ALBANY CITY COUNCIL – MINUTES
1000 San Pablo Avenue
Albany, CA 94706
Monday, May 19, 2025
1 REGULAR MEETING: 7:00 PM
1. CALL TO ORDER / 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, Jo rdan and Miki, Vice Mayor McQuaid, Mayor López
Absent: None
3. REPORT ON ACTION TAKEN IN CLOSED SESSION, IF ANY
4. CEREMONIAL MATTERS
4-1. Proclamation – Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month Council Member Miki presented the proclamation to representatives of the Albany Unified School District (AUSD) Asian Pacific Islander Parent Engagement Group (API-PEG). 4-2. Proclamation – Jewish American Heritage Month
Vice Mayor McQuaid presented the proclamation to a representative of the AUSD Jewish Parents Engagement Group (J-PEG).
4-3. Proclamation – National Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Week and Emergency Medical Services for Children Day
Council Member Jordan presented the proclamation to Albany Fire Department (AFD). 4-4. Proclamation – Mental Health Awareness Month
Mayor López read the proclamation.
A summary of Council comment is as follows: Council Members shared personal experiences with mental health issues.
5. CITY MANAGER REPORT
City Manager Nicole Almaguer r eported a Citywide Expo for the Active Transportation Plan (ATP), Street Tree Management Plan, and Watershed Management Plan will be held on May 20, 2025, at the Community Center. Registration for Household Hazardous Waste Day on June 15, 2025, is open at stopwaste.org. Movie in the Park on May 10, 2025, was successful. Forty-two people received as sistance with applications for parcel tax exemption and renter rebates at a work shop on May 15, 2025. More information is available at albanyca.gov/exemptions, the Senior Center, and the Community Center. 'DWHDSSURYHG
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ALBANY CITY COUNCIL – MINUTES
1000 San Pablo Avenue
Albany, CA 94706
Monday, May 19, 2025
2 The compost giveaway on May 17, 2025, distributed 1,500 bags to the community. Foyer Art Gallery in the Community Center is hosting an exhibit of Karen Buttwinick’s work.
6. GOOD OF THE CITY / PUBLIC COMMENT
Mayor López opened the Good of the City.
A summary of public comment is as follows: a request for expanding the notification area for development projects; safety concerns for children biking to school; the East Bay Green Home Tour is scheduled for June 7, 2025.
7. CONSENT CALENDAR
7-1. Minutes – May 5, 2025
Staff Recommendation: Approve
7-2. Ratification of Payroll – Date Paid 5/2/2025: Net Amount $465,548.11, Taxes/Benefits/Deductions $514,507.49, Total Payroll $980,055.60 Staff Recommendation: Ratify
7-3. Ratification of Bills, Claims and Demand s - Ratification of bills, claims and demands against the City of Albany in the amount of $414,787.40 (5/2/2025), $193,441.24 (5/9/2025)
Staff Recommendation: Ratify
7-4. Investment Transactions
Staff Recommendation: That the Council re ceive the investment transactions for the month of April 2025.
Mayor López asked if anyone wished to remove items from the consent calendar. No one removed an item from the consent calendar.
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
ALBANY CITY COUNCIL – MINUTES
1000 San Pablo Avenue
Albany, CA 94706
Monday, May 19, 2025
3 8-1. Proposed Biennial Budget for Fiscal Years 2025/26 and 2026/27 Staff Recommendation: That the City C ouncil review the draft budgets for fiscal years 2025/26 and 2026/27 and provide direction to staff in advance of the public hearing and adoption scheduled for June 2, 2025
Finance Director Reina Schwartz presented the staff report. Challenges that affect the budget process are economic uncertainty, the cl osure of Golden Gate Fields, the City’s growing pension liabilities, a strong labor market, and rising labor costs. The proposed budget for Fiscal Year (FY) 2025/26 is balanced. Staff has projected revenues and expenses based on actual numbers from t he previous biennial budget and reviewed recruitment and retention practices to address vacant positions. Also, staff recommends the City Council levy the maximum rate of 0.0993% for the Pension Override Tax and combine four reserve funds into two reserve funds. The 10-year forecast indicates operating deficits for FY 27-35.
A summary of public comment is as follows: an inquiry regarding impacts of the Golden Gate Fields closure.
Finance Director Schwartz indicated the closur e has resulted in decreases to sales tax revenue and wagering tax revenue. A future transfer of the property could impact reserve funds.
A summary of Council comment is as foll ows: restructuring the EMS measure could increase revenue; suggestions to modernize property taxes during June 2026 primary election, and ensure sewer rates are eq uitable between single-family homes and condominiums.
