Regular City Council Meeting March 4, 2025

0:00:07March 4, th 2025. Regular City Council meeting is called to order at 6 0. 2 Pm. Will the city clerk please call roll.

0:00:17Mayor Weisinger, present Mayor Proton Quinto here, councilmember, Saltzman.

0:00:21Councilmember motyama. Here councilmember Cotsanas. Here we have a quorum.

0:00:27The 1st item on the agenda is consideration under A. B, 2449. City clerk. Do we have any requests? We do not have any requests. Mayor, please join me in the pledge of allegiance or a moment of silence.

0:00:41I 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.

0:00:57The next item on the agenda is teleconference and public comment. Instructions from our city clerk.

0:01:03Thank you, Mayor. This hybrid meeting provides an option to participate in person, or via Zoom with closed captions. Available meetings of the City Council are subject to the Brown Act, and 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

0:01:24for members of the public who wish to provide oral testimony. The mayor will announce the time for public comment on each applicable item. Public comments will be taken in person only, and a request to speak can be submitted by completing a Speaker card up front.

0:01:38The Council's adopted rules of order and procedures specify that public speakers address the city Council in an orderly and respectful manner, precede their comments with their name and city of residence, and be respectful of time limits. Thank you, Mayor, that concludes my instructions.

0:01:52Thank you. The next item on the agenda is Council Staff Communications city manager. Do we have any staff communication? I do thank you, your honor. I'm Karen Pincus, City manager. Just a few announcements. We are really happy and excited to announce that we're relaunching the Ec. Stars Internship program. That work we work with El Cerrito High School, and in partnership with the West Contra Costa, Unified School District, Ec. Stars, stands for students training and ready for success.

0:02:21We had it for several years prior to the pandemic, and we're relaunching it with the school district. We're really excited. It is tentatively scheduled for June 17th through August 1st

0:02:33applications are open for Alex. High school students for El Cerrito High School, I believe, or Elserito residents. She's walking out El Cerrito residents and El Cerrito high school students the application

0:02:47period opened yesterday, and it will close on March 31, st we will offer 7 internship opportunities across all city departments, so you can go online to L dash cerrito.org slash jobs. And for more information contact Alask

0:03:03over there. Just a few dates to remember coming up Saturday, April 19, th is Earth Day. Join a work party that's from 9 Am. To 12 pm. We're having a go green mobility fair. April 26, th from 11 Am. To 3 Pm. And details are in on our website and in the city managers update that went out last week

0:03:26before last week. But it's also on our website. And finally, I would like to announce and we have already announced this again in our in our

0:03:35in the update, but also on our website and on social media that El Cerrito has won the California Society of Municipal Finance officers, also known as Csmfo budget award at the highest level. You may recall that we won the Government Finance Officers Association, which is the national level. This is the state level of version of this award.

0:03:59It. It means that we have demonstrated a positive and good budget development for our budget document, and, as you all recall, we had not been applying for these awards for the past several years, due to the pandemic staffing and very tight budget issues. And now that we are back with our biennial budget and a full budget staff.

0:04:19full finance staff that we have been applying and receiving these awards. So this is another great milestone for our staff, and I want to thank Crystal reams. Who's our finance director? I saw her in here somewhere. Wave Crystal.

0:04:33She's back. She back there. She walked out. Anyway, she'll she'll walk back in. She's doing a presentation later. Claire Coleman, Jill do, and all of our finance team for their work. And of course, to all of our executive team who helped put together this award winning budget document again. This is a great milestone for the city, and I'm really happy to that we're winning awards for our budget development again. So with that, your honor, that's all I have. Thank you.

0:04:58Thank you so much. And as for mayoral announcements, on February 27th I sent a letter of support for Ab. 3, 30, which extends the Sunset of the local prepaid mobile Telephony Services Collection Act.

0:05:12ensuring local government continues receiving critical revenue from surcharges for surcharges on prepaid wireless communications and transactions transactions to be specifically so, this is a great example of what we talked about in our last meeting. As far as having a legislative platform in the absence of having one, we wouldn't be able to participate in these important Ab or bills that are actually bringing revenue into our city. So thank you to our legislative team and thank you to the city manager for supporting that.

0:05:40and, most importantly, for those of us who are like Council Member Casanis and our good friend Champagne Brown. Let the good time roll. Happy Mardi Gras! Happy Mardi Gras!

0:05:52The next item on the agenda is all communications from the public. Now is the time for members of the public who wish to provide public comments regarding matters not on the agenda. Consent items and presentation items request to speak can be submitted to the city clerk. By completing a speaker card. Public comments will be taken in person. Only please remember to identify yourselves and your city of residence. At the beginning of your comments. City clerk, please proceed.

0:06:19Thank you, Mayor. At this time we have 12 requests to speak. Can you just please confirm the time limit for me. Let's go ahead and make the time. 2 min per speaker, please. Okay.

0:06:37okay. So I'll call up our 1st speaker tonight, is Ruth Americh, followed by Abby Campbell and Ed Colossi.

0:06:53I'm Ruth Amernick, and I've been a resident on Richmond Street for 23 years.

0:06:59I'm against the proposed Richmond Street Improvement project. Plan. It does not improve the street.

0:07:05This is not a plan that reflects common sense solutions for our street.

0:07:10Richmond Street neighbors are the major stakeholders affected by this plan

0:07:14the majority of Richmond Street neighbors and I want El Dorito to be a city that listens to its citizens, protects resident safety, respects and adheres to Ada Laws is pragmatic, not following an ideology. The current proposed plan for Richmond Street does not meet this expectation.

0:07:34We want our city council to approve Richmond Street for two-way traffic and parking on each side of the street. We do not need or want unnecessary seating of Richmond Street, parking meters or parking permits or any paid guest pass parking

0:07:50do not want to transform Richmond Street Emergency, Access street to a street with bike lanes and barriers, and impede the emergency vehicles for fire, police and medical emergencies or block senior and handicap access to our homes, family and friend visits and general large vehicle deliveries.

0:08:08We do not want Richmond Street and Emergency Access route to become a block street, just like in Southern California or Paradise, California, during their fire emergencies, and to cause injuries or deaths because of slow street traffic barriers, bike lanes for Richmond Street are not a requirement of this grant, nor are they necessary or safe for this emergency route.

0:08:31We invite you to work with the majority of Richmond Street residents who see the need for improving our street through curved trees, better lighting, fixing sidewalks, repaving and marking Richmond Street.

0:08:43financing the upkeep of the already created and working bike lanes on Ohloney Green, a few blocks parallel to Richmond Street and encouraging bike riders to use quiet streets in El Cerrito will make Richmond Street safer. Thank you for your comments. Our next speaker is Abby Campbell, followed by Ed. Colucci and Chris Thiel.

0:09:14Good evening. My name is Abby Campbell, and my family has lived on Richmond Street since 1949 over 70 years. I'm here to oppose the Richmond Street Complete Street Improvement Project. My main concern is that bikes and cars do not fix, especially on a busy residential Street.

0:09:30Richmond Street is in a residential area. Many people who live in Richmond Street have 2 or 3 cars. This is a reality today in the foreseeable future. The driveways built in 19 forties do not have double driveways. The people on the side streets, like Elm Everett and Blake also have more than one car during the day. It may

0:09:49be deserted as people drive to work, but not at night. You should not expect residents on Richmond Street to take the parking places of residents on the side streets. This will create hostility among neighbors, and will have a domino effect with residents on the side streets in turn using neighbor space. Also there are daycares on Richmond Street, where young children are dropped off and picked up daily. They should not have to maneuver crossing the streets

0:10:14and hold up traffic while placing children in their car seat. We already have a perfectly good bike path, only 3 blocks from Richmond Street, called the Ohloney, Greenway or Bart. Path. No cars. Yes, there are pedestrians, but it is divided for bikes and pedestrians. There's absolutely no reason to build a bike lane 3 blocks away, when they both pretty much go to the same places. And if you want to get to Ashbury to go towards Berkeley like Solana, just go up Mosier from the Greenway only 3 blocks.

0:10:42I think the issues with using Greenway in the last few years have been addressed to some degree, except at intersections. There would not be car situations zooming by like there would be on Regular street, and Richmond Street is not a regular street, as cars speed all the time. I mean, it kind of bothers me because they put the Greenway in for pedestrians and cyclists. And now they're thinking that a couple blocks up. We need another bike lane.

0:11:05Why, a lot of people ride bikes to get exercise. What is an extra 3 blocks? They don't need a dedicated bike lane on every street. I just feel that it is wrong to spend more money to make bike lanes on busy streets like Richmond Street that have a lot of cars going, and they are going fast. Thank you for your comments. If I could also remind speakers to make sure to speak into the microphone so that your audio can be picked up on both our live stream and our zoom feed.

0:11:30Our next speaker is Ed Kalushi, followed by Chris Thiel and Victoria Godfrey.

0:11:42Hi, good evening. My name is Ed Colucci. I'm a resident of El Crito for the last 25 years. I'm also a retired middle school principal.

0:11:52I, too, want to speak about the Richmond project. I have 3 quick points. I'd like to make

0:11:57one is the parking loss.

0:11:59You're gonna take away half the parking on Richmond. Where are we supposed to go?

0:12:04If you look at the adjacent streets, they're crowded as it is that they're skinnier than Richmond.

0:12:12Where are we supposed to go? Some of us are a little bit older now. Some of us have disabilities. I myself have congestive heart failure.

0:12:20How am I supposed to walk up and down hills 2 or 3 times a day, when I can park right in front of my house. That makes no sense.

0:12:31Second project. Second point I'd like to make is it's dangerous. Richmond is the second busiest street in El Cerrito. Why would you want to put more people, more bikes, more kids on that street. It makes no sense like someone just mentioned. There's the Ohloney Parkway, or Greenway, whatever it's called. It's dedicated to walking and bikes. It's safe.

0:12:54If anything. Spend a little bit of the money on making the where it crosses the streets a little safer, a little more visible. So people don't run over the kids crossing the streets.

0:13:05You have a dedicated space. Why would you want to go a few blocks up and and

0:13:12upset all the people that live on Richmond that makes no sense to me.

0:13:16Finally, if you, if we have a grant, why don't you use the money on improving Richmond.

0:13:21repave it, restripe it, especially the cross works crosswalks where the kids walk, make it brighter.

0:13:29If you, if you feel that people are speeding, put more speed bumps, make it a little greener.

0:13:35and most importantly add some lighting. Have you been on Richmond Street at night? It's extremely dangerous, extremely dark, especially where we live at the corner of Blake and Richmond. Thank you for your comments. Our next speaker is Chris Thiel, followed by Victoria Godfrey and Kyle.

0:13:55Berian.

0:13:57Good afternoon. Evening, everyone. Council.

0:14:0030 people, residents, fellow friends and neighbors.

0:14:05I'm here about to express my dismay and shock and sadness frankly about the sudden closure of Mcbear's

0:14:13you don't know. Mcbear's is a bar that's on San Pablo Avenue walking distance, really nice neighborhood bar.

0:14:21and I just wanted to point out that it was closed. There was an eviction notice on the door. Now people cannot go in, and there is apparently some legal battle going on.

0:14:34Outside of the lost revenue, which obviously may or may not hurt the city a little bit.

0:14:42I would like to point out that this establishment, along with others of the same nature.

0:14:49server, purpose, and that is to bring our neighbors together in a friendly, non-working environment which is cheap, to partake in.

0:14:59to share traditions, customs, games, any kind of social events.

0:15:06It's a place where a 21 year old can meet and become friends with a person 30, 40, 50 years their senior.

0:15:16It's a person. It's. It's a place where white people interact with brown people, black people, Tibetan, different religions. It's it's a pretty much. It's the glue that keeps the society together.

0:15:30And I just wanted to express that I'm really saddened by this yet another closure of one of our local hubs and places to go to have friends, especially in the loneliness crisis that we have now, especially with senior people lacking a senior center.

0:15:48I know people from Richmond that travel in the morning to go there. I watch soccer games from Europe at the bar, and I can't do that anymore. Unfortunately. So I just wanted to express that.

0:16:01Thank you.

0:16:02Our next speaker is Victoria Godfrey, followed by Kyle, Verian, and Gaius Onatina.

0:16:09Hello!

0:16:11My name is Victoria Godfrey. I'm a homeowner. At [address removed], in El Cerrito.

0:16:18I have recently found out about the Richmond Street Complete Street Project, and met with Robert Stevens, the president of Csw. On Saturday.

0:16:26He's the design team lead and president of Csw. I want to be clear that I love the idea of making Richmond Street safer for the residents in our community overall.

0:16:36I am so happy that we are working toward making our neighborhood and city safer. There is one part of the project that does not seem right to me, and that is the current in the current design. 50% of the street parking will be eliminated on Richmond Street, north of Mosier, and I have to say that that just does not seem right or fair to do to the residents of Richmond Street

0:16:56in a very basic and real life example. What are we supposed to do if we have friends and family over? If there's no street parking outside of our house. I just can't imagine the negative impact that no available street parking would have on myself and my neighbors.

0:17:11I work as a risk manager, and I can foresee many issues with a parking design that looks to encourage the residents of Richmond Street to have to jaywalk across the Street, which was literally said by the person I talked to on Saturday. Jaywalking is not illegal. Well, I don't want my 4 year old jaywalking.

0:17:30Okay.

0:17:31very long block across intersection for a neighborhood and a street that is mostly seniors and families with young children. I honestly do not see how this plan is making the streets safer for the residents of Richmond Street.

