyama attended, and it was so fantastic, so thank you. To all of the recreation staff and all of the community volunteers who helped set up such a cool event. And if you don't know what it is, it is a space where

0:09:56girls and we say, girl plus to be very inclusive. Can try out different sports that they may not know about. And it's completely for free, not just for El Cerrito residents. Anyone in the region can sign up their kids and attend, and the keynote speaker was an Olympian, and from El Cerrito, who is from the East Bay Judo Institute.

0:10:16That was very exciting.

0:10:18And then the previous weekend, on September 20 second, I got to attend at St. Peter's, Cme. A recognition for Pastor Mcdaniel, and I promised him there that he is going to be recognized by the city of El Cerrito and by the Mayor.

0:10:36Mayoral proclamations. So I'm very honored to present you with a mayoral proclamation.

0:10:43And I would love it if we could come up. Take a picture, and if there's any words that you have for the community, because I know you've got lots of words.

0:10:52Words.

0:11:21trainer.

A councilmember listed the week's events: the Friends of the Library book sale, the Arts Association's opening reception, the citywide garage sale on 12 October, and the 14th Annual Albany Film Festival in El Cerrito.

Quinto had attended the Board of Supervisors meeting in Martinez for Filipino American History Month, where a high school student “spoke brilliantly about the importance of always remembering where you're” from.

His demographic point: El Cerrito's Filipino community has “a lot of old timers,” while most of his generation who grew up there “moved out to less expensive areas like Hercules and Vallejo.”

Fadelli, noting that the Council was “not watching the Vice presidential debate right now,” reported the Contra Costa Voter Information Guide had been mailed, with drop boxes open “29 days before the election… and remain open 24/7 until 8 p.m. on election day.”

Then Rudnick read the quarter's El Cerrito Centurions. At a Centurion Day event on 25 September at El Cerrito Royale, Motoyama had presented certificates on her behalf.

The names: Theodore Crum, who turned 103 in July; Betty Moore, who turned 102 in January; Dorothy Chambers; Nicola, who turned 103 in July; Penny Hender, who turned 104 that week — “couldn't imagine 104” — and Phyllis Cobb, turning 103 later that month.

A councilmember added one more: “President Jimmy Carter turned 100 today.”

Rudnick also reported Play Like a Girl Plus — free, and open beyond El Cerrito — where girls “can try out different sports that they may not know about.” She noted the “plus” is “to be very inclusive.”

03 A proclamation, and a law firm captions 56–96

0:11:44I know it. Yeah, thank you.

0:11:49The lectern is yours. If you would like to share any words. Oh, yeah, please

0:11:56to Madam Mayor and all of the members of the

0:11:58through the counter. Here

0:12:00I am, both the

0:12:03humble

0:12:05oh.

0:12:07surprise.

0:12:09but thankful

0:12:11for this

0:12:13gesture

0:12:14that commemorates our labor.

0:12:18We do not believe that it's in vain.

0:12:21and we we just solicit your prayers that we continue to try to work

0:12:26to advance the kingdom of God in the city of Airtruji. Thank you so much.

0:12:37All right. Next is oral communications from the public.

0:12:42Now it's time for members of the public who wish to provide public comments regarding items not on the agenda, consent items and presentation items request to speak can be submitted to the city clerk by completing a speaker card.

0:12:54Public comments will be taken in person. Only

0:12:57please remember to identify yourself and your city of residence at the beginning of your comments. City clerk, please proceed.

0:13:03This might be a first, st but I do not have any requests to speak. Mayor. Oh, all right.

0:13:10so we'll move on to the adoption of the Consent calendar. It includes the following items.

0:13:15item, a board, commission and committee work plans and our accomplishments for the Park and Recreation Commission.

0:13:21Approval of Minutes Filipino, American History, Month Proclamation, National Arts and Humanities, Month Proclamation Code, Enforcement Neighborhood Preservation Officer. Appreciation Week Proclamation.

0:13:34Second Reading and adoption of an ordinance approving a development Agreement for the 1715 Elm Street Project to extend the term of the agreement with the original developer for 5 years.

