ALBANY CITY COUNCIL – MINUTES
1000 San Pablo Avenue
Albany, CA 94706
Monday, December 15, 2025
1 REGULAR MEETING: 7:00 PM
1. CALL TO ORDE
R / 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 , Vice Mayor McQuaid, Mayor López
Absent: None
3. REPORT ON ACTION TAKEN IN CLOSED SESSION, IF ANY
4. CEREMONIAL MATTERS
4-1. Proclamation – Mayor’s Monarch Pledge Day
Mayor López presented the proclamation to representatives of local monarch groups.
5. CITY MANAGER REPORT
City Manager Nicole Almaguer reported sandbag supplies are available to Albany residents at the Fire Department and Ocean View Park. Sanctuary City posters and Red Cards in multiple languages are available thanks to funding from the City Council Discretionary Fund. Fall into Haiku is underway. Low -income homeowners and renters can take advantage of parcel tax exemptions and renter rebates ; City staff, Albany CARES and the City website (albanyca.gov) have information. The Sidewalk Repair Program - Phase 11 has begun with completion expected by January 31, 2026.
6. GOOD OF T
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CITY / PUBLIC COMMENT
Mayor López opened the Good of the City.
A summary of public comment is as follows: requests for action regarding property safety, public electric vehicle (EV) charging stations, and a community resilience hub.
City Manager Almaguer advised that staff will provide an update for the Council regarding public EV charging stations.
7. CONSENT CALENDAR
7-1. Minutes – December 1, 2025
Staff Recommendation: Approve
7-2. Ratification of Payroll – Date Paid 11/28/2025: Net Amount $505,946.03, Taxes/Benefits/Deductions $538,986.45, Total Payroll $1,044,932.48 Date approved: January 20, 2026
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ALBANY CITY COUNCIL – MINUTES
1000 San Pablo Avenue
Albany, CA 94706
Monday, December 15, 2025
2 Staff Recommendation: Ratify
7-3. Ratification of Bills, Claims and Demands - Ratification of bills, claims and demands against the City of Albany in the amount of $317,828.28 (11/21/2025), $513,201.08 (12/5/2025)
Staff Recommendation: Ratify
7-4. Investment Transactions
Staff Recommendation: That the Council receive the investment transactions for the month of November 2025
7-5. Contract with Groundworks Office for the Parks, Recreation & Open Space Master Plan – Planning Study Addendum
Staff Recommendation: That the Council adopt Resolution No. 2025- 76, authorizing the City Manager to execute a contract with Groundworks Office in the amount of $59,232 for the Parks, Recreation & Open Space Master Plan – Planning Study Addendum
7-6. Updated Salary Schedule for City of Albany Employees
Staff Recommendation: That the Council adopt Resolution No. 2025-77, approving an updated Salary Schedule for City employees
7-7. Annual Street Rehabilitation Program (CIP No. 21000) – 2025 Buchanan Street Repair Project (C25-05) Project Completion
Staff Recommendation: That the Council adopt Resolution No. 2025- 78, authorizing the committee to:
1. Approve contract change order (CCO) #1 to Contract No. C25-05 in the amount of $101,876.55;
2. Appropriate $135,457 from Alameda County Transportation Commission (Alameda CTC) Measure B Local Streets and Roads Funds and $18,831 from Alameda CTC Measure B Bicycle & Pedestrian Funds to the Annual Street Rehabilitation Program (CIP No. 21000);
3. Accept the improvements completed in Contract No. C25-05; and
4. File the Notice of Completion with the County Recorder’s Office
CALIFORNIA ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY ACT (CEQA)
This project is categorically exempt from CEQA pursuant to Section 15301 “Existing Facilities” of the CEQA Guidelines, which exempts the operation, repair, maintenance, permitting, leasing, licensing, or minor alteration of streets and pedestrian crossings.