0:17:43I think there's a lot of good in the plan, but removing parking is not respectful to homeowners who have purchased homes in this area and pay our fair share of taxes to contribute to this community. Our voices deserve to be respected and heard on the subject. Removing 50% of street parking is not serving the residents of Richmond who should be valued members of our community.

0:18:03The argument that the Greenway is too far from schools, and the community center is not a good one. It is literally 3 blocks away, and on a bike that takes less than 90 seconds. I quite frankly. Just don't buy it. Thank you for your comments.

0:18:17Our next speaker is Kyle Varian, followed by Guy, Sonatina, and Bill Wood.

0:18:24Good evening, Kyle. Virgine. I live in Kensington, just across the border. I spend a lot of time here, and we're hoping to buy fingers crossed in El Cerrito as soon as we can. I'm here to support the Richmond Complete Streets project you know. I think we all value a community that is safe. That is strong, that is close knit, and where people can take advantage, all people can take advantage of everything that the great city of El Credo has to offer.

0:18:48And you know, unfortunately, right now, there, there's some areas with really excellent infrastructure. And there's some areas where the infrastructure is a little bit spotty, and people can't access things in that area, or people who live there can't access the infrastructure and the and you know the benefits of the city. So I just wanna you know.

0:19:07say that I think a bike lane. I think that the existing proposal is going to help people. You know. Get around on bike, help people get around on foot.

0:19:16bring people together. If you're on a bike, if you're on foot, you get to know your neighbors, you get to meet people. Kids will get to enjoy this increased freedom.

0:19:25People who are older will get to bike around safely because of all these improvements. And I think it's just something that's very, very important for the community. And on a related note, I know, there's also a library agenda item, you know.

0:19:37biking public infrastructure libraries. These things all go hand in hand, and I think that that's also something that's important to the support, so that people have somewhere to bike. Thank you.

0:19:46Our next speaker is Guy Sonatina, followed by Bill Wood and Barbara Chan.

0:19:59Hello!

0:20:02I'm Gaia. I've lived in El Cerrito for 6 years. I have 2 small children.

0:20:08and we love biking in El Cerrito. However, most of the time.

0:20:13It's terrifying even on the Greenway I'd like to

0:20:21encourage anyone who is against the project to look at the designs, because it sounds like a lot of you haven't actually looked

0:20:29at what the plan includes, which is

0:20:32a lot of the street updates that you've been requesting.

0:20:38The public discussion has become really polarized with people seeing each other as enemies.

0:20:43This division only hinders our progress to and deepens the rift between us, creating

0:20:48an Us. Versus them. Mentality that is not only unproductive, but deeply harmful.

0:20:55This project is not about taking away from one to give to another. It's about creating a safer, quieter, calmer street for everyone, no matter how they choose to move through it

0:21:06by making space for pedestrians and cyclists. We're enhancing the quality of life for the entire community.

0:21:13It's the opportunity to rethink how we coexist in public spaces and reimagine our streets as shared spaces.

0:21:22This is a moment to come together, not as opposing sides.

0:21:26but as neighbors committed to creating a safer, more equitable space for all.

0:21:32let's prioritize the people, not the objects that, and occupy the spaces that belong to all of us.

0:21:39and I'd like to open dialogue with anybody who is on the opposing side. Thank you.

0:21:46Our next speaker is Bill Wood, followed by Barbara Chan and Buddy Akisich.

0:21:58Hello! I'm Bill Wood, a parent here in El Cerrito, and I'm here to speak in support of removing some fraction of the parking spots on Richmond Street to create a more pedestrian and bicycle. Friendly city. Both of my daughters who are now at Harding elementary. I see your tiger shirt

0:22:11went to Keystone, Montessori School, on the corner of Richmond and Blake Street. So I spent quite a few years biking my 2 daughters along pretty much the entire stretch in question to be clear, I never biked with my kids on the Richmond. I only biked on the Greenway with them, but I did sometimes bike on Richmond when I was late to pick them up. To get there faster, you would be shocked how much faster it is to bike along a street that doesn't have a stop sign every single block. When you're actually trying to get somewhere. When you have a job. When you have kids, you're trying to drop off.

0:22:39These are sort of basic things that cars take for granted that we bicyclists are really struggling to get

0:22:46I was going to make 3 main points, but I don't have nearly enough time. But first, st I would like to remind the community and our council of our commitment to follow through with our climate action plan, which calls for a 40% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2030 improving bicycle and pedestrian infrastructure is critical to any hope of meeting those projections.

0:23:04In 1969, about 48% of kids walked or biked to school today.

0:23:10only 15% of kids walk or bike to school. It is a tragedy. Honestly.

0:23:19we have a community of people that try every day to get our kids to school, walking or biking, and it's great. It's awesome. But the number of cars out there makes it harder and harder. It's like we're stuck in this vicious like feedback cycle. It's like the harder it is to bike to school, the less people bike to school, the harder it is to bike to school.

0:23:37and we have to make these changes to get out of that feedback cycle to get our community back to where we're actually out there as pedestrians and cyclists. And I know it's going to cause some pain. We're going to lose some parking spots, but we have to figure out ways to work with all parts of the community, and I hope that people that are losing some fraction of their parking spots can see the benefits as well. Thank you.

0:23:59Our next speaker is Barbara Chan, followed by Betty Akasich and Ted Steen.

0:24:24Thank you. I'm Barbara Chan. I live on Alta vista drive, and I really love libraries.

0:24:33I grew up as a library kid.

0:24:35I volunteered at the El Cerrito Library with my daughter.

0:24:42And I'm

0:24:44not happy with the push to build the Tod Plaza library without hearing from the many residents who want other options to be considered.

0:24:59So I want to run down a few points. We already own the Stockton property.

0:25:03There's parking there.

0:25:05It's centrally located.

0:25:08I spoke with the architects about the cost per square foot to renovate the existing property.

0:25:16It would still be $200 a square foot. My daughter, who is an architect, actually interned with that firm in designing libraries.

0:25:26And she has said, Mom, the city has spent way too much money debating this hundreds of thousands of dollars when they could have put it into renovating the existing library.

0:25:41Granted, if we renovated Stockton Street, we would get probably 2,600 square feet versus the proposal for the plaza.

0:25:50But I think it's important for

0:25:53the residents to be able to have a say

0:25:57and not just vote on what the previous Council and Staff have been proposing for the last few years.

0:26:05A lot of people don't want a forever tax to pay for the library.

0:26:10and then in other occasions, when we have built something, we have

0:26:15set aside a budget, planned a budget.

0:26:18got the money got grants to help pay for it, and there's an end to it. Thank you for your comments. Thank you. Our next speaker is Buddy Akasich, followed by Ted steam.

0:26:52Hey, hey? Good evening, my dear friends.

0:26:55Such a pleasure! I'm Buddy Akasich, and I've lived in El Cerrito for going on 10 years, and

0:27:04a recent person came to me and and

0:27:08gave me some ideas, and I thought, Oh, those are great ideas.

0:27:13The city of El Cerrito is talking about a couple of major absences in its community.

0:27:21a library state of the art and a senior center. Those are the the 2 glaring needs. We can all agree on that.

0:27:28So this, this random, I wish these were my ideas. You guys are. Gonna look at

0:27:35how how we, the the words parking

0:27:38and perpetuity. Keep coming up in a negative way.

0:27:43Look at we got the answer. It's sitting right here, Borders and Joanne's.

0:27:50Thank you.

0:27:53Our next speaker is Ted steam, followed by Justin Chang.

0:28:02Hmm!

0:28:03Good evening, everyone. My name is Ted Steen. I'm a former El Cerrito resident, but now I live in Richmond, and I am here to advocate for the turfing and lighting of Cerrito Vista Park. This was in the master plan back in 2019, and I've been to several Parks and Rec commission meetings, and I met Councilmember Motoyama at one of those in these past few months.

0:28:26and I think that's moved up the pecking order for those that don't know. I'm the Executive Director of East Shore Alliance Football Club. We are the soccer, co-sponsored group for the city of El Cerrito.

0:28:38We serve over a thousand youth from all over the East Bay, with over 400 coming from El Cerrito directly, and our biggest need is field space there. As we know, baseball is the spring sport here in El Cerrito, and there is not a single soccer specific field in the city.

0:28:57And so we're really advocating for the turfing and lighting of that space. It would increase access during those evening hours.

0:29:04A lot of the high schoolers can't make the 4 o'clock times, because they're just getting out of school, and by having that field availability. Not only would the kids be able to get out and participate more, but it would also help increase revenue for the city being able to rent out that space year round. Usually in the winter it's closed, due to weather constraints which we are all impacted by and over a thousand that we have in the club over 800 of those are year round participants.

0:29:29So every spring. We're always scrambling for space because we lose

0:29:34everything for the most part that we have here in the city of El Cerrito, and we have to go elsewhere. We would much rather have the local residents be able to stay and play locally

0:29:45and quick question for the Board just show of hands. So I know who to reach out to here on the Council. If anyone here is interested in getting more kids out and active.

0:29:56we can't raise our hands. But if you can leave your information with the city clerk, we'll be able to get in contact. Will do. Thank you. Thank you, everyone.

0:30:05And our next speaker is Justin Chang.

0:30:15Good evening Council members friends. My name is Justin Chang. I grew up in El Crito

0:30:23went to all the local schools. I think I know one person up there his classmate.

0:30:29yeah. And I've used the libraries and many facilities. I love El Crito.

0:30:36I'm here to voice my concern and actually my kind of opposition to the location of the new library.

0:30:43For a couple of reasons, mainly because it's expensive. It's not to me the prime location. It's not gonna

0:30:51it's costing us much more than what we need to for an upgrade and improve library. That's adequate to serve the size community.

0:31:00It's not necessarily, you know, better access for bicyclists. I don't think there's any parking that's there.

0:31:07More importantly, I think we can use the money. And actually, the financial issue of city is a bigger concern for me.

0:31:15We can use the money

0:31:17at the savings of whatever we do. From the building of a new library. 30 million dollars is the number

0:31:23to address one of the things that was brought up a senior center.

0:31:27and maybe improve parking or roads and stuff like that. So my philosophy in my life is not to spend

0:31:35what I don't have, or at least not much more, and I'm very concerned that we are. Yes, the good progress has been made. The city is out of the Red Zone. We're no longer the bottom of bankruptcy.

0:31:46But we got a long ways to go to be financially healthy.

0:31:50Okay? And I think I'd like to encourage the Council member to continue the good progress that we've done. Okay? And to build up an adequate savings. And look at really what we can spend. Okay, it's okay to spend a little bit more than what we bring in, but to be excessive. And then the last thing that's really bothering me is the looming

0:32:10huge amount. Supposedly 80, 90, 80 or 90 million dollars pension. That's out there. I don't know how you're going to address that. Okay, so yeah, thank you for your comment.

0:32:22Mayor. That concludes a request to speak.

0:32:25All right. Thank you so much for all the community that voiced their concerns tonight. The next item on the agenda is adoption of the Consent calendar, which includes the following items.

0:32:40approval of Minutes board, Commission and committee work, plans and or accomplishments. Arbor Week Proclamation. American Red Cross Month Proclamation Extension of Services Agreement with Child Care Careers. Llc.

0:32:55Amendment to the Agreement with Saint Francis electrical for electric electrical traffic control devices and lighting maintenance and repair services. Salary schedule updates for new classifications within the service employees. International Union, otherwise known as Seiu local, 10 to one bargaining group and the amendment to the city's classification plans.

0:33:20Is there also a A consent item for women's History Month proclamation? There is. Did I miss it? I probably did.

0:33:28I'm flipping all the pages.

0:33:31I don't have d holly, I really don't a BCDA, BCE.

0:33:39But I know it's there. I saw it in the packet.

0:33:42Item D is women's History Month Proclamation Proclamation. I really don't, holly, but I know I saw it in the package, so I know it was there. And just before we go ahead to a vote, items C and E have have representatives here to speak and receive the proclamation which will occur after adoption of the consent calendars.

0:34:02Please also note that a revised version of the proclamation is included in the supplemental packet. And is the version being requested for approval tonight and just apologies for clarification? That is a revision to the American Red Cross proclamation.

0:34:17Okay, thank you for that.

0:34:20Let's see. Are there any questions or requests by the Council to pull items off the consent? Calendar

0:34:26Council? Member Salzman, I don't have any requests to pull items, but I want to make a comment on item G, and I have a question on item HG. And H, okay.

0:34:38and councilmember Motiyama, I'd like to pull. Item B, and I also have a question on 7. G, okay.

0:34:47any on this side council members.

0:34:49All right. So we'll 1st go ahead and get started with. We'll start with B for council member, multyama.

0:34:56Since I would like to pull this item. Do you want to take the rest of the?

0:35:00Oh, yes, you are pulling it. Thank you. Thank you for that former mayor, the rest of the consent. Calendar. Okay, do I have a second

0:35:07second council, all in favor, please say, aye, aye, any opposed

0:35:14motion carries? Okay? You gave me that look, and I didn't know if I did it wrong. Nope, you're good. Okay, all right. Go ahead. Council. Member.

0:35:21Okay, I'd like to pull. Item 7 B, which is the work plan for the Financial Advisory Board for a discussion amongst Council members, if I may. Did you want to take questions on the consent, calendar first, st and then you can do the. I would suggest doing the proclamations, and then we can go to the item that was pulled from consent, and since you both pull. I had questions on G. I'll go ahead and start with you. Council Member, with your question on G I was wondering how much of the cost of the

0:35:51additional hours in the contract is covered by our revenue.

0:35:56And and just to understand, is the cost of adding hours to existing staff more expensive than temp coverage.

0:36:06Our director rec directors online.

0:36:10Chris Jones (Recreation Director): Hi, good evening, council members. I'm Chris Jones, your recreation director. The.

