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Agenda Item No. 5(A) EL CERRITO CITY COUNCIL MINUTES SPECIAL CITY COUNCIL MEETING – CLOSED SESSION Tuesday, March 4, 2014 – 6:00 p.m. Hillside Conference Room CITY COUNCIL MEETING Tuesday, March 4, 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. 6:00 p.m. SPECIAL CITY COUNCIL MEETING – CLOSED SESSION Mayor Abelson convened the Special City Council meeting at 6:02 p.m. ANNOUNCEMENT OF CLOSED SESSION CONFERENCE WITH LABOR NEGOTIATORS (Pursuant to Government Code Section 54957.6) Agency Designated Representatives: Scott Hanin, City Manager, Glenn Berkheimer, Labor Negotiator, Sky Woodruff, City Attorney and Sukari Beshears, Human Resources Manager. Employee Organizations: Service Employees International Union Local 1021 International Association of Fire Fighters Local 1230 El Cerrito Police Employees Association El Cerrito Public Safety Management Unrepresented Employees ORAL COMMUNICATIONS FROM THE PUBLIC – No speakers RECESSED INTO CLOSED SESSION at 6:03 p.m. ADJOURNED SPECIAL CITY COUNCIL MEETING – CLOSED SESSION at 6:58 p.m. ---PAGE BREAK--- Page 2 of 4 Version: 3/13/2014 ROLL CALL Councilmembers Benassini, Bridges, Friedman, Lyman and Mayor Abelson all present. 7:00 p.m. CONVENE CITY COUNCIL MEETING Mayor Abelson convened the City Council meeting at 7:11 p.m. 1. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OR OBSERVATION OF MOMENT OF SILENCE was led by Councilmember Lyman. 2. COUNCIL / STAFF COMMUNICATIONS Mayor Abelson reported that no decisions had been reached during this evening’s City Council Closed Session. Mayor Pro Tem Benassini stated that the City is seeking community input on budget priorities beginning on March 13 and encouraged all to attend upcoming meetings. Meeting dates are listed in the City’s Quarterly Newsletter. Additionally, the City will be offering its fifth annual entrepreneur training beginning on April 7. The training is an eleven week program that allows one to sharpen entrepreneurial skills. The East Bay Municipal Utility District Board (EBMUD) is asking all customers to voluntarily reduce water use by 10%. Many helpful tips for conserving water are available from EBMUD’s website, www.ebmud.com. Mayor Abelson reported on her attendance at the Youth Baseball Opening parade and ceremony on March 1. There were thirty-seven teams of which six were in the youngest category. El Cerrito is alive, well and growing! Participants are working on good sportsmanship. The program is amazingly positive. Mayor Abelson also attended the Oscar Awards Ceremony telecast at the Cerrito Theater on March 2. 3. ORAL COMMUNICATIONS FROM THE PUBLIC 4. PRESENTATIONS A. American Red Cross Month Proclamation Approve and present a proclamation proclaiming March 2014 as American Red Cross Month in the City of El Cerrito and encouraging all residents, businesses and organizations to support the Red Cross and its noble humanitarian mission. Action: Moved, seconded (Lyman/Benassini) and carried unanimously to approve the proclamation. Proclamation presented to Philip Machell, El Cerrito, who is a member of the Contra Costa Leadership Council/American Red Cross Bay Area Chapter. B. Arbor Week Proclamation and Tree Program Update – Presentation by Stephen Preé, Environmental Programs Manager. Approve a proclamation proclaiming March 7 through March 14 of each year as El Cerrito Arbor Week and urging all residents to observe and celebrate the week by planting and caring for trees for the City’s benefit and for the benefit of future generations. Receive an update on the City’s Tree Program and Tree Committee Activities. Speakers: Mark Scott, Manager, Chamber of Commerce, stated that the Chamber supports the Tree Program however noted that the business community has expressed some concerns regarding trees. Open wells around trees attract dogs and trash. Additionally, fallen tree leaves, when wet, create slip hazards. Other cities address these issues by placing cast iron grates around the tree wells to prevent the accumulation of trash, leaves and dog detritus in the tree well. Other