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Agenda Item No. 5(A) EL CERRITO CITY COUNCIL MINUTES SPECIAL CONCURRENT CITY COUNCIL MEETING / PUBLIC FINANCING AUTHORITY AND EMPLOYEE PENSION BOARD MEETING Tuesday, June 23, 2015 – 7:00 p.m. City Council Chambers Meeting Location El Cerrito City Hall 10890 San Pablo Avenue, El Cerrito Mark Friedman – Mayor Mayor Pro Tem Greg Lyman Councilmember Janet Abelson Councilmember Jan Bridges Councilmember Gabriel Quinto ROLL CALL Councilmembers Abelson, Bridges, Lyman, Quinto and Mayor Friedman. 7:00 p.m. CONVENE SPECIAL CONCURRENT CITY COUNCIL / PUBLIC FINANCING AUTHORITY AND EMPLOYEE PENSION BOARD MEETING Mayor Friedman convened the Special Concurrent City Council / Public Financing Authority and Employee Pension Board Meeting at 7:00 p.m. 1. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OR OBSERVATION OF MOMENT OF SILENCE was led by Councilmember Janet Abelson. 2. COUNCIL / STAFF COMMUNICATIONS Mayor Pro Tem Lyman stated that Marin Clean Energy (MCE) has developed a new web tool, http://myenergytool.mcecleanenergy.com/ that can be used to measure the efficiency of one’s house. The site also provides links to various grants related to energy efficiency and conservation measures. Karen Pinkos, Assistant City Manager, reminded the community that the annual National Night Out Event is August 4, 2015. There is an online application on the City’s website at www.el-cerrito.org that can assist residents who want to sign up to be a block party host and participate in the event. More information can be obtained by contacting Police Lieutenant De La Campa at 215-4448. Mayor Friedman announced that the City Council will convene a study session in August to take a look at the minimum wage issue in El Cerrito that will include guest speakers and Contra Costa County Supervisor John Gioia. Supervisor Gioia is leading a Task Force in the County and is also looking at the issue city by city. ---PAGE BREAK--- Page 2 of 5 Version 7/16/2015 3. ORAL COMMUNICATIONS FROM THE PUBLIC Cordell Hindler, Richmond, expressed the following three concerns: 1) He is concerned with El Cerrito Police driving through his neighborhood and making the area unattractive; 2) He has received complaints from businesses that police response times are terrible when responding to individuals who hang out and beg for money; and 3) the existence of vacant buildings in El Cerrito due to high rents and high crime. Ronnie Polonsky, El Cerrito, spoke in support of a minimum wage ordinance in El Cerrito that would also include a provision for small business owners so that they don’t have to raise the minimum wage to the maximum rate that will be paid by the bigger businesses. Ms. Polansky said she would hate to see small businesses stressed because they are trying to do the right thing for their workers. Tom Panas, El Cerrito, introduced the City Council and public to a new model of the Castro Adobe as it appeared in 1860. The extraordinarily accurate model is the work of El Cerrito Historical Society Director Joann Rubio and Charlie Moran. Denise Sangster, El Cerrito, expressed her appreciation for the El Cerrito Police Department, and also requested that the City Council work with the Planning Commission to look at short-term and Airbnb rentals and groups of unrelated individuals who rent homes in El Cerrito. Carla Hansen, El Cerrito, El Cerrito Democratic Club President, stated that the Democratic Club is talking to business owners and community groups in the City about the minimum wage campaign in El Cerrito. Many have signed on as endorsers to the Democratic Club’s resolution. The Democratic Club says it also hopes to make presentations to all of the City’s Boards and Commissions. Helen Dickey, El Cerrito, spoke in support of a minimum wage in El Cerrito and stated that enacting a minimum wage is a moral issue. Ms. Dickey asked the City Council to enact a minimum wage ordinance that is at least as generous as that enacted by the Richmond City Council. Arlin Robins, El Cerrito, spoke in support of enacting a minimum wage ordinance in El Cerrito. Al Miller, El Cerrito, reported that he enjoyed the honor of representing the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) on June 2, 2015 at the El Cerrito High Senior Award Night. The NAACP Scholarship Committee awarded $1,000 scholarships to five El Cerrito High students. Mr. Miller also spoke in support of enacting a minimum wage ordinance in El Cerrito. Additionally, Mr. Miller commented on safety issues related to Ohlone Greenway crossings and suggested that staff go to each crossing and evaluate whether there is a viable sightline for safety reasons and perhaps enlist the biking community, runners and pedestrians to take part by adopting