ALBANY CITY COUNCIL – MINUTES
1000 San Pablo Avenue
Albany, CA 94706
Monday, March 17, 2025
1 REGULAR MEETING: 7:00 PM
1. CALL TO O
RDER / LAND ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
Mayor López read the Albany Land Acknowledgement Statement as adopted by the City Council per City of Albany Minute Action, November 15, 2021.
2. ROLL CALL
Present: Council Members Hansen-Romero, Jordan and Miki ( joined by teleconference), Vice Mayor McQuaid, Mayor López
Absent: None
3. REPORT ON ACTION TAKEN IN CLOSED SESSION, IF ANY
4. CEREMONIAL MATTERS
5. CITY MANAGER REPORT
City Manager Nicole Almaguer recalled the Council declaring a local emergency five years ago in response to the COVID pandemic. The City’s Pierce Street/Cleveland Avenue Bikeway Connection Project was recommended for a $300,000 grant through the Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC) Climate Program. The Soft-Story Retrofit Program is underway, and the deadline for Tier 1 buildings to receive a building permit is October 15, 2025. The 2025 Summer Catalogue is available online and at City facilities.
Volunteers are needed to help the Friends of Albany Parks clean the Community Center on March 22, 2025. Waste Management will begin replacing residential trash and recycling carts on March 31, 2025. Questions about the new carts should be directed to Waste Management at [email protected] or 510- 613-2116. The Earthquake Brace and Bolt Program, which offers seismic retrofit grants, is open through March 26, 2025.
6. GOOD OF THE CITY/PUBLIC COMMENT
Mayor López opened the Good of the City.
A summary of public comment is as follows: support for expanding the notification area for development projects; a request for the City to establish a rental property registry.
7. CONSENT CALENDAR
7-1. Minutes
• February 25, 2025
• March 3, 2025
Staff Recommendation: Approve
Date approved: April 7, 2025•
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ALBANY CITY COUNCIL – MINUTES
1000 San Pablo Avenue
Albany, CA 94706
Monday, March 17, 2025
2 7-2. Ratification of Payroll – Date Paid 3/7/2025: Net Amount: $456,148.62, Taxes/Benefits/Deductions $499,561.84, Total Payroll $955,710.46
Staff Rec
ommendation: Ratify
7-3. Ratification of Bills, Claims and Demands - Ratification of bills, claims and demands against the City of Albany in the amount of $138,335.01 (2/28/2025), $279,883.95 (3/7/2025)
Staff Recommendation: Ratify
7-4. Investment Transactions
Staff Recommendation: That the Council receive the investment transactions for the months of January 2025 and February 2025
7-5. Quarterly Investment Performance for Fourth Quarter 2024 (Ending December 31, 2024)
Staff Recommendation: That the City Council receive the most recently completed quarterly investment results
7-6. Call for Bids for Contract No. C25-05 – 2025 Buchanan Street Repair Project Annual Street Rehabilitation Program (CIP No. 21000)
Staff Recommendation: That the Council adopt Resolution No. 2025- 11, authorizing the City Manager to approve a Call for Bids for the construction of the 2025 Buchanan Street Repair Project (Contract No. C25-05)
7-7. Purchase of a 100’ Aerial Firefighting Apparatus
Staff Recommendation: That the Council adopt Resolution No. 2025- 12, authorizing the City Manager to execute an agreement using Sourcewell Contract #113021-OKC, ID #296 , with Golden State Fire Apparatus (GSFA) for the purchase of one (1) Pierce Manufacturing, Inc. 100’ Enforcer Mid- mount Ascendant Tower (100AT), for a price not to exceed $2,684,554, which includes sales tax of 10.75%
Mayor López asked if anyone wished to remove items from the consent calendar. Mayor López removed Item 7-7, and Council Member Jordan removed Item 7-6.
Item 7-6: Council Member Jordan thanked staff for proactively planning to repave a main street in Albany.