0:36:18So the the question, the temp staff is taking the place of part time staff.

0:36:24And so actually, because of their hourly rate of $40 per hour, and the need to book them at 4 h per day. They are more expensive than part time staff but they are needed because

0:36:37we have been in a strong job market, and part of that time our wages were a lot lower and we're in were compacted by the city's minimum wage.

0:36:49And so we really got behind on our recruiting efforts, and we were losing a lot of staff. Our retention wasn't great, but since the city Council addressed the compaction issue we have been more successful in our recruiting efforts, and we have been more retaining more staff. We're just not quite there yet, and this

0:37:08this childcare careers allows us to maintain state required ratios as well as safety in our childcare programs. But we feel like we're, you know, we're very close to not needing to rely on them on a regular basis.

0:37:24And yes, the request at midyear is 100% covered by revenue.

0:37:32Thank you.

0:37:33And yeah, my comment was on something similar, and I just wanted to thank the previous Council and the leadership here for increasing the wages of the childcare workers, because clearly there was a problem. We weren't paying competitive wages, and there were staffing problems. And as a parent of a child who is an aftercare in El Cerrito. I appreciate it personally that we now have

0:37:58consistent folks there, but it's also great that we don't have to then get outside coverage and just be scrambling all the time. So I think everybody who is involved in that just did a great job, and it just shows you pay people living wage, and you can provide excellent city service. A great story, and I'm very happy about it.

0:38:19Thank you so much, and councilmember Salson to your question or comment on H.

0:38:24Yes. I have no problem with the actual contract, but there was something noted in in the report which says that the city has continued to experience a high number of street light

0:38:37and traffic signal knockdowns with replacement cost of more than 6,000 per pole as well as other larger repairs, and it further notes that sometimes they're able to secure reimbursement from drivers insurance. But of course that takes a lot of time, and I'm sure a lot of staff hours, and of course you can't always recover it. So my question was, are we doing analysis to see if

0:39:00there are hot spots where this is happening again and again, and if so, it seems like we should be looking at infrastructure improvements to slow down the vehicles I've seen. I live right off Mosure. I've seen a lot of down poles there. So I know that's 1 of the hot spots. I'm sure there are others, but it might be worthwhile to think about capital investments or seeking grants, so that we can prevent these and not just have more and more as people are unfortunately driving faster and faster.

0:39:30Good evening, council, Member Mayor. Thank you for the question. I would say that. We do have hotspots for mostly street light knockdowns, and there's on Pablo Avenue the higher speed roads. And then we have the isolated locations like at Mosier and Richmond, and recently Fairmont and Colusa. Those are like one of one time type collisions that occur. Mostly speeding. And that is a

0:39:58increasing problem throughout. As you've indicated, what we are doing is we're developing our local road safety plan. And it's looking at collision patterns throughout the city and helping us prioritize corridors and types of improvement. That plan will come to council later this year.

0:40:17and once that's adopted, we'll use that to apply for grant funding for infrastructure, improvements great. And so that plan includes collisions with like inanimate objects like this.

0:40:28it focuses on injuries and and injuries and fatalities. But we we can double check and

0:40:36see what additional information we can collect as part of that effort. I think it's worth looking at, not only from a financial aspect. But if people are hitting a pole or street light, or something like that at some point, they're going to hit a person, too. So if we know there's a hotspot. I think that that is something important to look at. So thank you. Thank you.

0:40:57Okay, thank you so much. Council member Motyamo, to your discussion on Item B, just a quick procedural question, did you want to do the proclamations first? st Oh, you want us to do. I would suggest that. Yes, let's go on to the proclamations, then.

0:41:14So we have. Let's see. All right. Item E, which is our American Red Cross proclamation.

0:41:24and we have Natalie manure is that Natalie who's going to be accepting the proclamation? Okay, do we have, are we?

0:41:31Ali?

0:41:33Feel free to come up and you can provide brief comments, and then the Council can present the proclamation and someone's gonna present it. Go ahead. Thank you. Hi, everybody. Thank you guys so much for having me as you can. I'm Natalie Manir. I've been the disaster program manager for the American Red Cross of Contra Costa for the past 3 or so years.

0:41:52And in the past year you can imagine we've been pretty busy with the hurricanes and the wildfires and the floods, you know. Oh, my!

0:41:59But today. I kind of just wanted to highlight really quickly our work here in Contra Costa. Over the last year we've had over 100 home fires across Contra Costa County. We've helped over 200 families in this last year, and unfortunately, a couple of those did end in fatalities. So I just wanted to highlight today. Our sound, the alarm program. If you guys haven't heard of it before, over 50% of fatalities during home fires result because the family didn't have working smoke alarms.

0:42:27and if you didn't know the American Red Cross does provide free smoke alarms for any family that needs them. Our volunteers 7 days a week will come out to your home and install these smoke alarms for free, and we also have bed Shaker alarms for those that are hard of hearing or deaf.

0:42:43So in Contra Costa, in the last year, we've installed in 262 homes, over 846 alarms. So that's just a tiny piece of what the Red Cross does here in Contra Costa and across the nation. But I just wanted to highlight that. So if anybody is interested, you can always reach out to me. And I just want to thank the Council for your guys, continued support of the American Red Cross as well as thank our local fire and law for being such great partners here in Contra Costa. Thank you guys so much.

0:43:11Thank you so much for your proclamation. I'm going to go down the line starting here with Councilmember Salsman. If anyone wants to make a comment about the proclamation. Okay, comment any comments? All right. Now we get to take a picture with the proclamation.

0:44:06All right. Next, we have our arbor Week proclamation, and we have Stephen Pre, the city arborist who will be accepting the proclamation. Stephen, if you want to come up and make comments about the proclamation.

0:44:24Hi, thank you, Mayor, thank you, Council. I'll be brief, I'm just

0:44:28want to announce that the you know, this is arbor week in commemoration of many years, as it says in the proclamation of Arbor Day across the world.

0:44:41arbor week starts with March 7, th which is Luther. Burbank's birthday, was the father of many innovations on fruit and vegetable crops.

0:44:54and the city is a is proud now to be a Tree City, U.S.A. For the 6th year.

0:45:02This year the Urban Forest Committee will be hosting a outreach event at one of the after school programs at Harding school.

0:45:13One of the city's after school programs as well as a

0:45:17a public tree planting that'll be on the 12th at Harding School for just the students there, the elementary school students age one or grade, one through 6, and then on Friday, the 14, th we will host a public tree planting at the Arlington Park in picnic area number 2 at 4 o'clock.

0:45:39And I'm actually going to read a brief poem.

0:45:45Just as a little different taste of, but weak.

0:45:53It's a poem, by Gary Snyder, called Gold Green.

0:45:59Let it be on a day in March, California.

0:46:03when the grass is green on the rolling hills.

0:46:06and the snow is deep in the mountains, let it be

0:46:12on a day like this that we plant a tree, California, for the years to come.

0:46:19for the little ones, and the lakes will be pure in the mountains.

0:46:24Let it be gold and green California that we touch the ground that we heal the land

0:46:31from the mountains to the sea.

0:46:35Thank you.

0:46:36Thank you so much. Don't go away just yet. Would any of the Council like to make any comments on the proclamation?

0:46:44No, okay. Now we get to take a picture.

0:46:49You have to do it. You don't have a choice.

0:46:57Thank you

0:47:28and Mayor, just quickly, before you jump back into the item pulled from the consent calendar. I do have 2 members of the Financial Advisory Board that have requested to speak just so that you know that you can decide if you want to do that before or after the Council's questions. Okay, thank you so much. And thank you. Council Member Mutiama, go ahead with the discussion.

0:47:50Okay, so just want to set the context of this. It's I think this is

0:47:59one of the early work plans that we've gotten. And I think the Prior work plan. We did have it come to council, and we did talk about the goals a lot. So I think this is a much

0:48:16broader work plan than the prior one. And so I really applaud the efforts of the Fab on this. But I think that it is a tremendous amount of work that I think it may be too much work. And so I would like to have us have a chance to discuss it, and also

0:48:39for the nearer council people. You know the the work plans come to us on consent, and we this is our opportunity to make sure that the work plans are in line with the strategic plan, that we are mindful of resources and staff time, and that, you know.

0:49:00we feel that the work is going in the right direction. So I think sometimes, you know, when workplace I like to have us have us to have the chance to discuss, because we normally would not have any opportunity to have a discussion otherwise.

0:49:17Thank you so much. I was about to say council member reams finance Director Reem. Would you like to come up and to be part of the discussion? Did you have particular questions that you wanted to pose council member, or Yes, let me pull up the

0:49:34item.

0:49:38May I ask a question? Just maybe ask Lisa. It's not clear to me

0:49:44with these advisory boards and commissions and committees, the extent to which they're independent, and they set their own agenda versus they're following our lead, asking them to go down certain paths. It's just not clear to me at all.

0:49:57So

0:49:58yeah. So as I said, when I worked on this as a ad hoc, we tried to make everything much tighter. So I think there was kind of like, you know, groups can do whatever

0:50:13they felt like, and you know, sometimes it came back to us, and sometimes it didn't, and sometimes we, you know, didn't know what the advisory bodies were doing. So all of this is, you know, not to pick on the Fab, or anything like that, but just to, you know, have us have some opportunity, particularly in the beginning.

0:50:32as we are, as we've changed kind of the format for creating these work plans that we're consistent. And again, you know, they're advisory bodies. They're supposed to advise us.

0:50:44and on what we need to have advice for, to make good decisions, and, you know, have some more analysis or discussions on those bodies to tell us. You know

0:50:59what they recommend, and particularly if requested by us or by staff.

0:51:04So that's that's kind of the broad charge of of the advisory bodies. So I think that's no.

0:51:13When we look at the work plans, we want to make sure that

0:51:18that makes it. It is an alignment. And you know, I think one of the things that we did. And if you look at the work plan, we added the estimated staff time needed and resources. So that's also really important to make sure that it fits in, not just with what the advisory body would like to do, but also the staff capacity, because they do have

0:51:43a whole other day job that they need to accomplish for us and the and everybody in the city. So just

0:51:51knowing that there's a limit on that and kind of understanding

0:51:54what we need from them. Is kind of the the lens to look at the work plan, and I think

0:52:02the work plan from the Fab, which I would like to say, you guys clearly worked a lot

0:52:08on putting this together, and I do appreciate that. But I think it's

0:52:14it's a lot of. It's a lot of work that I don't think that the Fab could accomplish in a year, even if you guys were like actually full time working on this. So I think the

0:52:29I applaud your ambition. But I think in terms of what can be done in the year. It's

0:52:36too much. And I think that what is lost

0:52:41in the work plan is what we really really need to have done, which is to have you guys, you know, update that financial policy, the citywide policy. To

0:52:54comment on the act. For to give budget comments, and stuff that's actionable.

0:53:04You know, recommendations that are actionable for us. So I think those that's a really big lift already.

0:53:13so I just want to make sure that the focus is on that work is like the primary priorities.

0:53:21I think a lot of it is.

0:53:26you know, things like consulting with experts. I don't think we have the budget or capacity to do that for advisory bodies. So I think that that's beyond our scope. So

0:53:41I don't know if other council members

0:53:44feelings about this. It'd be helpful for me. I I did think it looked like an immense amount of work, but I have less experience with the

0:53:54committees and commissions than you do. It'd be helpful to hear, both from staff and from the Fab members who are here to to know about how they're thinking about targeting. This. Is this going to be prioritized? If you can't get to everything just to know more, I mean, I sometimes at my work, have a work plan where I know I maybe can't accomplish everything. And you have some more hopeful things on there. And maybe that's okay. So it'd be helpful to know

0:54:16what their plan is. Would it be more helpful to hear 1st from Finance Director weens, or from I know council? Are you still the chair of the Fab Kimberly white? Are you still the chair? Okay, would you like for would you like me to call them up, or, okay, let's hear from Chair white. First.st If you are okay with coming up and speaking.

0:54:40Good afternoon, everyone. I am Kimberly White. I'm a member of the I'm sorry, could you?

0:54:46Oh, I don't usually need a microphone. Good afternoon, Honor, or Good evening, honorable Mayor City Council.

0:54:54and I wanted to say, Councilmember Motoyama, thank you for being our representative.

0:55:00I appreciate your engagement with Fab, and I also appreciate your concerns.

0:55:07I wanted you to know that Fab agonized over this over months in terms of what the scope we wanted to do.

0:55:15We met with city staff, we met with each other, and what you have before you is a much reduced plan.

0:55:23Okay?

0:55:25But I think there are a couple of points that need to be made.

0:55:31I think the 1st point is is that everything on the this, the document that you have before you is work that Staff would be doing, irrespective of whether or not Fab had a work plan

0:55:44it should not it should not increase the amount of work that they have on, and Fab also recommends that sometimes we have to be able to be flexible and meet before the city council meets.

0:55:59but I want but all of the work that you have is in line with the legislation from 2.0 4 3 0 0, which is the legislation that enables Fab.

0:56:11And we are working within the scope of that work right now.

0:56:16But again, this is work that the city would be doing anyway, and the work that we are talking about in there always work that Fap is planning to do. We are not asking you, asking the City Council for any additional money to conduct this work.

0:56:33We are volunteering because we love the city, and we want the city to be as fabulous as it possibly can.

0:56:39I'm doing this work because I've I've lived here for 22 years, and I'm not going anywhere. So if it takes me to work full time, that's what I'm willing to do.

0:56:48So we appreciate your input, and if there's something in there that looks like. It's not actionable or way too aspirational. Then redline it down. That's fine.

