EL CERRITO CITY COUNCIL MINUTES
REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING
MARCH 1, 2022 - 7:00 p.m.
Members:
Mayor Gabe Quinto
Mayor Pro Tern Lisa Motoyama · Councilmember Janet Abelson Councilmember Paul Fadelli · Councilmember Tessa Rudnick Join Via Zoom:
https://us06web.zoom.us/i/85756103837?pwd=MXJSYXZiUHFnTHhqZil1cHYzN1Uvdz09 Meeting ID: 857 5610 3837 Password: 341458
or Dial in: 1-408-638-0968
The City Council may continue to meet by teleconference, consistent with the Brown Act as amended by AB 361 (2021). Under the amended rules, the City will not provide a physical location for members of the public to participate in the teleconference meeting.
Members of the public can watch or listen to City Council meetings as follows:
1. Cable T.V. Broadcast on KCRT Channel 28
2. Radio Broadcast on FM 88.1 Or 97. 7
3. Livestream Online at www.el-cerrito.org/CouncilMeetingMaterials
4. Via Zoom using the meeting information listed above.
Each period for public comment will be announced. Public Comments may be submitted one of two ways:
• Via Zoom using the "Raise Hand" icon to request to speak. If joining by phone, dial *9 to "raise your hand", and when prompted by the host, *6 to unmute/mute. • Via email to [email protected]. Email must contain in the subject line Public Comments - Not on the Agenda or Public Comments - agenda item #.
To ensure City Council receives your written comments prior to taking action, they must be received by 4:00 p.m. the day of the meeting. All written comments received by this deadline will be provided to the City Council and posted on line in advance of the meeting.
Comments received after the deadline will be provided to the City Council and included with supplemental materials after the meeting. No written comments will be read into the record.
03/01/2022 City Council Minutes Page 1 of 6
7:00 P.M. ROLL CALL - CONVENE REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING Mayor Quinto called the meeting to order at 7:00 PM.
Present: Mayor Quinto, Mayor Pro Tern Motoyama, Councilmember Abelson, Councilmember Fadelli, Councilmember Rudnick Absent: None
1. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OR OBSERVATION OF A
MOMENT OF SILENCE
2. TELECONFERENCE AND PUBLIC COMMENT INSTRUCTIONS
3. COUNCIUSTAFF COMMUNICATIONS
Reports of closed session, commission appointments and informational reports on matters of general interest which are announced by the City Council and staff.
City Manager Pinkos - provided an update on current heath conditions, masking mandates, and in-person meetings.
Mayor Pro Tern Motoyama - reported on attendance at the Tom Bates JPA, and Park and Recreation Commission meeting
Councilmember Rudnick - announced registration open for El Cerrito Recreation Summer Camp programs and information on the David Hunter Memorial Scholarship Fund.
Mayor Quinto - announced letter sent in support of BART application for funding including El Cerrito Plaza Project, the passing of El Cerrito Resident Richard Bell, and reported on attendance at the League of California Cities Board of Director meeting and a brief overview of its advocacy efforts.
4. ORAL COMMUNICATIONS FROM THE PUBLIC
Remarks are typically limited to 3 minutes per person. The Mayor may reduce the time limit per speaker depending upon the number of speakers and may limit the total time for public comment to facilitate the completion of business on the agenda. Comments regarding non-agenda, presentation and consent calendar items will be heard first.
Comments related to items appearing on the Public Hearing or Policy Matter portions of the Agenda will be heard prior to the City Council taking action on each item.
All written comments submitted prior to and during the meeting were posted online as supplemental materials and incorporated into the official meeting record. Written public comments for matters not on the agenda were received from Maureen Morrison, Cordell Hindler, Leslie Adams, and Nick Zamorano.
Oral Public Comments:
Tenzin Rangdol - thanked the City Council for support of the Tibetan community; requested the Ukrainian flag be flown at City Hall as a sign of support.
Buddy Akacic - announced table tennis event at Hanna Gardens, Friday Senior Stroll and East Bay Senior Stroll on March 13.
Sherry Drobner - spoke regarding the city's unhoused residents, city response and procedures, and a community task force to explore more effective solutions. 03/01/2022 City Council Minutes Page 2 of 6
5. James Lyons - on behalf of the Contra Costa County Red Cross Leadership Council, thanked the City Council for support of the Red Cross and detailed accomplishments and upcoming events in Contra Costa County.