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ALBANY CITY COUNCIL – MINUTES
1000 San Pablo Avenue
Albany, CA 94706
Monday, December 15, 2025
3 7-8. Metropolitan Transportation Commission Resolution of Local Support for the Jackson Street Parallel Bike Improvements Project
Staff Recommendation: That the Council adopt Resolution No. 2025- 79, authorizing the City Manager to file an application for the Metropolitan Transportation Commission regional discretionary funding and committing to retaining the resources necessary to deliver the Jackson Street Parallel Bike Improvements Project in University Village within funding deadlines.
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 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. Potential Revenue Measures for Funding Core City Services
Staff Recommendation: That the Council receive a report from staff regarding additional information pertaining to a potential ballot measure to update the real property transfer tax to help support core services and address unmet needs and provide feedback to staff on a proposed rate structure and revenue target
Finance Director Reina Schwartz presented the staff report. During the October 6, 2025, Council meeting, Council Members requested additional information regarding a discount for multiple dwellings on a single property and a discount or rebate for low-income or first- time home buyers. Programs for discounts or rebates of real property transfer tax would be complicated to implement given the ability of the buyer and seller to negotiate terms and the lack of a mechanism to share information and would require staff resources. A proposed initiative, if passed, would invalidate all transfer taxes enacted by charter cities and prohibit charter cities from enacting new transfer taxes. Staff requests Council direction regarding a revenue target and the number and basis of tiers in a tiered rate structure.
A summary of public comment is as follows: opposition to an increase in the transfer tax. •
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ALBANY CITY COUNCIL – MINUTES
1000 San Pablo Avenue
Albany, CA 94706
Monday, December 15, 2025
4 A summary of Council comment is as follows: suggestions to impose transfer tax rates of 1% for the first quartile, 1.5% for the second quartile, 2% for the third quartile, 2.5% for the fourth quartile, and to utilize a rolling number of years to set the quartiles, but initially $650,000 to separate the first and second quartiles, $1.1 million to separate the second and third quartiles, and $1.49 million to separate the third and fourth quartiles; a preference for a simpler structure.
11. NEW BUSINESS
11-1. City Council Discretionary Fund Policy Options
Staff Recommendation: That the Council consider policy options for the use of the Council Discretionary Fund and provide direction to staff
City Manager Almaguer presented the staff report. The Discretionary Fund has been available to the Council for many years and has been funded with $20,000 in recent years.
The current year’s amount is $35,000. Staff suggests the Council consider whether it is of interest to update the current approach and include more policy and procedure around use of the funds, and whether a grant program is of interest.
A summary of public comment is as follows: an inquiry about funding requests.
A summary of Council comment is as follows: support for a committee considering applications once or twice a year and recommending applications to the Council, with some funding retained for requests during the fiscal year; support for the current process; a suggestion for a yearly discussion of potential funding requests.
11-2. Request for Use of City Council Discretionary Funds for the Gill Tract Farm
Council Member Jordan Recommendation: That the Council approve an allocation from the City Council Discretionary Fund for the Gill Tract Farm in the amount of $10,000 for the field trip program and $5,000 for the proposed Verana Hills program
Council Member Jordan presented the item. In 2024, the City Council allocated funds from Sugar Sweetened Beverage Tax revenues to support Albany Unified School District (AUSD) field trips to the Gill Tract Farm. The field trip program was successful for students and the Gill Tract Farm. AUSD has committed funds to field trips. Funding will also be used for outreach to residents of Verana Hill.
A summary of public comment is as follows: support for funding the request; AUSD has agreed to match the City’s grant; an inquiry regarding the process.
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ALBANY CITY COUNCIL – MINUTES
1000 San Pablo Avenue
Albany, CA 94706
Monday, December 15, 2025
5 A summary of Council comment is as follows: concern with the funding request given that AUSD has committed in writing to the City that AUSD would fund the program; opposition to additional funding; support for funding field trips.
