Regular City Council Meeting December 16, 2025

0:00:05The time is now 6.01 PM.

0:00:09And the regular City Council meeting of El Cerrito City Council is called to order. Will the Clerk please call the roll? Mayor Weisinger? Present. Mayor Pro Tem Kinto?

0:00:20Councilmember Kitsanis? Here. Councilmember Motayama?

0:00:25Councilmember Saltzman? Here. We have a quorum.

0:00:28The first item on the agenda is consideration under AB 24449. City Clerk, do we have any requests? We do not. Okay, please join me in the Pledge of Allegiance or a moment of silence.

0:00:42I 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. Thank you, Mayor. This hybrid meeting provides an option to participate in person or via Zoom for closed captions.

0:01:08Meetings 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 comments directly, your comments will be heard prior to Council taking action.

0:01:23For members of the public who wish to provide oral testimony, the Mayor will announce the time for public comment on each applicable item. Public comments will be taken in person only, and a request to speak can be submitted to the City Clerk by completing a speaker card.

0:01:36The Council's adopted Rules of Order and Procedure specify that public speakers address the City Council in an orderly and respectful manner, proceed their comments with their name and city of residence, and be respectful of time limits. Thank you, Mayor, that concludes my announcements. Thank you so much. The next item on the agenda is Council Staff Communications. City Manager, do we have any staff communications? Thank you, Your Honor. My name is Karen Pincus, I'm the City Manager. It's wonderful

0:02:01to see everyone here tonight at our last meeting of the year, so I want to thank all of our council members, I want to thank our community, I want to thank our city staff for a wonderful 2025, and looking so much forward to 2026. I just wanted to remind everyone that our winter break schedule for City Hall will begin on Friday. City Hall will be closed Friday, December 19th through Friday, January 2nd, and

0:02:26will reopen on Monday, January 5th, 2026.

0:02:30There will… are some, other limited hours for other city buildings throughout the city, so please go to our website at elcerrito.gov and check on our calendar. And with that, Madam Mayor, thank you so much. All right, are there any announcements from the council members? I'll start here at the end with Councilmember Saussman.

0:02:49I just wanted to thank our staff for their tremendous work, leading up to and throughout the teacher strike that happened in our school district.

0:02:59Which was very challenging. As a parent, it was very challenging, and it was challenging for the city, because the city runs aftercare on school sites, and so couldn't

0:03:09Do that, even though you all tried to figure out a way to keep aftercare going, but the communication with the parents was excellent.

0:03:16And I thought you went above and beyond by finding alternative work assignments for aftercare employees who wanted them to make sure they stayed employed, even if we didn't know how long the strike would go on. And that just shows how much you care about the workers here, and I know that made them feel very valued. I, as a parent, really value these folks. They're so important to our community, so just thank you for that.

0:03:40All right, any other staff… I'm sorry, council announcements?

0:03:44All right, so mayoral announcements. For the fourth quarter 2025, covering October to December, I recognize El Cerrito Centenarian Teresa Pirella, who was also El Cerrito's 2017 Wall of Fame inductee, who will turn 109 on Saturday.

0:04:10On December 4th, I issued a mayoral proclamation in recognition of the 72nd… sorry, 77th annual or anniversary of St. Peter's CME Church.

0:04:20And tonight, I have several mayoral proclamations that I would like to present.

0:04:26So, I'm gonna start with the first proclamation whose honoree is not here, but it did kind of lead to one of our… our… one of my

0:04:36other proclamations. To Billy Nichols, who is a longtime Elsared and a long-time African American El Ceridan.

0:04:43I actually promised her that I would give her a mail proclamation. You're gonna hear me say this a lot tonight, but she is one of the African American members who's been here in El Cerrito for a long, long time, and as you know, we've only had 3 Black mayors here. And so it was very important for me to recognize long-time Black El Cerritans, and so I will be issuing this to Ms. Billy Nichols and her son, Kevin. I'm very honored to issue this to her.

0:05:07You can go ahead and apply for Billy Nichols. If you know her, the second is to…

0:05:16Pastor Marvin K. White.

0:05:18Pastor Marvin White, if you do not know, is the pastor of Gly Memorial Church, and although Gly Memorial Church is in San Francisco, it's been very instrumental in creating a welcoming and safe environment for LGBTQIA folks. Of course, this is an LGBTQIA majority council, so it created the conditions and the circumstances that allowed for us to sit here. And also, Pastor White has been very, very welcoming to me.

0:05:43himself and the Gly Memorial Church family. You know, they get a lot of elected officials who come through those doors, but they really appreciated the way that I navigated and really supported community. I always came to visit them, always came to give a welcoming word, and I was surprised, and Karen says this all the time, how many people that live in El Cerrito?

0:06:03All right. So, I do have a proclamation here for Pastor White. His assistant pastor, Minister Mona Webb, is here in the audience. Mona, if you can raise your hand. She's here to accept in his…

0:06:19All right, proclamation number 3. This is a proclamation that is very important to me, and I will be very honest, it was inspired by my promise to Ms. Billy Nichols to make a proclamation. I said, if I was going to make a proclamation for a long-time Black Elsa region.

0:06:34I had to give one to Granny. We know her as Granny, but Iris Morris, and I want to tell you why.

0:06:43I did not… I did not write a long speech, but Granny is the… like, yes, that… that is very much like my grandmother.

0:06:51Granny Morris raised four generations now, I believe, of Morrises here in El Cerrito, has been here since 1968, and when I told Granny that I wanted to run for El Cerrito City Council, she said, well, you know.

0:07:04paid attention to the El Cerrillo City Council. She's been here since 68, y'all. Should I pay attention? She said, I never had a reason to pay attention to who was on City Council. So, it was a proud moment for me to give… to become a reason for Granny to pay attention, and she does tell me that she has potholes, Yvette, and are people speeding down the front of her house on Arlington, so she's very active and engaged.

0:07:24Granny, I love you very much. I want to read this out loud so people can understand further why, why I made the recommendation. And Eric, if one of you all want to walk Granny up here. I don't want her sitting in the back while I'm reading this.

0:07:38Go ahead and give her another hand, y'all.

0:07:51So, whereas Mrs. Iris Christine Morris was born on December 25th, 1934, and has lived a life defined by service, resilience, education, and deep commitment to family and community.

0:08:05And whereas Mrs. Morris graduated from El Cerrito High School, I hope you see a theme here, in 1952, embodying Gaucho pride and establishing lifelong roots in the city of El Cerrito.

0:08:16And whereas in 1969, Mrs. Morris made El Cerrito her permanent home, where she and her beloved husband, Mr. Jimmy Morris, raised their family and built a life grounded in love, stability, and community values.

0:08:30And whereas Mrs. Morris pursued higher education at the University of California, Berkeley, earning a Bachelor's of Arts degree in 1977, and a Master's degree in social work in 1980, reflecting her commitment to education and public service.

0:08:45And whereas in 1989, Mrs. Morris obtained her clinical social work license and devoted her professional career to supporting individuals and families, including honorable service with the United States Department of Veterans Affairs until her retirement in 1997.

0:09:02And whereas, after her retirement, Mrs. Morris continued to serve others through her work until 2024, demonstrating extraordinary dedication to her profession and to the well-being of community.

0:09:16Whereas Mrs. Morris is the proud mother of 3 children, and grandmother of 8 grandchildren, and great-grandmother of 14 great-grandchildren, and together with her beloved husband, Mr. Jimmy Morris, created a lasting family legacy rooted in care.

