ALBANY CITY COUNCIL – MINUTES
1000 San Pablo Avenue
Albany, CA 94706
Monday, March 02, 2026
1 REGULAR MEETING: 7:00 PM
1. CALL TO ORDER
/ LAND ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
Council Member López read the Albany Land Acknowledgement Statement as adopted by the City Council per City of Albany Minute Action, November 15, 2021.
Mayor McQuaid announced that Item 8-1 was pulled from the agenda.
2. ROLL CALL
Present: Council Members Jordan, López and Miki, Vice Mayor Hansen- Romero, Mayor McQuaid
Absent: None
3. REPORT ON ACTION TAKEN IN CLOSED SESSION, IF ANY
4. CEREMONIAL MATTERS
4-1. Proclamation – American Red Cross Month
Council Member Miki presented the proclamation to Briana Taylor of the American Red Cross.
4-2. Proclamation – Tibetan National Uprising Day
Council Member Jordan presented the proclamation to Kunjo Tashi, president of the Tibetan Association of Northern California.
4-3. Proclamation – Women’s History Month & International Women’s Day Vice Mayor Hansen-Romero presented the proclamation.
5. CITY MANAGER REPORT
City Manager Nicole Almaguer reported the Summer Activity Guide is available at City facilities and online. Outdoor pickleball open play will begin on March 3, 2026 at Ocean View Park. More than 300 families attended the Kids and Family Expo on February 28 , 2026. The City Satisfaction Survey is underway at albanyca.gov/citysurvey2026. The City will host the Albany Safety Expo on May 2, 2026 at the Community Center. Albany Library program, Albany Reads, will take place March 1 – May 31, 2026.
6. GOOD OF TH
E C
ITY / PUBLIC COMMENT
Mayor McQuaid opened the Good of the City.
A summary of public comment is as follows: requests for expansion of the notification area for development projects, financial assistance with seismic retrofit projects, creation Date approved: March 16, 2026
•
-.
.
.
ALBANY CITY COUNCIL – MINUTES
1000 San Pablo Avenue
Albany, CA 94706
Monday, March 02, 2026
2 of a resilience hub, and prohibition on the sale of tobacco products; support for Albany Reads programs; inquiries regarding advisory body meetings.
7. CONSENT CALENDAR
7-1. Minutes – February 17, 2026
Staff Recommendation: Approve
7-2. Ratification of Payroll – Date Paid 2/20/2026: Net Amount $468,090.37, Taxes/Benefits/Deductions $541,301.63, Total Payroll $1,009,392.00
Staff Reco
mmendation: Ratify
7-3. Ratification of Bills, Claims and Demands - Ratification of bills, claims and demands against the City of Albany in the amount of $442,593.77 (2/13/2026), $932,416.64 (2/20/2026)
Staff Recommendation: Ratify
Mayor McQuaid asked if anyone wished to remove items from the consent calendar. No one removed an item from the consent calendar.
MOTION:
Moved by Council Member Jordan, seconded by Council Member López, to approve the consent calendar.
AYES: Council Members Jordan, López and Miki, Vice Mayor Hansen- Romero, Mayor McQuaid
NOES: None
Motion carried and so ordered.
8. PRESENTATION
8-1. Automated License Plate Reader Program – Update, Privacy Protections, Successes, and Consideration of Additional Pan-Tilt-Zoom Cameras
Staff Recommendation: That the Council:
1. Receive a presentation regarding the City’s Automated License Plate Reader (ALPR) Program including applicable privacy protections, data- sharing limitations, system security, transparency, and data access; and
2. Consider the addition of 16 pan- tilt-zoom (PTZ) cameras at key locations throughout the City to support investigations, improve real -time situational awareness, and strengthen the effectiveness of the existing ALPR camera network
This item was pulled from the agenda.
•
-.
.
.
ALBANY CITY COUNCIL – MINUTES
1000 San Pablo Avenue
Albany, CA 94706
Monday, March 02, 2026
3 9. PUBLIC HEARING
10. UNFINISHED BUSINESS
10-1. Revenue Measures: Street Tree and Streetlight Funding
Staff Recommendation: That the Council provide direction on the preferred revenue scenario for the potential special tax measure to fund street tree maintenance and streetlighting improvements
Program Manager Devora Zauderer presented the staff report. Since the Council’s discussion in November 2025, staff worked with the consultant to develop a tax measure for the November 2026 election.
Amanda Welker, NBS, reported recommendations in the 2024 streetlighting evaluation translate into an annual need of $1.34 million, which includes approximately $185,000 in debt service. The annual need for street tree maintenance is approximately $600,000 based on the 2025 Street Tree Management Plan. To fund these needs, staff proposes a citywide parcel tax with a low -income discount, very-low-income exceptions, and a lot cap of 500,000 square feet.