0:13:46Item G. Biannual update of agency, conflict and interest code in item 8 H. Adoption adopt a resolution to authorize the city manager to enter into a professional services agreement with Bertrand Fox, Elliott, Osmond, and Wenzel, Llc. For legal services and representation.

0:14:06Would anyone like to pull an item.

0:14:10I have a few questions on. Item H.

0:14:14Anything else?

0:14:16Bye.

0:14:17thanks.

0:14:19Very quick questions. Is this the 1st time we've entered into agreement with this firm.

0:14:24Yes.

0:14:26is. This is related to. Was this services before that were given to us from our previous

0:14:33law firm before we signed with Redwood public law.

0:14:39Sorry. Yeah, I don't. I don't think so. No. So this is our 1st time getting this kind of representation correct? And is this a retainer? Is it a retainer model? Or is this? Because there's no contract included with it?

0:14:54So is it just a retainer to have the legal services, or is it? It's a contract with an up to amount. Okay, so and then it's as per.

0:15:04So there's no okay as needed. But there's no retainer. Yes, okay, thank you. And just to clarify, we have used this law firm in the past. But they. And as explained in the report. They are a certified attorney through Irma, which is our membership and our employment risk management authority that we belong to through Mpa. Which is the municipal pulling authority. I saw that it was connected to both Mpa. And Irma, as well as it have been budgeted

0:15:31in the budget, so there's no extra authority. But thank you, those are just my questions, since they were.

0:15:35Thank you. Bye.

0:15:39I'll move. Move by Mothiyama, seconded by Quinto.

0:15:43All those in all those in favor, please say, aye, aye, any opposed motion carries.

Rudnick presented a mayoral proclamation to Reverend William McDaniel of St. Peter CME, having attended a recognition for him on 22 September.

His remarks were short: “I am both humble” and “surprise[d], but thankful for this gesture that commemorates our labor.”

“We do not believe that it's in vain, and we just solicit your prayers that we continue to try to work.”

Then something the clerk flagged as unusual: “this might be a first, but I do not have any requests to speak.”

The consent calendar carried the Parks and Recreation Commission work plan, minutes, Filipino American History Month and National Arts and Humanities Month proclamations, a code enforcement item, the second reading of the 1715 Elm Street development agreement extension, the biennial conflict of interest code update, and a professional services agreement with Bertrand, Fox, Elliot, Osman & Wenzel for legal services and representation [80].

Motoyama pulled the last for questions. Was this the first agreement with the firm? Yes.

Had these services previously come from the city's former law firm, before Redwood Public Law? Staff did not think so.

Is it a retainer? No — “a contract with an up to amount,” used as needed, with no retainer.

Staff then clarified that the city had used the firm before; it is certified through IRMA, the employment risk authority the city belongs to through the Municipal Pooling Authority. Motoyama noted the amount was already budgeted, “so there's no extra authority.”

Moved by Motoyama, seconded by Quinto. Carried.

04 One application captions 97–121

0:15:49All right.

0:15:51We're just going right through it, and we're on to Item 9, which is policy matters. The City Council wall of fame, nomination ad hoc committee recommendation.

0:16:03and that that subcommittee was myself and council Member Motoyama. Thank you so much for your service, and thank you to our city clerk for facilitating a really great session.

0:16:13Thank you, Mayor, just as a quick recap of what this process is, and what the action before you tonight is requesting. So the wall of fame program has an annual deadline of July 1st for nominations, for induction into the wall of fame.

0:16:29The city received one application prior to that deadline, and the council from the committee, who reviewed the application, made a recommendation to the City Council at the last meeting on September 17, th to move forward that recommendation or that nomination for approval by the full council. So the action before you tonight is requesting

0:16:52action to approve that nomination so that city staff can move forward with preparing all of the logistics planning for a formal induction ceremony. We do a photo opportunity with the candidate. We do a nice resolution about all of the great things that they have done for the city of El Credo, and we do have some of the

0:17:15individuals who submitted the nomination application in the room tonight, if there are any questions, but the action before you again is just a motion to approve that that nomination and move forward in the wall of fame process.

0:17:29All right. So we will get to comments. But 1st questions. Are there any questions from the Council?

