ALBANY CITY COUNCIL – MINUTES
1000 San Pablo Avenue
Albany, CA 94706
Monday, February 02, 2026
1 REGULAR MEETING: 7:00 PM
1. CALL TO ORDER /
LAND ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
Council Member Jordan 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 López, Vice Mayor Hansen- Romero, Mayor McQuaid
Absent: Council Member Miki
3. REPORT ON ACTION TAKEN IN CLOSED SESSION, IF ANY
4. CEREMONIAL MATTERS
4-1. Proclamation – Black History Month
Council Member López presented the proclamation to a representative of the Albany Unified School District Black Parent Advisory Group.
4-2. Recognition of Newly Appointed Chief of Police – Greg Galliano City Manager Nicole Almaguer recognized and welcomed Police Chief Greg Galliano.
5. CITY MANAGER REPORT
City Manager Almaguer encouraged the public to check ready.gov/earthquakes and the City’s eNews for resources in light of the morning’s earthquakes. The 2025 Year in Review and 2026 City S atisfaction Survey are available on the City website (albanyca.gov). Applications for the 2026 tax exemption and renter rebate can be obtained from the City website, Albany CARES, and the Community Center. The Recreation and Community Services Department will host a paratransit workshop on February 20, 2026. Friends of Albany Seniors is holding a pancake breakfast on February 21, 2026 9AM-noon. A Kids and Family Expo is scheduled for February 28, 2026 1-4PM at the Community Center. The Journey to Albany: Paths to Belonging exhibit opened February 1, 2026 in the Community Center Foyer Gallery and will run through April 23, 2026. A Planning Expo was held on January 22, 2026 to gain additional community input regarding development of the City’s, Active Transportation Plan and Watershed Management Plan.
6. GOOD OF THE CITY/PUBLIC COMMENT
Mayor McQuaid opened the Good of the City.
A summary of public comment is as follows: requests for the Council to extend the notification area for development projects , to seek information about public funding for seismic retrofit of multifamily buildings , to fund community projects by taxing the •
-.
.
.
Date Approved: February 17, 2026
ALBANY CITY COUNCIL – MINUTES
1000 San Pablo Avenue
Albany, CA 94706
Monday, February 02, 2026
2 community as a whole rather than solely the business community, to seek assistance for establishing a resilience hub, to prohibit the sale of tobacco products, and to review the Block Captain Program.
7. CONSENT CALENDAR
7-1. Minutes – January 20, 2026
Staff Recommendation: Approve
7-2. Ratification of Payroll – Date Paid 1/23/2026: Net Amount $469,335.76, Taxes/Benefits/Deductions $541,350.28, Total Payroll $1,010,686.04
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 $299,419.22 (1/16/2026), $658,618.70 (1/23/2026)
Staff Recommendation: Ratify
7-4. Advisory Body Resignation – Farid Javandel appointed by Council Member Miki resigned from the Transportation Commission
Staff Recommendation: Information item
7-5. Letter of Support – Bay Area Rapid Transit Train Control Modernization Program Phase 6 Project
Mayor McQuaid Recommendation: That the Council approve submittal of a letter in support of the Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) Train Control Modernization Program Phase 6 Project and its application for the Better Utilizing Investments to Leverage Development (BUILD) grant
7-6. Pavement & Curb Rehabilitation Project – Marin Ave Phase 2 (CIP No. 23004) Contract No. C24-57 Contract Change Order #4
Staff Recommendation: That the Council adopt Resolution No. 2026- 03, authorizing the City Manager to execute Contract Change Order #4 to Contract No. C24-57 with Ghilotti Bros., Inc. for the Project in the not -to-exceed amount of $125,000
ENVIRONMENTAL CLEARANCE / CALIFORNIA ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY
ACT (CEQA)
This project is categorically exempt from CEQA pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Section 15301 “Existing Facilities” of the CEQA Guidelines, which exempts the •
-.
.
.
ALBANY CITY COUNCIL – MINUTES
1000 San Pablo Avenue
Albany, CA 94706
Monday, February 02, 2026
3 repair, maintenance, and minor alteration of streets, sidewalks, pedestrian crossings, and street trees.
7-7. Upper Solano Curb Ramps Project (CIP No. 24014)
Award of Upper Solano Avenue Curb Ramps Project Design Services (Contract No. C25-52)
Staff Recommendation: That the Council adopt Resolution No. 2026- 04, authorizing the City Manager to award Contract No. C25- 52 to Parametrix for the Project in the not -to-exceed amount of $194,700, authorizing an appropriation of $200,000 in Measure BB Local Streets & Roads funds for CIP No. 24014 for Fiscal Year 2026, and removing said appropriation for Fiscal Year 2027
7-8. Annual Sewer Rehabilitation Program (CIP No. 32000) Contract No. C23-17 Contract Change Order #2 and #3
Contract No. C23-68 Contract Amendment #1
Staff Recommendation: That Council adopt Resolution No. 2026- 05, authorizing the City Manager to:
1. Execute Contract Change Order #2 to Contract No. C23- 17 with Bay Pacific Pipelines in a not-to-exceed amount of $176,461.41;
2. Execute Contract Change Order #3 to Contract No. C23- 17 with Bay Pacific Pipelines in a not-to-exceed amount of $2,514,537;
3. Execute Contract Amendment #1 to Contract No. C23- 68 with Zoon Engineering in the not-to-exceed amount of $249,500; and
4. Appropriate $25,117.88 from the City Buildings Reserve Fund (Fund 2007) for costs associated with the City Buildings Private Sewer Laterals Project (CIP No. 51010)
ENVIRONMENTAL CLEARANCE / CALIFORNIA ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY
ACT (CEQA)
This project consists of the rehabilitation of an existing sewerage facility to meet current standards of public health and safety and is determined to be categorically exempt under CEQA.
