1 MINUTES OF THE
REGULAR MEETING – CITY COUNCIL
OCTOBER 17, 2023
6:00 P.M.
City Council Chambers, City Hall, 250 East L Street, complete proceedings of which are recorded. These are action minutes; a full video is available online at www.ci.benicia.ca.us/agendas.
ACCESSING THE MEETING
1) CALL SPECIAL MEETING TO ORDER 5:00 P.M.
Vice Mayor Scott called the Special Meeting to order at 5;00 p.m. 2) CONVENE OPEN SESSION
3) ROLL CALL
Present: Council Member Birdseye, Council Member Campbell, Council Member Macenski, Vice Mayor Scott
Absent: Mayor Young
4) REFERENCE TO THE FUNDAMENTAL RIGHTS OF THE PUBLIC
5) PUBLIC COMMENT FOR CLOSED SESSION
6) ADJOURN TO CLOSED SESSION
6.A - CONFERENCE WITH REAL PROPERTY NEGOTIATORS
Property: 472 East N. Street, Benicia, CA
Agency negotiator: City Manager and Assistant City Attorney Negotiating parties: SafeQuest Solano, Inc.
Under negotiation: Price and Terms
6.B - CONFERENCE WITH LABOR NEGOTIATORS
Pursuant to Government Code Section 54957.6
Agency designated representatives: City Manager, Human Resources Manager Employee Organization: Benicia Police Officers Association, Benicia Public Service Employees Association, Benicia Fire Fighters Association, Benicia Dispatchers Association, Benicia Supervisor and Professional Association, Middle Management Employees, Police Management Employees, Senior Management Employees, and Unrepresented Employees.
Vice Mayor Scott adjourned the meeting to Closed Session at 5:01 p.m.
2 7) RECONVENE OPEN SESSION
Vice Mayor Scott reconvened the Open Session at 6:01 p.m. 8) ANNOUNCEMENT FROM CLOSED SESSION, IF ANY
Mary Wagner, Assistant City Attorney, stated there were no reportable actions taken during Closed Session.
9) ADJOURNMENT OF SPECIAL MEETING AND CALL REGULAR MEETING TO ORDER (6:00 P.M.)
Vice Mayor Scott adjourned the Special Meeting and called the Regular Meeting to order at 6:01 p.m.
10) ROLL CALL
Present: Council Member Birdseye, Council Member Campbell, Council Member Macenski, Vice Mayor Scott
Absent: Mayor Young
11) PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
12) REFERENCE TO THE FUNDAMENTAL RIGHTS OF THE PUBLIC
13) ANNOUNCEMENTS
13.A -MAYOR'S OFFICE HOURS
13.B -OPENINGS ON BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS
Current and Upcoming Openings - Boards and Commissions
14) PROCLAMATIONS
14.A - PROCLAMATION - DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AWARENESS
MONTH - OCTOBER 2023 (City Manager's Office)
Proclamation - Domestic Violence Awareness Month - October 2023
14.B - PROCLAMATION - ARBOR DAY 2023 (Parks and Community Services)
Proclamation - Arbor Day 2023
15) APPOINTMENTS
3 16) PRESENTATIONS
16.A - COST OF SALES TAX TO RESIDENTS (Dr. Robert Eyler, PhD of Economics)
17) ADOPTION OF THE AGENDA
On motion of Council Member Macenski, seconded by Council Member Birdseye, Council approved the Adoption of the Agenda, as presented, on a roll call by the following vote:
Ayes: Council Member Birdseye, Council Member Campbell, Council Member Macenski, Vice Mayor Scott
Noes: (None)
18) OPPORTUNITY FOR PUBLIC COMMENTS
19) WRITTEN COMMENT
20) PUBLIC COMMENT
None
21) CONSENT CALENDAR
21.A MINUTES FROM THE OCTOBER 3, 2023, SPECIAL AND REGULAR MEETING (City Clerk)
October 3, 2023 City Council Meeting Minutes
21.B - REJECTION OF ALL BIDS FOR THE WASTEWATER
TREATMENT PLANT PRIMARY TREATMENT REHABILITATION