0:17:36None.

0:17:38No questions. All right. Now. It's time for members of the public who wish to provide public comment on this item

0:17:44there any requests to speak on this item? Yes, Mayor, we do have some requests on this item. So first, st I'll call up Dave Weinstein, followed by Paul Keith.

0:17:56Mayor and members of the City Council. I'm Dave Weinstein, of El Cerrito. I speak on behalf of the El Cerrito Historical Society.

0:18:02which is so very pleased that Pat Durham joined our board a number of years ago. She immediately made her presence known, as she has a want of doing, pointing out things that we failed to do, and things that we could be doing better. And she, just, you know, really got involved with things. You've all seen the Martin Luther King

0:18:21Motion. Picture of that that she helped produce. That was amazing. And that's just one of many things. She's very forceful in her opinions. She's very energetic, and I think this is just one of many things. You know, that she's done over over decades, the mlk. And so much more. It's such a pleasure to work with Pat. I think it will be great

0:18:41to have her on the wall of fame.

0:18:45Thank you. Our next speaker is Paul Keith, and I believe that's in his personal capacity.

0:18:50We're not have to move your badge. Then. Good evening, Council members. I'm here is Paul Keith, a member of the El Crito community, and also as the chief of police.

0:19:00I was one of the nominators for Pat Durham, and I can tell you she's won impressive. Elsa written.

0:19:05I 1st met her around 20 years ago as she organized an Mlk. Day parade.

0:19:10and since then I've seen her tremendous programs over the last 2 decades. And I've really been blown away by her tenacity, her energy, and her passion for her community, and one of my fondest memories was I mean, it was during the pandemic, which wasn't a fond memory. But the fond memory during the pandemic was when Pat said, Hey, we're gonna do an mlk parade. We're gonna do it different. We're gonna do a it's gonna be like a car parade kind of thing. And it's all gonna come together.

0:19:35and I hardly had any staffing to do it. But I said, whatever we're going to make this happen. I met Pat that day, and she was just ecstatic. There's all these cars. There's bands on trailers, and I mean our cops just worked frantically to like keep the thing together and keeps, you know, traffic from coming into the parade, and it was just basically a wild ride down San Pablo Avenue to the to the El Cerrito Plaza Bar Station.

0:19:58and I mean at the end. It was like a huge triumph that we had pulled it off despite the pandemic, and you know we'd had that victory during the pandemic.

0:20:05and I give it to Pat that she kept the thing going, you know, even during this crazy time of strife and challenge.

0:20:12She just has tremendous energy and love for her community, so really admire the heck out of her. I have been looking at the wall of fame for several years, knowing that there's a spot for her up there. So I hope that tonight you're gonna make the you're gonna approve the motion to move forward with her nomination. She's just a really great person and very deserving.

0:20:33So thank you very much.

The policy item was the Wall of Fame nomination ad hoc committee recommendation — the subcommittee being Rudnick and Motoyama.

The clerk gave the process: the program has an annual deadline, “the city received one application prior to that deadline,” and the committee reviewed it and recommended approval.

What the Council's action does: allows staff “to move forward with preparing all of the logistics planning for a formal induction ceremony,” including a photograph for the wall.

No questions from the Council.

Dave Weinstein spoke for the El Cerrito Historical Society, “which is so very pleased that Pat Durham joined our board a number of years ago.”

His description: “she immediately made her presence known, as she has a want of doing,” and among many things helped produce a motion picture “that was amazing.”

“She's very forceful in her opinions. She's very energetic.”

Then Paul Keith spoke — and the clerk noted the capacity: “I believe that's in his personal capacity.” He introduced himself as “a member of the El Cerrito community, and also as the chief of police”, and had been one of the nominators.

He first met her “around 20 years ago as she organized an MLK Day parade.”

The story he told was from the pandemic: he had committed to making the parade happen with “hardly any staffing to do it. But I said, whatever, we're going to make this happen.”

“At the end it was like a huge triumph that we had pulled it off despite the pandemic… and I give it to Pat that she kept the thing going, even during this crazy time of strife and challenge.”

