1 MINUTES OF THE
REGULAR MEETING – CITY COUNCIL
JANUARY 18, 2022
6:00 PM
Videoconferencing meeting: Complete proceedings of which are recorded on tape. These are action minutes; a full video is available online at www.ci.benicia.ca.us/agendas.
CORONAVIRUS (COVID-19) ADVISORY NOTICE
1) CALL SPECIAL MEETING TO ORDER (4:30 P.M.)
Mayor Young called the Special Meeting to order at 4:32 p.m. 2) CONVENE OPEN SESSION
3) ROLL CALL
All Council Members were present.
4) REFERENCE TO THE FUNDAMENTAL RIGHTS OF THE PUBLIC
5) ADJOURN TO CLOSED SESSION
5.A - CONFERENCE WITH LABOR NEGOTIATORS
Pursuant to Government Code Section 54957.6
Agency designated representatives: Mayor, City Attorney Unrepresented Employee: City Manager
5.B - CONFERENCE WITH LEGAL COUNSEL - ANTICIPATED
LITIGATION
Initiation of litigation pursuant to Government Code Section 54956.9(d)(4): (2 potential cases)
Mayor Young adjourned the meeting to Closed Session at 4:34 p.m. 6) RECONVENE OPEN SESSION
Mayor Young reconvened the Open Session at 6:02 p.m.
7) ANNOUNCEMENT FROM CLOSED SESSION, IF ANY
Ben Stock, City Attorney, stated that Council met in Closed Session on several items, and no reportable actions were taken.
2 8) ADJOURNMENT OF SPECIAL MEETING AND CALL REGULAR MEETING TO ORDER (6:00 P.M.)
Mayor Young adjourned the Special Meeting and called the Regular Meeting to order at 6:04 p.m.
9) ROLL CALL
All Council Members were present.
10) PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
11) REFERENCE TO THE FUNDAMENTAL RIGHTS OF THE PUBLIC
12) ANNOUNCEMENTS
12.A - MAYOR'S OFFICE HOURS
12.B - OPENINGS ON BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS
13) PROCLAMATIONS
13.A - CULTURAL DIVERSITY AWARENESS WEEK
Proclamation - Cultural Diversity Awareness Week January 14) APPOINTMENTS
14.A - CITY COUNCIL APPOINTMENTS; SUBCOMMITTEE'S
PREFERENCES FOR BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS
Hekmat, Neema, Redacted
DeMasi, Thomas, Redacted
Bostater, Misty, Redacted
Bye, Kelsey, Redacted
Birdseye, Kari, Redacted
Slate, Jarrod, Redacted
Stockton, William, Redacted
15) PRESENTATIONS
15.A - PUBLIC WORKS REORGANIZATION AND STABILIZATION
(Public Works)
Kyle Ochenduszco, Public Works Director, and Kim Imboden, Human Resources Manager, reviewed the staff report.
3 Mayor Young and Staff discussed the duties of the streets crew, project managers, why the water and wastewater worker supervisors are not listed under utilities, and what cities would be used when doing the salary survey.
Council Member Largaespada and Staff discussed the organization chart, what benefit the public would get from the reorganization, and why people should come and work for the City of Benicia.
Council Member Macenski asked that Staff disclose why the comparable cities are chosen for the salary survey.
15.B - VEGETATION MANAGEMENT (Fire)
Josh Chadwick, Fire Chief, and Ethan Mobley, Dynamic Planning Services, reviewed the staff report.
Council Member Macenski and Staff discussed vegetation management at City-owned properties, and the risk at various open space areas.
Council Member Largaespada and Staff discussed the issue of risk, and whether there will be data showing an increase in safety in the areas after the vegetation management.
Council Member Strawbridge and Staff discussed whether the vegetation management would be done in the Industrial Park and around Valero. 16) ADOPTION OF THE AGENDA
On motion of Council Member Largaespada, seconded by Council Member Strawbridge, Council approved the Adoption of the Agenda, as presented, on a roll call by the following vote:
Ayes: Vice Mayor Campbell, Council Member Largaespada, Council Member Macenski, Council Member Strawbridge, Mayor Young
Noes: (None)
17) OPPORTUNITY FOR PUBLIC COMMENTS
18) WRITTEN COMMENT
19) PUBLIC COMMENT
Marilyn Bardet - Ms. Bardet discussed support of the work being done to prevent fires in and around Benicia.