0:56:58We will work within the scope that you provide for us. I recognize that it is a comprehensive work, and we will do what aligns with what the city is doing at that particular time. But I did not want to omit anything for expediency. I wanted to make sure that it was a comprehensive work plan, and the other members and Fab wanted to as well, and we voted unanimously to put it forward to you.

0:57:22So we want to, you know, be flexible also, and understand that something may not even occur in that particular year, so there may even need no no need to address it. But if something does arrive, we wanted to make sure that we had the capability of being able to address it if it came up, or also to be able to take advantage of opportunities that may arrive.

0:57:44So I hope that kind of sets you at ease on some of the concerns that you have, and yes, it is. It is comprehensive, but it was intended to be

0:57:57any other questions, or I'd like to hear from Staff. Oh.

0:58:03or I don't know if it's more appropriate to hear from city manager, and if I may, we we also had one other member of that who had asked to speak. It might be a good time to let him share comments as well.

0:58:19Hello! I'm Michael Mcdougall. I'm your freshman Fab member. I was appointed after the work plan was made. I think it's quite an ambitious plan, and I just want to say that I'm really looking forward to

0:58:32working with you on, like making sure that

0:58:35El Cerrito has, like a really healthy, insane, and sensible like financial plan. So

0:58:43I want to, thanks for the opportunity.

0:58:45Thank you.

0:58:47Now we'd like for Crystal to come up.

0:58:50Well, Crystal can supplement I'll I'll I'll give. I'll I'll start because the

0:58:56I'll I'll speak on

0:58:58advisory bodies as a whole, as opposed to just the Fab, just so that you can kind of understand where staff is coming from. So as Council Member Modiyama indicated, the advisory bodies are advisory bodies to the city council, and the staff liaisons are there to support and help them achieve any goals or objectives that the Council

0:59:22gives to them, whether it's through the legislation that created the body, or whether it's a specific project, that is for the direction of the Council. So and that's true. Again, of all of our advisory bodies, except

0:59:37or, you know planning commission and and design review board or quasi judicial bodies. So they're a little bit different.

0:59:44As as they do different work. So

0:59:47the staff liaisons are indeed doing staff work, and they are trying to support the bodies. However, they are not directed by the bodies. So that's, I think, sometimes a a weird touch point when it comes to what the liaison is is meant to be doing. And so I just what we have to do from the staff liaison perspective is that the staff liaison understands that the body is working for the council and not the staff.

1:00:161st of all, they don't work for us. They work for you, and also in reverse. We don't work for the advisory bodies. The staff works for me and I work for you. So that's why, I think that having the conversation about whether or not it's in alignment with the plan and with the legislation is a good one. I think that

1:00:33as I've talked to advisory bodies over the years, there has been somewhat of a disconnect from time to time as to what the Council really wants from an advisory body, and this is the opportunity, you know, as the ad hoc subcommittee updated the work plan guidelines. This is a good opportunity for the Council to have that conversation where they may not, because there's only one council liaison that goes to a meeting.

1:00:56and it's not they're not members of that body. So just sort of laying that out there. I think that when it you know, looking at this plan specifically, the only thing that that I have flagged is that there are some items in there that would require or that that ask to go to the Financial Advisory Board before the City council. We, as staff, are directed to bring those items to the city council, and not to the Fab first.st So

1:01:26I do that. That is a bit of a conflict. It might be a timing issue, but it's also because we are required to report directly to the City Council, and the Fab legislation does not have that provision in there. So if the city council wanted us to report to Fab 1st and have them approve it before it comes to the Council. I think that the

1:01:47the the Council would need to make that direction and change the ordinance. To be honest, because at this point the legislation for all advisory bodies is talks about, advise and recommend. It doesn't talk about approving or anything like that. So I'm just being straight up as far as the what the language is in the ordinance.

1:02:06And again, we. I am happy to bring all of these reports to the Fab when they're appropriate, and when they're ready, but taking them for like an approval or a recommendation before it goes to the city council is not that is, that is not the current that is not the current process. So if the Council wants to change that, then I believe that the Council would need to give me that direction.

1:02:34Crystal. I believe that now is your chance to answer questions.

1:02:40Hello, Crystal Rings Finance Director.

1:02:43So I I guess maybe this is a both question, how many hours are you supposed to as staff spend on as in general, and maybe it's across all advisory bodies staff time for advisory bodies

1:03:02I will defer to our city manager

1:03:07again. I think that is dependent upon the topic. With respect to the Fab, I know that during and and this is prior to Crystal's time here, and I've sometimes been an interim staff to the Fab when we haven't had a if there's we're when there was a vacancy in the finance director.

1:03:27the during budget time it tends to be much more kind of active. And you know, Council Member Sanas, you were on the Fab for a few years, so I'm sure that you might also have some

1:03:41some insight on that. But, generally speaking, when when you know, looking at the legislation, you know, making sure that there's recommendations on the budget, there's recommendations on the act, for there's an annual review of the investment policy and the comprehensive financial policy. So those things come up. And you know, generally speaking, we could, you know any liaison and holly maybe jump in on this one. Since you work with all the liaisons for advisory bodies

1:04:07there's there's there's some minimum hours that you need to do to prepare for the agenda to prepare the work.

1:04:14You know it. It. I think it depends on on the topic, and how how big it is if there's if there's more to do. But I would say, you know.

1:04:22maybe 5 to 10 HA week of a month. Not counting the meeting, and however long the meeting goes, just to make sure that again we're we're preparing the agenda that we're working with the chair to prepare the agenda that we're gathering all the information necessary. And again, I'm excluding planning commission and design review board from this, because those are different.

1:04:42So

1:04:43do you have any thoughts on that holly? I was gonna say, I would say it could take anywhere between one to 5 h to do the staff administrative work for a meeting, and most advisory bodies meet at least once a month, and that's not including, as Karen mentioned, the actual time, the meeting itself that's just in preparation to hold a meeting.

1:05:03Yeah, just that. It is the administrative. It really does things that need to be gathered, or so communicating with the chair, setting the agenda, checking form, checking availability for special meetings, things like that so

1:05:19great and quick question for crystal so on the work plan the estimate of staff time, for the whole plan is pretty significant is that.

1:05:32you know, is that how much you generally spend on these items?

1:05:38So lots of these items will depend on timing. So it I mean, like Chair White said. A lot of the work we're we're doing, anyway. But it's gonna depend on if we have to up our timeline. So if

1:05:51Fab is only meeting once a month, and with the schedule that council has.

1:05:55we could potentially have to up our timeline within our own small finance department by a week or 2, which would be overtime. So I mean it would, unless I do it all myself, so I mean it. Could. It could add up significantly, depending on the timing. And that's where you know. The Fab did say they were willing to hold special meetings.

1:06:14But I tried to be reasonable in my time estimates, but I mean

1:06:19it. It really depends. It's it is.

1:06:22Oh, it's a lot.

1:06:25Ask a quick question. Are are the time estimates that are on here? Your time estimates?

1:06:29Yes.

1:06:34any other questions or amendments that anyone want to make to the item or

1:06:41I I guess the the concern that I have is since it's so broad, and this comes to us and we

1:06:49approve the work plan. I don't want it to then turn around and become like a demand like, okay, we. It's in the work plan. So you have to do these things, and that's a little bit of a concern, because again, I know it's flexible. Different opportunities will come up, and different things will come up, but it just feels

1:07:12so. That is my concern that you know. There's so much tension amongst advisory bodies and staff kind of like what the bodies want staff to do and that's why I think it's very important for us to be looking at these work plans. And you know, really kind of thinking about that with this lens, because I don't want to

1:07:38ha miss an opportunity, because oh, you have to have to have to do it like this

1:07:44when we have, you know, maybe some grant opportunity, and we really need you to shift. And so I want to make sure that this is

1:07:53not, and maybe city manager can confirm, but that that this is not a work

1:08:00plan directed at Staff

1:08:03just because we approve it doesn't mean Staff must do these things. So I think it sounds like what you're asking or describing is, is there an off ramp to make sure that your prior, that our finance director and department is prioritizing their actual city work

1:08:19versus being beholden to the plan. Thank you. And that's a good question, because I don't know the answer to that. And and actually, this there's no action that's being required of the Council when it comes to the work plans, it's a receive and file. So you're this body is not being. The council is not being asked to approve it. And I think that that is a call again, not just with the Fab, but with any advisory body that it that that you know the department heads and the staff liaisons.

1:08:47you know all report the organization all reports to the city manager. And so, if there is indeed work that is required, or a priority that that I'm directing, that that you know that will have to be taken into consideration. But again, that can be on a case by case basis. I just want to try to make sure that the staff understands that. You know, if if those are happening, that that's you know

1:09:11Crystal would come to me, or another staff liaison would go to their department head, and then we would have that conversation. On a case by case basis. I you know, I just you know, we want to support all of the advisory bodies in the best way we can. And Crystal again has been, I think, doing a phenomenal job. Particularly with the Fab. So it's it's probably just

1:09:33everyone understanding both the advisory body and the Council, understanding that. Yes, with a with a small staff, and it and our resources that are stretched, that if there is a direction from me to to do or or not do some of these items because of, you know, another direction that needs to be

1:09:52that needs to happen, or another project, or something else has come up, that that we're able to be flexible for that.

1:10:00Yes, councilmember, Salson.

1:10:02From from what I've heard tonight, it it sounds like the main tension point isn't on the breadth of the plan. It's on the

1:10:09kind of scheduling. And that's where they're compete. And there's been tension in the past of, you know, it's hard, because sometimes there's outside information, or there's multiple staff

1:10:20putting things together, and it comes together at the last minute. So it goes straight to council instead of because there's no bad meeting within that time window.

1:10:28So it seems like that is the main tension point. I'm not sure exactly. It's hard to kind of legislate on the fly here. I don't know how to bake that in and sort of call that out, but I think it'd be good to say that there will be an attempt to bring the things to the Fab 1st that they want to hear, and those are all called out in here, but there needs to be some understanding. I mean, I clearly don't think any of us want to approve overtime

1:10:54to make that happen? Obviously, we know to prove it to you. But I don't think that's the intention here, so I'm not sure if we need to add any language. But I just wanted to raise that up so everybody here could hear that that I hope we can work together to try to get there, but know that sometimes it might not be possible. We don't want to spend extra city money just to, you know.

1:11:18get it to be possible or delayed coming to the Council. If it is time sensitive, if it's not time sensitive, I'm actually okay for coming a couple of weeks later. But so I think that's the tension point that we need to figure out whether it's within this or just as we work throughout the years, and I keep looking to my right. I haven't looked to my left. If, if especially Council Member Cassanis, who's been down this road before. I feel like

1:11:41the city manager's response, kind of answered the question because he she explained, it's a receiving file that it's really at her discretion as the actual administrator over the finance department. But

1:11:52Council Member Casanas, I look to you because you've done this before.

1:11:56I'll share something, and I want to point out, this is kind of an old history. It's not current. It's my experience on Fab

1:12:054 years ago or so 5 years ago.

1:12:08and you know a couple of things that triggered me. One was hearing about. You don't have time, and then the whole question of whether Fab looks at something before it comes to council or not, I'll tell you a little bit of my history with Fab.

1:12:18I was encouraged to join Fab by the

1:12:28today's financial crisis is going to the worst point.

1:12:31and he asked me to look at the financials every month

1:12:34and create bullets that could then be presented to council to help them distill what was in the financials, and I will clearly state that those financials then were

1:12:44not nearly as well done as they are now. It was a whole different regime, a whole different system, and they were lacking.

1:12:51And I I agreed to do that. I joined Fab with that intent was to go to Los Angeles as part of my work outside of the city.

1:12:58I was very used to looking at the finances of cities and various entities, and just doing bullet points from them and developing ratios and whatnot.

1:13:06And I. I agreed to do that, and I thought that that was my mission on Fab was to provide information to the Council

1:13:12of the then we're getting financials every month.

1:13:16I was told by the finance director, who is long gone.

1:13:21that bad did not have time to do that, and I should not do that. His exact words were, you are, you are not to look into the weeds

1:13:28and

1:13:29push back a little bit, and I said, I have time. I'm not asking anyone else on Fab to do it. It's something that I'm comfortable doing, and I'm glad to do it alone.

1:13:37And again, you know, it's pushed back and told me not to do it. And then over time the monthly financials became Quarterly, and pretty soon they didn't become any financials.

1:13:46and I felt like Fab. I was called on the Fab, invited to join Fab to provide the city Council information, and once I got there was told, no, you can't have the information. You can't see the financials.

1:13:56But yeah, I have kind of a history with it. That doesn't feel good. I'm not saying that's the state of affairs now at all. I think things have improved tremendously.

1:14:05But I just react to that question about time, because I clearly had time and made that clear and was told, no, don't do it.

1:14:12And then

1:14:14I was told to produce things to report to council with, and then again push back and told, no.

1:14:20so I don't know. I personally think it is valuable for Fab to look at the financials ahead of time and distill them and make sense of them and point things out to us.

1:14:29But I I

1:14:30I I wasn't aware of that tension that you know I I experienced it, but I didn't think it was policy driven. I thought it was just.

1:14:37I don't know.

1:14:39I don't know if the order was driven by a a concern that that one had to look at the financials.

1:14:44But I think that's changed so.

1:14:47but I think it would be valuable for Pep to.

1:14:50you know some of these items, to to look at things ahead of time, to have more time to go through

1:14:55budgets or audits whatnot, and present their questions, their concerns, and, you know, gives us information. Otherwise it feels like everything is getting to Fab after the fact.

1:15:04I don't know how valuable that is.