Staff developed three scenarios based on the revenue target. Scenario 1 would generate annual revenue of approximately $405,000 to fund the annual loan repayment for streetlighting and the difference between the current and optimal service levels for street tree maintenance. Scenario 2 would generate annual revenue of approximately $785,000 to fund the streetlighting annual loan repayment and the optimal service level for street tree maintenance. Scenario 3 would generate annual revenue of approximately $822,000, which would create reserves for streetlighting.
The proposed parcel tax is similar to the sidewalk parcel tax, is based on lot square footage with a rate of $0.0185 - $0.0375 per square foot based on the scenario, result in an average annual cost of $150 per single-family parcel, $40 per condo parcel, $185 per multifamily parcel, less than $200 for 80% of commercial parcels, and cap the cost for the largest commercial properties at the equivalent rate for a 500,000-square-foot lot.
Next steps are to confirm the desired revenue target, complete rate modeling, seek approval of a resolution, and submit a ballot measure and resolution to the County of Alameda. If approved by the voters, the special tax would be levied on the tax roll in Fiscal Year (FY) 2027/28.
A summary of public comment is as follows: inquiries regarding exemptions, commercial properties, and standards for brightness ; support for funding streetlighting over street trees.
•
-.
.
.
ALBANY CITY COUNCIL – MINUTES
1000 San Pablo Avenue
Albany, CA 94706
Monday, March 02, 2026
4 Public Works Director Mark Hurley advised that every streetlight would be brought up to standards provided in the 2024 streetlighting evaluation.
A summary of Council comment is as follows: a preference for establishing reserves for streetlighting; support for more revenue for streetlighting and funding street tree maintenance with revenue from Measure M and the proposed tax; support for Scenario 3; a preference for Scenario 2; a preference to designate $300,000 for streetlighting and $400,000-$450,000 for street trees; concern regarding funds needed to maintain streetlighting after the initial project is complete; a revenue target of $750,000 to $821,000.
10-2. Local Tenant Protection Measures
Staff Recommendation: That the Council receive a presentation regarding local tenant protection measures
CALIFORNIA ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY ACT (CEQA)
This meeting’s actions are policy-level discussions and do not constitute a project under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). No environmental review is required.
Planning Manager Leslie Mendez presented the staff report.
Chris Hess, Hess Consulting, reported the Housing Advisory Commission (HAC) focused on three tenant protect ions: anti-discrimination and harassment, just cause for eviction, and rent stabilization. State laws provide many tenant protections and permit jurisdictions to strengthen tenant protections beyond the state baseline.
Public comment at HAC meetings addressed increasing rents and costs, sufficiency of state protections, local regulations causing landlords to exit the market; the risk of tenant displacement, and limited legal representation for tenants. In September 2025, a majority of the HAC recommended the Council consider a number of measures for a local tenant protection ordinance.
Based on the number of eviction filings in Alameda County, Albany was the lowest ranked city for the past three years. From 2020 to 2025, average rent increases in Albany exceeded the Consumer Price Index (CPI) but were less than the maximum increases allowed under Assembly Bill (AB) 1482. Between 2023 and 2025, Albany’s average rent increases were closer to CPI. Insurance, energy and maintenance costs exceeded both CPI and observed rent increases between 2020 and 2025.
Given public comment regarding rental conditions in Albany, state protections, and lack of data demonstrating tenant displacement within Albany, staff does not recommend adoption of a local tenant protection program. Additional education and outreach for renters and property owners, publicity for the Rent Review Program, and ongoing monitoring will be beneficial.
•
-.
.
.
ALBANY CITY COUNCIL – MINUTES
1000 San Pablo Avenue
Albany, CA 94706
Monday, March 02, 2026
5 A summary of public comment is as follows: support for landlord and tenant education; opposition to local protections; concerns about the data; support for means testing as a basis for rent control; support for local protections.
Planning Manager Mendez clarified that local protections would not apply to residents of UC Village.
A summary of Council comment is as follows: concern regarding data from Zillow; opposition to local protections for rent stabilization; support for requiring a business license to initiate just cause evictions; interest in expanding housing types subject to just cause protections and utilizing the Association of Bay Area Governments’ (ABAG) template for harassment behaviors; support for more data; interest to explore programs and costs for a rental registry and a rental inspection; opposition to annual inspections and local tenant protections; support for landlord and tenant education; the Council needs better data to explore a local program for rent stabilization and just cause eviction prior to the expiration of state protections; concern about funding for the rental assistance program; interest for an anti-harassment and anti-discrimination ordinance based on the Association of Bay Area Governments’ template and addressing non-traditional families, retaliation for tenant organizing, immigration status; a draft a just cause eviction ordinance that requires a business license by a property owner as a condition of eviction, and requires filing an eviction notice with the City and expands just cause requirements to single-detached residences and residences less than 15 years old; and a information on a rental inspection program.