0:09:34and perseverance and service, and whereas Mrs. Morris is affectionately known to her grandchildren, their friends, and many in the El Cerrito community and Richmond community, including Mayor Carolyn Weisinger, as Granny.

0:09:49And…

0:09:52A name that reflects her role as a trusted guide, steady presence, and source of wisdom across generations. Now, therefore, I, Carolyn Weisinger, Mayor of the City of El Cerrito, do hereby proclaim recognition and appreciation

0:10:08of Mrs. Iris Christine Morris for her lifelong contributions and enduring legacy. Thank you so much, Granny.

0:10:22I'm gonna invite all the grandchildren and children up to the front, and we're gonna take a picture with her.

0:11:54All right, for our final presentation.

0:11:58Our proclamation. I don't know if we have enough room, but we're gonna invite the El Cerrito Gaucho cheerleaders.

0:12:06football team!

0:12:24alternative.

0:12:26So I think we could have maybe the cheerleaders on the side and in the middle.

0:12:32Cheerleaders, you might want to take the side and the middle aisle, so we can get as many of the players in here as possible.

0:12:40Oh, that's even better.

0:12:44Oh, this is gonna be fun.

0:12:54Yeah, Will got it.

0:12:59They got it. Oh, wow, that's a… Whoa!

0:13:03I gotta take a picture of this.

0:13:15Okay, because I don't want you guys to stand too long, but I mean, you work really hard. You good at running and standing, I know you can do it. You stand on that sideline.

0:13:25This is a very, very important presentation to me, because…

0:13:30I came to El Cerrito High School in the spring of… Donny Day was when it was spring in 1993? Yeah, I'm date checking you, too.

0:13:38In the spring of 1993, I hated football, because my mama used to make me watch football all the time, but then I got me a little boyfriend on the freshman football. This is very too much information.

0:13:50And ever since then, I became incredibly invested in El Cerrito Gauchos. I was a cheerleader, actually, I was the mascot, don't ask questions. I was the leadership.

0:14:02director. I was a senior class president.

0:14:05If any of you know Coach Adai, I don't know how many of you would be old enough to have known when Coach Adai was with the team. His son is my nephew, he knows that I have two El Cerrito Gaucho jerseys. And when you put me in that ground.

0:14:17put me in my El Cerrito Gaucho jersey, because I believe green and white. I… this is a beloved and very important institution to me, and it is so, I say, God-ordained.

0:14:29that in this year, when I am the mayor, the…

0:14:33Most school spirit that you will ever meet, that you all would make it to the state championship.

0:14:39Bye!

0:14:46I… I could not be more proud of all of you. I know how hard it is to be a… to be a student athlete. I know what this team has gone through since last year, Coach.

0:14:57What happened to you all, and to turn it all the way around to state is an amazing feat.

0:15:03I want to inspire all of you that are going on. You are going to be representing this great school and great city. Many of you will go on to D1 schools, will maybe go on to HBCU schools, wherever it is that you go, but you will forever be a Gaucho, as you can see with me and my gaucho green as well, and I know that you all will do great things.

0:15:23I wanna name the… Speak the name of… some folks.

0:15:29Wait a minute…

0:15:34If I can bring it up here…

0:15:37Because we do have a proud tradition, as you all know, that you are now a part of, of El Cerrito Gaucho alumni who have done… gone on to grow… to do great things, and I want to name the names of some of them.

0:15:49Aaron Banks, who many of you all know, Jerry Bell, Cornell Green, Camille Lau, Jameer Miller, Harvey Salam.

0:15:59Todd Spencer, Terrell Roberts, may he rest in peace, and your coach, or one of your coaches, Mr. Lamont Thompson. And also, my good friend, I mean, you, again, you with Coach Donnie, that's my friend since second grade, so I knew you would… I knew you would do great things.

0:16:14All of the accomplishments that all of those teams had, as great as they were.

0:16:18You all are the first to make it to state, and I hope that you all make it as far as all of them. I want to give, also, Mayor Pro Tem, I know this is my proclamation, but I know that you are also a proud Gaucho, if you would like to say anything to the team as well.

0:16:30Well, as an old gaucho, I congratulate this team. You make our city and West County proud, so I want to say congratulations. Class of 79, we had Dr. Carson that was on the football team, but I remember Harvey Salem as one of my classmates as well, but we had

0:16:50All through the years, great football players, great athletes, women and men, in all of the

0:16:57sports. So again, congratulations, we're so proud of you. And my sister was a cheerleader as well, and I know Carolyn Coleman, the CEO of Cal Cities, was a cheerleader, and she's here in our audience as well, so…

0:17:13we have… And Karen Picos was a cheerleader as well.

0:17:18So again, congratulations to the team. It's a group effort, and we're so proud of you. West Contra Costa, El Cerrito, you put our mark here on the city. So again, thank you for your leadership, and thank you.

0:17:35You, you deserve that. What a great-looking statue. Congratulations.

0:17:42Before I… before I ask you to… before I ask you for any comments that you may have, Coach, I just want to also say that you all come from a family tree. The Frank Milo family tree, the George Austin family tree, do great things, but finally, the most important reason why this was important to me as the third Black mayor of this city is because I was once, like you, a young Black, brown youth here in El Cerrito who didn't always

0:18:07feel like, you know, it was… you were supported in the city. Hopefully, this has been different for you now, but in our day, back in 1995, I remember that, you know, it was a welcoming city, but you always knew that some folks may have had a little bit of the…

0:18:20And…

0:18:21one of the reasons that I want to be the mayor of this city, the people that I was thinking of when I decided to run was for all of you to make it safe, for simple things like going to football games, going to Foot Locker to be safe without, you know, being profiled, that was very important to me. So the fact that we have created a safe environment for you all to do the things that you did, once again, I'm very, very proud of you. I want to invite Coach

0:18:45Tim Johnson, who has done an amazing job with this team this year.

0:18:51Allie, do we have a handheld mic for him?

0:18:55You a little nervous? You don't know.

0:19:00Still in there? Okay. First of all, I want to thank everybody for being here today. I'm so proud of this team.

0:19:08I'm proud of the school, proud of this community, I'm proud of everybody that had a hand in helping us, and just helping us get the opportunity to, you know, be successful this year.

0:19:19I want to present This office, alright, with this photo.

0:19:23Hopefully, you guys can find somewhere… somewhere nice to put it at as, you know, state champions, the first state champions. Hopefully, we're making this city proud, you know what I mean? Making this community proud, so…

0:19:36Appreciate everybody. I mean, I also appreciate all my players and all their families.

0:19:40We did it.

0:19:49Holly, you can take that, but I might have to steal that from my house.

0:19:53Alright, so… I'm going to come down, and I believe…

0:19:58I want that… that trophy, too. I believe that there are so many players and cheerleaders here that we are going to go out to the… the hallway and do it on the steps. Okay.

0:20:09Should we… should we take a recess to do this?

0:20:13We can make it work?

0:20:16You know my… what do you want… I'm sorry. Look, let me turn my mic off. I'll try. Turn the mic on.

0:20:22Or just stand with the coach, do you guys want to mute?

0:20:36Louise, what's my cake?

0:20:40I sent it on a picture. Yeah.

0:20:42That way… Oh, I was thinking you'd like it.

0:20:49I was just gonna say my name.

0:20:52Okay.

0:20:54We thank you for those.

0:21:04So, Coach, you come to the front with me, we gonna go back. You gonna go this way? Yep. All right. Y'all better not be talking.

0:21:12Following you. I gotta follow the mayor, I'm following the mayor, I'm following the mayor.

0:21:19And, and…

0:21:40First row, we need y'all to kneel down.