Significant

The Wall of Fame received exactly one application that year, and that single nomination is what puts Patricia Durham on the wall. Seven weeks later the Council revises the program — moving to a biennial cycle, prioritizing living residents, barring sitting councilmembers from nominating, and committing to outreach because the process “has been” insular.

Note

A serving police chief speaking at a public meeting, introduced by the clerk as appearing “in his personal capacity,” though he names himself both “a member of the El Crito community, and also as the chief of police.” The substance is a 20-year acquaintance and a parade held through the pandemic.

05 “Stood up to those leaders” captions 122–140

0:20:39And was there any other requests to speak? That is, that concludes our request by the public to speak right? So we're gonna have council comments. And I'm going to start in this direction this time. If there's any comments. All right. Yeah, thank you, Mayor. I'm going to start with Councilman Fidelli, and then I'll go. We'll go in this direction. Yeah, thanks. Well.

0:21:02Pat is certainly a family member to all of us in this community.

0:21:06and I think this is long overdue.

0:21:10Pat

0:21:11demonstrated courage to leaders in this community 30 plus years ago demonstrated courage

0:21:18and stood up to those leaders.

0:21:22and the result has been our greatest event in El Cerrito.

0:21:26Intern it. She made history for the march that we all love, and that we're so proud of.

0:21:32and I'm so proud of her, and so glad to be always welcomed. Saint Peter's, especially on Good Friday

0:21:38congratulations because I think this is gonna be a done deal.

0:21:44Thank you. I echo what my colleague just mentioned. I also wanted to

0:21:50let Pat know how grateful I am to be friends and organizers. And and we have worked together and organized our communities for many, many years together. With people that are no longer with us like Mayor Janet Abelson, and folks that that moved on to other cities like Joan Carpenter, and and many, many more. So know, that.

0:22:20looking at this nomination, I am in full support of this, and look forward to many future awards for you, because we're going to keep it going. So I look forward to this wall of fame, and you certainly are one of the most deserved members of our community to be put on this with our other community members. So again, congratulations!

0:22:51I don't know if it's a done deal. I don't know if I'm voting for Miss Patten, or just

0:22:56you know, people keep bringing up Martin Luther King, and one of Martin Luther King's most famous quotes is the life's most urgent and persistent question is, What have you done for others? And I think that we can all say that Miss Pat has done so much for this community and so much for the people around her. But I just want to make sure that I say you know a lot of folks bring up the Mlk parade, and it's a very important event in our community. But Miss Pat is so much more than

0:23:22just the Mlk parade, and I've come to know Miss Pat as the standard bearer

0:23:27of continuing the legacy of black people here in the city of El Cerrito with a lot of people. Quite honestly, I will tell you. I have a family member who randomly met this guy who lives in the hills of this city called el Cerrito, and she called him back. She lives in Houston, by the way, she is the sister-in-law of George Floyd, and she called this man back, and she said, my cousin is the Mayor Plato of the city of El Cerrito, and he didn't believe her. He told her she was a liar.

0:23:51and she wasn't sure. She just heard me talk about this city, and she went and looked it up, and he was shocked to find that the mayor pro tem. Of the city of El Saludo was a black person, and you know all of that is in part and parcel due to the work that Miss Pat has done to always continue that we know the folks who came before, who actually founded the parade, the missing women, the women who I didn't even know who were connected to me

0:24:16since before I was born at St. Peter's, Cme. Church. So I appreciate her for always keeping the legacy alive for our black community here in El Cerrito, and making sure that as the griat that she is, that she tells those stories so that all of the young folks behind her know the stories of our community here. So thank you so much. Ms, pat.

Fadelli spoke first.

“Pat demonstrated courage to leaders in this community 30 plus years ago… and stood up to those leaders.”

“And the result has been our greatest event in El Cerrito.” She “made history for the march that we all love, and that we're so proud of.”

Quinto added the working relationship: “grateful to be friends and organizers… we have worked together and organized our communities for many, many years.”

Wysinger said “I don't know if it's a done deal,” then quoted King: “life's most urgent and persistent question is, What have you done for others?”

Her description of the role: Durham is “the standard bearer of continuing the legacy of Black people here in the city of El Cerrito.”