1:15:06and it could be possible that having it in the plan makes it makes it more proactive than reactive. Again, I haven't done this like Council Member Casinus, and I don't believe I was here when we did the original work plan for the Fab, but it sounds as if, and especially hearing from Chair White that it's really about having it on paper to at least try. So we know that what we're trying to do we may not get through it all, or they may not get through it all. I'm not doing it. They may not get through it all, but I think that that's what the attempt is for the work plan, I think.

1:15:37and I think that to your point, councilmember Cassanis that

1:15:42in the last few years. For the budget. For example, we have made sure that the Fab and the Council actually get the budget at the same time.

1:15:51Well ahead of time, weeks ahead of the June meetings where we have

1:15:56the budget presentation. And then later on, budget approval and the Fab usually again. That's kind of crunch time where the Fab will hold a special meeting in between in June. So we've we've definitely stepped up, certainly, for the budget. We know the act for was a little bit delayed this year, as you all know, but making sure that we get it to the Fab as soon as you know, we've able to provide you you all. Once that becomes once it's given to the Council and the Fab. It's a public document.

1:16:23and so the you know, when Crystal talks about timing. Some of that also is if we're ready to go public with that document, because once it goes to the Fab. It is a public document, whether it's to you or the Fab. So we also have to be mindful that if we're, you know, if we're still in draft mode, or the timing doesn't work out correctly, that we can share what we can in a draft format, understanding that again, there could be some timing issues. But we can.

1:16:49You know, we can work to to figure that out on a case by case basis. If if there is anything that comes up. And there are some projects in this. And I've been, you know, coming through the work plan as the conversations have been going, some projects that are that that I think particularly. I think the Fab is looking at the procurement ordinance.

1:17:07That's gonna be very valuable, I think, for their expertise to be able to bring back to the Council for consideration that needs updating. So one of those, you know, that's just an example. But anything else that we can try to accommodate. We will, if we're able to do that within our within the timeframe that we're we're able to do that and bring things to council. So I hope that helps. Would you

1:17:28agree with that? Yeah, no, I would totally agree.

1:17:31Does that alleviate questions? Or, yeah, I think the end result that I am hoping for as a council member. Is to get

1:17:42formal recommendations on different items. And I think, I think it was last meeting where we had a recommendation come as part of the consent calendar from the Community Safety Committee, and I think that format was really excellent it was. You know the committee. I took an action.

1:18:02The information was there. It was super clear we didn't have to particularly do anything with it. But we actually got to be informed, and it was an official recommendation of the advisory body. So I think that's, you know.

1:18:19as someone who tried to make this system a little bit better.

1:18:23Not quite there yet, I think, is that you know we don't really get that kind of formal written recommendation

1:18:30on a regular basis from any advisory body. So again, you know, kudos to community safety for doing that and setting a good example. But that's what I'm hoping for that, you know it's great that you do work great that you do analysis. But if it doesn't come back to us ultimately.

1:18:47you know, it's not very helpful. So, free. Yeah. So

1:18:53hopefully, that will happen. Okay, well, are we ready to move towards a vote on this item?

1:18:59This is a simple receiving file, so no action is required unless you are giving some type of direction. But otherwise it's just a receiving file. Well, thank you so much council member for bringing that forward, and we will go on to the next item.

1:19:15The next item is fiscal year 2425, mid-year budget update. Can we please have the staff report?

1:19:26Did we vote on the consent?

1:19:28Yeah, we voted on, continue.

1:19:31But didn't we pull that item from? Oh, okay, okay, even if it's a risk, even if it's a receive and file, we vote on the entire consent. You vote on the entire consent calendar. But since this one individual one was just receiving file. It doesn't require a formal vote. Thank you.

1:19:55The crystal show again.

1:20:02Hold on.

1:20:07Okay, do we wait a minute or 2.

1:20:13Well, I didn't hear what. What did you say? The council member Saltzman stepped out. She just asked if

1:20:18oh, well, yes, please go forward. We still have. Alright. Alright! Good evening, Mayor and Council. My name is Claire Coleman, and I am your budget and financial services manager. I'm joined here, of course, by our amazing finance director crystal reams. And we're here to present today to you about the city's budget at midyear, and to propose and to present proposed adjustments.

1:20:39Crystal presented the fiscal year 2023, 24, audit to the city council on February 4, th

1:20:45which included a review of the city's fund balance at year end. The city ended with a total general fund balance of nearly 23 million dollars, and which includes 12.4 million dollars of unrestricted general fund balance, which is approximately 24% of current year expenditures. And that's well above the 17% updated unrestricted reserve policy goal that was passed by the Council this year as well.

1:21:14This is a brief summary of some of the things that we'll be discussing this evening. Firstly, we'll talk about some one time adjustments that are recommended to ensure operational continuity. That the only ongoing recommendations are the addition of a total of 1.5 full time equivalents. That's what Fte stands for. Full time equivalent

1:21:34and that is the conversion of a part time technically, senior manager. But that's a fire inspector position from part time to full time, and the addition of an administrative assistant to in the Iwm the Integrated Waste Management Fund, which is the recycling department.

1:21:51With all of these recommended adjustments as we'll talk about, and we'll show through the General Fund reserve. Sorry the general fund forecast. The city continues to have strong reserves. Even with these proposed adjustments, both with the Edrf, the Emergency and Disaster Relief Fund. That's the Edrf. And in the Unrestricted general fund.

1:22:14So this is a lot of words on a slide. But I'm gonna talk through each thing one by one.

1:22:19Aside from the 2 personnel changes. As I noted, all of the adjustments that are recommended this evening are one time they're not ongoing. The only 2 on the only ongoing adjustments would be. The personnel changes

1:22:30in the Administration Department staff recommend an increase of $18,000 to the city clerk's budget to cover election costs that were higher than anticipated, as well as document management support.

1:22:42The city pays Contra Costa County for elections, and we pay on a per voter basis. And so when staff budget during the during an election year. They budget based on both the expected per voter cost and the total number of voters. This year we had both

1:22:59a higher per voter cost than we had expected from the county, but we also had a higher number of voters, much higher voter, I believe about 900 more, just under 1,000, just under a thousand more voters in the November 2024 election than we had expected. So as a result. The costs from the county are higher, although we can celebrate higher voter participation.

1:23:20The other piece is that the city clerk's office is working on updating the city's document. Retention policy. They're doing an enormous amount of work on retention, but also destruction of old records and making sure that our document management is is in accordance with city policy.

1:23:36They've made a lot more progress than they expected this year, and so the costs with the vendor are higher than anticipated, and higher than what was budgeted. So those are the 2 pieces for the city clerk's depart division.

1:23:48On the Hr. Side. There's a higher need for legal support for an employee related matter. Hr. Budgets for much of this throughout the year. But this is an unusual situation, and so there's a higher need. So there's a request for about 60,000 for $60,000 to be added to the Hr. Department for legal support.

1:24:05The other piece under administration. I admitted a bullet. I'm so sorry for that, because this one's important. The city manager's office is requesting a budget increase of 45,000 to conduct a project delivery analysis regarding the opportunity to build the new El Cerrito Library. The project would inform decision making and include a high level analysis of possible alternatives as well.

1:24:29Everyone keep going. We're gonna be on this slide for a while on the Recreation department programs are very popular and demand is very high. And this is true in especially childcare and youth programs. Chris budgets very carefully and tries to be as

1:24:45you know, intentional and realistic. But we also don't want to over budget for programs if we're not going to be able to meet that. And so as in many past years. Demand is out outperforming what we had budgeted. And so we're expecting both higher revenues in recreation, but also need increased expense requirements because we have to pay the instructors to do the programs that are so popular.

1:25:05So the 2 programs like I mentioned in particular are childcare, as you saw with the discussion earlier for childcare careers, both of part-time staff and temporary staffing support. And then also in youth programs, primarily for some part time, but mostly instructor services. We have a lot of fantastic instructors that the city works with.

1:25:22There were also some additional costs for staffing to the swim center. And that's due to some changes both in the minimum wage but also in salary compaction issues.

1:25:31And so that's how that change happens. We budget for salary increases. So any minimum expected minimum wage increases any cost of living adjustments, any changes in bargaining agreements. We budget for all of those to the best of our ability. In this case some of these compaction things and all of the work that Shannon and the Hr. Team have been doing on the city's class and comp study. Those were finalized after budget was developed last spring, which is why they were not included in this budget. Originally

1:25:59alright fire, so the fire department is managing an aging fleet and has a higher rate of vehicle repairs this year than was but than were budgeted. So staff are requesting a 1 time adjustment of 95,000 to cover these costs.

1:26:12Staff are also recommending converting, as I noted, before, the city's part-time senior manager who is the fire inspector position from part time to full time.

1:26:21To meet increased inspection needs. And if I I if you have questions about the specific types of inspections. I'd love to have our fire chief talk. Answer those questions because he'll be able to speak in much better detail than I can. There is no current year budget change for this, but it would be an increased cost in future years of about $117,000, and that's the transition from part time to full time. That's the difference.

1:26:42One thing I do want to note is that much of that will be covered by increased revenue. So inspections are paid for by businesses, by residents. And so most of those additional hours would actually be covered by additional fee revenue.

1:26:59We're almost there. So finally, on public work side staff are requesting adjustments in 2 funds. Neither of these budget adjustments would affect the general fund, and they're both in a special revenue fund and in our Enterprise Fund. The Iwm Fund, and both of the funds that are that these proposed changes would impact have sufficient fund balance to accommodate the changes that are being requested.

1:27:23So in the Stormwater Fund Staff recommend budget adjustments to cover the cost of the city's stormwater master plan, which is in an increase of 50,000

1:27:31staff, also recommend a budget increase of 75,000 for urgent interim repairs to the stormwater dissipator which is located near the Wildcat Drive rifle range road.

1:27:42And this is until a permanent repair can be constructed, and it's both the interim and permanent repairs are required to comply with the city's 2024 settlement agreement with East Bay regional parks.

1:27:53and it's related to a 2016 landslide at that location. And if you have more detailed questions, Yvette can provide a lot more information on that as well. And then on the Iwm side, as I noted earlier. There's the recommendation for an additional one Fte, which is the admin assistant to support program and operations, especially those related to Sb. 1383, which is the implementation of the major green recycling, composting statewide law.

1:28:20So with all of that the total expected expenditure. Appropriation increase is $443,000, but this is offset by 310

1:28:31$1,535. So the recommended use of fund balance is $132,465. So that's the difference between the appropriation increase, which is the spending authority that the city has versus the fund balance use, which is quite a bit lower, because we are also increasing our revenues.

1:28:51So, as I noted. That's the 132,000 that you see on the slide here on the right side in the table.

1:28:57So this keeps the city at an unrestricted reserve level above 21%. So it's still well above the 17% policy that was adopted recently.

1:29:06Including the Edrf. This keeps the city at a 43% reserve in the general Fund citywide

1:29:13and then this is not including the section 115 pension trust. So it's have

1:29:20change to the general fund balance. But it's still keeping very much within city policy.

1:29:26Alright. So to the forecast. I like to go through the assumptions that underlie the forecast before I show the pictures. It's helpful to know kind of where where this is coming from.

1:29:36So we build this forecast based on the current budget year. And then we have carefully developed assumptions for how we project out costs over the long term.

1:29:45So we expect moderate revenue growth based on historic and current trends.

1:29:50it is a weird economy out there right now, and we are doing our best, but I don't think anyone can predict it, and it's we're on a roller coaster right now, and so this forecast is the point in time. It is our best estimate with the budget and the information that we have right now. The forecast that you'll see on the next slide includes the recommended adjustments with this midyear

1:30:12expenditure. Growth includes existing employment agreements, conservative expenditure, growth

1:30:17and it does include the impact of the dissolution of the successor agency in the next fiscal year. We're almost there, and current calpers, actuarial estimates. So we use their pension, outlook, tool, and import it directly into our forecast to rely on their expert analysis.

1:30:32And then, finally, it doesn't include the use of funds in the section 1, 15. Trust. So the city has set aside. About 1.6 million, I believe, is what we have currently in our section 1 15,

1:30:421.3. Excuse me, about 1.3 million in our section 1, 15. Trust. The forecast doesn't assume that we would actually use those funds for any pension obligations. That's always an option, of course, but that's not an assumption that we use in the forecast.

1:30:56So with all of that.

1:30:57here's how we're looking today. It's quite similar to what if you recall you would have seen at the workshop in

1:31:04early February. I believe.

1:31:07like, I said. This is the current time. This is the current budget year, including the proposed midyear adjustments. And it assumes this is, if we do nothing different.

1:31:16And of course, like I said, this is a point in time. Forecasts are not a prediction of the future.

1:31:21They are our best estimate with what we have, and it assumes if everything remains constant, which, of course, is not how city operations or the world works. And so that's why we like to include the scenario. So the scenario here is just one example of a way that the city could change the picture. It is not the only way by any stretch. It is just one example. So the way I do. This is, I just go into the model, and I try out a few different scenarios and see what fixes

1:31:47the long term forecast. And so adjust ongoing budget adjustments of about point 7 million, beginning in the next, not the next fiscal year, but the 1st year of our next biennial budget so fiscal. Year 2627

1:32:01point 7 million. In adjustments. Either revenue increases or expenditure cuts would resolve this in the long term

1:32:08but future budget adjustments will be informed by the service delivery study, which is live. If you know anybody who has a firm that does service delivery studies, please encourage them to bid. We are accepting bids for the next 3 and a half weeks.

1:32:21and so that will have a pretty big impact on some of the recommendations that we bring during the next biennial budget cycle. And then any further discussions of budget adjustments will happen during community outreach and future council meetings as well.

1:32:34So with that we have time for questions.