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ALBANY CITY COUNCIL – MINUTES
1000 San Pablo Avenue
Albany, CA 94706
Monday, March 17, 2025
3 Item 7-7: Fire Chief James Boito and Fire Captain James Berry reported the new apparatus will have idle reduction technology, run on renewable diesel fuel , comply with the latest clean air standards, have tight-turning technology for better maneuverability on narrow streets, and enhance crew safety.
A summary of Council comment is as follows: appreciation for the sustainability aspects and new technology of the truck.
MOTION:
Moved by Vice Mayor McQuaid, seconded by Council Member Jordan, to approve the consent calendar.
AYES: Council Members Hansen-Romero, Jordan and Miki, Vice Mayor McQuaid, Mayor López
NOES: None
Motion carried and so ordered.
8. PRESENTATION
9. PUBLIC HEARING
10. UNFINISHED BUSINESS
10-1. City Council Strategic Plan 2025-2027
Staff Recommendation: That the Council adopt the 2025- 2027 City Council Strategic Plan
City Manager Almaguer presented the staff report. The Council’s comments from the work session on February 25, 2025, have been incorporated into the proposed Strategic Plan.
The goals are fundamentally the same as in the 2023- 2025 Strategic Plan, but the language of some goals has been modified. The City’s Executive Team believes the goals can be accomplished, and they will do their best to accomplish them.
A summary of public comment is as follows: encouragement for staff to consider climate change in all actions; suggestions for actions that support the goals and objectives.
A summary of Council comment is as follows: suggestion to revise Goal 1, Objective 3 to read “identify opportunities to enhance management of the urban forest ;” Goal 5 , Objective 3, to read “consider amending property taxes and fees so that they apply to unsecured property;” preferences to have the title of Goal 3 read “promote streets that support safety, transportation, and mobility options ;” support for the suggested modifications of Goal 1, Objective 3, and Goal 5, Objective 3; a proposal to modify the City Mission Statement to read “Albany is dedicated to providing a safe, healthy, and accessible city that serves our diverse community.”
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ALBANY CITY COUNCIL – MINUTES
1000 San Pablo Avenue
Albany, CA 94706
Monday, March 17, 2025
4 MOTION:
Moved by Council Member Jordan, seconded by Vice Mayor McQuaid, to adopt the 2025- 2027 City Council Strategic Plan with the following amendments:
1) Goal 1, Objective 3: Identify opportunities to enhance management of the urban forest; 2) Goal 3 title: Promote Streets T hat Support Safety, T ransportation, and Mobility Options;
3) Goal 5, Objective 3: Consider amending property taxes and fees so that they apply to unsecured property; and
4) City Mission Statement : Albany is dedicated to providing a healthy, safe, and accessible city that serves our diverse community.
AYES: Council Members Hansen-Romero, Jordan and Miki, Vice Mayor McQuaid, Mayor López
NOES: None
Motion carried and so ordered.
11. NEW BUSINESS
11-1. Review of City Council Procedures & Policies
Staff Recommendation: That the Council identify any necessary changes to the City Council Procedures & Policies
City Clerk Anne Hsu presented the staff report. The City Council Procedures & Policies is reviewed annually and updated as needed. It was last updated in September 2023.
Should the Council approve modifications, staff will incorporate them into the City Council Procedures & Policies and present an updated draft to the Council at an upcoming meeting. If necessary, staff will propose modifications should a policy or procedur e not comply with current practice or protocol.
A summary of Council direction to staff is as follows:
Section A-1: remove underline from two paragraphs under Time and Location; after the first paragraph, add a paragraph that states “Traditionally, the first meeting in January is the third Tuesday of the month due to lack of substantive agenda materials and the Martin Luther King, Jr. holiday.”
Section A-3: add “with a preference for 72 hours noticing if possible” to the mention of 24 hours notice in the second sentence of the first paragraph.