Then a story about how far that reaches. A family member had randomly met a man from the El Cerrito hills who did not believe her cousin was mayor pro tem; he “was shocked to find that the mayor pro tem” of El Cerrito “was a black person.”

Her own connection predates her: the church has been there “since before I was born, at St. Peter CME.”

Significant

Fadelli says Durham “stood up to those leaders” in the community “30 plus years ago,” and that “the result has been our greatest event in El Cerrito.” Who the leaders were, and what the disagreement was, are not said on the record.

06 “You know who to talk to, and you're not afraid” captions 141–153

0:24:37it's always tough to go towards the end, because everyone says so many wonderful things. So Mr. Thank you so much for being a leader in this community. And you know I echo everything that everybody said already. But also I just want to say thank you for being the kind of person that welcomes people in and helps people participate more actively in the community.

0:25:00In your church, on committees, the Historical Society. You are a bringer together of people. You make it joyful to participate, and I really thank you for that. And you know, being on the subcommittee with Mayor Rodnick. It was a no brainer. I don't think we really had to really talk about it too hard, so thank you so much

0:25:23so the 1st time I met Tt. Was when I was running for office, and me and Janet Abelson and Miss Patricia Durham met and had lunch together at Los Moles, and it was in the pandemic. So we were outside, and we're all distance, and I was so struck

0:25:44by your passion, and that was my 1st impression, and it's only been stronger since then, and I again echo everything. My colleagues have said. One thing I really want to add, what makes you so special

0:25:56is, you know how to get things done.

0:25:58you know who to talk to, and you're not afraid.

0:26:01and you up, up and down any space of power or anything doesn't matter. You're there.

0:26:08and you're making sure that you're accomplishing what you want to get done, and that you you. There's that saying about how you track the flies with honey, not vinegar, and you bring a lot of honey.

0:26:19and you really make it so that people want to work with you and are willing to to

0:26:24open up anything we need to get something done, and to really kind of honor and cherish what your families started, and what we really want to make sure always continues in El Cerrito.

0:26:35So thank you so much

0:26:39do I have a motion to approve. I'll move all right. Moved by Motoyama a second, seconded by Weisinger.

0:26:46All those in favor, please say aye, aye, any opposed motion carries all right.

Motoyama, a member of the ad hoc, noted the difficulty of speaking near the end. Her description: “in your church, on committees, the Historical Society — you are a bringer together of people. You make it joyful to participate.”

Her first meeting was over lunch with Janet Abelson and Durham at a local restaurant while she was running for office, and she had been struck “by your passion.”

And the quality she singled out: “you know how to get things done. You know who to talk to, and you're not afraid” — “up and down any space of power… you're there.”

Moved by Motoyama, seconded by Wysinger. Carried.

Outcome CarriedItem 9.A, City Council Wall of Fame nomination ad hoc committee recommendation — approval of the nomination of Patricia Durham: moved by Councilmember Motoyama, seconded by Mayor Pro Tem Wysinger. Carried.

07 “Stronger in numbers” captions 154–198

0:27:01You will have your opportunity when we do the formal, because I was thinking, Oh, should we have? I want you to save anything you're going to save for when we have the formal induction.

0:27:10so save all those words or do, can we just go? Really, don't feel like you need to

0:27:19a little stop.

0:27:20give a little bit.

0:27:25all dressed and everything.

0:27:29Well, well, well, well, well, we all know that I love you so much.

0:27:36and I am so thankful

0:27:40for this esteemed nomination for me

0:27:45the beat

0:27:46a part of the wall of fame.

0:27:50-

0:27:51I am truly humble.

0:27:53I'm honored

0:27:55to be in this place

0:27:58at this moment

0:28:00in time.

0:28:02This is very, a very special moment.

0:28:05I am grateful

0:28:07to everyone who has been a part of my journey.

0:28:12Okay, when I look back

0:28:15on the many decades of the love

0:28:20and the hard work.

0:28:22What's these special faces?

0:28:25You know some still are here.

0:28:29some have gone on to heaven.

0:28:33faces, from my family

0:28:36faces, from my church.