concerns involve trees blocking signs in front of businesses. The City has been responsive to the Chamber’s concerns and the Chamber believes it can work together with the City to develop a good program. ---PAGE BREAK--- Page 3 of 4 Version: 3/13/2014 Action: Moved, seconded (Friedman/Lyman) and carried unanimously to approve the proclamation. C. 2014 Library Needs Assessment Update – Presentation by Page, Principal, Page Associates. Receive a presentation from Page, of Page Associates, on the 2014 El Cerrito Library Space Needs Assessment Update and provide comments to staff. Tom Panas, El Cerrito, thanked Kathy Page, library staff and Assistant City Manager Karen Pinkos for their work on the needs assessment update and expressed support for building a new library that will act as a gathering place for El Cerrito and West County residents, nurture the values of the community, service students and embrace all members of the community. Mr. Panas also thanked Mr. Godbe for his work related to a recently completed survey. Al Miller, El Cerrito, commended Kathy Page for her extended outreach efforts, expressed his support for a new library that is flexible enough to meet future needs and noted the change in technology from 2005 to present and the need for a library to act as a center that will facilitate community activities. Action: Received presentation. 5. ADOPTION OF THE CONSENT CALENDAR – Item Nos. 5A and 5B Moved, seconded (Benassini/Bridges) and carried unanimously to adopt Consent Calendar Item Nos. 5A and 5B in one motion as indicated below. A. Minutes for Approval Approve the February 18, 2014 Regular City Council meeting minutes. Action: Approved minutes. B. Women’s History Month Proclamation At the request of Mayor Abelson, approve a proclamation designating March 2014 as Women’s History Month in the City of El Cerrito and encouraging all residents to reflect on, honor and celebrate the history, courage, commitment, accomplishments and contributions of women not only in El Cerrito but throughout America. Action: Approved proclamation. 6. PUBLIC HEARINGS – None 7. POLICY MATTERS A. Presentation of Survey Results Related to the Reauthorization of the Measure R Sales Tax Receive a presentation from Bryan Godbe of Godbe Research on a recently completed survey related to the possible reauthorization of Measure R, the Preservation of Citywide Services measure passed by El Cerrito voters in 2010, and provide comments and possible direction to staff regarding next steps. Presenter: Bryan Godbe, Principal, Godbe Research Action: Moved, seconded (Friedman/Lyman) and carried unanimously to direct staff, based upon survey results presented at the meeting, to prepare for the possibility of placing a measure on the November 2014 ballot. B. Amend El Cerrito Municipal Code Chapter 11.64 – Bicycles Presenter: Sylvia Moir, Chief of Police Introduce by title, waive any further reading and approve an ordinance amending specified sections contained within Chapter 11.64 of the El Cerrito Municipal Code (Bicycles). ---PAGE BREAK--- Page 4 of 4 Version: 3/13/2014 Action: Moved, seconded (Lyman/Friedman) and carried unanimously to approve an ordinance amending specified sections and repealing other sections contained within Chapter 11.64 of the El Cerrito Municipal Code (Bicycles). Second reading scheduled for March 18, 2014. 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 on February 20 and is excited about the new structure of the committe and the possibility of new members and is starting to talk about new goals. The Parks and Recreation Commission also met and is working on defining its annual goals. 9. ADJOURNED REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING in memory of former Building Official John Canestro at 9:38 p.m. SUPPLEMENTAL REPORTS AND COMMUNICATIONS Item No. 4(B) Arbor Week Proclamation and Tree Program Update 1. Powerpoint presentation – Submitted by Stephen Preé, Environmental Programs Manager. Item No. 4(C) 2014 Library Needs Assessment Update 2. Comments in support of a new library – Submitted by Tom Panas, El Cerrito.