MOTION:
Moved by Vice Mayor McQuaid, seconded by Mayor López, to deny the request for funding from the City Council Discretionary Fund.
SUBSTITUTE MOTION:
Moved by Council Member Miki, seconded by Council Member Hansen-Romero, to table the item to a Council meeting in January 2026.
AYES: Council Members Hansen-Romero, Jordan and Miki
NOES: Vice Mayor McQuaid, Mayor López
Motion carried and so ordered.
11-3. Updated 2025 Salary Schedules for City of Albany Employees
Staff Recommendation: That the Council adopt Resolution No. 2025-80, approving four corrected and updated salary schedules for City employees
City Manager Almaguer presented the staff report. Pursuant to a notification from the California Public Employees’ Retirement System (CalPERS), a corrective action is required with regard to the salary schedule adopted in early 2025.
MOTION:
Moved by Council Member Jordan, seconded by Vice Mayor McQuaid, to adopt Resolution No. 2025-80, approving the four corrected and updated publicly available pay schedules for City employees.
AYES: Council Members Hansen-Romero, Jordan and Miki, Vice Mayor McQuaid, Mayor López
NOES: None
Motion carried and so ordered.
11-4. City Council Reorganization
Staff Recommendation: That the Council appoint members of the City Council to the positions of Mayor and Vice Mayor for a one- year term per the process in the adopted City Council Procedures & Policies and affirm the Mayoral rotation queue
City Clerk Anne Hsu presented the staff report. Pursuant to the City Charter and the City Council Procedure & Policies, the Council is to appoint a Mayor and Vice Mayor. At the December 2024 Council meeting, the Council established a queue for appointment of Mayor and Vice Mayor.
Council Member Jordan deferred his place in the appointment queue to Council Member Hansen-Romero.
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ALBANY CITY COUNCIL – MINUTES
1000 San Pablo Avenue
Albany, CA 94706
Monday, December 15, 2025
6 MOTION:
Moved by Council Member Miki, seconded by Council Member Jordan, to appoint Council Member McQuaid to serve as Mayor and Council Member Hansen- Romero to serve as Vice Mayor.
AYES: Council Members Hansen-Romero, Jordan and Miki, Vice Mayor McQuaid, Mayor López
NOES: None
Motion carried and so ordered.
Council Members expressed their thanks and appreciation for Council Member López’s service as Mayor.
11-5. City Council Appointments to County/Regional Bodies
Staff Recommendation: That the Council review and update the appointments to County/Regional bodies
City Clerk Hsu presented the staff report. The Council’s practice is to review appointments to county/regional bodies annually, usually in December. The City Council Procedures & Policies provides guidelines for appointments to regional bodies. Some bodies designate the Mayor and/or Vice Mayor as the City’s representative.
Body Appointee Alternate
Alameda County Mayors’ Conference McQuaid Hansen-Romero League of California Cities Miki McQuaid
ACMAD Jordan N/A
ACTC Jordan López
ACWMA & Energy Council Hansen-Romero Jordan
ABAG McQuaid Jordan
East Bay Sports Field Recreation JPA Hansen-Romero Miki Ava Community Energy JPA Board López Jordan
HACA McQuaid N/A
ACLAC McQuaid López
UC Gill Tract Jordan N/A
PAPCO Pansino N/A
MOTION:
Moved by Council Member Jordan, seconded by Council Member López, to appoint representatives to the county/regional bodies as noted above.
AYES: Council Members Jordan, López and Miki , Vice Mayor Hansen -Romero, Mayor McQuaid
NOES: None
Motion carried and so ordered.
