ALBANY CITY COUNCIL – MINUTES
1000 San Pablo Avenue
Albany, CA 94706
Monday, May 18, 2026
1 REGULAR MEETING: 6:15 PM
1. CALL TO ORDE
R / LAND ACKNOWLEDGEMENT / ROLL CALL
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.
Present: Council Members Jordan (arrived at 6:17 PM), López and Miki, Vice Mayor Hansen-Romero, Mayor McQuaid
Absent: None
2. CLOSED SESSION
2-1. Public Employee Performance Evaluation (Gov. Code Section 54957) Conference with Labor Negotiators (Gov. Code Section 54957.6) City Negotiator: Mayor Peggy McQuaid
Unrepresented Employee: City Manager Nicole Almaguer
A summary of public comment is as follows: no public comment received.
Mayor McQuaid read statements regarding Golden Gate Fields and the incident at the Islamic Center in San Diego.
3. REPORT ON ACTION TAKEN IN CLOSED SESSION, IF ANY
Mayor McQuaid announced no reportable action from Closed Session.
4. CEREMONIAL MATTERS
4-1. Proclamation in Recognition of National Emergency Medical Services Week and Emergency Medical Services for Children Day
Mayor McQuaid presented the proclamation to Albany Fire Chief Tim Smyser.
5. CITY MANAGER REPORT
City Manager Nicole Almaguer provided a report on recent projects, events, and programs.
6. GOOD OF THE CITY/PUBLIC COMMENT
Mayor McQuaid opened the Good of the City.
A summary of public comment is as follows: inquiries regarding possible cause of power outages, noticing area for development projects , and requirements for earthquake retrofits; suggestions for use of Golden Gate Fields.
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Date approved: June 1, 2026
ALBANY CITY COUNCIL – MINUTES
1000 San Pablo Avenue
Albany, CA 94706
Monday, May 18, 2026
2 7. CONSENT CALENDAR
7-1. Minutes – May 4, 2026
Staff Recommendation: Approve
7-2. Ratification of Payroll – Date Paid 5/1/ 2026, Net Amount: $488,629.92, Taxes/Benefits/Deductions $542,123.20, Total Payroll $1,030,753.12
Staff R
ecommendation: Ratify
7-3. Ratification of Bills, Claims and Demands - Ratification of bills, claims and demands against the City of Albany in the amount of $ 204,780.84 (5/1/2026), $132,253.90 (5/8/2026)
Staff Recommendation: Ratify
7-4. Investment Transactions
Staff Recommendation: That the Council receive the investment transactions for the month of April 2026
7-5. Advisory Body Resignation
• Tenzing Gyamokhang appointed by Council Member López resigned from the Arts Committee
Staff Recommendation: Information item
7-6. Letter of Support – Senate Bill 1164
Council Member Jordan Recommendation: That the Council sign the letter of support for Senate Bill 1164
7-7. San Pablo Avenue Parallel Bike Improvements Project
Transportation Commission Recommendation: That the Council authorize staff to issue an encroachment permit to the Alameda County Transportation Commission and their designated contractor for construction of the San Pablo Avenue Parallel Bike Improvements Project elements within Albany
Staff Recommendation: That the Council adopt Resolution No. 2026-24, approving the San Pablo Avenue Parallel Bike Improvement Plans within Albany and directing the City Manager to instruct staff to proceed with issuance of an encroachment permit to the Alameda County Transportation Commission and their designated contractor for installation of the improvements specified in the plans
ALBANY CITY COUNCIL – MINUTES
1000 San Pablo Avenue
Albany, CA 94706
Monday, May 18, 2026
3 CALIFORNIA ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY ACT (CEQA)
Alameda County Transportation Commission is the lead agency on this project.