MOTION:
Moved by Mayor McQuaid, seconded by Council Member Miki, to extend the meeting to 11:00 PM to hear all remaining items on the agenda.
AYES: Council Members Jordan, López and Miki , Vice Mayor Hansen- Romero, Mayor McQuaid
NOES: None
Motion carried and so ordered.
MOTION:
Moved by Council Member Jordan, seconded by Council Member Miki, to extend the meeting to 11:15 PM to hear Item 11-1 only.
AYES: Council Members Jordan, López and Miki , Vice Mayor Hansen- Romero, Mayor McQuaid
NOES: None
Motion carried and so ordered.
11. NEW BUSINESS
•
-.
.
.
ALBANY CITY COUNCIL – MINUTES
1000 San Pablo Avenue
Albany, CA 94706
Monday, March 02, 2026
6 11-1. Heat Pump Rebate Program
Staff Recommendation: That the Council adopt Resolution No. 2026- 10, rescinding Resolution No. 2025-07 and authorizing the appropriation of $139,500 of the available fund balance in the Climate Action and Adaptation Reserve Fund for the Heat Pump Rebate Program
Community Development Analyst Michelle Plouse presented the staff report. The Heat Pump Rebate Program (Program) was created in March 2022 and subsequently modified to create a rebate for moderate-income households, increase low- and moderate-income levels, create water heater rebates, and terminate the Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning ( HVAC) rebate for standard- income households. To date, 139 rebates totaling $262,250 have been reserved or paid; 20 low -income and 18 moderate-income households have received rebates. Survey data indicates that rebates are impacting decisions to electrify household appliances. Since July 2025, income- qualified applications have increased 350%.
Eleven water heater rebates have been reserved, and two rebates are in process. Of the 13 rebates, two low -income and three moderate- income households received rebates.
The cost of water heater rebates is close to the estimated amount. Applications for income-qualified HVAC rebates have surged since July 2025. Because of the surge, staff estimates the annual cost of HVAC rebates will increase by $75,000. During the final two months of the standard-income HVAC rebate, staff received 12 applications for rebates totaling $10,500.
The FY 2025/26 budget for the Program totals $30,000; however, $87,000 in rebates has been paid, and $30,500 has been reserved. Staff anticipates receiving applications for rebates totaling $52,000. This creates a deficit of $139,500. It is recommended that funds from the Climate Action and Adaptation Reserve Fund be utilized. The Fund currently has a balance of $152,362.
A summary of public comment is as follows: support for the staff recommendation; concern regarding continued funding for the Program.
MOTION:
Moved by Council Member Jordan, seconded by Council Member Miki, to adopt Resolution No. 2026 -10, rescinding Resolution No. 2025- 07 and authorizing the appropriation of $139,500 of the available fund balance in the Climate Action and Adaptation Reserve Fund for the Heat Pump Rebate Program.
AYES: Council Members Jordan, López and Miki, Vice Mayor Hansen- Romero, Mayor McQuaid
NOES: None
Motion carried and so ordered.
•
-.
.
.
8 ALBANY CITY COUNCIL-MINUTES
1000 San Pablo Avenue
Albany, CA 94706
Monday, March 02, 2026
12. COUNCIL SUBCOMMITTEE REPORTS, COUNCIL MEMBER REPORTS ON
APPOINTED REPRESENTATION OF ALBANY, AND OTHER MEETINGS AND EVENTS
13. FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS
14. ANNOUNCEMENT OF CITY MEETINGS AND EVENTS
Upcoming City Meetings
1. Arts committee Meeting, Monday, March 9, 7:00 PM, City Hall Council Chambers
2. Planning & Zoning Commission Meeting, Wednesday, March 11, 7:00 PM, City Hall Council Chambers
3. Parks, Recreation & Open Space Commission Meeting, Thursday, March 12, 7:00 PM, City Hall Council Chambers
4. City Council Meeting, Monday, March 16, 7:00 PM, City Hall Council Chambers
15. ADJOURNMENT
11 :09 PM There being no further business before the City Council, Mayor McQuaid adjourned the meeting.
Minutes submitted by Anne Hsu, City Clerk.
Attest:
Anne Hsu, City Clerk
7