1:32:37All right. Any questions from the Council

1:32:40would like, go ahead, councilmember yourself

1:32:44first.st Thank you for the presentation, and I think all of what you're recommending makes sense.

1:32:51I I spoke to Karen about this when we met yesterday, and so got my question answered, but I I just wanted to emphasize. I think it's important and not just in the presentation. But in the documentation we received it was not totally clear about the swim center staffing costs.

1:33:10It made it sound like you didn't know there was a minimum wage change coming, which, of course, you did know. And you explained a little bit more about the compaction issues. But I think it's really important if we can in the future put those in the reports. Not everybody can watch a city council meeting and get the details.

1:33:26It's a lot quicker to thumb through the agenda and read that. And so I think we should just be very clear, especially because there are ongoing concerns about finances and El Cerrito based on the past several years. So let's just explain that and make it clear. We we know what's happening. And then on the scenario planning.

1:33:45I think, given this and given what you said with just so much financial uncertainty out there, not just for us, but for everybody in our country, and honestly, the world right now.

1:33:57I think, as we look towards this upcoming budget. That's, you know, in the middle of the the 2 year cycle.

1:34:04It would be important to make considerations of starting to address this. It's not a large gap, you know, $700,000. It's not huge compared to the total budget, but if something changes that could double or triple, we just, we know so little about what's coming, and so I think it will be important

1:34:24in, you know, when we pass the budget in June to consider places we can either bring in more revenue or make small cuts, not necessarily to get to the full 700,000. But can we get part of the way there. So the problem becomes worse when we hit 2026 27. We don't all of a sudden have to make really big cuts, because I don't want to be in that position. And if things are much better than we thought it would be, it's okay, because we have

1:34:50deferred capital needs and all sorts of things we can spend the money on that we need to do. But I think right now it's important to be very thoughtful and just plan as best we can again, knowing that what you said is exactly true, we can't know we can't predict, but knowing that we can't know that I I just think we should be really careful going into the next couple of budget years.

1:35:13and just to call out specifics about what I'm supporting very much in support of

1:35:19moving forward with getting more details on the library and planning for that, and having experts come in and bring forward some of the information. I think the community's really been asking for in terms of the details there and then on the fire. Proposals. We got a lot of messages from the community. And I think there are probably many folks here in the audience tonight that want to speak on that very supportive of

1:35:45sympathetic thank you.

1:35:48Thank you. Councilmember, Casanas.

1:35:53and thank you both for your presentation. I have one quick question before my comments. The ongoing budget adjustment of point 7 million, beginning in 2627. What does that reflect?

1:36:04Is there a specific

1:36:05anticipation, or is that just kind of leaving open the process to be similar to this, where you might come back and say, make this adjustment. It's the amount that would be required to change the forecast. So that's the amount that keeps the city above the 17 reserve goal for the next 20 years. So

1:36:22you know, we we could do any amount you could do 0 point 6. You could do no adjustments. But that's where you get the graph that starts to dip below the 17% reserve if we can go back, the possibility that there will be

1:36:38a budget adjustment increase of point 7 million.

1:36:42So it's it's not right, it's it's it's what would it take to fix the to fix the

1:36:48the picture? Basically, what would it take? How much money would the city have to either cut or increase in revenue for the graph? To go from this one which dips below the 17 reserve to this one where it stays above. So there are many different ways to do it. You could, probably I I'd have to run numbers, and I can do that. Live right now. But, for example, you could probably do a half 1 million in the 1st year, and then an additional half 1 million in the second. So there are many different ways that you could fix that puzzle. It's just an example of one of the ways that you can take it from being this

1:37:17not not too scary. There's no circumstance where the city is even dipping into the Edrf. There's no circumstances. You can see on the graph on the right that the city is getting anywhere close to running out of reserves in any shape or form, but it is dipping below the 17 goal. And so to stay above that. That's where that point estimated. Point 7 is, but that number will presumably change if revenues come in really strong for the next few years, and that changes our projections. Then that's part of the point 7.

1:37:42Okay, well, now, I'll share some of my my concerns on.

1:37:46And 1st of all, I want to say, I'm not opposed to any of the budget adjustments. I think they align with direction that you've gotten from council. I look to

1:37:54city manager your yourself to give, you know, for your expertise some what that looks like. Where where do you make those expenditures. What I'm concerned about is the deficit, and I'm not at all comfortable approving something that contributes to deficit. My

1:38:09objective is for the

1:38:11-Oh -oh! Someone leaned against the lights in the back. Sorry someone needs to move. I was prepared to declare an emergency classrooms. We have to wave your hands to get the lights to come back on. Okay, so my concern is a deficit, and I I sort of vowed to myself and part of the reason I ran for city council was to avoid budget deficits and to have balanced budgets. And I look at the budget. So everyone does is

1:38:40a model where you make choices. If you want A, maybe you have less. B. But you have to make those choices.

1:38:46and what comes. What one comes to mind is, I think, about

1:38:50this is, I'm not sure there's a great analogy, but I have a credit card for Costco, and I use it a lot. At the end of the year I get this check this year I got $400,

1:38:59and I think of it as sort of a it's free money. You got this gift and I go out. And I think about, how am I going to spend this money? I buy television or computer monitor, whatever it is.

1:39:08But you know, thinking about it rationally, it's a very distorted decision. It's if I had that money throughout the year I would make different choices. I might buy different food, different clothes, but I wouldn't go buy 1 1 special item. That's sort of a perk.

1:39:22And I I think about this a little bit.

1:39:25Similarly, where

1:39:27there's a budget, and that you made decisions along the way, building the budget about what your priorities were.

1:39:33and you allotted things to those priorities.

1:39:36and then you arrive at a point now where we want to increase it and go into a million dollar deficit near a million dollar deficit, which is that alone is concerning to me.

1:39:45But I also think that this process distorts your decision making

1:39:48that if you had accounted for all these things that you want to spend the money on. In the beginning

1:39:53you might have allotted the whole. The budget allotments would have been different. You might have made different choices. It doesn't mean that these are bad choices. It's just that they're coming. They're tacked on at the end. So they gain priority over what was there in the very beginning, when you had to balance recreation with this, with that and all the different competing interests.

1:40:13Goodbye.

1:40:14These type of budget adjustments, even if they generate revenue.

1:40:20It's a distorted choice, because you're not weighing them against the other choices that are in the budget already. And you're not making. You're not allowing everyone to sort of compete for the money.

1:40:32I

1:40:34you know it's a little bit like my credit card. If I had that $400 at the beginning of the year I would have made different choices that would not have arrived at the color TV at the end.

1:40:42I so I began going again. I know it's an imperfect analogy, but I

1:40:47I am concerned by the budget deficit. I feel like if there's a need. And for all these things that you've listed. They're great need for them. They're valuable. I don't. I don't object to them.

1:40:57but I think it has to be a choice that if you want to add these things, then other things need to be pulled back.

1:41:02and we can't freely go into a million dollar deficit.

1:41:06And for that reason I I'm uncomfortable with it, and I oppose it.

1:41:11And so I think we've come out of a rough, rough patch, and I feel like we're slipping back into it very quickly.

1:41:17and it makes me nervous, and I think it's not. I think it's irresponsible.

1:41:22I'd just like to point out one thing. So the 900 under 700 million deficit that were prior to to this is 600,000 from the purchase order. Roll forward. So that's money that wasn't spent plan to spend. And then there was about 390 in bargaining, and I I thought about that. And I feel like that's something. And I don't know this from experience. But that's that's the type of expense.

1:41:46even though, because it's 1 time last year that type of thing can come up over and over again that Rollover can happen over and over again, and not knowing exactly where your labor negotiations are that can happen too.

1:41:57No, the purchase order roll forward! That's not exactly how it works. It's more timing. And so these were purchases that were budgeted, and some even expended for right or not not expended for, but ordered, but because of timing, and they weren't received, we can't exactly pay for them yet, so it's there were things that were ordered and planned. That process can happen this year as well for new items. Right? It's bound to happen every year bound to happen. That's why I mean, I understand that. So it is part of the

1:42:25process. And I understand that.

1:42:27But that doesn't make it okay to

1:42:30allow that to tack onto a deficit.

1:42:32If it's, you know, somewhat predictable, maybe not the exact number.

1:42:37But

1:42:38it's not a 1 time that next year you don't have that anymore. You have something similar next year and the year after and the year after.

1:42:44So I think that the ordering process has to be one that takes account of that. Who expects that maybe not an exact number.

1:42:52most importantly, does not head us into a deficit, agreed

1:42:59Councilor. Did anyone have go ahead, Council? Member

1:43:04ladies first.st Thank you, Mayor, and thank you for the presentation. I really appreciate the ability of Staff to do these projections now, because that was something I really wanted to see. I think I know that you

1:43:24yeah person, Claire, get to see kind of the the different options. But I think it would be great to. Also, you know, have a worst case scenario and a best case scenario. So we can just see the impact. The magnitude of change from different choices, and

1:43:43that's just me being me so. But I think that is really helpful. When we get to, you know the budget discussion for the

1:43:52midpoint of our budget for next year.

1:43:57to to kind of have a little bit more of a workshop feel to it so that we can see those the weight of those choices. So I really appreciate that. And I hope to see something like that in the future. I can see where we do need to spend additional funds, and that, you know, unlike

1:44:23a a regular household budget. This, you know, we do have these other fund sources that kind of are offsetting. And so I was wondering if you could talk a little bit about the difference between kind of expenditures and spending authority, because I think you know, maybe

1:44:45I I know what you're getting at. But like, if you look at the staff report. There's a whole bunch of different numbers. Changing the funding authority for general funds. Storm drain, integrated waste management, and those numbers don't really align at all with, you know the numbers that we're talking about for these additional expenses. So can you reconcile those 2 things for me, and so that I understand that

1:45:14better, and also that it's clear for

1:45:17for everyone, because I think that's.

1:45:20you know, when I I read comments from our residents, and they say, well.

1:45:25they all point out some number, and it's because there's some number that shows up that does not tie back

1:45:33to kind of the the other part of the discussion. I know that those are 2 different things. So if you could please clarify that.

1:45:41Yes, so

1:45:42The the primary action by the city council taken with the budget is authorizing the spending limit. And so we talk about the gan limit. But with every single fund the city council authorizes the maximum amount that the city can spend in that fund. Our city manager has the authority to adjust things among departments within a fund, but the fund itself is that the legal cap that is, the the primary legal action that the Council is taking is the spending

1:46:09authority, which is the also known as the appropriations limit. And so when we ask for the 440,000, so if you look at the table in the resolution, the top row has that midyear adjustment of 443,000. So you take the amended budget. You add that, and then you get the total appropriations. That's the maximum that the city can spend in the general fund in this fiscal year as allowed by council.

1:46:34The that

1:46:37confusion, I think, can happen, which is, how much do we expect the general fund balance to change, which is basically like how much we have in our bank account at the end of the year. Do we think it's going to go up? Do we think it's going to go down?

1:46:49So it's also another way you think about it is how much it changes the deficit or surplus that we are expecting. And so that's why those 2 numbers are different is because it's the amount that we are allowed to spend.

1:47:00The change in the fund balance at the end of the year depends on how much revenue we bring in. But the Council doesn't legally adopt revenues. So the city doesn't need Council's authorization to get more money. But we do need Council's authorization to spend more money. So that's why we talk about appropriations and appropriations limits, and why the numbers don't reflect revenues in the the resolution, because it's not legally adopted by council in the same way that expenditures are. Does that make sense? Yes, thank you.

1:47:31Council Member Quinto. I'm sorry, Mayor. Pro tem. I will get that right by the end of the year. Okay, thank you. Mayor. No. I thank you. Council member Motyama, because that that was one of the questions I was going to ask. So yeah, very much appreciate that. Looking at the

1:47:47the ask that are listed there. I recently took a ride with our El Serita fire safe.

1:47:56folks, and I I do support the additional full time.

1:48:02inspector. That truly is a must.

1:48:05This is one of the things that they have been working on for a long time, and something that too many of our residents should be on top of the list so definitely support that I agree with Council Member Casanas about making sure that we're fiscally responsible.

1:48:27and we don't go into deep deficits ever again. So looking at the presentation I appreciate. What you have said. We do need to spend more money on the additional people and recreation. I agree with that but also these are

1:48:50You know, money making

1:48:53recreation, things that parents depend on, and we can't cut on that. This is something that our families, our new generation of homeowners expect. And that's why they moved here. So making sure that we have the programs that homeowners

1:49:11and folks that live here. You know we we have to deliver on that. So but so supporting all of that, and then some. My concern is this reminds me of 2016 all over again.

1:49:25When we had the same administration, and we thought we would be able to build every single empty lot here, but because, he added, tariffs going to China we were not able to build anything except for the large city projects that we were able to build like next door, and the one on portal so you know, I

1:49:50we have to be

1:49:52so careful on this that? Yeah, I agree with you. We need to look at this, our Fab appreciate our Fab looking closely at what needs to be done, and and I have had talks with our city manager so looking at we what we have agreed on?

1:50:12You know, to make sure we have the programs that homeowners are depending on making sure we have public safety always as a priority. I'll be supporting this mid year budget update.

1:50:27But I wanna make sure that

1:50:30if any changes happen, we have to play this. This is day to day, and this is what we had to deal with back in 2,016 we were able to overcome. You know the the challenges that we had the last 10 years. But it can happen again if like. You know, 2016 all over again. So let's look at this day by day.

1:50:57We don't know what's happening. We have our forks

1:51:00reports on the Federal side, or, or.

1:51:03you know, making these tough decisions and saying, no to the new administration.