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ALBANY CITY COUNCIL – MINUTES
1000 San Pablo Avenue
Albany, CA 94706
Monday, December 15, 2025
7 11-6. City Council Appointments to the Board of Police and Fire Pension Fund
Staff Recommendation: That the Council appoint alternates to the Board of Police and Fire Pension Fund Commissioners per City Charter Section 9.01
City Clerk Hsu presented the staff report. City Charter Section 9.01(a) designates the Mayor, City Treasurer, City Clerk, and one Pension Plan member from each of the Police and Fire Departments as the members of the Board of Police & Fire Pension Fund Commissioners. Each Board member has an alternate, who may serve for one year unless appointed again by the City Council.
MOTION:
Moved by Council Member Jordan, seconded by Council Member Miki, to appoint Vice Mayor Hansen-Romero as Mayor McQuaid’s alternate, Isabelle Leduc as City Treasurer Schwartz’s alternate, Jon Clowes as the City Clerk Hsu’s alternate, Justin Kurland as the Police Department’s appointee, Ryan Welch/Jose Torres/Jonathan Torres as the Police Department’s alternate, and James Berry as the Fire Department’s appointee, James Murphy/Desmond Smyth as the Fire Department’s alternate.
AYES: Council Members Jordan, López and Miki , Vice Mayor Hansen- Romero, Mayor McQuaid
NOES: None
Motion carried and so ordered.
12. COUNCIL SUBCOMMITTEE REPORTS, COUNCIL MEMBER REPORTS ON
APPOINTED REPRESENTATION OF ALBANY, AND OTHER MEETINGS AND EVENTS
Vice Mayor Hansen- Romero attended a StopWaste meeting and learned of problems with compostable bags and microplastics. She and Council Member López attended the Winter Stroll.
Council Member Jordan attended meetings of the Alameda County Mosquito Abatement District and Alabama County Transportation Commission. Audits of both agencies’ financials were unmodified with no findings.
Council Member López attended the Mayors’ Conference, UC Gill Tract Community Farm Advisory Committe e meeting, League of California Cities ’ holiday event, and Ocean View’s Winter Wonderland Festival.
Council Member Miki attended an East Bay Forward meeting and learned about ballot initiatives and pending legislation.
Mayor McQuaid attended the Food Bank breakfast, Chamber of Commerce mixer, Senior Center White Elephant Sale, Winter on Solano, Mayors’ Conference, League of California Cities’ party, and Jewish Current’s Hanukah celebration, and spoke to Cub Scouts.
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ALBANY CITY COUNCIL-MINUTES
1000 San Pablo Avenue
Albany, CA 94706
Monday, December 15, 2025
13. FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS
Council Member Jordan requested a meeting of the City Council Public Safety Committee to review Flock cameras.
Council Member Miki requested a future item regarding formation of a City Council committee to meet and confer with AUSD.
14. ANNOUNCEMENT OF CITY MEETINGS AND EVENTS
City Offices Holiday Closure: Thursday, December 25 and Friday, December 26, 2025.
City Offices will resume normal office hours on Monday, December 29.
Thursday, January 1 and Friday, January 2, 2026 (City Offices Closed).
City Offices will resume normal office hours on Monday, January 5, 2026.
Martin Luther King Jr. Day - Monday, January 19, 2026 (City Offices Closed) Upcoming City Meetings
1. Climate Action Committee Meeting, Wednesday, December 17, 7:00 PM, City Hall Council Chambers
2. Parks, Recreation & Open Space Commission Meeting, Thursday, January 8, 7:00 PM, City Hall Council Chambers
3. Arts Committee Meeting, Monday, January 12, 7:00 PM, City Hall Council Chambers
4. Planning & Zoning Commission Meeting, Wednesday, January 14, 7:00 PM, City Hall Council Chambers
5. City Council Meeting, Tuesday, January 20, 7:00 PM, City Hall Council Chambers
15. ADJOURNMENT
10:22 PM There being no further business before the City Council, Mayor McQuaid adjourned the meeting with a moment of silence in memory of those killed in Australia and Rhode Island.
Minutes submitted by Anne Hsu, City Clerk.
Pegg
Mayor
Attest:
AnneHsu,CityClerk
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