Section A-4: change “executive sessions” to “closed sessions.” Section A-5: replace the second sentence with “Should a circumstance arise to which a Council Member must teleconference, all relevant state laws shall be followed. This includes, when applicable, posting the location from which a Council Member is participating on the posted meeting agenda.”
Section A-6: modify the first sentence to read “Three (3) members of the Council shall constitute a quorum of the City Council and shall be sufficient to transact business.” Section C-2: Statements by the Mayor, change the first sentence from “… which will also be read …” to “… which may also be read… .”
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ALBANY CITY COUNCIL – MINUTES
1000 San Pablo Avenue
Albany, CA 94706
Monday, March 17, 2025
5 Section JJ: delete names of social media platforms, but retain “social media.” Exhibit 1: remove the Request to Amend Advisory Body Work Plan Form from the City Council Procedures & Policies.
12. COUNCIL SUBCOMMITTEE REPORTS, COUNCIL MEMBER REPORTS ON
APPOINTED REPRESENTATION OF ALBANY, AND OTHER MEETINGS AND EVENTS
City Council Appointed Representation Bodies Appointee Alternate Alameda County Mayors’ Conference López McQuaid
Alameda County Transportation Commission Jordan Miki
Alameda County Waste Management Authority Hansen-Romero Jordan Association of Bay Area Government López Jordan
Ava Community Energy JPA Board López Jordan
East Bay Sports Field Recreational Authority JPA Hansen-Romero Miki Housing Authority of Alameda County McQuaid N/A
League of California Cities (East Bay) Miki López
Alameda County Mosquito Abatement District Jordan N/A
Alameda County Library Advisory Commission McQuaid López UC Gill Tract Community Farm Advisory Committee López N/A Police & Fire Pension Fund Board López McQuaid
Alameda County Paratransit Advisory & Planning
Committee (PAPCO) (vacant) N/A
Vice May
or McQuaid reported attending the Chamber of Commerce mixer, Senator Arreguin’s swearing- in celebration, Housing Authority of County of Alameda (HACA) meeting, Mayors’ Conference, dedication of the Albany High School (AHS) Library, and Little League parade.
Council Member Jordan reported attending meetings of the Alameda County Transportation Commission (Alameda CTC) Planning, Policy and Legislative Committee and Recruitment Committee and Lobby Day in Sacramento. During Lobby Day, he met with CalTrans, California Transportation Commission, Assemblymembers, and Senators.
Assemblymember Wicks is seeking ideas for ways to reduce bureaucracy so that housing and infrastructure projects can be constructed more rapidly. He also participated in an interview of a firm seeking to audit the City’s financial records over the next few years.
Council Member Hansen-Romero reported attending a StopWaste meeting. Nominations for StopWaste’s Environmental Leadership Awards are open, and the Awards ceremony will be held on June 12, 2025.
Mayor López reported attending the Mayors’ Conference, where comments heard from some community leaders praising City staff. In addition, he attended the dedication of the AHS Library and a tour of Anchor House.
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ALBANY CITY COUNCIL-MINUTES
1000 San Pablo Avenue
Albany , CA 94706
Monday , March 17, 2025
Council Member Miki reported attending the swearing-in ceremony for Senator Arreguin and a tour of UC's Anchor House.
13. FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS
None.
14. ANNOUNCEMENT OF CITY MEETINGS AND EVENTS
Upcoming City Meetings
1. Climate Action Committee Meeting, Wednesday , March 19, 7:00 PM, City Hall Council Chambers
2. Transportation Commission Meeting, Thursday , March 27, 7:00 PM, City Hall Council Chambers
3. Housing Advisory Commission Meeting, Wednesday, April 2, 7:00 PM, City Hall Council Chambers
4. City Council Meeting, Monday, April 7, 7:00 PM, City Hall Council Chambers
15. ADJOURNMENT
8:31 PM There being no further business before the City Council, Mayor Lopez adjourned the meeting.
Minutes submitted by Anne Hsu, City Clerk.
Attest:
Anne Hsu, City Clerk
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