an intersection to make sure the sightlines are maintained. Howdy Goudey, El Cerrito, stated that he is requesting how the City Council, as the policy making body who approved the 1715 Elm Street development project, will address or remedy flood hazards and stormwater deficiencies at the site including what has been asked of staff to help guide the City Council’s decision. Mr. Goudey stated that there is potential liability for the city and that the project can still be improved. Roger LaChance, El Cerrito, stated that several traffic accidents have occurred in his neighborhood on Richmond Street between Waldo and Stockton Avenues and suggested that ---PAGE BREAK--- Page 3 of 5 Version 7/16/2015 a speed hump be placed in the area to slow traffic. 4. PRESENTATIONS Annual Sundar Shadi Garden Contest Awards Presentation – Acknowledgement of contest winners and presentation of awards by Anna Frankfurt, President, El Cerrito Garden Club. Ms. Frankfurt stated that the criteria for this year’s awards included drought tolerance, low water usage and requirements that gardens have to be visible from the street, that gardeners do their own maintenance and that winners need to be residents of the City but cannot be members of the Garden Club. Action: Received presentation. The El Cerrito Garden Club announced the winners as: 1) Kathy Stuart, 1230 Contra Costa Drive; 2) Maureen Williams, 500 Balra Drive; and 3) 1400 Richmond Street. 5. ADOPTION OF THE CONSENT CALENDAR – Item Nos. 5A through 5E Moved, seconded (Bridges/Abelson) and carried unanimously to approve Consent Calendar Item Nos. 5(A) through 5(E) in one motion as indicated below. A. Minutes for Approval Approve the June 2, 2015 Regular City Council meeting minutes. Action: Approved minutes. B. Agreements with Rubicon Enterprises, Inc. and New Image Landscape Company for Landscape Maintenance Services Adopt a resolution authorizing the City Manager to execute the following agreements to provide landscape maintenance services for the City’s parks, athletic fields, building grounds, street medians, streetscapes, pedestrian paths, and other public right of ways for a period of three years, with an option to annually extend either or both contracts for two years thereafter, effective July 1, 2015 and contingent upon adoption of the proposed update to the Biennial Budget for Fiscal Years 2014-15 & 2015-16 and, if necessary, successful negotiations with each contractor to amend the contract to be consistent with the budget: 1) Rubicon Enterprises Incorporated at an annual cost not to exceed $98,600; and 2) New Image Landscape Company at an annual cost not to exceed $117,400. Action: Adopted Resolution No. 2015–45. C. Amendments to City Classification Plan Adopt resolutions amending the City’s Classification Plan to: 1) Establish classifications for positions within the Aquatics Division, re-title and revise the class specification of Environmental Services Manager to Operations and Environmental Services Manager; and ratify the reclassification of Administrative Analyst III to Assistant to the City Manager; and 2) Establish the salaries and benefits for Aquatics Division personnel and establishing salary ranges as recommended. Action: Adopted Resolution Nos. 2015–46 and 2015–47. D. Environmental Quality Committee Appointment Approve an Environmental Quality Committee recommendation to appoint Charles Hargrove to the Environmental Quality Committee, effective July 14, 2015. Action: Approved recommendation. ---PAGE BREAK--- Page 4 of 5 Version 7/16/2015 E. Anza National Historic Trail Interpretive Sign and Banners Adopt a resolution approving installation of Anza National Historic Trail Interpretive Sign and banners. Action: Adopted Resolution No. 2015–48. 6. PUBLIC HEARINGS – None 7. POLICY MATTERS CONCURRENT CITY COUNCIL / PUBLIC FINANCING AUTHORITY / EMPLOYEE PENSION BOARD ITEM A. Approval of the City’s Fiscal Year 2015-16 Spending Authority by Fund for the City, Employee Pension Board and Public Financing Authority and Approve the Fiscal Year 2015-16 Annual Gann Appropriation Limit Staff requests that the City Council approve the following actions: 1) Adopt a resolution authorizing Fiscal Year 2015-16 spending authority by fund for the City of El Cerrito; 2) Adopt a resolution authorizing Fiscal Year 2015-16 spending authority by fund for the El Cerrito Public Financing Authority; 3) Adopt a resolution authorizing Fiscal Year 2015-16 spending authority by fund for the El Cerrito Employee Pension Board; and 4) Adopt a resolution approving the calculation and establishing the Fiscal Year 2015-16 annual Gann Appropriation Limit. Presenter: Lisa Malek-Zadeh, Finance Director. Speakers: No speakers. B. Financial Advisory Board Recommendations – Submitted by