0:21:43First row, I need y'all to kneel down. Okay, I'm a gaucho. I need y'all to kneel down. Okay.

0:21:51The crow said, kneel down.

0:21:53We want to see everybody in the back. All gauchos, alright. We can do it. It's all going to the back. Let's go.

0:22:00Women.

0:22:03Thank you.

0:22:21Stand up, everyone will be behind.

0:22:28Oh, another car? Another…

0:22:41I don't understand.

0:23:29I don't know, it's… this looks great.

0:23:51Oh, like, sorry.

0:24:37Once again, it wasn't… it's also…

0:24:49Before y'all leave, I need to talk to y'all. Before y'all leave, I need to talk to you.

0:25:29When I say, God, say God, God, Beautiful.

0:25:42I got through that! I was like…

0:25:45I don't know if I was gonna get this. I didn't write no speech. I just spoke from the heart.

0:25:59If we can have all the council up to the dais, we are still in session, so if we can have the rest of the Council up to the dais.

0:26:21We can do the easy parts while people are dispersing.

0:26:26The next item on the agenda…

0:26:29It's 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. Requests to speak can be submitted to the City Clerk by completing a speaker card.

0:26:47Public comments will be taken in person only. Please remember to identify yourself and your city of residence at the beginning of your comments. City Clerk, please proceed.

0:26:59Thank you, Mayor. We just have one request to speak tonight. Janet Byron.

0:27:10Hello, City Council. My name is Janet Byron. I'm an El Cerrito resident, and I'm on the El Cerrito Richmond Annex Walk and Roll Coordinating Committee.

0:27:20Over the past month or so, three serious car-pedestrian collisions have occurred in El Cerrito, two of which resulted in fatalities.

0:27:30Speed kills, and cars and trucks are simply driving too fast on city streets, especially on San Pablo Avenue.

0:27:39I live on San Pablo and need to cross it often, and I find it increasingly terrifying. While standing on corners waiting for the light to change, I routinely witness cars barreling through red lights and pedestrian-activated beacons, even when the walk sign is on.

0:27:57Wait, can you pause her time, Holly?

0:28:00Chief, if we can go ahead and unfortunately close the door to the lobby, that would be appreciated.

0:28:08And maybe start over? We can do that, that's fine.

0:28:11Holly, if we can restart her time? Yeah.

0:28:15Thanks.

0:28:18Everyone's just so excited.

0:28:27Okay, you can go ahead and begin, I think it's okay.

0:28:31Hello again, my name is Janet Byron, I'm an El Cerrito resident, and I'm on the coordinating committee of El Cerrito Richmond Annex Walk and Roll.

0:28:40Over the past month or so, three serious car-pedestrian collisions have occurred in El Cerrito, two of which resulted in fatalities, and there were other accidents that were less serious.

0:28:52Feed kills, and cars and trucks are simply driving too fast on city streets, especially on San Pablo Avenue.

0:29:01I live on San Pablo and need to cross it often, and I find it increasingly terrifying. While walking on… while standing on corners waiting for the light to change, I routinely witness cars barreling through red lights and pedestrian-activated beacons, even when the walk sign is on.

0:29:18San Pablo Avenue is the closest thing we have to a main street in El Cerrito, and it is ostensibly a place of commerce, but while people are being killed and injured while crossing the street.

0:29:31Cars are also damaging local businesses.

0:29:34Banter Wine had to delay its opening by more than a year. The massage parlor next door was hit and never reopened. The smoke shop next to the Indian grocery was hit twice.

0:29:46The driver of a parked car hit the wrong pedal and drove into Copy Central, stopping a few feet away from an employee.

0:29:54Regardless of what Caltrans says, San Pablo Avenue is not a highway. Interstate 80 to the west is a highway.

0:30:03Yet 60 years after I-80 opened, we are still being told that nothing can be done to slow down traffic on San Pablo. It's a state highway.

0:30:13I'm happy to learn that Caltrans is going to install more flashing beacons and pedestrian refuges on San Pablo as part of the repaving project next year. But I'm sorry, based on the driver behavior I witness every day, that won't happen soon enough and will not prevent speeding behavior.

0:30:32What can be done now to slow down cars on San Pablo and in the coming weeks and months?

0:30:38I personally have never seen police enforcing speed limits on San Pablo.

0:30:43How about lowering the speed limit to 25 and adding speeding and red light cameras that automatically give people tickets?

0:30:51How about giving pedestrians and children on their way to school more time to cross at all the intersections?

0:30:57Adding pedestrian scrambles at major intersections, and eliminating rights on red.

0:31:05I implore the City Council to come up with short-term solutions for speeding on San Pablo and implement them in partnership with Caltrans without delay.

0:31:15And, we will be hosting a vigil for Donna Raveccho,

0:31:21The woman who died at San Pablo and Waldo on Monday, December 22nd, at 2 p.m.

0:31:28Thank you.

0:31:30Thank you, Amir, that concludes our request to speak. Thank you so much. The next item on the agenda is adoption of the consent calendar, which includes the following items. Approval of minutes.

0:31:41Transportation Impact Fee Annual Report for Fiscal year 24-25, and approve the 2026 regular meeting schedule for City Council. Do… does anyone want to pull anything, or have any questions? I have a question about item B. Okay…

0:32:01Any others?

0:32:02No? Alright, go ahead with your question.

0:32:05Yeah, I mean, as it's shown in this report, we're not getting a lot of transportation impact fees. There's only one in this past year. And, of course, earlier this year, we

0:32:18exempted multiple projects from this fee, partially because we're seeing that, especially multifamily development, can't

0:32:27pay these fees and still make a project pencil. So, I wanted to ask if staff would be able to come back next year with a report on the

0:32:38the fee, since we've had it, what fees we've gotten, and also a discussion about, do we need to change the fees? Do we need to lower the fees? I don't want to keep doing one-off exemptions. I think we need to, you know, figure this policy out so we can get housing moving forward in El Cerrito.

0:32:55Good evening, Mayor, Councilmembers, Yvette Ortiz, the City's Public Works Director. Yes, the Transportation Impact Fee was established in 2019, and the first two years, we actually did collect significant amount of money, because there was a lot of development.

0:33:09Last year was the slowest year.

0:33:12Legally, we are required to update the Transportation Impact Fee Study, and we are planning on doing that in calendar year 26, so you should be seeing something soon thereafter, which will look at all the fees, all the recent state legislation, and updating the projects and the fee amounts, and so you'll be seeing it.

0:33:31Great, thank you.

0:33:34All right, so do I have a motion to approve the consent calendar? I'll move. I'll second. All right, so moved by Councilmember Motiamo, seconded by Mayor Pro Tem Kinto. All in favor, please say aye. Aye. Any opposed? Any abstentions? So the consent calendar is moved.

0:33:49The next item on the agenda is policy matters, and the biggest policy matter tonight is the city reorganization.

0:33:58So let's see… I want to make sure I'm doing this right, Councilmember Holly. I'll go ahead and ask the Council… oh, thank you so much, and this is why Lisa Multiyama has been sitting next to me.

0:34:10This whole time. If it's okay with you all, though, does anyone have any remarks before I give my remarks?

0:34:18Any remarks before I give you… okay.

0:34:20Alright, well, I did write a bunch of remarks, because y'all know that I like to talk.

0:34:27Wait, hold on…

0:34:32I'm right Oh.

0:34:38As we said in the beginning, in the… if you were not here, the State of the City.

0:34:44I just want to thank everyone for giving me the opportunity to be the mayor of this city. Like I expressed when I… when the football team was here, you know, I came into El Cerrito as a child of the south side of Richmond. I told this story before my mom worked in the plaza. I grew up as a child.

