ALBANY CITY COUNCIL – MINUTES
1000 San Pablo Avenue
Albany, CA 94706
Tuesday, September 02, 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 Jordan and Miki, Vice Mayor McQuaid, Mayor López
Absent: Council Member Hansen-Romero
3. REPORT ON ACTION TAKEN IN CLOSED SESSION, IF ANY
4. CEREMONIAL MATTERS
4-1. Proclamation – National Suicide Prevention Awareness Month Council Member Miki read the proclamation.
5. CITY MANAGER REPORT
City Manager Nicole Almaguer reported Waste Management is promoting a new textile collection program through the mail and at home.wm.com/albany. Information about Public Works projects is available at albanyca.gov/projects. The City’s new electric riding lawnmowers are performing well. The Marin Avenue Pavement Rehabilitation Project will affect traffic and parking beginning in September 2025. Phase 10 of the Annual Sidewalk Rehabilitation Project is anticipated to begin in the fall. Concerts in the Park during August 2025 were well attended. Staff is working to fill the reservation requests for Dinner with Albany. Friendship Club summer programs were quite successful, and afterschool programs are offered for the school year. Introduction of Dina Tasini, the new Director of the Community Development Department.
A summary of public comment is as follows: an inquiry regarding Waste Management’s textile collection program.
City Manager Almaguer noted Waste Management’s website and upcoming mailers and outreach.
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 preserving open space in Ocean View Park; a local group financially supports distribution of water in Gaza; support for expanding the notification area for development projects; support for electric vehicle (EV) charging stations and a resilience hub.
7. CONSENT CALENDAR
•
-.
.
.
ALBANY CITY COUNCIL – MINUTES
1000 San Pablo Avenue
Albany, CA 94706
Tuesday, September 02, 2025
2 7-1. Minutes – July 21, 2025
Staff Recommendation: Approve
7-2. Ratification of Payroll
• Date Paid 7/25/2025: Net Amount $473,701.60, Taxes/Benefits/Deductions $553,158.07, Total Payroll $1,026,859.67
• Date Paid 8/8/2025: Net Amount $470,127.24, Taxes Benefits/Deductions $509,178.26, Total Payroll $979,305.50
• Date Paid 8/22/2025: Net Amount $495,125.17, Taxes/Benefits/Deductions $537,742.52, Total Payroll $1,032,867.69
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 $283,226.93 (7/18/2025), $572,126.27 (7/25/2025), $324,187.41 (8/1/2025), $350,318.32 (8/8/2025), $142,823.34 (8/15/2025), $145,502.64 (8/22/2025)
Staff Recommendation: Ratify
7-4. Advisory Body Resignation: Julian Baldwin appointed by Council as a Whole resigned from the Transportation Commission
Staff Recommendation: Information item
7-5. Contract Award of Sanitary Sewer Master Plan Update
Staff Recommendation: That Council adopt Resolution No. 2025- 57, authorizing the City Manager to award Contract No. C25- 30 to Woodard & Curran to provide professional engineering services in the not -to-exceed amount of $147,259.00 to develop an update to the City’s Sanitary Sewer Master Plan using funds previously appropriated as part of the Annual Sewer Rehabilitation Program (CIP No. 32000)
Mayor López asked if anyone wished to remove items from the consent calendar. No one removed an item.
MOTION:
Moved by Vice Mayor McQuaid, seconded by Council Member Jordan, to approve the consent calendar.
AYES: Council Members Jordan and Miki, Vice Mayor McQuaid, Mayor López NOES: None
ABSENT: Council Member Hansen-Romero
Motion carried and so ordered.
•
-.
.
.
ALBANY CITY COUNCIL – MINUTES
1000 San Pablo Avenue
Albany, CA 94706
Tuesday, September 02, 2025
3 8. PRESENTATION
9. PUBLIC HEARING
9-1. Amendments to Albany Municipal Code Chapter 20 Sections 20.28.030.C and
20.24.050 Regarding Bicycle Parking Standards and Related Provisions – First Reading
Planning & Zoning Commission and Staff Recommendation: That the City Council:
1. Conduct the Public Hearing to introduce and waive the first reading of Ordinance No. 2025- 05, repealing and replacing subsection 20.28.030.C (“Bicycle Parking”) and amending subsection 20.24.050 (“Floor -Area Ratios”) regarding bicycle parking standards and related provisions; and
2. Provide feedback on draft administrative regulations for bicycle facility siting and design standards to be promulgated by the Community Development Director
CALIFORNIA ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY ACT (CEQA)
Consideration of the ordinance is categorically exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act (“CEQA”) because the scope of this ordinance is limited to minor updates to zoning and development standards. It does not change land use or increase building density and therefore qualifies as a Class 5 Categorical Exemption (Minor Alterations in Land Use Limitations, CEQA Guidelines § 15305) and is also covered by the general exemption for projects with no potential for significant environmental impact (CEQA Guidelines § 15061(b)(3)).