1:51:09you know. And this, yeah. So when I fly out to Washington on Saturday, when I speak to this new administration, speak to Fema speak to our 2 us Senators and and speak to our members of Congress. I'll be asking questions, a lot of questions about

1:51:25what is this gonna do? How can you

1:51:29advocate Congressman for your constituents here, because California is being penalized right now. So and I know you know cities. We don't have control over what's going on in Washington, but you know, we have a a good Congressman, Congressman Garrett Mende, who's staying on top of everything, and we'll be meeting with him. So again, I'm supporting this

1:51:59midyear budget update.

1:52:02Let's do take this day by day because things change, things can get better. But again, it's the second term of 2016 happening all over again. And we saw what happened on on the promises of our with our developers, and everything went sideways.

1:52:21You know, I'm I'm hoping that this doesn't happen with our main projects that are happening right now. But who knows? So again, thank you.

1:52:31Thank you, Mayor pro tem. Oh, go ahead! I just want to reiterate one thing, I,

1:52:36for summarizing what I said. I I am not opposed at all to any of your budget adjustments. What what I'm asking is that if you have a budget adjustment that increases

1:52:46your your calls.

1:52:48that you find the cost, saving somewhere else that it's a reallotment process, not one of just tacking on the deficit. So that's that's what I'm opposed to. It's not the individual request. It's just prioritize them with everything else.

1:53:02Thank you.

1:53:03Thank you so much. Council member, and I wanted to kind of tack on to what Mayor pro Tem Quinto said. I mean, it is important that he spoke about how we will be advocating next week to our Senators and to our Congress member, but also to a lot of the departments

1:53:18who are going to be responsible for the infrastructure projects that we have coming up, helping the city continue to be a pro housing city by doing more housing projects that will come next month. As we're talking to some of our State legislature, I mean, I was reading an article just today that was talking about some of our big box stores who are already already seeing the devastating results of people not shopping as much because prices are already going up.

1:53:44And we were talking to our legislators partners this week about how that may definitely impact our ability to build and bring in more revenues. But my main question and councilmember Casanas and mayor pro tem. Kind of alluded to this, and I wanted to ask this question as a devil's advocate more of, because I know a lot of folks who are going to be watching at home, or who have read the packet are really going to be looking more at the presentation and seeing all those negatives.

1:54:10So I wanted you to kind of explain to why does it look like at least on paper, that we are in a major budget. I can already tell you what the Internet is going to say is going to say that they saw that negative 960,000. And we're, you know, going down the skids already. So I would love for you to kind of explain why, that looks like that on paper, and also to councilmember Cassanis's point. I know that we discussed this last year.

1:54:33I mean, it was a great learning moment for me. The reason that the timing does have some of those items look like they are negatives. The timing of the physical fiscal year, and all those things. I know those are a lot of big questions, but I'm just for the benefit of the people who are watching at home, who are going to be on the Internet tonight. If you can explain as much of that as you can.

1:54:55I can start with the I'll start with the labor. So I mentioned earlier in how we cost out and how we budget for personnel. So when we create the budget which is typically done, the personnel budget is typically one of the 1st things that we do. So I do revenue the revenue budget and the personnel budget, because those are the things where, unless we change staffing, we don't have that much control over the costs, which, of course, right? So that and so before we even begin conversations with departments. We need to know what our personnel costs. What are our revenues?

1:55:24those personnel costs are based on the information we have at the time, and so when we budget, we budget

1:55:29to the best of our abilities with, you know, some cola estimate, especially for groups that we know are going to be in negotiations, but we don't know exactly what those labor contracts are going to be for the ones that we do know. We, of course, budget exactly what's in the contract but for several of our bargaining units, including several of our largest bargaining units. Those contracts were up for renegotiation this year, and so the $300,000 of

1:55:50the existing budget deficit is what was adopted by Council in the fall of this year after the original budget was adopted. And that's because those were labor contracts that came in the total cost above what had been budgeted. So we do budget for increases. Colas workers comp all of those different things.

1:56:05But we can't budget exactly correctly, because we don't know we haven't. The city hasn't sat down to the table with our late, with our labor groups yet, so we do it to the best of our abilities. But inevitably there's going to be some level of change. Because we don't know, and then we we also don't want to undermine. You know the the conversations that happen at the table. And then I'll defer to Crystal on the Po.

1:56:25Yes, so the Po. One is concrete, especially with fiscal year 24. Right? We adopted. We as in council, adopted several one time things that were meant to use the fund balance. So the only way to show that in our act for is a deficit, because using fund balance is.

1:56:43you know. Think about it dipping into your savings account. So it's it doesn't generate new revenue. It shows as a deficit. So all of I'd say 90, 98 to 99% of those projects were completed within fiscal year. But then departments came under budget. So that's that's why we have the Po roll forward is because we didn't spend that money last year. So that went back into our savings account. If we separate out the the one time things

1:57:10that money wouldn't have been spent so we wouldn't have had. We would have had a surplus had we not had those large one time expenditures. So that's where it for their general fund especially.

1:57:21it just rolls back into the fund balance. So just taking that. And then we didn't budget for it in 25. Because while yes, we know, there is the potential. I mean, there's always going to be the potential of timing differences and

1:57:34especially supply shortages and whatnot, that our purchase orders are not going to be expended.

1:57:40But it's not necessarily something we want to plan for, because we're only going to roll the purchase orders if we have a surplus, and that's why we did the big a big table to show that we would have had a surplus had we not approved those large one time expenditures that intentionally brought us a deficit. So I know it's very confusing, and we tried to outline it as best we could, and we're always always open to feedback. But

1:58:05that's why we were really intentional of trying to show the numbers, and I know it gets confusing. But we would have had a surplus had we not

1:58:13done those one time expenditures.

1:58:16Hope that helps.

1:58:18Yes, it does. Okay. Does anyone else have any questions.

1:58:24Are you sure? Okay, do we? I have a motion to approve public comment. Now is the time I've got flipping these papers. Now is the time for members of the public who wish to provide public comment regarding this item. Request to speak can be submitted to city clerk by completing a speaker card. Public comments will be taken in person. Only please remember to identify yourself and your city of residence at the beginning

1:58:49of your comments. City clerk. Please proceed. Thank you, Mayor. We have 9 requests to speak at this time. Can you just confirm if you wanted to carry for the 2 min or okay.

1:58:59All right. Our 1st speaker is Marlene Keller, followed by Sue Duncan and Nick Samarono.

1:59:05Good evening, Mayor Council members as a former Fab member and a continuous volunteer for the fire department. Insert. I thank you. This council, each of your wonderful, prudent, thoughtful questions about Budget and your care

1:59:24that the general funds are not misused, and a surplus is available, and you don't dip for almost any reason, and that you think of this as not windfalls, but in thoughtful ways.

1:59:40I thank you for that. Every taxpayer does every property owner. But but

1:59:45my 30 years of financial management. Experience tells me one thing. What is the wild card that will destroy the city, its property, tax base.

1:59:55kill people, ruin our, you know, destroyed by fire our schools, churches, businesses, and that's a catastrophic fire

2:00:06right now, as much as I'd like to believe that Washington is the enemy.

2:00:10We have a nearer enemy, and that is

2:00:15the fuel tons that are in the East Bay Hills. Now I I personally thank councilmember Lisa Motoyama, because she is for the for the city. A member of the is called the

2:00:30East Bay Coalition, East Bay Wildfire coalition of governments.

2:00:35a vital, important role. It can bring in a political coherence

2:00:42organization. When Nancy Skinner always loved. Organize yourselves, make a loud voice, get grants.

2:00:50do what you can locally to protect lives and property.

2:00:56But meanwhile, what you can do is what you've done tonight.

2:01:00Tiny amounts for the fire department is long overdue.

2:01:05and I especially applaud the part about an inspection tied person who can help people in the hills

2:01:13and figure out how to home. Harden. Thank you for your comment, but thank you and keep doing it. Our next speaker is Sue Duncan, followed by Nick Samarono and Charles Taylor.

2:01:33Good evening, Honorable Mayor City Council members. I'm Sue Duncan, resident of El Cerrito and a member of the make El Cerrito fire safe.

2:01:42I strongly encourage you to pass the section of item

2:01:47item 9, a. That increases the fire department's position of senior program manager, the civilian fire Marshal Slash, inspector from the current part-time position to full time. This position will be partially self-supporting with the inspection fees

2:02:02Ab. 38. Now requires that all real estate transactions in the very high fire, hazard, severity, zone, and the high fire zone be inspected. This new requirement, plus the new 0 zone laws which are coming very soon.

2:02:17along with all the existing ones described in the agenda packet, will demand more staff time to cover, as we saw in the La Fires and previous tragic wildfires. Compliance with home hardening and the 0 zone are critical for neighborhoods to survive a wildfire. Thank you for your consideration of this very important budget. Item.

2:02:40our next speaker is Nick Samarino, followed by Charles Taylor and Laura Monroe.

2:02:52Good evening, Mayor Council Members city Staff.

2:02:56I believe that it's imperative that Council approve and adopt

2:03:00the Fire Department's request for an additional appropriation of the $95,000 for repairs for these emergency fire vehicles.

2:03:08These vehicles are very important, as they serve all the emergency situations that we encounter in El Cerrito.

2:03:15as well as for the improved safety of our firefighters.

2:03:20I believe that this will save the city money

2:03:22in regards for new replacement of vehicles. Should any of these vehicles fail to function because of deferred maintenance.

2:03:30But just give me, let me give a simple analogy.

2:03:34Think of your own personal vehicle, that whether that be a car, motorcycle or

2:03:38a bicycle, or whatever other mode of transportation you have.

2:03:42Suddenly it breaks down, due to your delayed or ignored regular maintenance.

2:03:47I think it's better to pay now than pay much more later, and be with automotive transportation.

2:03:53I really do believe that this will save the city a lot of money in the future years to come. Thank you.

2:04:00Our next speaker is Charles Taylor, followed by Laura Monroe and Ben Chicaky, you know.

2:04:12Good evening, members of the City Council.

2:04:15I'm Charles Taylor.

2:04:17My family and I have lived in El Cerrito since 1984.

2:04:21We have been active users of the library throughout our time. Here

2:04:26there are a group of good people who are here to stand now in support of the new library. If you would

2:04:40tonight. I am speaking in support

2:04:43of including the construction management firm in the Budget revision.

2:04:49whether remod the for remodeling the current site

2:04:53or for a new Plaza Station Library. Such a firm could help save the city a significant amount of money

2:05:02El Cerrito needs and deserves a new library.

2:05:07The existing library is 75 years old, outdated and inadequate.

2:05:15It is too small.

2:05:17does not meet the seismic standards, and has many malfunctioning systems and does not have air conditioning.

2:05:26It has no dedicated space for seniors, teens, or young children.

2:05:33It has no meeting rooms and inadequate space for poetry, reading.

2:05:38adult learning, and similar types of gatherings.

2:05:43and it has a very insufficient number of computers.

2:05:48Please approve the requested enhancement of this year's budget for the library construction management firm. Thank you.

2:05:58Our next speaker is Laura Monroe, followed by Benj

2:06:02Chicky. I apologize, and Claire Sheridan.

2:06:18good evening, members of Council and Mayor. I'm Laura Monroe. I'm a resident of El Cerrito living on Kearney Street, and I'm going to ask you tonight to please approve the requested budget for the library construction management firm.

2:06:34El Cerrito needs and deserves a new library to meet community needs.

2:06:41A library study was completed 20 years ago and updated 10 years ago, and it calls for 20,000 square foot library.

2:06:49A new library would have dedicated space for seniors like me.

2:06:54Teens, young readers, a new library would be a safe haven during storms, power outages, smoke, events, and heat waves.

2:07:02A new library would provide another space for adult learning and senior programming.

2:07:08This is so important to me.

2:07:10I haven't lived here that long, but I'm a lifelong user of libraries.

2:07:14and this community deserves the best. Thank you.

2:07:21Our next speaker is Ben Shaki, followed by Claire Sheridan and Charles Monroe.

2:07:30Hi, Hi, Council members. My name is Ben Chiwaki. I'm a 18 year resident of El Cerrito. I've also been on the Design Review Board for many years, but I'm here to speak in support of the budget for the construction manager position for the library. I think it's a very important

2:07:52project for El Cerrito to have a new library. I firmly believe that El Cerrito deserves a new library. Libraries today are much more than places to

2:08:04to read or to store books. They're they're really community gathering places that are that are wonderful. The new libraries in some cities have

2:08:14the same size as El Cerrito, like Half Moon Bay or hollister, I mean, these are great libraries that I encourage folks to to visit, because it's and Berkeley has a small library, too. But the construction manager among the amongst the things that they could do are

2:08:31are evaluate the the issue of the existing site or the plaza site, and and put that issue to rest.

2:08:42They could also, get into detailed negotiations with the developer and prepare cost estimates and get the proposals the request for proposals for architects for the library.

2:08:59and in my experience in general, cities are not, don't have the expertise to for for a role like that. So I I think it's important to hire an outside person to take the take on this role.

2:09:12So please approve the budget for the construction.

2:09:19Our next speaker is Claire Sheridan, followed by Charles Monroe and Alice Clark.

2:09:31Hello, City Council members. I'm Claire Sheridan. I'm a 22 year El Cerrito resident, a volunteer with the El Cerrito trail trekkers and with the library's literacy program I got involved in the effort to promote a new library because I care about making our community a desirable place to live

2:09:49tonight. I'm speaking in support of the construction management firm Budget

2:09:53el Cerrito needs and deserves a new library.