20) CONSENT CALENDAR
4 20.A - APPROVAL OF CITY COUNCIL MINUTES FROM DECEMBER 7, 2021, DECEMBER 21, 2021 AND JANUARY 4, 2022 SPECIAL AND REGULAR MEETINGS (City Clerk)
December 7 2021 City Council Meeting Minutes
December 21 2021 City Council Meeting Minutes
January 4 2022 City Council Meeting Minutes
20.B - APPROVAL OF TASK ORDER NO. 1 WITH COASTLAND CIVIL ENGINEERING, INC. FOR DESIGN SERVICES FOR THE FY 2021-22 CITYWIDE MICRO-SURFACING PROJECT (Public Works Director) Staff Report - Approve Consultant Agreement with Coastland for FY 21-22 MicroSurfacing Project
1. Resolution - Approval of Task Order No. 1 for Design Services for FY 2021-22 Microsurfacing Project
2. Task Order No. 1 - Coastland Civil Engineering, Inc.
3. Proposal - Coastland Civil Engineering, Inc.
RESOLUTION NO. 22- 4 - A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF BENICIA APPROVING TASK ORDER NO. 1 WITH COASTLAND CIVIL ENGINEERING, INC., FOR THE FY 2021-22 CITYWIDE MICROSURFACING PROJECT
20.C - AUTHORIZING BUDGET AMENDMENTS TO INCREASE THE
FRC BUDGET TO EXPEND GRANT FUNDS TO ASSIST AT-RISK
SENIORS (Police Chief)
Staff Report - FRC Budget Amendment
1. Resolution - FRC Budget Amendment
2. Attachment - NSAAA Agreement
RESOLUTION NO. 22- 5 - A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE
CITY OF BENICIA AUTHORIZING BUDGET AMENDMENTS FOR THE
FAMILY RESOURCE CENTER BUDGET TO EXPEND GRANT FUNDS TO
ASSIST AT-RISK SENIORS
20.D - ACCEPT FUNDING OF $75,000 AND AUTHORIZE AN
AMENDMENT TO THE AGREEMENT WITH SOLANO
TRANSPORTATION AUTHORITY AND APPROVE THE
NECESSARY BUDGET AMENDMENTS (Police Chief)
Staff Report - Solano Transportation Authority Agreement Amendment
1. Resolution - Solano Transportation Authority Agreement Amendment
2. Attachment - Amendment to Agreement
5 RESOLUTION NO. 22- 6 - A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE
CITY OF BENICIA ACCEPTING AND AUTHORIZING THE CITY TO SIGN
AN AMENDMENT TO AN AGREEMENT WITH SOLANO TRANSPORTATION
AUTHORITY AND APPROVING THE NECESSARY BUDGET AMENDMENTS
20.E - SECOND READING AND ADOPTION OF AN ORDINANCE
AMENDING TITLE 17 OF THE BENICIA MUNICIPAL CODE AND
AMENDING THE BENICIA ZONING MAP IN ORDER TO
IMPLEMENT THE EASTERN GATEWAY STUDY (Community
Development Director)
Staff Report - Eastern Gateway
1. Ordinance Amending the Benicia Municipal Code (Zoning) and Zoning Map ORDINANCE NO. 22- 3 - AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF BENICIA AMENDING TITLE 17 (ZONING) OF THE BENICIA
MUNICIPAL CODE (BMC) TO ESTABLISH TWO NEW MIXED-USE
DISTRICTS AND MAKE ASSOCIATED AMENDMENTS TO SUPPORT
IMPLEMENTATION OF THE EASTERN GATEWAY COMMUNITY VISION,
AS WELL AS CORRESPONDING REVISIONS TO THE BENICIA ZONING MAP
Council Member Largaespada pulled the item so he could verbalize his dissenting vote.
Public Comment:
1. Dan Smith - Mr. Smith discussed the need for an infrastructure plan.
2. Diana Smith - Mrs. Smith discussed concern regarding the Eastern Gateway rezoning.
3. Simone St. Clare - Ms. St. Clare discussed concern regarding the need for a traffic study.
4. Marilyn Bardet - Ms. Bardet discussed concern regarding the issue of traffic and the need to look at the City's General Plan.
5. Steven Goetz - Mr. Goetz discussed concern regarding the issue of traffic.
Written Public Comments:
1. Rick Loughran
2. Benicia Arsenal Task Force
3. Dennis Varni
On motion of Council Member Strawbridge, seconded by Council Member Macenski, Council approved the adoption of Ordinance 22-3, as presented, on a roll call by the following vote:
Ayes: Vice Mayor Campbell, Council Member Macenski, Council Member Strawbridge, Mayor Young
Noes: Council Member Largaespada
6 20.F - APPROVAL TO WAIVE THE READING OF ALL ORDINANCES INTRODUCED OR ADOPTED PURSUANT TO THIS AGENDA (City
Attorney)
Mayor Young disclosed exparte communications he had regarding masks.
Council pulled item 20.E for discussion.