7-8. Annual Sidewalk Rehabilitation Program (CIP No. 22000) Phase 10 & Phase 11 Projects – Contract No. C25-17 Closeout and Filing of Notice of Completion
Staff Recommendation: That Council adopt Resolution No. 2026- 25, authorizing the City Manager to:
1. Accept the improvements completed in Contract No. C25-17; and
2. File the Notice of Completion with the County Recorder’s Office
Mayor McQuaid asked if anyone wished to remove items from the consent calendar. No one removed an item.
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 (ALPR) Program – Update, Privacy Protections, Successes, and Program Evaluation
Staff Recommendation: That the Council:
1. Receive a presentation providing additional background and clarification regarding the City’s Automated License Plate Reader program, prior Council authorization, applicable privacy protections, data- sharing limitations, system security, transparency, and data access, and
2. Authorize staff to conduct a competitive bid process to evaluate options for automated license plate reader program vendors including review by the City Council Public Safety Committee
Police Chief Greg Galliano presented the staff report. The Automated License Plate Reader (ALPR) program began in Albany in May 2024 and is governed by Senate Bill (SB) 34, SB 54, additional state laws, and City polic y. With the City’s contract for the program set to expire soon, Albany Police Department (APD) is assessing the program and contract. An audit of each camera revealed that one- third of the cameras produced few or no hits; therefore, staff proposes removing one-third of the cameras from any future iteration of the program. Importantly, an audit found that the ALPR program complies with City policy. Results of audits and evaluations, and a bid process, if any, will be presented ALBANY CITY COUNCIL – MINUTES
1000 San Pablo Avenue
Albany, CA 94706
Monday, May 18, 2026
4 to the City Council Public Safety Committee for review and recommendation before information is presented to the Council.
A summary of public comment is as follows: support for and opposition to the ALPR program; concerns about surveillance and privacy.
A summary of Council comment is as follows: a suggestion to explore options and limitations; interest in additional research on the effectiveness of ALPR programs.
MOTION:
Moved by Council Member Jordan, seconded by Council Member Miki, to: 1) authorize staff to conduct a competitive bid process to evaluate options for automated license plate reader program vendors including review by the City Council Public Safety Committee; and 2) direct the City Council Public Safety Committee to explore ways the City of Albany can increase transparency and reduce the risk of its data being misused, evaluate the City’s legal risk for utilizing the system, and consider peer -reviewed literature regarding the impacts of an ALPR program.
AYES: Council Members Jordan, López and Miki, Vice Mayor Hansen- Romero, Mayor McQuaid
NOES: None
Motion carried and so ordered.
8-2. Potential Revision to Rate for Business License Tax and Technical Changes to Sections 5-1 and 5-2 of Chapter V of the Albany Municipal Code Relating to the Business License Tax
Staff Recommendation: That the Council select a preferred tax methodology and provide direction to staff regarding a ballot measure to restructure the City’s Business License tax for the November 2026 General Municipal Election
Finance Director Reina Schwartz presented the staff report. The structure of the City’s business license tax needs to be modernized. This is an opportunity to change the assessment methodology, streamline administration of the tax , improve on more equitable tax structure across businesses, and increase City revenue.
Eric Myers , HdL Companies, reported revenue from the business license tax has increased since the COVID 19 pandemic ended. The current tax structure relies primarily on taxing labor and residential rental properties. Many jurisdictions in the Bay Area have switched from a tax based on employee count to a tax based on gross receipts. Model 1, a percentage increase in the current tax, would increase tax revenue but would not improve equity or modernize the tax structure. Model 2, a single flat -rate tax, would increase revenue, simplify the tax structure, support microenterprises, and increase equity across businesses. Model 2 would not account for the type of business or other local tax contributions made by each business type. Model 3, a variable gross receipts rate, would simplify the tax structure, consider a business’ other contributions to the tax ALBANY CITY COUNCIL – MINUTES
1000 San Pablo Avenue
Albany, CA 94706
Monday, May 18, 2026
5 base, increase revenue, support microenterprises, and increase equity. However, Model 3 would have different impacts on different business types.
A summary of public comment is as follows: an inquiry regarding gross receipts.