0:35:02in the plaza, and I didn't even know at that time that El Cerrito was a city. It was a place where the BART station was. I didn't understand that El Cerrito Plaza meant that El Cerrito was a city.

0:35:16It is a city that is very near and dear to my heart for all the reasons that I expressed when the football team was here as a gaucho.

0:35:23I do want to, again, give gratitude to my colleagues on the Council, to our city staff who keep our city running every single day, and to the members who show up, or the council members, the community members who show up and send emails

0:35:37who stop me in Safeway, or Trader Joe's, or when I'm trying to get my back adjusted at the chiropractor, and remind me why this matter… this work matters.

0:35:46Serving as your mayor for the past year has been one of the deepest honors of my life, and I mean that truly, not just a written part of a speech.

0:35:53When I stepped into this role, I knew the title would be mayor, but the real job description is something we write together week by week, meeting by meeting, crisis by crisis, and celebration by celebration.

0:36:05Tonight, I want to briefly reflect on three things this mayoral year has taught me about governing in community, and about leading through challenge, and about joy and justice as serious work.

0:36:16First, this year affirms something that I've always believed. Local government is a team sport.

0:36:22Nothing that happened during my mayoral year was mine alone. Every proclamation we issued, every policy we advanced.

0:36:30And even tough votes that we took together as a team were a result of collaboration between council members, staff, our boards and commissions, our regional partners, and importantly, you, the residents of El Cerrito.

0:36:42I've watched neighbors show up, not just to oppose something, but to help shape it. I've seen people approach the podium nervous and leave empowered. I've seen our staff work long hours to translate community feedback into policies that are thoughtful and workable and rooted in our values.

0:36:59This year reminded me that my role as Mayor was not just to be the loudest one in the room, but it was to hold space, so more voices could be heard.

0:37:07Sometimes that means slowing things down to ensure inclusion. Sometimes it means moving us forward even when consensus is hard, and when some folks may not feel as heard as we would like them to.

0:37:20But always, the goal was the same, to make sure that people felt that they were part of our city and part of our government, not just members or visitors to it.

0:37:30Secondly, this mayor year has been very humbling in the way that only challenges can be. Local government does not govern in theory. We lead in real time, with real budgets, real constraints, and real people who feel the impact of our decisions immediately, in their neighborhoods, and in their businesses, and in their community in general.

0:37:50There were moments this year that required us to sit with difficult trade-offs. Many, many difficult trade-offs. Moments where urgency and care were both required. Moments where leadership meant explaining not just what we were doing, but why we would do it, and what would be the cost.

0:38:07In those moments, I return again and again to these questions.

0:38:11Does this decision move us towards equity? Are we being honest with our community about the trade-offs? And will I be proud of this choice 10 years from now, even if it's unpopular today?

0:38:24Not every decision was easy, not every outcome pleased everyone, but I can say with confidence that we approached this work with integrity, transparency, and a deep sense of responsibility to the people of El Cerrito.

0:38:37And third, and this is my favorite, this year has taught me that joy is not a distraction from justice, it is one of its most essential tools. Some of the most meaningful moments of my mayoral year didn't happen in the chamber. They happened in human exchanges that reminded me who leadership is truly for.

0:38:56I think about my littlest supporter, Brooks.

0:38:59who at just 5 years old, still just shy of kindergarten, insisted that he and his mommy go out canvassing for me in the rain. He didn't understand campaign strategy or city governance, but he understood something important. Showing up for something that you, or someone that you believe in.

0:39:17Today, Brooks is 7 or 8 years old, and for him, having a Black lesbian as his mayor isn't remarkable, it's just normal.

0:39:25It's simply the world as he knows it, and that reminds me of children like my nephew, who started life only ever knowing a Black man as President of the United States.

0:39:36That kind of normalization matters. It quietly reshapes the children, what children believe is possible about leadership, about belonging, about themselves.

0:39:46I also think about the young couple that I met just this past weekend at the Sundar Shadi holiday display. They told me they had only lived in El Cerrito for 2 years, but they brag about our city all the time.

0:39:57They said they'd tell their friends how proud they are to live here, and that seeing me serve as mayor made them even prouder to call El Cerrito home.

0:40:06Those moments remind me that representation isn't abstract, it's personal. It shows up in how people feel about their city, how connected they feel to their neighbors, and how deeply they choose to invest in community life.

0:40:19As a Black lesbian serving as mayor, I've tried to govern with an ethic that centers care, equity, and joy.

0:40:26but also our core values. The joy in our celebrations, the justice in our policies, and humanity in how we treat others. Because when people feel seen by their city, they show up for it. And that is how strong communities are built.

0:40:40I want to take this time to offer some specific thanks to people.

0:40:44Again, to my colleagues on the Council, thank you for your partnership, your pushback, your shared commitment to El Cerrito. Thank you for allowing my chaos sometimes. Thank you for allowing me to be loud. Thank you for helping me to achieve what I always wanted to do, which was make El Cerrito more visible.

0:41:01We don't always agree, but we've governed with respect and with common purpose.

0:41:06To our city staff, you are the backbone of this city. You turn policy into practice and vision into service. Your dedication, professionalism, and care do not go unnoticed. You all, again, even more than the council, have dealt with my chaos. I want to thank you specifically, Karen, for being a great city manager.

0:41:24Because, as I always say, representative politics is easy, but you have to be willing to learn, and you have taught me a lot. And you will continue to teach me a lot, but you have taught me a lot as a mayor, so thank you.

0:41:35To our community members, advocates, and leaders, thank you for holding us accountable and giving us grace

0:41:42Our process isn't perfect, but it's powerful because people care enough to engage.

0:41:47To my family, my friends, my loved ones, the people, the loved ones in this work, I want to name my fellow council member in Emeryville, Courtney Welch. I want to name my boss, Malia Cohen.

0:41:59I want to name all my fellow sister elected leaders. Yes, we do talk to each other when we get irritated with stuff. We become each other's container.

0:42:08We become the ones that tell each other to continue to walk with grace, so I want to thank them. Thank my family and my loved ones. Thank you for supporting me through long nights, early morning, and the emotional weight that comes with public service. You are my grounding and my joy.

0:42:24Looking ahead, as this mayoral year comes to close, I want to say that the work does not end with the passing of the gavel.

0:42:32I want to also say that I didn't right now… write in this, but I remember that I wanted to say something… someone asked me the other day. I was speaking at Equality California, and I said, I'm passing the gavel now, but I said, I'm passing it to another gay.

0:42:45And he… and he's gonna pass it to another gay. And then… and he's gonna pass it to another gay after that, so El Cerrito will be the gayest city in California for at least the next 3 years.

0:42:58Our shared goals, building a more equitable, safe, joyful, and sustainable El Cerrito, belongs to all of us. I look forward to continuing to serve on this council, to supporting our next mayor, and to staying focused on the long-term work of strengthening the city we love.

0:43:13And as always, some of you all may know my personal benediction.

0:43:19Then I heard the voice of the Lord say, Whom shall I send, and who will go for us? And I said, Here I am, Lord, send me. Thank you, Elsarita.

0:43:42There's something in blue for Mayor Pro Tem Quinta.

0:43:47Okay.

0:43:48Stand up.

0:43:50Congratulations. Thank you.

0:43:55And I want to present this plaque. We did a fantastic year as mayor. We congratulate you. Thank you for representing us locally, regionally, and across the country. You did a fantastic job.

0:44:17Okay, and now with that, I now declare the offices of Mayor and Mayor Pro Tem vacant. City Clerk, please proceed.

