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Agenda Item No. 5(A) EL CERRITO CITY COUNCIL MINUTES REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING Tuesday, October 21, 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. 7:00 p.m. CONVENE REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING Mayor Abelson convened the regular City Council meeting at 7:04 p.m. 1. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OR OBSERVATION OF MOMENT OF SILENCE was led by Mayor Pro Tem Rebecca Benassini. 2. COUNCIL / STAFF COMMUNICATIONS COUNCIL COMMUNICATIONS Councilmember Friedman reported on his attendance at the Rotary Club’s fundraiser for a new El Cerrito Library that was held on October 19 at the Mira Vista Country Club. The event was well attended. On October 23 there will be the first meeting of a Sustainability Circle in El Cerrito. Maria Sanders, Environmental Analyst, is working with True Market Solutions. There are openings available for businesses and non-profits to join a Sustainability Circle in El Cerrito and participate and learn from each other about how to be more energy efficient and sustainable. Councilmember Lyman reported that he attended the Del Norte BART station improvement open house on October 9. Plans for the station are both eye opening and forward thinking. BART staff informed Councilmember Lyman that city staff are very well informed and have been very helpful in making suggestions regarding circulation and changes to the station. Councilmember Lyman also reminded all about the Free Folk Festival that will occur on October 25 from noon to 10:00 p.m. at the El Cerrito High School Performing Arts Center. There will be free music and workshops. Councilmember Lyman concluded by encouraging everyone to vote on Election Day. ---PAGE BREAK--- Page 2 of 4 Version: 11/13/2014 Mayor Pro Tem Benassini announced that there will be a Joint Environmental Quality Committee and Park and Recreation Commission meeting on October 22 to go over the Urban Greening Plan. Councilmember Bridges announced that the El Cerrito Historical Society will offer a presentation by the East Bay Municipal Utility District (EBMUD) on October 23 regarding the history of water resources in the East Bay at the Arlington Clubhouse. STAFF COMMUNICATIONS Cheryl Morse, City Clerk, reminded residents that each registered voter should have received their voter information pamphlet and sample ballot in the mail by now. Anyone who has not received a pamphlet/sample ballot should call the County Elections Office at (925) 335-7800. Ms. Morse also reminded all those who vote by mail to remember to sign the back of the ballot envelope before sending it in and noted that postage is 70 cents. Alternatively, voters can drop off their ballots at any polling place in the County on Election Day. 3. ORAL COMMUNICATIONS FROM THE PUBLIC Al Miller, El Cerrito, reminded residents that they are part of the Stege Sanitary District and noted that there is a contested election for the Stege Sanitary District Board of Directors for the first time in twenty years. There are four candidates running for three seats. Mr. Miller also reported that the Rotary Club recently co-sponsored a fundraiser at the Mira Vista Country Club that contributed funds in support of the new El Cerrito Library project. The event was well attended. Gary Hill, Parks and Recreation Commissioner and Madera Hillside Open Space Campaign, provided an update on the campaign. The campaign recently hosted a music fundraiser and silent auction that was also a fun community event. Nearly $4,000 was raised at the event. To date, over 214 donations totaling $61,800 have been received. The Open Space Campaign hopes that additional people will join the citizens and businesses that have donated thus far to reach the $100,000 goal for land acquisition. Currently, the Conner Family will match dollar for dollar every donation up to $5,000 until November 15. More information is available on the www.el-cerrito.org and www.ectrailtrekkers.org. Tom Panas, El Cerrito, thanked East Bay Sanitary Company for being such a terrific partner with the City and noted that it would be hard to find a more civic minded business person in town other that the Company’s president, Mark Figone. Mr. Panas also thanked City staff for their attention over the weekend regarding BART’s notice pertaining to herbicide application on the Ohlone Greenway. The application was delayed to allow for more study. 4. PRESENTATION A. El Cerrito Library Strategic Plan Update – Presentation by Liz Ruhland, Senior Community Library Manager, El Cerrito Library. Receive a presentation regarding the Contra Costa Library Strategic Plan and the annual service plan for the El Cerrito Library. Action: Received presentation. B. Clean Water Program Update – Presentation by Stephen Preé, Environmental Programs Manager. Action: Received presentation. 