2:09:57I personally think the Bart Plaza station is the best option for a new library, Bart began, as you know, including a library at the Plaza Station development. As early as 2017. All of the proposals included a library in their site designs the developer and Bart believe a library would be a great asset to their project, and Bart has agreed to a 99 year lease at $1 per year. The developer has secured funding.

2:10:24There's great certainty that a building that could house the library at the Plaza station will be built in the next 4 years. No other alternative has so much location, schedule, or price certainty that said

2:10:38spending a small amount of money to engage an owner's representative would provide answers to questions that residents have been asking, being responsive to them, engaging the community with an opportunity to evaluate all options, update cost estimates, and protect the city's interests.

2:10:57Please approve the requested budget for the library construction management firm. Thank you.

2:11:05Our next speaker is Charles Monroe, followed by Alice Clark.

2:11:13Good evening, council and mayor. Thank you for allowing us to address you this evening. I am a

2:11:222 and a half year, approximately resident of El Cerrito. I love it here. This is the best place that I've found to live. We came from Ohio. This is great. I've been a university faculty member and retired. I'm administrator as well from the University, and I've used the library all my life, and I think this is a great idea that we need to move forward with this. With this proposal.

2:11:48I'm speaking in support of the construction management management firm budget tonight, and I think it's really critical. The small budget amount proposed for this firm save the city up to 10 million dollars in avoided land, acquisition and other escalation costs a delay in augmenting staff with the firm could mean the city loses out on the Plaza Station Library site resulting in a search for another site

2:12:16land acquisition, again, of at least 5 million, a delay of at least 5 years. I want to see a library. You know I'm 77. I'm as old, older, I believe, than the library present. We need this this facility. Please act tonight committing a small amount to staff as requested. This could save the city at least 10 million dollars.

2:12:41Whether or not we go forward with the Plaza Station Library, or whether you choose some other site. The construction management firm really is necessary to do this. Well, please respond positively to this budget request. Thank you.

2:12:57And our final speaker is Alice Clark.

2:13:05Good evening.

2:13:06I'm Alice Clark. I've lived in El Cerrito for 40 years.

2:13:11and enjoy living in this wonderful city

2:13:14where we brought up our children.

2:13:17I'm here to speak in support of approving the proposed budget for the library construction management firm.

2:13:25El Cerrito needs a new library, and this is the time to keep up the momentum.

2:13:31The delays the developer has experienced regarding their funding

2:13:37provide El Cerrito with an opportunity to do its best preliminary work

2:13:41on the cost and design of the new library.

2:13:45Let's not wait till the last minute, but take this opportunity now to fully understand our options.

2:13:52whether remodeling the current site or building a new Plaza station library.

2:13:59We need to hire the expert construction management firm now to put the city in the best position to develop the new library.

2:14:08If we delay in hiring the construction management firm, the city will not have the information needed about our library plans in time to negotiate with the developer.

2:14:20We need to have the construction management firm included right away in this year's budget.

2:14:26Please approve the requested budget for the library construction management firm. Thank you.

2:14:34Thank you, Mayor. That concludes our request to speak on this item. Thank you so much, and I just want to acknowledge our library. Commissioner Michael Fisher. I know another one of our longtime library supporters, and former Wcc. Usd trustee, Tom Panis, who I see in the back, and I know that you all are responsible for getting all these folks out here to talk so much good about the need for a library. Yes, you are. Don't shake your head.

2:14:58So thank all of you for your for your words.

2:15:02And now with that do I have a motion to approve. This item so moved all right. Second, all right. So, moved by Mayor Protein Quinto, and seconded by Council Member Motoyama. All in favor, please say aye.

2:15:14aye, any opposed, any opposed, okay, any abstentions?

2:15:21Okay, so the motion passes with council Member Casanas voting. No correct look. I'm learning. I'm learning, boy. Okay.

2:15:30all right. Thank you. Your finance team.

2:15:33The next item is city council, local and regional liaison assignments. Are there any council reports?

2:15:40Okay? I got Mayor quote Tim, and it will come this way. Thank you, Mayor. I did attend Mces executive committee meeting in San Rapel where we discussed working on our new budget. So

2:15:57know that. You know.

2:16:00the new administration is affecting.

2:16:04all of our regional boards just like Mce. So we're going to wait and see we are when we meet in Washington. There, I will speak to our local congressmen that represent

2:16:18the marine clean energy area area and cities and counties. And we're not changing a thing we're going to ask and they need to advocate for their constituents. So, looking at that, and I did attend the Air Board meeting earlier

2:16:40last month, and we did look at different scenarios regarding

2:16:48the Federal what the Feds are doing and on the Federal level dealing with air quality. They're taking it about face on a lot of these things. So we're gonna take this day to day as well.

2:17:01We're gonna discuss. I have a meeting tomorrow with them, and we will discuss further about the the changes that they're trying to make over there in Washington. But with Carb, the State Air Board and the Local Air Board. You know, we will continue to work on clean air for California.

2:17:25and we also discussed

2:17:27fireplace. And we do have a lot of folks that still use their fireplace here so know that we have spare the air days here, and we have a particular matter that

2:17:43causes a lot of

2:17:46breathing problems for our residents, especially on a red on a bad air day. So definitely keep an eye on that. Then

2:17:56they have not discussed anything regarding getting rid of fireplaces completely, but they are looking at what the alternatives are. Many of us changed our fireplaces to natural gas. I have no problem with that. I did that many years ago, and we're quite happy about that, but know that we are in a fire danger zone. But we are also an earthquake country, and I'm reminding people who

2:18:25have natural gas in their homes.

2:18:28A lot of the fires that were caused from earthquakes are because of these gas

2:18:37accidents and and gas mains breaking. So we need to be very, very careful about that. I did have constituents. Ask me about Rule 20 recently. And

2:18:49and I think that's something that we need to speak to about Pg. And E. And our fire Jpa about doing that in the future, in our fire danger zones here in El Cerrito and Kensington. So that's my report. Thank you. All right. Councilmember Salsman.

2:19:10Yes. Last week I attended the League of Cities, East Bay Division meeting along with our mayor, and Mayor pro tem. And a bunch of the East Bay legislators spoke about their legislative priorities, and that included our State Senator Jesse Arrogine. So it was great to hear from them and what

2:19:34what they're all working on. And then Wictac met last week.

2:19:41And one of the big presentations was from the Contra Costa transportation authority about their a part of their countywide transportation plan which they're in the middle of updating, and they have

2:19:54a new part of it, which is the livable streets proposal? Which is proposing some pretty big changes to how we plan for streets in Contra Costa County. I won't go into all the details, but I actually do encourage you all to look at it. They're working with our staff and all the other city staff on how to classify different street types.

2:20:19And then what treatments would be recommended for those streets to slow down traffic, to make it safer pedestrians and and people biking and to make our streets less Autofocus

2:20:32and then the the thought of this is to then include it in the County wide transportation plan, and it'll be up to Ccta to decide if some funding might then, you know, depend on it, for cities that kind of come up to compliance with this might be more competitive for funding, and of course, as the county hopefully will be going out for transportation funding measure sometime in the next several years. This this will be important. So

2:21:00encourage you to take a look at that. The other thing that was reported on of interest to El Cerrito is that.

2:21:07I believe, at the March Ccta. Meeting they are going to consider moving forward with an Rfp. To start outreach on the 3rd phase of planning San Pablo Avenue in El Cerrito and Richmond, looking at how to make that street safer for people walking, biking, taking the bus, moving the buses a little faster.

2:21:31I rode the 72 R. Today from El Cerrito to Oakland, and I was thinking, I wish we had done this planning 20 years ago, because it's quite slow right now, and it could could get a lot better. So that's that's very exciting. That that's moving forward.

2:21:46Councilman. Thank you. Mayor. On February 19th I attended the Elks Lodge annual law Enforcement night, and we honored detective, James Rizzo.

2:21:59I attended that with my colleagues, Mayor, Mayor pro tem. And Council member. On the February 21, st I met with Senator Jesse arroging on behalf of Cal cities. And we had a contingent of local leaders, and we talked about El Cerrito's priorities, including the library.

2:22:22On February the 25, th I attended the Fab meeting as liaison, and

2:22:29wanted to say, Thank you to both. Yeah.

2:22:33Member Farhad and Member Shaffron to for their service on the committee and welcoming our new

2:22:42Fab member as well. On February 27th I attended the East Bay Wildfire Coalition of Governments meeting, and we had a presentation from Edmud. It was important to hear. Kind of the Edmud analysis of how fire ready we are. There's been a lot of

2:23:02concern about how there was not enough water for the fires in Los Angeles, and that the water ran out so Edma did tell us they do have pumps in place, and you know the reservoirs are ready. However, they did stress that if if there was a massive conflagration like down in la

2:23:24that there just is not enough water in the world to maintain pressure and to deliver enough water all at once to put out many, many like fires or a big fire. So that's something to keep in mind. Also what came up was kind of you know the state of our hydrants. I think.

2:23:43it was clear that there are a number of fire hydrants, particularly in the El Sobrante area, where that they have very little maintenance, and I do want to thank chief sailors for making sure that the ones in El Cerrito are already always checked every year and well maintained. So that's good for us. But we're only as good as the weakest member in our group. So hopefully, that's a wake up. Call for for other jurisdictions to to check their hydrants as well.

2:24:11and also on the 27th we had our ad hoc subcommittee meeting to discuss comments at council meetings and zoom comments.

2:24:23Council member Yosanas any report? Yep, as council Member Motima mentioned. I attended the February 19, th I believe, 24th annual law enforcement night, which honored

2:24:35exemplary law Enforcement personnel from each of the West County West Contra Costa County cities, or many of them with police chief, was there, and we honored Officer Rizzo from El Credo.

2:24:48i

2:24:49Also. This morning I met with John Joya and Will and Alex and Aisha

2:24:56at the county's veterans building on Stockton, Kitty Corner. From the library.

2:25:01I thank the city staff for coming, and thank John Julia as well.

2:25:06We walked around the building and met with also some accounting and building facilities, people to look at what the building needs were, and how the building could be better utilized, and what type of repairs are necessary to get it utilized.

2:25:17The county has allotted

2:25:207 roughly $750,000 towards that building, which but it doesn't surprise you doesn't cover very much. It the

2:25:28kind of plan is to add to redo the outside where it is current.

2:25:33repairing the cement on the outside of the building and the outside.

2:25:39There's not much left after that, but maybe some interior paint work and getting some space inside more usable.

2:25:46But the 1st step is the outside, and the county is committed to doing that. And hopefully, this sort of starts a process where there's a collaboration between the city and the county and using that building, there are a number of groups that are interested in it, one being group of citizens who are seniors here who are hoping to have some senior programming there. The Historical Society has an interest in using it. It's now being used by veterans, the Veterans group. They will continue to use it. There are Aa meetings there.

2:26:13There's a auditorium inside with a stage, and it's a kitchen. There's a lot of possibilities. But the building absolutely needs a lot of work, you know 750,000 is probably a quarter of what it needs, but it gets the process started

2:26:26again. That was this morning.

2:26:29All right. Thank you and as several of my account colleagues have mentioned, I did attend the law enforcement night. There at the Elk Lodge, so thank you so much for the Elks Lodge for always hosting 24 years. Now, thank you for Chief Keith and the the law Enforcement staff.

2:26:46who invited us to celebrate with them for our officer of the year. Again congratulations to Officer Rizzo. We did also, as it was mentioned, attend the East Bay Division of Cal cities, where we heard from our legislatures, who talked about not only the bills that they are putting forward, but really the very real challenges that are already being presented on the statewide level regarding our budget, since there's so much uncertainty on the Federal level. So thank you to

2:27:11Senator Eric Gein into our Assembly members that that anchor us so that would have been oh, Assembly member who was there? Assembly member

2:27:20Liz Ortega was there, and also Senator Aisha Wahe. Was there, so thank them all for speaking with. And Rebecca. Yes, I'm sorry. Please. Rbk, don't be upset with me. Yes, remember Rebecca Bauer Kahan. So it was good, and thank you to the city of San Leandro for hosting us. We had a great, incredible time in your city.

2:27:38This week. We also did as Council Member Motiyama mentioned. We did meet in our ad hoc committee, and we're taking the opportunity to really discuss a new version of our rules of engagement here in our council chambers, both for the Council and for our community members that will come before us.

2:27:55And really talking about what it would look like to actually bring our zoom comments back, and also just creating some new parameters around engagement and comments in general here in the council chamber. So we look forward to bringing that report back, as Staff has it ready for us.

2:28:11And I also do get to meet with our brand new legislative staff. So I'm looking forward to working with them more closely.

2:28:17We were meeting specifically because, as Mayor pro tem. Mentioned, he and I will be going to the National League of Cities, leaving on Saturday, and this is an opportunity for us to be a bit more structured in the way that we are speaking with our legislature. Usually when when mayor pro tem. When I go, we just have these loose conversations with the Congressmen, and just tell them what we are what our priorities are, what we're working on as a city. But it was good to have a staff now that can tell us this is what we're hearing from the Federal level.

2:28:42This is what we should talk about. This is what we need to advocate for. So I thank you so much to again to our city manager for bringing them in and and for having those conversations.

2:28:51and with that

2:28:54is now time to adjourn. But I want to endure, adjourn, even though we don't have a name in the memory of the community member that lost their lives today at at the Bart station, regardless of whatever the circumstances, was a member of our community, lost their lives. So my heart goes out to to their families, and whatever those circumstances that led them into that space.

2:29:14So with that the time is 8, 31, and we are adjourned. The next regularly scheduled city Council meeting is Tuesday, March 18, th at 2025 at 6 pm.

2:29:24Thank you so much. Everyone.

2:29:26Thank you. All right. We made it through.