A summary of Council comment is as follows: concern that increasing the business license tax could cause businesses to close or relocate; perhaps an increase could be implemented in phases ; a preference for a higher tax rate on businesses whose customers have higher incomes.
The Council directed staff to explore a tax structure of 0.1% on gross receipts less than $200,000 and 0.4% or 0.5% on gross receipts of $200,000 and up for all businesses except retail; a nominal flat-rate amount for retail businesses; and a target of $500,000 in increased revenues.
8-3. Update to Emergency Medical Services, Advanced Life Support, and Fire Protection Tax
Staff Recommendation: That the Council provide direction on an update to the methodology of calculation and revenue target for the Emergency Medical Services, Advanced Life Support, and Fire Protection Services Tax for voter consideration at the November 2026 General Municipal Election
Finance Director Schwartz presented the staff report. Given the news that the Golden Gate Fields property is likely to become tax-exempt parcels, the City needs to replace the revenue lost by the change. The Emergency Medical Services (EMS), Advanced Life Support (ALS) and Fire Protection (FP) Tax or Measure K tax is currently based on lot square footage. Staff proposes basing the tax amount on building square footage and to add a position to the Albany Fire Department (AFD) . Measure K revenues are intended to fully fund EMS while General Fund revenues fund fire protection services.
Amanda Welker, NBS, advised that the change to the Golden Gate Fields property will decrease tax revenue by approximately 20%. Basing the tax amount on building square footage would more closely align with service demands, and a rate of $0.322 per building square foot would generate approximately $3.08 million annually. If Council chooses to revise the tax and the voters approve it in November 2026, the new structure would become effective in fiscal year 2027/28.
MOTION:
Moved by Mayor McQuaid, seconded by Council Member López, to extend the meeting to 11:00 PM to hear Item 10-1.
AYES: Council Members Jordan, López and Miki , Vice Mayor Hansen- Romero, Mayor McQuaid
NOES: None
Motion carried and so ordered.
ALBANY CITY COUNCIL – MINUTES
1000 San Pablo Avenue
Albany, CA 94706
Monday, May 18, 2026
6 A summary of public comment is as follows: an inquiry regarding continued revenue from the Golden Gate Fields property; opposition to exempting undeveloped property.
A summary of Council comment is as follows: support for taxing undeveloped land and modifying the Consumer Price Index (CPI) calculation; opposition to adding a position to AFD; concern about the change in tax amounts by parcel type under the proposed structure.
The Council directed staff to explore : 1) rates that spread the increase across all parcel types, including undeveloped land; 2) a revenue target of $2.5 million; and 3) exemptions of 50% for low-income households and 100% for very-low-income households.
MOTION:
Moved by Vice Mayor Hansen-Romero, seconded by Council Member Jordan, to extend the meeting to 11:20 PM to hear Item 10-1.
AYES: Council Members Jordan, López and Miki , Vice Mayor Hansen- Romero, Mayor McQuaid
NOES: None
Motion carried and so ordered.
9. PUBLIC HEARING
10. UNFINISHED BUSINESS
10-1. Increase to Real Property Transfer Tax
Staff Recommendation: That the Council provide direction to staff regarding a preferred rate structure and revenue target for an update to the City’s real property transfer tax as a ballot measure for the November 2026 Municipal Election
Finance Director Schwartz presented the staff report. The Real Property Transfer Tax is a volatile revenue source. Staff requests Council direction regarding the revenue target and tiers for the rate structure.
A summary of Council comment is as follows: a suggestion to increase the tier limits ; support for Option 1; a preference to set a specific lower limit for the top 10% of sales.
The Council directed staff to utilize Option 1 to draft a ballot measure.
11. NEW BUSINESS
12. COUNCIL SUBCOMMITTEE REPORTS, COUNCIL MEMBER REPORTS ON
APPOINTED REPRESENTATION OF ALBANY, AND OTHER MEETINGS AND EVENTS
13. FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS
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