0:44:26Thank you.

0:44:28At this time, nominations for mayor can be made. Nominations do not require a second. Are there any nominations for the Office of Mayor? Yes, I would like to nominate Gabe Quinto as mayor of El Cerrito. Thank you. Are there any other nominations?

0:44:43Hearing no other nominations, is there a motion to close the nomination period and select Councilmember Quinto as the Mayor? So moved. Second.

0:44:51All those in favor? Please say aye. Aye. Any opposed?

0:44:55Motion carries. Congratulations, Mayor Hinkle.

0:45:05At this time, I would like to invite Attorney General Rob Bonta up to our lectern here. He will be delivering the oath of office for Mayor Kinto.

0:45:17Well, thank you. Good evening, everybody. Rob Bonta, California Attorney General, an honor to be here in the chambers with all of you. Let me, first say thank you to the, Mayor and our council members for your service. Serving at the local level, is so important. I know it's tough out there, the job is difficult, the

0:45:35The environment is toxic, and it is more important as ever that good folks with good values who want to make their community better lead, so I want to say thank you for your leadership. I had the opportunity to start my career in elected public service on a city council in the East Bay, and I'm grateful for all that you do.

0:45:53I also want to lend my support and congratulations to the El Cerrito High School football team. What a wonderful and appropriate recognition and celebration of their accomplishment. And, of course, we're here to recognize Mayor Gabe Quinto for his continued leadership and his service to the City of El Cerrito. I want to first say thank you, Gabe.

0:46:11for your long-time friendship. I appreciate you very much.

0:46:14I'm grateful that you asked me to have this honor of being able to swear you in. I want to say also thank you on behalf of the great city of El Cerrito for your ongoing service to the community. You've always led with equity and transparency, thoughtful governance, and it's all made a difference. I've had the privilege of meeting leaders in communities all across this great state, from

0:46:34the four corners of this state, and whether it be the northernmost corners of the state to the southern border, and everywhere in between. And time and time again, I realize there's no place like the East Bay. It's special here.

0:46:45And, there's a deep sense of purpose here, of…

0:46:49Believing that we need to make government work for the people, that we need to build and earn that trust, and that we should always strive to do better, to be better for our neighbors, and that there's so much at stake. And that spirit is reflected right here in El Cerrito, and it's embodied in the leadership of soon-to-be Mayor Gabe Quinto.

0:47:07Who has been such a strong and respected voice for the city.

0:47:12Mayor Quinto's commitment to public service has made El Cerrito better, strengthened El Cerrito. He understands that cities thrive when people are heard, when decisions are grounded in data, facts, values.

0:47:24And when government is accessible and accountable. And under his leadership, El Cerrito has continued to prioritize sustainability, inclusivity.

0:47:32Responsible growth. Ensuring that the city remains a place where people want to live, work, and raise their families.

0:47:40Mayor Aquinto also knows that no city succeeds alone, that real progress requires teamwork across state and federal partners, constitutional officers, county leaders.

0:47:50And he's exceptional at building those relationships, at calling on those relationships as appropriate. I've seen it firsthand. Mario Quinto is the kind of leader who'll pick up the phone and say, we have a problem here, we have an issue here.

0:48:02How can we work on it together? How can we talk it through? And that instinct to collaborate, to partner, to problem solve, and to turn it into meaningful action is what effective leadership

0:48:13looks like. So, it's no… also no surprise that, as the saying goes, the cream rises to the top, and Mayor Quinto has served as the president of Cal Cities. It reflects his trust.

0:48:24The trust that his peers place in him, the respect they have for him, and the leadership role he's taken in making not just this city, but all cities stronger and better across the state of California.

0:48:35And at the heart of all that leadership is a clear belief that local government must serve everyone, has to serve everyone, especially those who have, for too often.

0:48:45and for too long, been left out or left behind. And that focus has helped move El Cerrito forward and position the city for a very strong future. So it's with my, gratitude, it's my honor to, with gratefulness for your leadership, your partnership, again, your friendship, and your continued commitment to the people of this great city.

0:49:05That I have the honor, to celebrate you and your work today, and that is enough from me. Let's, get on to Mayor Quinto and his swearing-in. Would you please join me to take your oath of office?

0:49:36Alright, raise your right hand, please.

0:49:38I state your name. I, Gabriel Kinto. Do solemnly swear or affirm?

0:49:44Do solemnly swear to Africa. That I will support and defend

0:49:48support and defend. The Constitution of the United States. The Constitution of the United States. And the Constitution of the State of California. And the Constitution of the State of California.

0:49:58Against all enemies, foreign and domestic. Against all enemies, foreign and domestic. That I will bear true faith and allegiance. That I will bear…

0:50:08Both than allegiance.

0:50:11True faith and allegiance. True faith. Let's get it right so it's official. To the Constitution of the United States… To the Constitution of the United States. And the Constitution of the State of California.

0:50:22and the Constitution of the State of California. That I take this obligation freely. That I take this obligation freely. Without any mental reservation. Without any mental reservation. Or purpose of evasion. Or purpose of evasion.

0:50:36And that I will well and faithfully discharge. And that I will well and faithfully discharge. The duties upon which I'm about to enter. The duties in which I am about to enter. Congratulations. Thank you for the service.

0:50:59Stay there.

0:51:12They are this short.

0:51:49We just moved some of this stuff. This is a lot of stuff.

0:51:59Oh, you need to screw it.

0:52:04There you go.

0:52:22time when I get to speak.

0:52:25I just want to say, thank you to my brother, my good friend. Gabe, can you get closer to the mic? We can't hear you.

0:52:33I just want to say again, thank you to Attorney General Rob Bonta.

0:52:38And I want to say, you know, it was you that was the first to endorse me when no one else would. So, you answered the phone when I called, and I'm forever grateful to your leadership. And you taught me

0:52:53to always build the bench, and that's what you and I have been doing for all the communities here in California, and I see some great leaders here on the local level that are with us today.

0:53:06with my colleagues here on the El Cerrito Council, and also to, my longtime colleague, starting with the Sierra Club, Igor Tregoub, who is, now Berkeley Councilmember, and with also, Terry Taplin, Councilmember Taplin.

0:53:21who represents my old neighborhood, where all the Filipinos lived, back in the day in West Berkeley. So, again, thank you for joining us. I'm here with, my longtime partner, dear friends, and former El Cerrito mayors and council members.

0:53:38Here with, Cal City CEO, Executive Director, Carolyn Coleman, with my classmate, John Joya.

0:53:47You know, we have, this is family. This is the El Cerrito-West County family, and the East Bay family, and as, President of the League of California Cities, we are going to meet.

0:54:00In Igor Tregube's district of downtown Berkeley. We don't have a hotel that, that can carry all of us, in El Cerrito, but, we are going to meet at the Marriott, and, so I, my, staff and,

0:54:20Here, in El Cerrito, and our newest board member for Cal City, City Manager Karen Pincus, will be joining Carolyn Coleman at our board meeting at Berkeley in February. I just want to say how grateful I am to this Council.

0:54:37I want to thank my colleague again, Carolyn Coleman, for… I mean, Carolyn Weisinger, for an outstanding job as mayor this year. She has done the homework. She took all of the trainings with Equality California and Victory, and I remember her in the audience back in

0:54:552017, 2018, and you said, I want to do what you're doing, and look… look what we've seen. So it's about truly building this bench for the City of El Cerrito.

0:55:05You know, when I leave the council, we're going to be in good hands with the next group of elected officials, and I'm confident of that. El Cerrito is known for having,

0:55:15They do all the work, just like Walnut Creek and Contra Costa. It's Walnut Creek and now El Cerrito.

