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Agenda Item No. 5(A) EL CERRITO CITY COUNCIL EL CERRITO PUBLIC FINANCING AUTHORITY EL CERRITO EMPLOYEE PENSION TRUST BOARD MINUTES SPECIAL CITY COUNCIL MEETING – CLOSED SESSION Tuesday, June 5, 2012 – 6:30 p.m. Hillside Conference Room CONCURRENT CITY COUNCIL MEETING/PUBLIC FINANCING AUTHORITY & PENSION TRUST BOARD MEETING Tuesday, June 5, 2012 – 7:00 p.m. City Council Chambers Meeting Location El Cerrito City Hall 10890 San Pablo Avenue, El Cerrito Bill Jones – Mayor Mayor Pro Tem Greg Lyman Councilmember Ann Cheng Councilmember Rebecca Benassini Councilmember Janet Abelson 6:30 p.m. ROLL CALL Councilmembers Abelson, Benassini, Cheng, Lyman and Mayor Jones all present. CONVENE SPECIAL CITY COUNCIL MEETING – CLOSED SESSION Mayor Jones convened the Special City Council meeting at 6:30 p.m. ANNOUNCEMENT OF CLOSED SESSION Conference with Labor Negotiators (Pursuant to Government Code Section 54957.6) Agency designated representatives: Scott Hanin, City Manager, Sky Woodruff, City Attorney, Glenn Berkheimer, IEDA, Sukari Beshears, Employee Services Manager Employee organizations: Service Employees International Union, Local 1021 Unrepresented Employees Police Employees Association International Association of Firefighters, Local 1230 Public Safety Management Group ORAL COMMUNICATIONS FROM THE PUBLIC – No comments ---PAGE BREAK--- Page 2 of 5 Version: 6/7/2012 RECESSED INTO CLOSED SESSION at 6:32 p.m. POSSIBLE REPORT OUT OF CLOSED SESSION – See below. ADJOURNED SPECIAL CITY COUNCIL MEETING – CLOSED SESSION at 7:02 p.m. ROLL CALL Councilmembers/Board Members Abelson, Benassini, Cheng, Lyman and Mayor/Chair Jones all present. 7:00 p.m. CONVENE CONCURRENT CITY COUNCIL/PUBLIC FINANCING AUTHORITY & PENSION TRUST BOARD MEETING Mayor Jones convened the Concurrent City Council/Public Financing Authority/Pension Trust Board meeting at 7:10 p.m. 1. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG was led by Mayor Pro Tem Lyman. 2. COUNCIL / STAFF COMMUNICATIONS Mayor Jones reported that the Council had just met in Closed Session pursuant to Government Code Seciton 54957.6 and provided direction to staff. Councilmember Lyman announced that National Night Out (NNO) is August 7, 2012. There will be opportunities to sign up to host a NNO party at the July 4th Celebration. Mayor Pro Tem Lyman invited all to attend the 4th of July event. It is a great celebration, with music, civic information booths, games and many other activities. 3. ORAL COMMUNICATIONS FROM THE PUBLIC Mildred Dandridge, El Cerrito, spoke in support of a resolution to reduce military spending and redirect funds to domestic priorities and needs. Jaime Jakubczak, Oakland, stated that he is the City’s Code Enforcement Officer and Building Inspector. Mr. Jukubczak described his duties, his performance and the difficulties resulting from the absence of a salary increase. Grace Ortega, Richmond, stated that she has worked for the city as a custodian for seven years. Ms. Ortega said she works very hard and cannot afford to give up anything because she does not make much money. Laurenteen Brazil, El Cerrito, stated that she is an eleven year member of the city and that front line staff are being reduced to the working poor. No one who works in a management or supervisory position is any better than front line staff. Ms. Brazil expressed concerns about the car allowance and vehicle replacement fund and asked the City Council to acknowledge her worth and SEIU members worth to the organization. Gordon Stevenson, Alameda, stated that he is the Acting Building Official and has been with SEIU and the city seven and a half years. Mr. Stevenson said there has been no cost of living increases for SEIU in four years, many members are performing out of class and that there doesn’t seem to be commensurate sacrifices across the city. Mr. Stevenson said front line staff maintain the City’s quality of life, sustain it and take pride in it. ---PAGE BREAK--- Page 3 of 5 Version: 6/7/2012 Liza Espadilla, El Sobrante, stated that she has worked for the Recreation Department for the past eleven years. Ms. Espadilla said SEIU members are dedicated workers who are the caretakers, caregivers and service providers of the community. They are also the lowest paid employees in the city. Members worked four years without a cost of living adjustment (COLA) and through furloughs in the past and there is nothing more to give up. Other ways to balance the budget include giving up cell phone and car allowances and special events. Anthony Billups, El Cerrito, Community Service Coordinator, stated that he has been with the city for eleven years and is devoted to his job however it is becoming very hard for him to make ends meet. Shielaugh Divelbliss, Acting Union President SEIU 1021 El Cerrito Chapter, expressed concern for SEIU members and stated that members had not received a COLA in three years. Management has received increases and has car allowances. The City wants SEIU members to pay more into medical and PERS. Ms. Divelbliss asked that the budget not be balanced on the backs of SEIU members. Millie Cleveland, SEIU representative, stated that members were present to appeal to the City Council and stated that members understand that the city is dealing with the same financial strains as other cities however a budget needs to be developed that reflects priorities and values of the City. Members have been working very hard to sacrifice wages and time. Ms. Cleveland asked that management perks and vehicle allowances be