Planning & Building Manager Leslie Mendez presented the staff report. The goals of the proposed amendments are to support climate action and sustainability, accommodate new mobility trends, integrate bike parking into public and private spaces, reduce conflicts between parking and primary land uses, and set clear, practical standards. In July 2025, the Planning & Zoning Commission (PZC) reviewed and modified proposed amendments.
Pursuant to Assembly Bill (AB) 306, any changes to City standards must be adopted prior to October 1, 2025. The proposed amendments align with many City policies.
The proposed amendments expand the applicability of bicycle parking standards to new commercial, public/quasi-public, industrial, mixed-use, and multifamily developments and temporary events; exempt bicycle parking from the floor area ratio (FAR) calculation; clarify the FAR (floor -area-ratio) garage exemption for single- family dwellings as also applying to bicycle parking; update parking ratios; strengthen accessibility and flexibility standards; accommodate large bikes and e -bikes; require commuter amenit ies; and include Administrative Regulations.
Next steps are to review Administrative Regulations with the Transportation Commission on September 25, 2025 after the adoption of the Ordinance, and publish Administrative Regulations prior to October 1, 2025.
•
-.
.
.
ALBANY CITY COUNCIL – MINUTES
1000 San Pablo Avenue
Albany, CA 94706
Tuesday, September 02, 2025
4 A summary of public comment is as follows: support for robust off -street bicycle parking and bicycle infrastructure; support for more than one space per dwelling unit and painted and powder-coated bike racks.
City Attorney Mala Subramanian advised the Council to consider carefully the type of building permit that would trigger bicycle parking requirements. If the Council wishes to allow parking in the City right -of-way, the City should have the right to remove it at any time.
A summary of Council comment is as follows: proposals to discourage painted bike racks and to require short-term parking for nonresidential buildings undergoing renovations, if the parking can be accommodated in the public right -of-way; staff should carefully consider the location of bike racks so that they do not impede wheelchair access; the height of bike stackers will likely conflict with the require d clearance above stackers; perhaps signage for e-bike spaces should be required; a suggestion to require a minimum of 5 feet for bike racks on sidewalks, with a preference for 6 feet.
MOTION:
Moved by Council Member Jordan, seconded by Council Member Miki, to introduce and waive the first reading of Ordinance No. 2025-05 and associated Administrative Regulations , with amendments to: 1) require 1.5 long- term parking spaces per dwelling unit with two or more bedrooms , 2) round up the number of bike parking spaces in calculations, 3) reverse the order of Subsections 20.28.030 C.4.b.ii and 4.b.iii, 4) include the following in the Administrative Regulations: the calculation of spaces for temporary events and clearance requirements for bicycle parking in the public right-of-way, powder- coated bicycle racks as a preferred type , change the basis for calculating the required number of spaces at temporary events from total attendees to simultaneous attendees, and require signage indicating which long-term parking spaces are charging capable, and 5) require short-term bicycle parking for nonresidential buildings undergoing substantial renovations.
AYES: Council Members Jordan and Miki, Vice Mayor McQuaid, Mayor López NOES: None
ABSENT: Council Member Hansen-Romero
Motion carried and so ordered.
10. UNFINISHED BUSINESS
11. NEW BUSINESS
11-1. Recommendation to Implement Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) Investing
Staff Recommendation: That the Council adopt Resolution No. 2025-58, adopting a City of Albany Investment Policy and Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) Implementation Policy and referral of consideration of adding a broader •
-.
.
.
ALBANY CITY COUNCIL – MINUTES
1000 San Pablo Avenue
Albany, CA 94706
Tuesday, September 02, 2025
5 values statement to the ESG Implementation Policy to the City Council Audit and Fiscal Sustainability Standing Committee
Finance Director Reina Schwartz presented the staff report. The City Council Audit and Fiscal Sustainability Standing Committee (Committee) discussed ESG investing and a variety of strategies to incorporate ESG into an investment policy in March, April, and July 2025. The Committee recommended a multi-pronged approach and discussion of adding a values statement to the ESG Implementation Policy.
The proposed sustainability and ESG investment parameters exclude the industries of energy services, oil and gas producers, and aerospace and defense. Current investments in excluded industries will be maintained until maturity or such time as the City can divest its interests without incurring a loss. The ESG risk rating will be based on Sustainalytics ESG Risk Ratings of medium or lower. An investment’s Subindustry Percentile must be lower than 50 and based on Sustainalytics Subindustry Percentiles.
Council Member Jordan shared the Committee’s discussion of a 75 th percentile threshold
and the exclusion of approximately 20% of approved companies.
A summary of public comment is as follows: review of companies should be based on more than Sustainalytics’ ratings; suggestions for values statements.
A summary of Council comment is as follows: proposal and support to exclude the industries of refiners and pipelines, tobacco, and firearms and ammunition and to refer development of a values statement to the Committee.
