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Agenda Item No. 5(A) EL CERRITO CITY COUNCIL MINUTES CITY COUNCIL MEETING Tuesday, March 18, 2014 – 7:00 p.m. City Council Chambers Meeting Location El Cerrito City Hall 10890 San Pablo Avenue, El Cerrito Janet Abelson – Mayor Mayor Pro Tem Rebecca Benassini Councilmember Mark Friedman Councilmember Jan Bridges Councilmember Greg Lyman ROLL CALL Councilmembers Benassini, Bridges, Friedman, Lyman and Mayor Abelson all present. 7:00 p.m. CONVENE CITY COUNCIL MEETING Mayor Abelson convened the regular City Council meeting at 7:03 p.m. 1. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OR OBSERVATION OF MOMENT OF SILENCE was led by Mayor Abelson. 2. COUNCIL / STAFF COMMUNICATIONS Mayor Abelson stated that she attended the Chamber of Commerce meeting today and received a presentation from Terry Kotsatos, an investment advisor. Mr. Kotsatos, advised holding onto a solid stock or investment portfolio during a bad time as statistics indicate that portfolios will maintain or increase over an extended period. This is the best way to maintain what you’ve got if you have a solid investment. Mayor Abelson also reported that she recently participated in a hearing in Sacramento regarding issues related to massage parlors. This is not much of a problem in El Cerrito however there are a number of cities throughout California that are having problems with illicit massage parlors that provide illegal sexual activity and are involved in human trafficking. Mayor Abelson also attended the Mayors Conference and received a presentation from Chuck McFadden, a veteran AP reporter who has written “Trailblazer,” an unauthorized biography of Governor Jerry Brown. Mayor Lyman reported that he represented the City on March 16 at the grand opening for the new Ah-Lan Dance Studio located at 10512 San Pablo Avenue. The studio offers dance lessons for all ages with a focus on Zumba and Asian dance but also offers open studio ballroom dancing on Saturday nights. 3. ORAL COMMUNICATIONS FROM THE PUBLIC - No speakers. ---PAGE BREAK--- Page 2 of 3 Version: 3/27/2014 4. PRESENTATION A. Earth Hour Proclamation Receive a presentation and upon conclusion of the presentation, approve and present a proclamation declaring March 29, 2014, between the hours of 8:30 p.m. and 9:30 p.m., to be Earth Hour in the City of El Cerrito and calling upon all residents, businesses, and institutions to turn off non-essential lighting for this hour to make a global statement of concern about climate change and demonstrate commitment to finding solutions. Presenter: Maria Sanders, Environmental Analyst. Action: Received presentation. Moved, seconded (Friedman/Lyman) and carried unanimously to approve the proclamation. 5. ADOPTION OF THE CONSENT CALENDAR – Item Nos. 5A through 5D Moved, seconded (Bridges/Benassini) and carried unanimously to approve Consent Calendar Item Nos. 5A through 5D in one motion as indicated below. A. Minutes for Approval Approve the March 4, 2014 Special City Council Closed Session and Regular City Council meeting minutes. Action: Approved minutes. B. Adopt Amendments to El Cerrito Municipal Code Chapter 11.64 – Bicycles Adopt Ordinance No. 2014–01 amending specified sections and repealing other sections contained within El Cerrito Municipal Code Chapter 11.64. Exempt from CEQA. Action: Adopted Ordinance No. 2014–01. Effective April 17, 2014. C. Proclaiming the Month of July as Parks and Recreation Month Approve a proclamation declaring the month of July as Park and Recreation Month in the City of El Cerrito and in doing so, urge all residents to use and enjoy the City’s parks, trails, open spaces, facilities, and many recreation opportunities and acknowledge that Parks Make Life Better! Action: Approved proclamation. D. Crime Prevention Committee Appointment Approve a Crime Prevention Committee recommendation to appoint Nicholas Arzio to the Crime Prevention Committee, effective April 9, 2014. Action: Approved recommendation. 6. PUBLIC HEARINGS – None 7. POLICY MATTERS A. Provide Update and Execute a Contract with Bay Construction Company for the Ohlone Greenway Natural Area and Rain Garden Project, City Project No. C-3067-1 Adopt a resolution for the following: 1) Approve plans for the Ohlone Greenway Natural Area and Rain Garden Project, City Project No. C-3067-1; 2) Accept all submitted bids; and 3) Authorize the City Manager to execute a contract with Bay Construction Company in an amount not to exceed $592,918.32 to construct the Ohlone Greenway Natural Area and Rain Garden Project and authorizing contract amendments in an amount not to exceed $59,292. Project is consistent with improvements analyzed in the Initial Study and Negative Declaration approved for the Ohlone Greenway Master Plan, which found that no significant environmental impacts would result. Presenters: Yvetteh Ortiz, Public Works Director and Maria Sanders, Environmental ---PAGE BREAK--- Page 3 of 3 Version: 3/27/2014 Analyst. Speakers: Al Miller, El Cerrito, stated that the proposed stairs will improve access to the shopping center and will provide safe access to the BART. Mr. Miller expressed concerns about the small street that will serve as primary access into Creekside. There is no pedestrian marking on that street. He also expressed concerns with the ADA ramp near the Recycling Center that goes up the hill and suggested that the turn be widened. Nicholas Arzio, El Cerrito, said he was pleased to learn that the height of vegetation will be restricted along the Greenway and also requested that supplemental lighting be placed along the Greenway as a crime prevention measure and to decrease graffiti. Action: Moved, seconded (Lyman/Friedman) and carried unanimously to adopt Resolution No. 2014–04. B. Mid Year Budget Update There are two actions associated with this item: 1) Adopt a resolution authorizing adjustments to the Fiscal Year (FY) 2013–14 operating budget related to already approved changes which occurred since the adoption of the FY 2013–14 budget; and 2) Receive an update on the FY 2013–14 budget and an overview of next steps related to development of the FY 2014-15 operating budget. Presenters: Lisa Malek-Zadeh, Finance Director and Lori Treviño, Finance Manager. Action: Moved, seconded (Friedman/Benassini) and carried unanimously to adopt Resolution No. 2014–05. 8. COUNCIL LOCAL AND REGIONAL LIAISON ASSIGNMENT REPORTS Mayoral and City Council communications regarding local and regional liaison assignments and committee reports. Councilmember Lyman reported that the Integrated Waste Management Authority Board (IWMA) met last week regarding the future of the agency. The City of Richmond is scheduled to vote this evening on their post collection services agreement which makes strides toward the other four member cities getting post collection services. El Cerrito already has green waste services which is not provided to many West County regional residents. The IWMA also agreed to look at staffing levels, staff compensation, retention pay, severance pay and modification of job descriptions. The City Council will need to decide if the City’s commitment to stay in the group is something the city needs to reconsider. 9. ADJOURNED REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING at 8:41 p.m. SUPPLEMENTAL REPORTS AND COMMUNICATIONS Item No. 4(A) Earth Hour Presentation 1. Revised powerpoint presentation – Submitted by Maria Sanders, Environmental Analyst. Item No. 7(A) Provide Update and Execute a Contract with Bay Construction Company for the Ohlone Greenway Natural Area and Rain Garden Project, City Project No. C-3067-1 2. Powerpoint presentation – Submitted by Yvetteh Ortiz, Public Works Director. Item No. 7(B) Mid Year Budget Update 3. Powerpoint presentation – Submitted by Lisa Malek–Zadeh, Finance Director.