Peter Vranich, Chair, Financial Advisory Board. The Financial Advisory Board (FAB) recommends adopting the City Manager’s updates to the Fiscal Year 2015-16 budget with the following changes: 1) Identify $100,000 of savings among the list of proposed budget changes presented to the FAB on June 9, 2015 and allocate those savings of $100,000 to the general fund reserve; and 2) Any unanticipated revenues in the General Fund over and above the Adopted Fiscal Year 2015-16 budget realized by December 31, 2015 not be committed until the FAB reviews and makes recommendations for the mid-year update. Presenter: Peter Vranich, Chair, Financial Advisory Board. Action: Moved seconded (Lyman/Bridges) and carried unanimously to adopt City Council Resolution No. 2015–49, an update to the second year of the biennial budget and spending limits across funds for Fiscal Year 2015-16. Moved, seconded (Lyman/Bridges) and carried unanimously to adopt El Cerrito Public Financing Authority Resolution No. 2015–01 authorizing spending limits for Fiscal Year 2015–16. Moved, seconded (Lyman/Bridges) and carried unanimously to adopt El Cerrito Employee Pension Board Resolution No. 2015–01 authorizing spending limits for Fiscal Year 2015–16. Moved, seconded (Lyman/Bridges) and carried unanimously to adopt Resolution No. 2015– 50 selecting the cost of living and population factors to be used in the calculation of the City’s appropriations limit for Fiscal Year 2015–16 and setting the appropriations limit at $117,423,242. ---PAGE BREAK--- Page 5 of 5 Version 7/16/2015 8. COUNCIL LOCAL AND REGIONAL LIAISON ASSIGNMENT REPORTS Mayoral and City Council communications regarding local and regional liaison assignments and committee reports. Councilmember Abelson reported that she attended the League of California Cities (League) Administrative Policy Committee and Community Services Policy Committee meetings in April 2015. Both committees received a report on the status of various bills of interest to the League that are pending in the state legislature. Councilmember Abelson provided documentation to the City Clerk for dissemination to the City Council and public. Mayor Pro Tem Lyman reported that MCE just adopted an energy efficiency plan that will be submitted to the California Public Utilities Commission (PUC). This ten year plan explains how MCE will increase efficiency throughout its service area and will include a request for funding. The PUC can provide funding of up to $5,000,000 per year. Early adopters will get the greatest number of rebates. Mayor Pro Tem Lyman encouraged El Cerrito residents and businesses participating in MCE to pick up and review a copy of the plan and work with MCE to implement energy efficiency measures that are promoted by MCE in the business plan. Mayor Pro Tem Lyman also stated that he believes El Cerrito has one of the largest number of “Deep Green” enrollments of the MCE member cities but does not quite have the top percentage. However, El Cerrito has the lowest “opt-out” rates among the new cities that have joined MCE. The West County Integrated Waste Management Authority (WCIWMA) has a new Executive Director beginning July 30. Stan Hack has twenty years of solid waste experience. At its last meeting, the WCIWMA approved a new budget for the next fiscal year and also discussed the disbursement of one-time funds. The WCIWMA has accumulated a large amount of money that the Authority Board is in the process of debating regarding use and/or disbursement. Although there are different methods of calculating a potential disbursement it could be potentially greater than half a million dollars for El Cerrito. The County is looking at becoming a voting member of the WCIWMA to represent unincorporated areas in WCIWMA service area. 9. ADJOURNED SPECIAL CONCURRENT CITY COUNCIL / PUBLIC FINANCING AUTHORITY / EMPLOYEE PENSION BOARD MEETING at 8:19 p.m. in memory of the victims of racially motivated violence and gun violence in Charleston, South Carolina. SUPPLEMENTAL REPORTS AND COMMUNICATIONS Item No. 7(A) Approval of the City’s Fiscal Year 2015-16 Spending Authority by Fund for the City, Employee Pension Board and Public Financing Authority and Approve the Fiscal Year 2015-16 Annual Gann Appropriation Limit 1. Powerpoint presentation – Submitted by Lisa Malek-Zadeh, Finance Director. Other: 2. 2000 El Cerrito Plaza Site Plan with 1930’s Sanborn Map overlay showing actual location and orientation of the Castro Adobe – Submitted by Tom Panas, El Cerrito. 3. Administrative Services Policy Committee Bills of Interest 2015 – Submitted by Councilmember Abelson. 4. Community Services Policy Committee Bills of Interest 2015 – Submitted by Councilmember Abelson. 5. Homeless Bills – Submitted by Councilmember Abelson.