5. ADOPTION OF THE CONSENT CALENDAR – Item Nos. 5A through 5F Moved, seconded (Bridges/Friedman) and carried unanimously to approve Consent Calendar Item Nos. 5A through 5F in one motion as indicated below. ---PAGE BREAK--- Page 3 of 4 Version: 11/13/2014 A. Minutes for Approval 1) Approve the September 22, 2014 Special City Council meeting minutes; and 2) Approve the October 7, 2014 Special Joint City Council / Redevelopment Agency Successor Agency Meeting – Closed Session, Special City Council Meeting – Closed Session and the Regular City Council Meeting Minutes. Action: Approved minutes. B. Contra Costa County Community Awareness Emergency Response Proclamation Approve a proclamation recognizing the importance of preparing for emergencies and encouraging participation in the Contra Costa Community Awareness Emergency Response (CAER) Group’s public education efforts and proclaiming November 5, 2014, as “Shelter-in- Place Education Day” in the City of El Cerrito, in support of the parents, teachers, students and staff that will be participating with hundreds of other schools and childcare centers in the Shelter-in-Place Drill. Action: Approved proclamation. C. Amend Franchise Agreement with East Bay Sanitary Company Adopt a resolution approving the proposed Seventh Amendment to the Franchise Agreement between the City of El Cerrito and East Bay Sanitary Company, Inc., eliminating provisions pertaining to fleet maintenance that were changed or added to the Franchise Agreement by the Sixth Amendment and are now unnecessary. Action: Adopted Resolution No. 2014–62. D. Extend the Street Sweeping Maintenance Agreement with Universal Adopt a resolution authorizing the City Manager to extend the City’s street sweeping maintenance agreement with Universal Building Services (UBS) for the period October 22, 2014 to December 31, 2014, in an additional amount not to exceed $15,324 bringing the total contract to an amount not to exceed $40,324 for Fiscal Year (FY) 2014-2015. Action: Adopted Resolution No. 2014–63. E. West Contra Costa Unified School District Memorandum of Understanding Adopt a resolution authorizing the City Manager to execute a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the West Contra Costa Unified School District (District) for the renovation of the Castro Park athletic field. Action: Adopted Resolution No. 2014–64. F. Metropolitan Transportation Commission’s Regional Measure 2 Project Compliance for San Pablo Avenue Specific Plan and Complete Streets Plan – Additional Analysis for Implementation Adopt a resolution verifying project compliance with the Metropolitan Transportation Commission’s Regional Measure 2 requirements and authorizing the City Manager to submit an allocation request in the amount of $100,000 for the San Pablo Avenue Specific Plan and Complete Streets Plan. Action: Adopted Resolution No. 2014–65. ---PAGE BREAK--- Page 4 of 4 Version: 11/13/2014 6. PUBLIC HEARINGS Extension of San Pablo Avenue Specific Plan Development Fees on an Interim Basis as an Urgency Measure Conduct a public hearing and upon conclusion adopt an urgency resolution extending interim San Pablo Avenue Specific Plan Planning and Development Fees for a second and final period not to exceed 30 days. Mayor Abelson opened the public hearing. No speakers. Moved, seconded (Lyman/Friedman) and carried unanimously to close the public hearing Action: Moved, seconded (Friedman/Benassini) and carried unanimously to adopt Resolution No. 2014–66. 7. POLICY MATTERS – None 8. COUNCIL LOCAL AND REGIONAL LIAISON ASSIGNMENT REPORTS Mayoral and City Council communications regarding local and regional liaison assignments and committee reports. Mayor Pro Tem Benassini reported that the Economic Development Committee met and is planning a mixer/idea sharing with the Chamber of Commerce in early December. The Committee also continues to determine priorities for its work plan. Some of the Committee’s ideas include contacting landlords that have vacancies in the city and also scheduling speakers such as brokers, developers and commercial interests in El Cerrito to gather information, foster an open dialogue and provide a forum for sharing ideas on how to help grow business in the City. The Committee also sent out an invitation to the UC Berkeley public policy and planning schools for interns to help with research. Councilmember Bridges reported that she attended the October 15 Tom Bates Sports Field Joint Powers Authority meeting. The City will be charged $15,000 for the fields along with the other participating cities. There was a short discussion regarding car break-ins at the field. Signs will be posted that will advise users not to leave valuables in the car. There was also a short discussion regarding water conservation measures. The fields are conserving water very well. 9. ADJOURNED REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING at 8:15 p.m. SUPPLMENTAL COMMUNICATIONS 1. Comments expressing concerns regarding widespread herbicide application scheduled by BART – Submitted by Howdy Goudey, El Cerrito.