0:55:23that we are part of the regional boards and state boards for the state of California. I want to congratulate Councilmember Lisa Motayama, who represents Contra Costa and El Cerrito and all of the Bay Area in the ABAG Executive Committee.

0:55:38And I look forward to, having, a future vice mayor and Mayor Pro Tem, who will head up transportation for West County and Contra Costa. This is a group effort, so I'm looking at both of you, and I see great things ahead.

0:55:57You'll be taking over some of my seats, and I'm really excited for the both of you to step up

0:56:03And… and do this in a huge way. Doing the work, and that's what we do. That's what we're known for.

0:56:09And we do this in a way where we, agree to disagree. We're five different

0:56:16elected officials, and I'm grateful to that.

0:56:19I want to let the residents know of El Cerrito the, what my priorities are for the City of El Cerrito, and one of it is

0:56:29public safety. That will always be a priority in this city. And that is my word. We're grateful to the police and fire departments and our first responders for the work that they do to protect all of us.

0:56:43We'll continue to invest in public safety to ensure that our residents feel safe

0:56:49and around their homes, and we work together to prevent crime, and that we're preparing for emergencies and disasters. We have a lot of work to do with fire safety, including receiving grants.

0:57:02to assist with vegetation management in our hillside natural area. I look forward to continuing to work with our residents to make sure El Cerrito is a fire-safe community. For our police, I'm grateful that they are patrolling our city and helping out in the surrounding towns.

0:57:22Yeah, more of that invents them. We are a pro-public safety city, and we will always continue to do that. People spend a lot of money. We have a new generation of residents.

0:57:34They're the lucky ones that can afford to move here. But what they expect from this city is to provide public safety, fire, and police. So these new families who are paying.

0:57:46Top taxes.

0:57:47For these expensive homes, they expect

0:57:51public safety for all of us, so look forward to that. We're going to continue to support transit-oriented development and housing for all. Grateful to BART, who took my idea of adding affordable housing at our Plaza BART station, and the possibility of adding a library. I'm looking at Dave Weinstein, you need to have

0:58:13Thank you for having all those cocktail parties, and

0:58:16and having eclectic people join you. And I got that idea from, the gentleman that, headed up, modernizing San Francisco City.

0:58:29So, Patrick has done a great job, and added air conditioning to that city hall, and

0:58:35And it was his idea, so I'm forever grateful to these ideas that I learned, from your parties that you have all the time. So, more than some.

0:58:46We're making streets safer for all users. Unfortunately, we've had a couple of deaths recently. A senior who crossed the street, the same intersection of Waldo and San Pablo that I used to cross daily as a kid growing up here.

0:59:05And so we're going to continue to prioritize safety improvement citywide, especially on San Pablo Avenue, East Shore, and Richmond Street.

0:59:16We will also work with Caltrans to update safety on San Pablo Avenue. Excited about the Richmond Street… Complete Streets project as well.

0:59:27Which we will make the streets safer for everyone who travels along that corridor, especially the middle school kids who will ride their bike and cross the street there every day.

0:59:39And I can't wait to be at the ribbon cutting for the completion of the Del Norte Complete Streets Improvement early next year. My neighborhood had the brunt of all the traffic delays.

0:59:51It takes a while to get through to the BART station. I want to thank our residents for being patient with us and with Caltrans. We're almost there.

1:00:01So, just a few more weeks, and we'll get there.

1:00:05And I want to say that we will be investing in community assets and technology. The city's financial position is stable and strong. This is not by accident, but it's the result of a lot of hard work by the City Council, City staff.

1:00:22And the community over the past 5 years.

1:00:25We are committed to maintaining our financial stability and closely monitoring our budget and resources. For the upcoming biennial budget, we will begin to discuss

1:00:36priorities and work plans for the upcoming City Council Retreat on January 10th, and we will focus on evaluating our community assets, starting with a comprehensive update of the City Capital Improvement Program.

1:00:50This work and the prioritization of projects will help us plan for maintaining critical city facilities like our swim center.

1:00:59Ensuring the facilities are safe, accessible, and welcoming to all.

1:01:05I want to make sure that folks know about our upgrading of the AV system here at City Hall, in the City Chambers, which also serves as the City's Emergency Operations Center.

1:01:18And that will begin in January of 2026. We will be continuing to improve our technology citywide to provide better services for the public, especially in our police and fire departments.

1:01:33To provide better public safety, and in all of our other departments to better… have better customer service.

1:01:40I want to say once again.

1:01:43Thank you to my colleagues who have the faith in me. I'd also like to thank my family, especially Glenn. We moved here in 2001, when we could not afford to purchase anything in Noe Valley, where we were renting. It's been a sacrifice to

1:01:59move into this tiny, bungalow, but it's been… I'm grateful to you and, and what we were able to build in El Cerrito. Now we have one of the highest, demographics when it comes to mixed couples, straight and gay, and,

1:02:16And I'm just so proud of that. We are a welcoming city, and we will continue to be a welcoming city. On my street alone, we have so many new families, and these families want the same things

1:02:32that I was able to, use when I was growing up here in El Cerrito, like a new 21st century public library. And with the half-truths and stuff that you see on blogs.

1:02:46I have one thing to say. Let the real truth come out starting in 2026, and you will see, this library come up.

1:02:59And it will be an open discussion with everyone to participate. This is one of the things that continues to inspire me. The library is where I was as a latchkey child, where I learned. And I stayed there till 3.30 in the afternoon.

1:03:17So my mom, who worked at Kaiser Oakland, she would pick me up at the library, and we would head home together. So, you know, John Joy knows that, because he grew up in this library as well.

1:03:29So, great things ahead.

1:03:32And

1:03:34One thing I want to make sure that everyone knows is that we will continue to be providing housing for all, and that includes

1:03:43low-income housing, the missing middle, and we have a need for luxury housing as well. I'm looking at Ron Mercado, and he knows a lot of people would love to live here, but we don't have enough housing. So housing in all levels is needed, and I look forward to showing

1:04:03Carolyn Coleman and, Attorney, A.G. Wabonta are, groundbreaking, of, and ribbon cutting of our new affordable housing project right next to the Mayfair at the Donorte Station. And we will see more of that in the future.

1:04:20And I'm just so excited about that. So, one of the other things I want to,

1:04:26know as, like, is the priorities that, we have, with the League of California Cities. And 476 cities currently are members of that.

1:04:39Including all of our large cities, and we'll get the one that is no longer with us. I'm sure they will join us, soon.

1:04:49priorities for this year is to protect and enhance local revenues and expand economic development tools. We are going to… number two is to straighten partnerships and

1:05:01strengthen partnerships with the state to improve public safety. Number three is to secure investments to prevent and reduce homelessness and increase the supply of affordable housing. Number four.

1:05:16Strengthen climate change resiliency and disaster preparedness. And how small cities get this done, we collaborate with our partners in the county level, with

1:05:27And I look forward to collaborating with you, Supervisor John Doya, and, the whole, the rest of the,

1:05:35board of the County Supervisors Group, and to work with your executive committee with CSAC. I look forward, as president, to work with Susan Ellenberg from Santa Clara County, who's the new CSAC president.

1:05:48And we have to work together. I know Carolyn Coleman and I are heading to Washington in the month of January, late January. Hopefully, we can prevent

1:05:58another federal work stoppage. That hurts everyone, and it has hurt

1:06:03a lot of our residents here in El Cerrito and West Contra Costa, and that includes the neediest of our population, especially our communities of color. So we are all on board to work regionally together.

