ALBANY CITY COUNCIL – MINUTES
1000 San Pablo Avenue
Albany, CA 94706
Monday, March 16, 2026
1 REGULAR MEETING: 7:00 PM
1. CALL TO ORDER
/ LAND ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
Vice Mayor Hansen- Romero 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 Hansen- Romero, Mayor McQuaid
Absent: Council Member López
3. REPORT ON ACTION TAKEN IN CLOSED SESSION, IF ANY
4. CEREMONIAL MATTERS
5. CITY MANAGER REPORT
City Manager Nicole Almaguer recalled the Council adopting an emergency resolution on March 16, 2020 in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Albany Police Department (APD) representatives recently presented crime scene experiences to Albany High School students. StopWaste’s regulatory fee of approximately $2.00 will be added to monthly bills from Waste Management beginning July 1, 2026. The P ark Asse t Inventory and Condition Assessment and Albany Community Parks, Open Space and Recreation Survey are open for input. The Alameda County Healthy Homes Department is offering grant programs for minor home repairs, urgent health and safety issues, and older adult home modifications; information about the programs is available at achhd.org or through the Albany CARES team. Eden Council for Hope and Opportunity ( ECHO) Housing is hosting an online regional Fair Housing Workshop on March 20, 2026 (echofairhousing.org/events).
6. GOOD OF T
HE C
ITY / PUBLIC COMMENT
Mayor McQuaid opened the Good of the City.
A summary of public comment is as follows: requests and inquiries for expansion of the notification area for development projects , assistance with funding seismic retrofit projects, reports on climate action goals , and creation of a resilienc y center; announcement of public events hosted by Albany Reads and the Paratransit Advisory and Planning Committee (PAPCO) of Alameda County.
City Manager Almaguer advised that staff would explore State funding for seismic retrofit projects.
7. CONSENT CALENDAR
7-1. Minutes – March 2, 2026
Date approved: April 6, 2026•
-.
.
.
ALBANY CITY COUNCIL – MINUTES
1000 San Pablo Avenue
Albany, CA 94706
Monday, March 16, 2026
2 Staff Recommendation: Approve
7-2. Ratification of Payroll – Date Paid 3/6/2026: Net Amount $470,565.48, Taxes/Benefits/Deductions $539,727.58, Total Payroll $1,010,293.06
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 $333,336.21 (2/27/2026), $222,317.40 (3/6/2026)
Staff Recommendation: Ratify
7-4. Investment Transactions
Staff Recommendation: That the Council receive the investment transactions for the month of February 2026
7-5. Update to Donation Acceptance Policy
Staff Recommendation: That the Council adopt Resolution No. 2026-11, approving an update to the City’s Donation Acceptance Policy
7-6. 2025 Housing Element Annual Progress Report
Staff Recommendation: This is an information item only. No action is required
7-7. Agreement for Participation in the Alameda County Operational Area Emergency Management Organization
Staff Recommendation: That the Council adopt Resolution No. 2026-12, adopting the Agreement for Participation in the Alameda County Operational Area Emergency Management Organization
Mayor McQuaid asked if anyone wishe d to remove items from the consent calendar.
Council Member Jordan and members of the public removed Item 7-6.
Item 7-6: Planning Manager Leslie Mendez advised that UC Berkeley housing units are not included in the City’s housing counts. Funding is not available to initiate Programs
4.A, 4.B, and 4.D at this time. Staff is exploring opportunities to implement Program 3.A.
A summary of public comment is as follows: the City should promote incentives for low - income ADUs and advocate for inclusion of UC Berkeley housing units in RHNA counts.
A summary of Council comment is as follows: inclusion of student housing in the Regional Housing Needs Allocation (RHNA) is being considered for the next housing cycle. •
-.
.
.
ALBANY CITY COUNCIL – MINUTES
1000 San Pablo Avenue
Albany, CA 94706
Monday, March 16, 2026
3 MOTION:
Moved by Council Member Jordan, seconded by Council Member Miki, to approve the consent calendar with a direction to staff to ensure implementation of Housing Element Program 3.A complies with program requirements.
AYES: Council Members Jordan and Miki, Vice Mayor Hansen-Romero, Mayor McQuaid NOES: None
ABSENT: Council Member López
Motion carried and so ordered.
8. PRESENTATION
8-1. City Council Strategic Plan April 2025 – March 2027 - Status Update
Staff Recommendation: That the Council receive a status update regarding progress made towards implementing the 2025-2027 City Council Strategic Plan
City Manager Almaguer presented the staff report. The City Council Strategic Plan identifies key issues, establishes priorities, and sets goals and objectives for the best use of the City’s limited resources and capacity. A significant amount of progress has been made toward accomplishing the 2025- 2027 Strategic Plan. The City has a webpage dedicated to tracking progress toward Strategic Plan goals and objectives.