PROJECT (Public Works Director)
Staff Report - Rejection of Construction Contract for WWTP Primary Project
1. Resolution - Rejection - Construction Contract for WWTP Primary Treatment Rehabilitation Project
RESOLUTION NO. 23- 129 - A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF
THE CITY OF BENICIA REJECTING ALL BIDS FOR THE WASTEWATER
TREATMENT PLANT PRIMARY TREATMENT REHABILITATION PROJECT
21.C - AUTHORIZE A CHANGE ORDER FOR THE PIERCE FIRE
ENGINE PURCHASE (Fire Chief)
Staff Report - Authorize the Purchase of One Pierce Fire Engine
4 1. Resolution - Purchase Agreement Change Order
2. Purchase Agreement with Golden State Fire Apparatus
RESOLUTION NO. 23- 130 - A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF
THE CITY OF BENICIA AUTHORIZING THE FIRE CHIEF TO EXECUTE A CHANGE ORDER FOR THE PIERCE TYPE-1 FIRE ENGINE PURCHASE
21.D - RESOLUTION CONTINUING THE DECLARATION OF A LOCAL
EMERGENCY FOR RAW WATER TRANSMISSION LINE
INCIDENT (City Manager)
Staff Report - Continuation of Existence of a Local Emergency
1. Resolution - Continuation of Declaration of Local Emergency RESOLUTION NO. 23-131 - A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE
CITY OF BENICIA CONTINUING THE DECLARATION OF A LOCAL
EMERGENCY
21.E - APPROVAL TO WAIVE THE READING OF ALL ORDINANCES
INTRODUCED OR ADOPTED PURSUANT TO THIS AGENDA (City
Attorney)
On motion of Council Member Macenski, seconded by Council Member Birdseye, Council approved the adoption of the Consent Calendar, as presented, on a roll call by the following vote:
Ayes: Council Member Birdseye, Council Member Campbell, Council Member Macenski, Vice Mayor Scott
Noes: (None)
22) BUSINESS ITEMS
22.A - INTRODUCTION OF CITY OF BENICIA GENERAL PURPOSE,
TRANSACTION AND USE TAX AND TRANSIENT OCCUPANCY
TAX RATE INCREASE (City Manager)
Staff Report - Sales Tax and Transient Occupancy Tax
Mario Giuliani, City Manager, reviewed the staff report.
Staff and Council discussed what was being done to reduce the City's operating budget, staffing levels, staffing vacancies, the proposed 13% TOT tax, the possibility of a Tourism Business Improvement District (TBID), how much the city spends on public safety, whether to go with a 1/2 cent or 3/4 cent sales tax, and what effect the increase would have on the citizen initiative that is being circulated.
Public Comment:
5 1. Monica Brown - Supervisor Brown spoke in support of a 3/4 cent sales tax increase.
2. Jordan Reacher - Mr. Reacher discussed the proposed tax increases.
Council and Staff discussed support for 1/2 cent sales tax, the effect a 3/4 cent tax increase could have on the citizen's initiative, the need for more development in the city, and Council majority support for a 3/4 cent sales tax increase.
Council gave direction to proceed with both of Staff recommendations and bring it back to Council for review.
23) COUNCIL MEMBER COMMITTEE REPORTS:
23.A - COUNCIL MEMBER COMMITTEE REPORTS
Council Member Birdseye requested that Council direct city staff to include the Valero Citizen's Advisory Panel (CAP) report on future council agendas.
Committee Report - Marin Clean Energy
Committee Report - Solano County Water Agency
Committee Report - Solano Transportation Authority
24) ADJOURNMENT OF REGULAR MEETING (7:30 P.M.)
Vice Mayor Scott adjourned the meeting at 7:38 p.m.
City Clerk