1:06:19With Cal Cities, National League of Cities, CSAC, and, all of the organizations we work with. We take the lead. We're the greenest city in,

1:06:31Contra Costa County. I'm proud to have been the Vice Chair of MCE Clean Energy. We will continue to lead on that, despite what the Trump administration is doing in these takeaways that they're currently after. So I'm grateful to the Attorney General for

1:06:50all of his work and the, you know, the 50, things that you are suing, the federal government on. Thank you for representing all of California.

1:07:07Beth is part of what I have to say, but this is truly a group effort.

1:07:14I have to look at, What is in store next?

1:07:19Yeah, I'm gonna get… I'm gonna start reading the script.

1:07:22So, okay, so next we're going to choose our new

1:07:29Mayor Pro Tem, Vice Mayor. I will now open nominations for Mayor Pro Tem. Are there any other nominate… are there any nominations?

1:07:40I wish to nominate Councilmember Rebecca Saltzman as our next Mayor Pro Tem.

1:07:46Thank you.

1:07:47Second.

1:07:51Okay, I've now… Hearing, are there any other nominations?

1:07:59Hearing no more nominations, is there a motion to close the nomination period and select Council Member Rebecca Saltzman as Mayor Pro Tem? Do I have a second? We have a motion.

1:08:14All in favor, say aye. Aye. Any nays? Abstention?

1:08:19Motions… motion carries.

1:08:26Councilmember Rebecca Saltzman has been selected as Mayor Pro Tem.

1:08:39It's my honor to…

1:08:42And this is a group effort. It takes two, so it takes your wife as well, and Glenn can talk to your mom.

1:08:53LUN, you have been part of this as long as I have, as your 12 years embarked, and so looking for great things ahead, and look forward to collaborating.

1:09:04Thank you.

1:09:12Okay, do we have any remarks from our new Mayor Pro Tem? Yes, first, thank you all. I'm honored to be elected as the Mayor Pro Tem.

1:09:23And it's not just my wife, Caitlin, who will be sharing me, it's my daughter as well, Zinnia, who will… who also is in on this, and I… I appreciate very much that they allow me to continue to do this.

1:09:37it's… I was reflecting today that I've now been representing El Cerrito for 13 years, as you mentioned, 12 years on the BART Board, and now a year on the City Council, and it's just such a fantastic

1:09:50city, and I feel privileged to get to live here, and to get to raise my family here, and to be part of this really

1:09:59phenomenal community. This is by far the smallest place town I've ever lived in. I grew up in LA and have lived in Berkeley and Oakland, and it's just been amazing how quickly you get to know pretty much everyone here, and how…

1:10:17friendly the community is, how people support each other. I really saw that through the strike, especially, as parents were all supporting each other, taking care of each other's kids, and really coming together, and seeing the community support the teachers was really important.

1:10:33But just briefly, and it's very much in line with what our mayor just touched upon, you know, next year, I'm going to continue to work on what I've been working on in my year on the City Council, and many of these things I've been working on for the past 13 years.

1:10:50I really want to kickstart our housing. We have some great affordable housing developments being built, including the one finally has broken ground at El Cerrito Plaza Mart that I've worked on for nearly a decade, and now we need to get the market rate housing moving, too, so I'm excited. We've taken action this year, but I want to see us do more, and make sure more and more people have the privilege of living in this wonderful city.

1:11:16Attached to that, I also want to make sure we keep our folks housed and continue to invest, in the wonderful program, really, that started under the leadership of Councilmember Motuyama, to make sure that when people are on the verge of becoming homeless, we have some

1:11:33Financial resources for them. And then, of course, the outreach program to the unhoused community, to make sure we're supporting everybody here, whether they're housed or not.

1:11:44I also want to continue to focus on making our streets safer. We've made some real progress this year, and unfortunately, there's still a ways to go. It's just really tragic that we've had two fatalities in the last month, from people who are just trying to cross the street.

1:12:01And that should be something anybody can do safely.

1:12:04any time of day, and we really need to work to make our streets safer for everybody, whether they're walking, biking, driving, in a wheelchair, on a scooter, doesn't matter how they're getting around or what age they are. We want to make it safe for everybody.

1:12:18And then I want to continue to work on what the Council before I got here has… and the management has done, which is strengthen our financial position. You all got us out of a very challenging crisis. We're in a better place.

1:12:32And now we're kind of at the next stage where we can begin to plan more proactively for some of these capital investments that would have been nice if we could have done over the past several years, but there was the financial crisis, so I think we need to kind of meet that moment at this point.

1:12:49Figure out what our priorities are, not just with the pool, which we're moving forward on.

1:12:54But with parks, with, capital investments for fire resiliency, which I know we're getting grants on, and hopefully we can get more, but

1:13:03That's how we're gonna continue to make sure that, this is a city where people… where 90% of the people are happy with how everything's going here as we continue to invest in what we have.

1:13:15And continue to welcome more people in. So, exciting to take this next step, and look forward to next year. Thank you.

1:13:29Would any of my colleagues like to, comment?

1:13:35Next, we will go to public comment. Now is the time for members of the public who wish to provide public comments regarding this item. Requests to speak can be submitted to the City Clerk by completing a speaker card.

1:13:48Public comments will be taken in person only. Please remember to identify yourself and your City of Residence at the beginning of your comments. City Clerk, please proceed. Thank you, Mayor. I'll call our first speaker as Greg Lyman, followed by John Joya.

1:14:06Gabe, congratulations. You know, we've started working together back in 2014, and you continue to grow as a leader, so I really appreciate where you are and where you're going, and I'm looking forward to working with you.

1:14:21I'm excited, actually, that you're going to be mayor for 2026. You will have the reins as we move the library issue forward.

1:14:31Rebecca.

1:14:32Congratulations. Welcome to, to leadership.

1:14:36And I'm really, looking forward to both of you.

1:14:42I know you will approach the new library with an open mind and strong desire for a new modern library. I look forward to collaborating with both you as we move this important capital infrastructure forward. So, thank you and congratulations.

1:15:01Yeah.

1:15:04Right next.

1:15:08Good evening, Mayor Quinto, again, and Council Members. It's good to be here. It was great to see the El Cerrito High football team as a

1:15:18Gaucho, myself, way back a long time ago, I can say track and cross-country were a large part of my high school career, and I know how sports is so important, so it's great that you honored them and the cheerleaders. That was great. I just forgot to wear my green.

1:15:33And, to former Mayor Weisinger, congratulations on a successful year.

1:15:39And, to help, you know, not just break a barrier in El Cerrito, but to do the work. And you're, I know, a role model for so many, and that's so important in this… in this world. Before I talk about you, Gabe, and congratulations, Rebecca, for being, elected, Mayor Pro Tem, and look forward to your continued transportation leadership. I think you bring so much, to the Council.

1:16:03with, with your transportation background, look forward to working with you on WCTAC, and of course, to, Lisa and William, and having your energy and finance and housing backgrounds is great. Looking forward to continued partnership. And to Mayor Quinto, I will say,

1:16:21It is an extra responsibility to serve as mayor while you're also serving as the president of the Cal Cities. I… having been the president of the State Association of Counties and traveled around the state, I know how, much, the commitment that is, Carolyn knows this.

1:16:37And so I think residents don't realize, I don't want to say this, that

1:16:43when you serve, and all of you serve in regional roles, right, and other roles.

1:16:48People don't… don't understand often and appreciate how much work that takes.

1:16:53And it's important work, because it adds to the value of the work you do here in El Cerrito. People just see you here in the work, and it's like, what have you done for me lately? Which is, of course, the most important thing about what you do in El Cerrito. But when you're fulfilling these other roles.

