1 MINUTES OF THE
REGULAR MEETING – CITY COUNCIL
FEBRUARY 20, 2024
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.)
Mayor Young called the Special Meeting to order at 5:00 p.m. 2) CONVENE OPEN SESSION
3) ROLL CALL
All Council Members were present.
4) REFERENCE TO THE FUNDAMENTAL RIGHTS OF THE PUBLIC
5) PUBLIC COMMENT FOR CLOSED SESSION
None
6) ADJOURN TO CLOSED SESSION
6.A - 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.
6.B - CONFERENCE WITH REAL PROPERTY NEGOTIATORS
Property: 472 East N. Street, Benicia, CA
Agency negotiator: City Manager and Assistant City Attorney Negotiating parties: SafeQuest Solano
Under negotiation: Price and terms of payment
Mayor Young adjourned the meeting to Closed Session at 5:01 p.m.
2 7) RECONVENE OPEN SESSION
Mayor Young reconvened the Open Session at 6:00 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.)
Mayor Young adjourned the Special Meeting and called the Regular Meeting to order at 6:01 p.m.
10) ROLL CALL
All Council Members were present.
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 - CHIEF MIKE GREENE'S RETIREMENT (City Manager's Office)
Proclamation - Chief Mike Greene's Retirement
14.B - PROCLAMATION - BLACK HISTORY MONTH FEBRUARY 2024 (City Manager's Office)
Proclamation - Black History Month February 2024
14.C - PROCLAMATION - BLACK CHILDREN'S BOOK WEEK (Library)
3 Proclamation - Black Children's Book Week
15) APPOINTMENTS
15.A - MAYOR'S APPOINTMENT OF DR. GETHSEMANE MOSS, ED.D
TO THE SOLANO COMMISSION FOR WOMEN AND GIRLS FOR A
FULL TERM ENDING FEBRUARY 28, 2027
On motion of Mayor Young, Council approved the Mayor's appointment of Dr.
Gethsemane Moss to the Solano Commission for Women and Girls for a full-term ending February 28, 2027, on a roll call by the following vote:
Ayes: Council Member Birdseye, Council Member Campbell, Council Member Macenski, Vice Mayor Scott, Mayor Young
Noes: (None)
16) PRESENTATIONS
16.A - SOLANO RESOURCE CONSERVATION DISTRICTS EDUCATION PROGRAMS AND SERVICES (Marianne Butler, Environmental
Education Director, Solano Resource Conservation District)
16.B - ELECTRIC VEHICLE CHARGING OVERVIEW (Christopher
Poulsen, Rivien)
17) ADOPTION OF THE AGENDA
On motion of Council Member Macenski, seconded by Council Member Birdseye, Council approved 17) ADOPTION OF THE AGENDA, on a roll call by the following vote:
Ayes: Council Member Birdseye, Council Member Campbell, Council Member Macenski, Vice Mayor Scott, Mayor Young
Noes: (None)
18) OPPORTUNITY FOR PUBLIC COMMENTS
19) WRITTEN COMMENT
20) PUBLIC COMMENT
1. Nimat Shakur Grantham - Ms. Shakur Grantham spoke in support of Chief Green and the job he has done for the City.
2. Andre Stewart - Mr. Stewart spoke in support of Chief Green and the job he has done for the City.
3. Sherry Leigh - Ms. Leigh spoke in support of Chief Green and the job he has done for the City.
4 4. Ric Small - Mr. Small spoke in support of Chief Green and the job he has done for the City.
5. Council Member Macenski - Council Member Macenski spoke in support of Chief Green and the job he has done for the City.
21) CONSENT CALENDAR
21.A - MINUTES FROM THE FEBRUARY 6, 2024, REGULAR MEETING (City Clerk)
February 6, 2024, City Council Meeting Minutes
21.B - APPROVAL OF PROPOSED SECOND AMENDMENT WITH
CLEAR CHANNEL OUTDOOR, LLC FOR THE STATIC
BILLBOARD LOCATED AT 3300 PARK ROAD (Economic
Development Manager)
Staff Report - Second Amendment to Lease Agreement - Clear Channel Outdoor LLC
1. Resolution – Second Amendment to Lease Agreement, Clear Channel Outdoor
2. Second Amendment to Lease Agreement – Clear Channel Outdoor
3. Lease Agreement - Clear Channel Outdoor
4. First Amendment to Lease Agreement - Clear Channel Outdoor RESOLUTION NO. 24- 12 - A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE
CITY OF BENICIA APPROVING A SECOND AMENDMENT TO THE LEASE
AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE CITY OF BENICIA AND CLEAR CHANNEL
OUTDOOR, LLC AND AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO SIGN THE
AMENDMENT ON BEHALF OF THE CITY
Public Comment:
1. Lori Grundman - Ms. Grundman asked for a brief background on this item with respect to the budgetary constraints.
On motion of Council Member Macenski, seconded by Council Member Birdseye, Council approved the adoption of Resolution 24-12, on a roll call by the following vote:
Ayes: Council Member Birdseye, Council Member Campbell, Council Member Macenski, Vice Mayor Scott, Mayor Young
Noes: (None)
21.C - AUTHORIZE USE OF COMMITMENT FOR
CAPITAL/MAINTENANCE PROJECTS (Finance Director)
Staff Report - Release of Capital-Maintenance Designation - Arbitration Award
1. Resolution - Release of the Capital-Maintenance Designation
5 RESOLUTION NO. 24- 10 - A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE
CITY OF BENICIA AUTHORIZING RELEASE OF THE COMMITMENT FOR
CAPITAL/MAINTENANCE PROJECTS AND APPROVING A BUDGET
AMENDMENT
21.D - APPROVAL OF HIGHWAY SAFETY IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM
HSIPL-5003(037) PEDESTRIAN CROSSING IMPROVEMENT
PROJECT LOCATED AT ROSE DRIVE AND PANORAMA DRIVE
AND A NOTICE OF EXEMPTION UNDER THE CALIFORNIA
ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY ACT GUIDELINES (Public Works
Director)
Staff Report - Approval of HSIP Ped Crossing Project_Rose and Panorama Resolution - Approval of HSIP Ped Crossing Project Rose and Panorama RESOLUTION NO. 24- 13 - A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE
CITY OF BENICIA APPROVING THE HIGHWAY SAFETY IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM HSIPL-5003(037) PEDESTRIAN CROSSING IMPROVEMENT
PROJECT LOCATED AT ROSE DRIVE AND PANORAMA DRIVE AND A
NOTICE OF EXEMPTION UNDER THE CALIFORNIA ENVIRONMENTAL
QUALITY ACT GUIDELINES
Council and Staff discussed the issue of bulb-outs and CEQA.
Public Comment:
None
On motion of Council Member Macenski, seconded by Council Member Birdseye, Council approved the adoption of Resolution 24-13, on a roll call by the following vote:
Ayes: Council Member Birdseye, Council Member Campbell, Council Member Macenski, Vice Mayor Scott, Mayor Young
Noes: (None)
21.E - 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. 24-11 - A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE
CITY OF BENICIA CONTINUING THE DECLARATION OF A LOCAL
EMERGENCY
6 21.F - APPROVAL TO WAIVE THE READING OF ALL ORDINANCES INTRODUCED OR ADOPTED PURSUANT TO THIS AGENDA (City
Attorney)
Council pulled items 21.B and 21.D for discussion.
On motion of Council Member Macenski, seconded by Council Member Birdseye, Council approved the adoption of the Consent Calendar, as amended, on a roll call by the following vote:
Ayes: Council Member Birdseye, Council Member Campbell, Council Member Macenski, Vice Mayor Scott, Mayor Young
Noes: (None)
22) BUSINESS ITEMS
22.A - ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT BOARD BUSINESS LICENSE
RECOMMENDATIONS (Economic Development Manager)
Staff Report - Economic Development Board Business License Recommendations
1. EDB Business License Prospective Exemptions
Colette Schow, Economic Development Manager, reviewed the staff report.
Council and Staff discussed the issue of the impact on the artist community, the issue of business licenses for artists and galleries, how the process would be managed, who should be exempt (baby sitters, dog walkers, pet sitters, etc.), not waiting two years to increase fees, concern regarding hiring consultants and stretching it out over two years, having the EDB work on the issue rather than a consultant, having the EDB look at a reasonable scaling revenue/cap for businesses, possible grant opportunities, and the amnesty program (generated approximately $250,000).
Public Comment:
1. Michael Hayes - Mr. Hayes discussed the issue of business licenses.
Council and Staff discussed the issue of business licenses for rental properties, ADU's, not having additional requirements on artists and musicians, support for having the EDB look into the issues and not use the consultant unless we need to, the need to have the support of the consultant to bring this plan together, setting a limit on income that would trigger a business license, peddler permits, concern regarding building a bureaucracy for some of our businesses (artists and musicians), penalties, and the issue of compliance.
22.B - SECOND STEP OF TWO STEP REQUEST TO BEGIN PROCESS TO CHANGE BANKING SERVICES (Finance Director)
Staff Report - Two Step Banking Services
7 Mayor Young withdrew his request for the two-step process, as the problems with Wells Fargo have improved.
23) COUNCIL MEMBER COMMITTEE REPORTS:
23.A - COUNCIL MEMBER COMMITTEE REPORTS
Council Member Committee Reports
24) ADJOURNMENT OF REGULAR MEETING
Mayor Young adjourned the meeting at 8:29 p.m.
City Clerk