7.9 Annual Report of Development Impact Fees Collected as of June 30, 2025 Pursuant to Government Code Section 66001 (AB 1600)
Staff Recommendation: That the Council accept the report on Development Impact Fees for the year ended June 30, 2025
Mayor McQuaid asked if anyone wished to remove items from the consent calendar.
A summary of public comment is as follows: information regarding the BART project and funding for BART.
•
-.
.
.
ALBANY CITY COUNCIL – MINUTES
1000 San Pablo Avenue
Albany, CA 94706
Monday, February 02, 2026
4 MOTION:
Moved by Council Member Jordan, seconded by Vice Mayor Hansen-Romero, to approve the consent calendar.
AYES: Council Members Jordan and López, Vice Mayor Hansen- Romero, Mayor McQuaid
NOES: None
ABSENT: Council Member Miki
Motion carried and so ordered.
8. PRESENTATION
9. PUBLIC HEARING
10. UNFINISHED BUSINESS
11. NEW BUSINESS
11-1. Implementation of Youth Voting Per Albany Charter Amendment
Staff Recommendation: That the Council receive an update regarding the implementation of youth voting and provide feedback to staff regarding implementation of youth voting in the City of Albany for City elections per amended City Charter
City Clerk Anne Hsu presented the staff report. On May 24, 2025, Albany voters approved an amendment to the City Charter allowing 16 and 17-year olds to vote in municipal and school district elections. According to the amendment, implementation is to be postponed until the Council determines that the Alameda County Registrar of Voters can feasibly accommodate 16 and 17- year old elector s and at a cost -effective price. Staff has requested a timeline for youth voting and a cost estimate from the Alameda County Registrar of Voters.
A summary of Council comment is as follows: the cost to include 16 and 17- year-old voters in elections is not feasible at this time.
11-2. City Council Procedures & Policies Update
Staff Recommendation: That the Council review the City Council Procedures & Policies and provide direction to staff on any updates
City Manager Almaguer presented the staff report. The Council typically reviews the City Council Procedures & Policies (CCPP) annually and identifies any areas that are dated or do not comply with current practices. The CCPP was last updated on April 7, 2025. If the Council has revisions , staff will draft language for Council consideration. Staff has proposed language regarding the Council Discretionary Fund in light of the recent Council discussion.
•
-.
.
.
ALBANY CITY COUNCIL – MINUTES
1000 San Pablo Avenue
Albany, CA 94706
Monday, February 02, 2026
5 A summary of Council comment is as follows: support for reversing the City Manager Report and Good of the City on the agenda; concern that reversing the two would affect the tenor of the City Manager Report; a preference to retain the current order; the current procedure for appointing Mayor and Vice Mayor does not cover every situation; the procedure has not been in place long enough to determine its effectiveness; the process is fine as it is; a suggestion to change Council meal reimbursement from per meal to per diem; support for the draft language regarding the Council Discretionary Fund.
12. COUNCIL SUBCOMMITTEE REPORTS, COUNCIL MEMBER REPORTS ON
APPOINTED REPRESENTATION OF ALBANY, AND OTHER MEETINGS AND EVENTS
12-1. Mayor McQuaid Report from League of California Cities New Mayors and Council Members Academy
Council Member López attended openings of the Journey to Albany: Paths to Belonging exhibit and a local restaurant.
Vice Mayor Hansen-Romero attended the restaurant opening and a StopWaste meeting where they discussed a new fee and new legislation.
Council Member Jordan attended the Alameda County Transportation Commission (Alameda CTC) meeting and learned about the Countywide Transportation Plan.
Mayor McQuaid attended the League of California Cities Mayors and Council Members Academy, Senator Arreguin’s Small Cities’ Mayors meeting, Urban League breakfast, Fire and Police Pension Board meeting, a meeting with Supervisor Bas and City Manager Almaguer, the restaurant and exhibit openings, the swearing-in ceremony for Police Chief Galliano, and last week’s protest. She noted her appointment to the League of California Cities Community Services Policy Committee.
13. FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS
None.
14. ANNOUNCEMENT OF CITY MEETINGS AND EVENTS
Presidents’ Day – Monday, February 16, 2026 (City Offices Closed)
Upcoming City Meetings
1. Arts Committee Meeting, Monday, February 9, 7:00 PM, City Hall Council Chambers
2. Planning & Zoning Commission Meeting, Wednesday, February 11, 7:00 PM, City Hall Council Chambers
•
-.
.
.
3. Parks, Recreation & Open Space Meeting, Thursday, February 12, 7:00 PM, City Hall Council Chambers
4. City Council Meeting, Tuesday , February 17, 7:00 PM, City Hall Council Chambers
15. ADJOURNMENT
8:24 PM There being no further business before the City Council, Mayor McQuaid adjourned the meeting.
Minutes submitted by Anne Hsu, City Clerk.
Pegg aid
Mayor
Attest:
~-------
~lerk
6