On motion of Council Member Largaespada, seconded by Council Member Macenski, Council approved the adoption of the Consent Calendar, as amended, on a roll call by the following vote:
Ayes: Vice Mayor Campbell, Council Member Largaespada, Council Member Macenski, Council Member Strawbridge, Mayor Young
Noes: (None)
21) BUSINESS ITEMS
21.A - CREATION OF THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND FINANCE
BOARD AND DIRECTION TO REVIEW MODIFICATIONS OF THE
CITY’S VARIOUS BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS AND RELATED
OPERATIONAL PROCEDURES (Deputy City Manager)
Staff Report - Creation of the Economic Development and Finance Board Erik Upson, City Manager, and Mario Giuliani, Deputy City Manager, reviewed the staff report.
Council Member Strawbridge discussed support for combining the Finance Committee and Economic Development Board. She discussed the many boards, commissions and ad hoc committees the City has, and the need to streamline them.
Council Member Macenski discussed support for Staff's recommendations. He looked forward to making the boards and commissions more efficient.
Vice Mayor Campbell and Staff discussed whether Council could formally set the number of commissioners on each committee and the start time of future meetings. Staff confirmed that they would include those topics when this is brought back.
Council Member Strawbridge and Staff discussed changing the number of Council Members who sit on the committees.
Public Comment:
None
Written Public Comment:
7 1. Nathalie Christian
Mayor Young stated that there was a majority in favor of combining the Economic Development Board and Finance Committee. He discussed not filling the vacancies on the Parks, Recreation and Cemetery Commission and the Human Services Board, and making memberships on boards and commissions no more than seven members.
Vice Mayor Campbell and Staff discussed the issue of restricting City Council Members from being voting members on commissions, term limits, and restricting the memberships to non-residents.
Council Member Largaespada discussed support for requiring residency, and lack of support for term-limits.
Council Member Strawbridge and Staff discussed the residency requirement and the issue of term limits.
Council Member Macenski and Staff discussed the issue of term limits and the issue of compensation for higher level commissioners.
Mayor Young suggested discussing the start times with the various commissions. He was in support of term limits. He discussed the issue of frequency of meetings and ad hoc committees.
Council Member Largaespada and Staff discussed subcommittees and ad hoc committees with respect to the Brown Act, and the issue of absences of commission members.
Vice Mayor Campbell and Mayor Young talked about not having Council Members being voting members on the committees.
Council Member Macenski discussed the issue of staffing boards and commissions and the procedural processes for interviews.
21.B - UPDATE ON FACE COVERINGS MANDATE AND THE
CONTINUATION OF VIRTUAL MEETINGS AND CONSIDER
RESCINDING OR MODIFYING RESOLUTION NO. 21-88 (City
Manager)
Staff Report - Update on Face Coverings Mandate and Continuation of Virtual Meetings
1. Resolution No. 21-88
Erik Upson, City Manager, reviewed the staff report.
Council Member Largaespada discussed Solano County Covid cases vs. bed capacity in hospitals.
8 Vice Mayor Campbell discussed how vaccinated individuals can still catch Covid, but they are less likely to end up hospitalized. He could support looking at hospitalizations as a metric.
Council Member Macenski discussed possible additional actions being taken by the State.
We have the ability to have a stricter policy than the State, but not a more lenient process.
Council Member Strawbridge discussed the need to slow down, wait and see how things go. She would prefer to wait until March.
Public Comment:
1. Stephen Golub - Mr. Golub discussed support for continuing the mask mandate.
2. Marilyn Bardet - Ms. Bardet discussed support for continuing the mask mandate.
3. Richard Fleming - Mr. Fleming discussed using vaccinations and total hospitalizations as metrics.
4. Steve Jones - Mr. Jones discussed support for continuing the mask mandate.
5. Lori Grundman - Ms. Grundman discussed support for continuing the mask mandate.
Written Public Comment:
1. Stephen Golub
2. Terry Scott
Mayor Young said the State would meet on 2/15/22 to decide whether to lift the mask mandate or continue it. Mr. Upson suggested waiting until the March meeting to bring this item back, as there would not be enough time to agendize the topic.
Vice Mayor Campbell discussed how the virus will mutate again. He discussed waiting until March to make a decision.
Council Member Macenski discussed not rushing into a decision tonight. We need to wait to see how this develops at the State level.
Council Member Largaespada discussed support for following State guidelines and bringing this matter up in March.
Mr. Upson requested making the language so that we could discuss this at the next reasonable date once the State makes their decision.
Council Member Macenski and Vice Mayor Campbell were not supportive of changing the metric right now.
Mr. Upson did not want Staff in the position of crafting the metrics, as they are not health experts.
9 Direction to Staff to continue the mask mandate as is and wait to see what the State does on 2/15/22. Depending on what the State does, we will revisit the issue in March. 22) COUNCIL MEMBER COMMITTEE REPORTS:
22.A -COUNCIL MEMBER COMMITTEE REPORTS
Committee Reports
23) ADJOURNMENT OF REGULAR MEETING (9:30 P.M.)
Mayor Young adjourned the meeting at 9:26 p.m.
City Clerk