eliminated. Ms. Cleveland asked that SEIU members be recognized and that the budget reflect respect for SEIU. Peter Loubal, El Cerrito, requested a permanent procedural change in Council Rules that would allow for the elderly and infirm to speak during the general comment period on all agenda items rather than wait until an agenda item is announced. Mr. Loubal also requested that staff study how cost effective past redevelopment projects were and learn from it. 4. PRESENTATION A. Officer of the Year Proclamation Approve and present a proclamation congratulating Officer Carlos Maldonado on his recognition by the Exchange Club of Albany – El Cerrito as the “Officer of the Year.” Action: Proclamation presented to Officer Maldonado. B. Preliminary Results from 2012 National Citizen Survey Receive a staff presentation on the 2012 National Citizen Survey results. Presenter: Suzanne Iarla, Community Outreach Specialist. Action: Presentation heard. 5. ADOPTION OF THE CONSENT CALENDAR – Item Nos. 5A through 5C Moved, seconded (Abelson/Cheng) and carried unanimously to adopt Consent Calendar Item Nos. 5A through 5C in one motion as indicated below. A. Minutes for Approval Approve the May 15, 2012 City Council Special Meeting – Closed Session and Regular City Council meeting minutes. Action: Approved minutes. ---PAGE BREAK--- Page 4 of 5 Version: 6/7/2012 B. Calling for a Consolidated General Municipal Election on November 6, 2012 Adopt a resolution: 1) Ordering and calling for a General Municipal Election to be held in the City of El Cerrito on Tuesday, November 6, 2012 for the purpose of electing three members of the City Council for full terms of four years each; 2) Requesting and consenting to consolidation of the municipal election with the presidential general election to be held on November 6, 2012; Requesting the services of the Contra Costa County Registrar of Voters; 4) Providing for Notice of Election; and 5) Setting specifications of the Election Order to include limiting candidate statements to 300 words, requiring candidates to pay for the costs of their candidate statement, establishing the estimated cost of each candidate statement to be $475 payable at the time of filing; and determining that, in the event of a tie vote, the winner shall be determined by lot at a time and place designated by the City Council. Action: Adopted Resolution No. 2012–36. C. Measure J Funds for Paratransit Services for the Elderly and Disabled Adopt a resolution authorizing the City Manager or his designee to apply for and claim Measure J funds in order to provide paratransit services for the elderly and disabled for Fiscal Year 2012– 13. Action: Adopted Resolution No. 2012–37. 6. PUBLIC HEARINGS – None 7. POLICY MATTERS Fiscal Year 2012 – 2013 Budget Presentation and discussion of the City’s Fiscal Year 2012–13 budget. Adoption of the budget is scheduled for consideration on June 19, 2012. Presenter: Scott Hanin, City Manager. Action: Presentation received and discussion held. The budget will undergo a public hearing on June 11, 2012 and the City Council may consider adoption of the Fiscal Year 2012– 13 budget at that time or continue the discussion to June 19, 2012. SUPPLEMENTAL REPORTS AND COMMUNICATIONS Item No. 7 Fiscal Year 2012 – 2013 Budget 1. Revised powerpoint presentation – Submitted by City Manager Hanin. Other 2. Flyer “Some relevant facts regarding U.S. military spending, the environment and the economy” Submitted by Mildred Dandridge. 8. COUNCIL ASSIGNMENTS/LIAISON REPORTS A. Mayor Jones – No report. B. Mayor Pro Tem Lyman reported that Integrated Waste Management Board (IWMA Board) met and will convene a strategy session on June 14, 2012 to discuss the future of the Integrated Waste Management Board. The Board has a contractual period that ends on January ---PAGE BREAK--- Page 5 of 5 Version: 6/7/2012 1, 2104. The objective of the IWMA Board past this date will be discussed with all the members, the alternates and some staff. The June 14, 2012 strategy session will include discussion regarding the purpose and function of the IWMA Board going forward. At the last special meeting, the IWMA Board moved forward with a selection committee consisting of staff and professionals for the purpose of picking a consultant to help the Board negotiate a contract after January 1, 2014. C. Councilmember Abelson – No report. D. Councilmember Benassini reported that the Arts and Culture Commission had met to discuss the location of the Folk Festival which used to be at Windrush School. The organizer of the Folk Festival has booked Harding School for this year. Additionally, Al Miller brought the idea of installing Peace Polls to the Commission. These public art pieces are poles that say Peace on Earth in different languages. The Peace Poles could be placed along the Greenway. Mr. Miller is going to speak with other groups about his idea. At the Parks and Recreation Commission, a relatively large group of residents commented on the installation of fencing on the lower Canyon Trail field and the use of the field. Additionally, Parks and Recreation Commissioner Robin Mitchell made another presentation about native plantings along trails. She is trying to obtain grant funding for a demonstration garden of native California plants in conjunction with the Trail Trekkers, who are restoring trails in El Cerrito. E. Councilmember Cheng reported that the Human Relations Commission priorities and programs for the next year. 9. ADJOURNED CONCURRENT CITY COUNCIL MEETING/PUBLIC FINANCING AUTHORITY & PENSION TRUST BOARD MEETING at 10:09 p.m.