1:17:08you're also, playing a very important leadership role, and so I know, Gabe, with that effort, you're going to be balancing a lot more, and, and it's important to… I think the public recognizes that, and looking forward to continuing our partnership. I think the county and the city

1:17:25have had many, good partnerships over the years. Looking forward, of course, to the library. I think that is so important to build a new library, and I know the city's worked hard to do it in a financially prudent way.

1:17:39You know, continuing your leadership on housing, affordable housing. I know we've provided some funding into some of those housing projects, working on wildfire issues together, and we are providing some funding to help clear the wildland interface, and working with your chief.

1:17:55the work on improving the EMS system. We're going out for a contract on continuing EMS services, addressing homelessness. I think because of a lot of joint efforts, the point-in-time count showed that there was a decrease in homelessness.

1:18:11still a lot of work to be done. Today at the Board of Supervisors, we just allocated, nearly $3 million more

1:18:19in emergency rental assistance to help keep people, on board, and prevent them from, from being homeless. So, I just look forward to those partnerships to continue. Congratulations,

1:18:34for another term as mayor, and to all of you, and for all of your commitment, and I know the work we'll continue to do together. So thanks. Thank you. Thank you, and we have one more speaker, Carolyn Coleman.

1:18:48Because I've just missed speaking at city council meetings.

1:18:53Good evening. For those who I have not met, Carolyn Coleman, Executive Director of the League of California Cities. And, first, I just wanted to say to you, President, Mayor, Quinto, your business card just got a little bit larger, but congratulations!

1:19:07We are so incredibly proud of you, and I… and I bring that from all the leaders at the League of California Cities. So, I look forward to… I won't say sharing you with

1:19:20the City of El Cerrito, because El Cerrito always comes first to the folks who serve at the state level. But I'm so proud to be here with you tonight, and to be a part of this moment, and I believe there are some flowers down here from your League of California Cities family, and so we wanted to say thank you. To you, former mayor.

1:19:40Once a mayor, always a mayor is what they tell me.

1:19:43Thank you for your leadership at the city level, at the state level, as well as the national level, and I am so excited tonight. I can't wait to take my selfie with you. We always take one together, no matter what city we find ourselves in. And to the Mayor Pro Tem, congratulations to you, and I'm looking forward to seeing all the great things that you are doing. What an incredible team.

1:20:06you have here in the city of El Cerrito.

1:20:08This is my second visit to your city in the span of about 4 or 5 months.

1:20:15There are 483 cities in California. I think I've been here more than I've been in any other city. Don't tell the others that.

1:20:24I also want to say to those in El Cerrito, what a remarkable, remarkable leader you have in Karen Pincos. And, we're looking forward to getting an opportunity to work a little more closely with her, as well.

1:20:37Gabe, you talk a lot about building a bench.

1:20:40in your work at Cal Cities, and I've seen this on display here this evening. Carolyn, you opened your remarks with a comment about

1:20:50This work matters.

1:20:53And I truly, truly believe the work at the local level matters. Yes, your residents see you everywhere you go.

1:21:01In the grocery stores, at church, just stopped at a stoplight.

1:21:06And they can access you, and that's what makes it so important, and that's why there's so much trust.

1:21:12in the local level of government. So, I'm excited for what this team is going to do in the coming year. There's so much exciting going on in El Cerrito. I'll be back in February to check on your progress.

1:21:27Gabe corrects me and says we're meeting in Berkeley. I said, I keep telling people we're meeting in El Cerrito, and I'm going to stick to my story, about that. But again, so proud of you, and so proud that I had the chance to be here tonight with you. Congratulations. Thank you.

1:21:43Thank you.

1:21:48Hey Binger, that concludes our request history.

1:21:51Thank you very much.

1:21:57Okay, next we'll go to City Council Local and Regional Liaison Assignments.

1:22:04Yes, my last official meeting as mayor was with the Contra Costa Mayor's Conference. We had a great holiday, retreat, or a great holiday event.

1:22:16And I was able to speak with some of our outgoing mayors, as well as our incoming mayors, and they said, Carolyn, we intend to still see you here at the Mayor's conference, because so much of our regional work gets done there, so I am committed to still joining you at the Mayor's Conference every month. Thank you.

1:22:35been a busy past couple of weeks. On December 6th, I went to the El Cerrito Pancake Breakfast, and the mayor was there as well. It was a lot of fun, as always. On, the 9th, I went to,

1:22:49County Supervisor John Joya's holiday open house was… which was a ton of fun and very well attended. On the 10th, I attended the Parks and Recreation Commission meeting.

1:23:01And on the 11th, I attended the California League of Cities East Bay Division Meeting, along with our new mayor.

1:23:10And… let's see, and then on the 12th, I attended the WCAC board meeting on behalf of the city. Nothing huge to report from that meeting.

1:23:25Yes, Willie. Sure, thank you. I attended both the planning…

1:23:31Commission meeting, as well as the Urban Forest Committee.

1:23:35And I don't remember the exact dates. December 7th, I attended the Maker's Fair right outside here, in front of, City Hall.

1:23:42And on December 13th, I… the highlight of my week was the…

1:23:47Rise and fall of local newspapers presentation, also in Hana Gardens. It's fascinating, and that's it for me.

1:23:55Thank you, Mayor. I attended the Mayor's Conference as well,

1:24:01And I also attended the ABAC Housing Committee meeting on the 9th. Just as a heads up to staff, the Priority Development Area grants will be coming out soon, so I hope that we will be prepared to apply.

1:24:16Thank you.

1:24:20I wanted to report that I did, attend, the Executive Committee meeting of, MCE Clean Energy, and I attended,

1:24:32remember now. A meeting last week at,

1:24:37Supervisor John Doyer's office, and that is… John and I are, members of, the Bay Area Air District. We had a permitting meeting, and, so, we will, work more on, dealing with, heat pumps and, the future of heat pumps,

1:24:56coming up in January, so look forward to working with, my colleague, John Joya, and, the Bay Area Air District team. As president of the League of California Cities, I flew down and met Carolyn,

1:25:11We met at the California Club, which is in downtown Los Angeles, where Cal Cities had their LA Division

1:25:21holiday party with contract cities, as well as independent cities. It was great to be at that building. My old office had a view of that building, and at one time, people that looked like you and me and Karen Pinkas were not allowed in that building.

1:25:39So, that was my second time to be in that building, and I'm just so proud to be a part of Cal Cities, and to enter that building with Executive Director, Carolyn Coleman, because this shows how far we have gone.

1:25:55My senior partner was not allowed, in that, building.

1:26:00And As a Japanese American, and, Mayor Tom Bradlin.

1:26:06who was his best friend, was not allowed in that building either. So, we've gone so far, we don't want to go back to those days ever again, so we're moving forward, but we always have to remember the past. So, yes.

1:26:19And I just wanted to circle back to one thing that I said in my remarks, because I spoke about my littlest supporter, Brooks.

1:26:27I told his mom that I would mention him tonight in my remarks. He wasn't here to hear it, but I hope that you all get to go back and watch the playback, and look how much taller he's gotten since we were out, you know, walking the streets in 2022. I'm happy to see you, Brooks.

1:26:46So, what a… what a great eBay. It's… it's,

1:26:52I can't talk anymore, but, so I'm gonna adjourn, this regular City Council meeting. The time now is…

1:27:02725?

1:27:04Please stay and join us in the lobby for cake and refreshments. The next regularly scheduled City Council meeting is Tuesday, January 20th, at 6 p.m.

1:27:18Thank you very much.

1:27:21Right, mate.