MOTION:
Moved by Council Member Jordan, seconded by Vice Mayor McQuaid, to 1) adopt Resolution No. 2025-58, adopting a City of Albany Investment Policy and Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) Implementation Policy, with amendments to revise Criteria 1 to exclude the classes of refiners and pipelines, tobacco, and firearms and ammunition, and to require review of the ESG Implementation Policy annually in conjunction with the Investment Policy review ; and 2) refer development of a values statement to the ESG Implementation Policy to the City Council Audit and Fiscal Sustainability Standing Committee.
AYES: Council Members Jordan and Miki, Vice Mayor McQuaid, Mayor López NOES: None
ABSENT: Council Member Hansen-Romero
Motion carried and so ordered.
11-2. Designation of Voting Delegates and Alternates for the League of California Cities Annual Conference and Expo
Staff Recommendation: That the Council designate a voting delegate and alternates for the League of California Cities General Assembly
•
-.
.
.
ALBANY CITY COUNCIL – MINUTES
1000 San Pablo Avenue
Albany, CA 94706
Tuesday, September 02, 2025
6 City Clerk Anne Hsu presented the staff report. The Council may designate one voting delegate and up to two alternate delegates. The Annual Conference and Expo is scheduled for October 8-10, 2025, in Long Beach, and the Business Meeting will be held on October 10.
MOTION:
Moved by Vice Mayor McQuaid, seconded by Mayor López, to designate Council Member Miki as voting delegate and Vice Mayor McQuaid as alternate delegate.
AYES: Council Members Jordan and Miki, Vice Mayor McQuaid, Mayor López NOES: None
ABSENT: Council Member Hansen-Romero
Motion carried and so ordered.
11-3. Updating Various Sections in Chapter 2 of the Albany Municipal Code in Accordance with Voter Approved Charter Amendment – First Reading Staff Recommendation: That the Council introduce and waive first reading of Ordinance No. 2025 -06, amending Albany Municipal Code Sections 2- 3 “Administrative Officer,” 2 -16 “Emergency Organizations and Functions,” and repealing Sections 2-4 through 2-13
City Clerk Hsu presented the staff report. In accordance with Measure S, which voters approved in November 2024, the proposed amendments delegate the authority to appoint City Officers and department heads with the exception of City Attorney , and to organize the City to the City Manager.
MOTION:
Moved by Vice Mayor McQuaid, seconded by Council Member Miki, to introduce and waive first reading of Ordinance No. 2025-06, amending Albany Municipal Code Sections 2-3 “Administrative Officer,” 2 -16 “Emergency Organizations and Functions,” and repealing Sections 2-4 through 2-13, with an amendment to revise “he or she” and “his or her” to “the City Manager” and “the City Manager’s” respectively in Section 2-3.2 (k) and (l).
AYES: Council Members Jordan and Miki, Vice Mayor McQuaid, Mayor López NOES: None
ABSENT: Council Member Hansen-Romero
Motion carried and so ordered.
12. COUNCIL SUBCOMMITTEE REPORTS, COUNCIL MEMBER REPORTS ON
APPOINTED REPRESENTATION OF ALBANY, AND OTHER MEETINGS AND EVENTS
Council Member Jordan reported the Alameda County Mosquito Abatement District (ACMAD) met and discussed mosquito detections. Treating catch basins is less expensive than developing self -drying basins , but AC MAD staff prefers to continue experimenting with self drying because of possible worldwide implications.
Date approved: September 15, 2025
•
-.
.
.
ALBANY CITY COUNCIL-MINUTES
1000 San Pablo Avenue
Albany, CA 94706
Tuesday, September 02, 2025
Vice Mayor McQuaid reported the Housing Authority of Alameda County (HACA) met in July to discuss federal funding. The Family Self-Sufficiency Program awarded 10 scholarships. She attended the Community Center's exhibition and resource fair, a Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) meeting, National Night Out, the PACE Center opening in Oakland, Assembly Member Wicks' wildfire preparedness event, Coffee with a Cop, and Congresswoman Simon's town hall.
Mayor Lopez attended the Solano Stroll kickoff event, meetings with Assembly Member Wicks, Congresswoman Simon, and Senator Arreguin's staff, and Congresswoman Simon's town hall, where she encouraged Albany youth to apply for internships.
13. FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS
None.
14. ANNOUNCEMENT OF CITY MEETINGS AND EVENTS
Upcoming City Meetings
1. Housing Advisory Commission Meeting, Wednesday, September 3, 7:00 PM, City Hall Council Chambers
2. Arts Committee Meeting, Monday, September 8, 7:00 PM, City Hall Council Chambers
3. Planning & Zoning Commission Meeting, Wednesday, September 10, 7:00 PM, City Hall Council Chambers
4. Parks, Recreation & Open Space Commission Meeting, Thursday, September 11 , 7:00 PM, City Hall Council Chambers
5. City Council Meeting, Monday, September 15, 7:00 PM, City Hall Council Chambers
15. ADJOURNMENT
10:00 PM There being no further business before the City Council, Mayor Lopez adjourned the meeting and Vice Mayor McQuaid read a statement in memory of Police Reserve Sergeant George Krebs.
Minutes submitted by Anne Hsu, City Clerk.
• Attest:
Anne Hsu, City Clerk
7