1 MINUTES OF THE
SPECIAL MEETING – CITY COUNCIL
JUNE 11, 2024
4:30 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 (4:30 P.M.)
Mayor Young called the Special Meeting to order at 4:30 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 PUBLIC EMPLOYEE PERFORMANCE EVALUATION
Pursuant to Government Code Section 54957
Title: City Manager
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 Dispatchers Association, Benicia Supervisor and Professional Association, Middle Management Employees, Police Management Employees, Senior Management Employees, and Unrepresented Employees
Mayor Young adjourned the meeting to Closed Session at 4:30 p.m. 7) RECONVENE OPEN SESSION
2 Mayor Young reconvened the Open Session at 5:30 p.m.
8) ANNOUNCEMENT FROM CLOSED SESSION, IF ANY
Ben Stock, City Attorney, reported that Council met in Closed Session on two items and took no reportable actions.
9) ANTICIPATED TO RECONVENE OUT OF CLOSED SESSION (5:30 P.M.) Mayor Young reconvened the meeting out of Closed Session at 5:30 p.m. 10) PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
11) PRESENTATIONS
11.A - CITIZEN RESILIENCY TASK FORCE - POST ELECTION WRAP UP (City Manager's Office)
12) 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, Mayor Young
Noes: (None)
13) OPPORTUNITY FOR PUBLIC COMMENTS
14) WRITTEN COMMENT
15) PUBLIC COMMENT
1. Christina Gilpin-Hayes - Ms. Gilpin-Hayes discussed the LGBTQ+ group in Benicia and the Pride Month Proclamation as well as raising the Pride Flag in Benicia.
2. Russ Spitler - Mr. Spitler requested an update on the Majestic Theater.
3. William Tarbox - Mr. Tarbox discussed need for permanent staffing for the Benicia Police Department traffic enforcement division, and the recent case of mistaken identity with Father Andy from St. Dominic's church.
4. Council Member Campbell - Council Member Campbell discussed the issue of the rainbow crosswalks.
16) BUSINESS ITEM
3 16.A - PUBLIC HEARING ON PROPOSED TERMS OF A LIMITED
CHARTER FOR THE CITY OF BENICIA (City Manager)
Staff Report - Limited Charter
1. Limited Charter
Mario Giuliani, City Manager, reviewed the staff report.
Council and Staff discussed the proposed terms of a limited charter for the City of Benicia.
Public Hearing Opened
Public Comment:
1. Russ Spitler - Mr. Spitler discussed opposition to the proposed limited charter for the City of Benicia.
2. Christopher Shenfield - Mr. Shenfield discussed opposition to the proposed limited charter for the City of Benicia.
3. Kathleen Brown - Ms. Brown discussed opposition to the proposed limited charter for the City of Benicia.
4. William Tarbox - Mr. Tarbox spoke in favor of the proposed limited charter for the City of Benicia.
5. Russ Spitler - Mr. Spitler discussed concern regarding Mr. Tarbox's comments and relationship to the City of Benicia.
Mayor Young called for a 5-minute recess to deal with a disturbance in Council Chambers.
Mr. Giuliani reviewed the language in the staff report regarding the limited charter for the City of Benicia.
Council Member Birdseye shared that the public was having difficulty with the Zoom video.
Council, Staff, and Mr. Tarbox discussed the issue of a charter law city. Mr. Giuliani reiterated that what Mr. Tarbox was describing was not what was being proposed tonight.
Mayor Young called for a 5-minute recess so Staff could restart Zoom and hopefully fix the problem.
Public Comment (continued):
6. Stephen Golub - Mr. Golub spoke in support of the proposed limited charter.
7. Betty Lucas - Ms. Lucas spoke in support of the proposed limited charter. She would like to see more information on the Marina funding.
8. Bret Prebula - Mr. Prebula spoke in support of the proposed limited charter.
Public Hearing Closed
4 Mayor Young discussed support for the proposed limited charter.
16.B - POLICY DIRECTION OF REAL PROPERTY TRANSFER TAX
STRUCTURE (City Manager)
Staff Report - RPPT Structure
1. Staff Report - Real Property Transfer Tax Structure May 21, 2024 Mario Giuliani, City Manager, and Steve Toler, Baker Tilly, reviewed the staff report and a PowerPoint presentation.
Council and Staff discussed clarifying questions on the options listed in the staff report.
Public Comment:
1. Pippin Dew - Ms. Dew discussed the issue of the transfer tax being paid for by the buyer/seller.
2. William Tarbox - Mr. Tarbox discussed the issue of exemptions.
3. Kathleen Brown - Ms. Brown discussed the need to make it clear to the citizens what the dollar amounts would be as opposed to a percentage.
4. Stephen Golub - Mr. Golub discussed support for the proposed actions and could support the buyer/seller splitting the cost.
5. Rob Herman - Mr. Herman discussed the issue of exemptions.
6. Jennifer Moore - Ms. Moore discussed support for the proposed action but was concerned about the $10-12 amounts. She didn't think the City could mandate who pays the tax.
7. Bret Prebula - Mr. Prebula discussed support for the proposed action.
8. Betty Lucas - Ms. Lucas discussed the need for the ability for the buyer/seller to negotiate the tax.
Council and Staff discussed the issue of exemptions, changing the language regarding who pays the tax so it reflects that it can be negotiable, exemptions for family members, exemptions for first time home buyers, rates for industrial/commercial and home buyers, fixed rate for residential, tiered rate for commercial, and what dollar amount should be used.
Council Members Campbell, Birdseye, Macenski, and Mayor Young discussed support for option #4. Council directed staff to look into an exemption for first time home buyers.
Council discussed the dollar amounts of homes, flat fees and tiered fees, and incentivizing redevelopment.
Mayor Young stated the direction to Staff was to explore Option #4, have staff look into the first time home buyer exemption, the tax being negotiable between the buyer and seller, and adding an exemption for family members.
17) ADJOURNMENT (7:00 P.M.)
5 Mayor Young adjourned the meeting at 8:37 p.m.
City Clerk