8-2. Annual Sugar-Sweetened Beverage (SSB) Tax Study Session Staff Recommendation: That the Council:
1. Receive a status update on FY 2025 funded programs;
2. Conduct a study session to receiv e input and recommendations for the expenditure of FY 2026 proceeds from the Sugar-Sweetened Beverage Tax; and
3. Provide a preliminary prioritization of items to be funded with the tax proceeds in FY 2026
Assistant City Manager Isabelle Leduc pres ented the staff repor t and reviewed the process for expenditure of SSB tax revenu e, the FY 2024/25 Expenditure Plan, and suggestions for the FY 2025/26 Expenditure Plan. $226,000 has been included in the FY 2026 budget for SSB revenue and expenditures.
A summary of public comment is as follows : support for funding All-bany Swims, the Crossing Guard Program, the Bike Safety Program, a Move ‘n’ Groove event; a proposal ALBANY CITY COUNCIL – MINUTES
1000 San Pablo Avenue
Albany, CA 94706
Monday, May 19, 2025
4 for an herbal medicine garden with an education component; opposition to funding a Move ‘n’ Groove event.
A summary of Council comment is as follows : a preference to fund the Crossing Guard Program at $188,407, All-bany Swims at $20,000, and the Bi ke Safety Program at approximately $17,000; a desire to find another funding source for the Crossing Guard Program; sand volleyball courts and maintenanc e of existing water bottle filling stations are capital improvement projects; events like Move ‘n’ Groove are important for all ages in the community; perhaps AUSD could contribute funding to All-bany Swims; interest in keeping fundings for various programs under estimated SSB revenue; a suggestion to fund All-bany Swims at $10,000, the Bike Safe ty Program in elementary schools, Move ‘n’ Groove at $2,500, and the Crossing Guard Program at $188, 407; a proposal to fund the Bike Safety Program at $17,500, the Crossing Guard Program at $188,407, Move ‘n’ Groove at $2,500, and All-bany Swims at $10,000; support for partnering with AUSD, the Gill Tract Farm, and e-bike manufacturers in funding All-bany Swims, field trips and bike safety programs respectively ; an alternate proposal to fund All-bany Swims at $15,000 and the Bike Safety Program at $15,000.
MOTION:
Moved by Mayor López, seconded by Vice Mayor McQuaid, to prioritize FY 2026 Sugar- Sweetened Beverage Tax revenue for the following programs in the stated amounts:
Bike Safety Program $15,000
Crossing Guard Program $188,407
Move ‘n’ Groove event $2,500
All-bany Swims $15,000
Total $220,907
AYES: Council Members Hansen-Romero, Jordan and Miki, Vice Mayor McQuaid, Mayor López
NOES: None
Motion carried and so ordered.
9. PUBLIC HEARING
10. UNFINISHED BUSINESS
11. NEW BUSINESS
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
ALBANY CITY COUNCIL – MINUTES
1000 San Pablo Avenue
Albany, CA 94706
Monday, May 19, 2025
5 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 Jeanne (Dede) Committee (PAPCO) Pansino N/A
Council Member Hansen-Romero attended the AC Transit meeting with Council Member Miki and learned about service and rate c hanges, recruiting, and funding. She also attended the East Bay Sports Field Recreat ional Authority JPA meeting about new infrastructure and recommended the addition of loading zones.
Council Member Miki attended Bike to Wherever Day and meetings of the Audit & Fiscal Sustainability Standing Committee, AC Tr ansit, and the East Bay Sports Field Recreational Authority JPA. Usage of sports fields and problems with allocating time slots to organizations was reported at the JPA meeting.
Council Member Jordan attended the Alameda County Transportation Commission (Alameda CTC) Planning, Policy and Legislation Committee m eeting, where Senate Bill (SB) 63 was discussed. He also attended a meeting of the Alameda County Mosquito Abatement District and learned about catch basins.
Vice Mayor McQuaid attended the Mayors’ Conference with Mayor López, Bike to Wherever Day, Coffee With a Cop, and a Housing Authority of Alameda County (HACA) meeting regarding the new deputy executive director, American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funding, and financial reporting.
Mayor López attended the Mayors’ Conference, a meeting of the Ava Community Energy JPA Board’s Marketing, Regulatory and Legislative Subcommittee about potential legislation, Bike to Wherever Day, Movi e in the Park, Comic and Fandom Expo, Albany High School Field Day, the Kennedy-King Memorial College Scholarship Fund banquet, and a meeting with UC Berkeley Police Chief Pittman.
13. FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS
Council Member Miki requested an item regarding Council discretionary funds.
MOTION:
Moved by Mayor López, seconded by Council Member Miki, to extend the meeting for 10 minutes to complete the agenda.
AYES: Council Members Hansen-Romero, Jordan and Miki, Vice Mayor McQuaid, Mayor López