0:28:38my community, and all of you.

0:28:41You are the reason

0:28:44that I am here today.

0:28:46and I'm just thankful. Don't make me cry.

0:28:50I thank God that I have inspired.

0:28:55and pass the torch

0:28:58to other young leaders in our city.

0:29:01and you know some of them.

0:29:04You know, I am right now reminded.

0:29:09of my favorite quote

0:29:12from the warriors.

0:29:14we are stronger in numbers

0:29:18we are stronger in numbers, and I just not gonna cry. So I'm just gonna say again.

0:29:24thank you so much. I have so much to say. But this is a special day, and it's my great city.

0:29:33Okay.

0:29:35the city that I love.

0:29:38and I prayed that God would put his arms around each and every one of you forever.

0:29:46Thank you.

Rudnick tried to save Durham's remarks for the formal induction — “I want you to save anything you're going to save for when we have” the ceremony — then relented.

“Well, well, well. We all know that I love you so much, and I am so thankful for this esteemed nomination.”

“I am truly humble. I'm honored to be in this place, at this moment in time.”

Then the formulation she uses again in January: “when I look back on the many decades of the love and the hard work — what's these special faces?”

“Some still are here. Some have gone on to heaven. Faces from my family, faces from my church, my community, and all of you.”

“You are the reason that I am here today.”

What she said she was most thankful for: “I thank God that I have inspired, and passed the torch to other young leaders in our city.”

And the quote she chose, from an unexpected source: “my favorite quote from the Warriors — we are stronger in numbers.”

“I have so much to say. But this is a special day, and it's my great city… the city that I love.”

08 A mother and daughter captions 199–213

0:29:55I just thought of a moment of El Cerrito history, and that I don't think that there's ever been a mother, daughter Duo, of the daughter being a port Laureate for El Cerrito, and the mother being a wall of famer.

0:30:09It is a 1st from El Crito history.

0:30:16Do you want to take a picture with the council.

0:30:19Let's do it alright, that'd be nice.

0:30:36hey?

0:30:46Hi!

0:30:47A little addiction.

0:30:50Oh, really, no!

0:30:54What do I do?

0:30:56Okay.

0:31:06Alright.

0:31:17What are you there for?

0:31:19Oh, boy, what a wonderful, wonderful day

0:31:26you have to give a whole new.

0:31:29Yeah, okay, okay, you could. You get that?

Rudnick then noted a piece of local history: she did not think there had “ever been a mother-daughter duo, of the daughter being a poet laureate” for El Cerrito.

“It is a first from El Cerrito history.”

Cross-reference

Durham gives a longer version of these same remarks at the induction on 21 January — “I see spaces. I see special faces. I see you” — and there develops the formulation further: “an achievement is not solely alone… You are part of me. You belong to me.” Her daughter, former poet laureate Evelyn Janine Mitchell, reads a piece she wrote for her.

09 Pickleball, and a school district captions 214–241

0:31:47All right. So the next item is our city council, local and regional liaison assignments. Do we have any

0:31:56reports?

0:31:57No?

0:31:59Oh, yeah. Yeah. Yesterday I drove up to Sacramento and and we had

0:32:06my orientation for as incoming 1st Vice President of League of California Cities. So ran into some familiar faces over there in Sacramento. And you know, a lot of things were vetoed

0:32:21by the Governor. So knowing that we do have a couple of years at least dealing with deficit years. So yeah, today was last or yesterday was the last day. So we'll soldier on. So I look forward to seeing my! Our colleagues up and down the State from California and Long Beach for our convention

0:32:43announcements.

0:32:45So

0:32:48for my attendance. I also attended the St. Peter Simi Church Pastor Appreciation Day. And that was a really wonderful event. On September the 20 second. And after that I did go to the well grounded

0:33:00Oktoberfest, where I got to see Chief Keith in action

0:33:04quite the exciting day. On September the 23, rd I attended the East Bay Wildfire Coalition meeting and got to

0:33:14experience like the group dynamic. That was very interesting. On September the 25th I attended the Tom Bates Fields, Jpa. Meeting.

0:33:23and so we did get an update on the work there.