Public Works Director Mark Hurley, Program Manager Devora Zauderer, and Community Development Analyst Michelle Plouse noted work on the Gas Line Decommissioning Pilot Program, the Heat Pump Rebate Program, the CivicSpark Program, Electric Vehicle (EV) Charging Program, building electrification, and Street Tree and Lighting Programs.
Planning Manager Leslie Mendez reviewed RHNA housing goals and building permits, Code amendments to implement Housing Element Programs 1.C, 3.D, and 3.H, and programs, outreach and grants.
Transportation & Sustainability Manager Justin Fried highlighted progress on the Active Transportation Plan (ATP) Update, the Traffic Calming Policy Update, Bikeway/Pedestrian Improvements, specifically the Marin Avenue Pavement Project, and Streetlighting.
Recreation and Community Services Director Sid Schoenfeld and Senior Recreation and Community Services Supervisor Joy White reviewed youth, adult, and senior programming; community events ; financial assistance programs for low -income households; Albany CARES and Albany Project HOPE services; landlord and tenant counseling; the Financial Assistance Program; parcel tax exemption and renter rebate assistance; and community outreach including information booths, printed materials, postcards, and activity guides.
•
-.
.
.
ALBANY CITY COUNCIL – MINUTES
1000 San Pablo Avenue
Albany, CA 94706
Monday, March 16, 2026
4 Finance Director Reina Schwartz noted progress regarding the Real Property Transfer Tax, the Sewer Billing Analysis and Rate Study, funding street tree and streetlighting improvements, Development Impact Fee study, and the Business License Code update.
Community Development Director Dina Tasini, Fire Chief Jim Boito, and Program Manager Zauderer highlighted work on Code enforcement programs, disaster preparedness and response, and the Albany Hill Forest Management and Habitat Restoration Plan.
A summary of public comment is as follows: information regarding battery storage, resiliency hub, and funding; encouragement for flexibility in implementing projects; an inquiry regarding repair programs.
Fire Chief Boito reported that Albany has m ultiple resiliency hubs established and addressed in the City’s Emergency Operations Plan (EOP) in the world of emergency preparedness and emergency management . Public Works Director Hurley added that Ava Community Energy’s interest in battery storage for a resiliency hub relates to replacing backup generators.
A summary of Council comment is as follows: appreciation to staff for the progress achieved towards implementing the strategic plan; support for staff’s evaluation of a resiliency hub and for a tiered transfer tax; appreciation for staff’s ability to locate funding and combine projects to accomplish multiple goals at lower costs.
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
Council Member Miki attended a League of California Cities meeting and the CivicWell Policymakers Conference where they discussed cancellation of homeowners insurance.
Vice Mayor Hansen-Romero attended the Mayors’ Conference at which PG&E and Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) presented information and a StopWaste meeting where they discussed funding.
Council Member Jordan attended meetings of the Alameda County Transportation Commission (Alameda CTC) meeting , its Planning, Policy and Legislative Committe e, and Alameda County Mosquito Abatement District Board where they learned of its financial stability.
•
-.
.
.
•
ALBANY CITY COUNCIL-MINUTES
1000 San Pablo Avenue
Albany, CA 94706
Monday, March 16, 2026
Mayor McQuaid attended the National Association of Housing and Redevelopment Officials Conference on behalf of the Housing Authority of Alameda County, meetings with Assemblymember Wicks' staff and Supervisor Bas and her staff, the North County Home Together meeting, and a Regional Public Safety meeting. In addition, she will attend a Mayors' Roundtable.
13. FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS
None.
14. ANNOUNCEMENT OF CITY MEETINGS AND EVENTS
Upcoming City Meetings
1. Climate Action Committee Meeting, Wednesday, March 18, 7:00 PM, City Hall Council Chambers
2. Planning & Zoning Commission Meeting, Wednesday, March 25, 7:00 PM, City Hall Council Chambers
3. Transportation Commission Meeting, Thursday, March 26, 7:00 PM, City Hall Council Chambers
4. City Council Meeting. , Monday, April 6, 7:00 PM, City Hall Council Chambers
15. ADJOURNMENT
9:34 PM There being no further business before the City Council, Mayor McQuaid adjourned the meeting in memory of Catherine De Cuir.
Minutes submitted by Anne Hsu, City Clerk.
e~u ~ , .. ()
Mayor
Attest:·
Anne Hsu, City Clerk
5