0:33:28So they are closing.

0:33:31the overpasses bicycle overpass is done, the roundabout and the roads will be done by the end of the year, and the Bay Trail gap will be closed, so it'll be continuous from Albany to Emeryville.

0:33:46So the field House work and the pickleball courts and the under 8 soccer field is in the next phase to come.

0:33:55and there will be some smaller fee increases for users. So I think the other part of that is that we have a $15,000 per year participation fee for our city, and that is not changing. So that is where that is

0:34:14And then

0:34:15on

0:34:17the October first.st

0:34:20no, I guess that was that was yesterday, September 30th I went to the West Contra Costa, unified school district of the district breakfast and so it was really nice to see that

0:34:33The the partnership that we are participating in, and to see our colleague with the Mayor of Pinol receive an award for the community schools effort, Mayor Ponce

0:34:46and

0:34:48The good thing is that they are

0:34:52Their budget is quite positive, and they've reduced their financial risk. So I think that's a important thing for us to know

0:35:00and we learned about some initiatives around.

0:35:04they're

0:35:06anti-racism efforts in their facilities updates. So thank you.

Quinto reported driving to Sacramento for his orientation as incoming First Vice President of the League of California Cities, and noted the state picture: “we do have a couple of years at least dealing with deficit years.”

Rudnick listed her attendance: the St. Peter CME pastor appreciation event, Oktoberfest, and the East Bay Wildfire Coalition on 23 September, where she got “to experience like the group dynamic.”

Then the Tom Bates Fields JPA on 25 September, with a progress report: the bicycle overpass is done; “the roundabout and the roads will be done by the end of the year, and the Bay Trail gap will be closed.”

Coming next: the field house, pickleball courts and an under-8 soccer field, with “some smaller fee increases for users.”

And the city's stake: “a $15,000 per year participation fee for our city.”

On 30 September she attended the West Contra Costa Unified School District breakfast, where the Mayor of Pinole received an award for the community schools effort.

The finding she thought worth relaying: “their budget is quite positive, and they've reduced their financial risk. So I think that's an important thing for us to know.”

Plus initiatives on anti-racism efforts and facilities updates.

10 Judy Katz captions 242–252

0:35:12Councilor Fideli. Yes, just. I also was at the East Bay Wildfire Coalition in this City Hall last week.

0:35:19and there will be another meeting next month on October 21st

0:35:23in the City Hall.

0:35:25and I. I would have liked to have gone to the Pastor Appreciation

0:35:29Day, but I was visiting my daughter in Cleveland and went to the rock and roll hall of Fame, and saw earth, wind, and fire perform there. So

0:35:36I think I did the best that I could do. Okay, thanks.

0:35:42All right.

0:35:44So before I officially adjourn the meeting, I'm going to be adjourning the meeting, and this is a very sad one, because we celebrated all those who are still alive and with their triple digit numbers. But we do have to adjourn in memory of Judy Katz, who dedicated over 20 years to the El Cerrio Recreation Department as a senior fitness instructor.

0:36:04guiding, instructing, and encouraging others to keep active and healthy lives. Judy, love teaching seniors for the city of El Cerrito, and positively impact the lives of many.

0:36:14So with that

0:36:16the meeting is adjourned at 6, 42, and the next regularly scheduled meeting is Tuesday, October 15, th at 6 pm. Thank you, and have a great night.

Fadelli had also attended the wildfire coalition, and explained his absence from the pastor appreciation: “I was visiting my daughter in Cleveland and went to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, and saw Earth, Wind and Fire perform there. So I think I did the best that I could do.”

Rudnick then adjourned the meeting, noting the contrast: “we celebrated all those who are still alive” earlier in the evening.

In memory of Judy Katz, a longtime El Cerrito senior fitness instructor, who spent her career “guiding, instructing, and encouraging others to keep active and healthy lives.” She “loved teaching seniors for the city of El Cerrito, and positively impact[ed] the lives” of many.

Adjourned at 6:42 p.m.

Note

A meeting that recognized six residents aged 100 or more closes in memory of the woman who taught the city's senior fitness classes. The mayor draws the connection herself.