ADOPTION OF THE CONSENT CALENDAR
All items on the consent calendar shall be acted upon in one motion, unless a member of the City Council or staff request separate consideration.
Moved/Seconded: Councilmember Rudnick/Mayor Pro Tern Motoyama Action:
Approved the consent calendar as indicated below. Ayes: Mayor Quinto, Mayor Pro Tern Motoyama, Councilmember Abelson, Councilmember Fadelli, Councilmember Rudnick Noes: None
A. Approval of Minutes
Action Proposed: Pass a motion to approve the minutes from the meetings of January 19, February 1, 8, and 15, 2022.
Contact: Holly M. Charlety, City Clerk, City Management Action: Approved minutes with the following correction to the January 19, 2022 minutes: Agenda Item #9 City Council Local & Regional Liaison Assignments, correcting Councilmember Fadelli's announcement to reflect the Cal Cities Transportation, Communications, and Public Works Policy Committee.
B. Parent Teacher Association Proclamation
Action Proposed: At the request of Councilmember Abelson, approve a proclamation recognizing the occasion of the Parent Teacher Association's 125th anniversary.
Contact: Holly M. Charlety, City Clerk, City Management Action: Approved proclamation
C. Women's History Month Proclamation
Action Proposed: Pass a motion to approve a proclamation designating March as "Women's History Month" and March 8, 2022 as "International Women's Day" in the City of El Cerrito.
Contact: Alexandra Orologas, Assistant City Manager, City Management Action: Approved proclamation
D. Prescription Drug Abuse Awareness Proclamation
Action Proposed: Pass a motion to approve a proclamation declaring March 2022 as Prescription Drug Abuse Awareness Month in the City of El Cerrito.
Contact: Holly M. Charlety, City Clerk, City Management Action: Approved proclamation
03/01/2022 City Council Minutes Page 3 of 6
E. American Red Cross Month Proclamation
Action Proposed: Pass a motion to approve a proclamation declaring March 2022 as American Red Cross Month in the City of El Cerrito and encouraging all Americans to support this organization and its noble humanitarian mission.
Contact: Holly M. Charlety, City Clerk, City Management Action: Approved proclamation
F. Arbor Week Proclamation
Action Proposed: Pass a motion to approve a proclamation declaring March 7 through March 14, 2022 as Arbor Week in the City of El Cerrito.
Contact: Stephen Pree, Environmental Programs Manager, Public Works Department
Action: Approved proclamation
G. Urban Forest Committee Appointment
Action Proposed: Approve an Urban Forest Committee recommendation to appoint Susan Kuchinskas to the Urban Forest Committee, effective March 1, 2022.
Contact: Stephen Pree, Environmental Programs Manager/City Arborist, Public Works Department; Will Provost, Operations and Environmental Services Division Manager, Public Works Department; Yvetteh Ortiz, Public Works Director/City Engineer, Public Works Department
Action: Approved appointment
H. Resolution Recognizing March 10, 2022 as the 63rd Anniversary of the Tibetan National Uprising, and Affirm Support to the People of Tibet Action Proposed: Adopt a resolution declaring: 1) March 10, 2022, the 63rd anniversary of the Tibetan national uprising, as "Tibet Day" in the City of El Cerrito; and 2) Declaring El Cerrito's expression of solidarity with the Tibetan people and their just, peaceful, and nonviolent movement to remind the world of the ongoing suppression of human rights and freedom in Tibet and the continuous degradation of culture, religion, land, and identity of the Tibetan people by China.
Contact: Alexandra Orologas, Assistant City Manager, City Management Action: Approved Resolution No. 2022-13
6. PRESENTATIONS
A. Contra Costa College Update
Action Proposed: Receive and file an introduction from the new President and a brief update on Contra Costa College.
Contact: Dr. Tia Robinson-Cooper, President, Contra Costa College 03/01/2022 City Council Minutes Page 4 of 6
7. Presentation and Discussion: Presenters and staff responded to comments and questions raised by members of the council regarding pathways to public service, workforce development, and voter registration efforts.
Action: Received and filed.
PUBLIC HEARINGS
8. POLICY MATTERS
A. Transmittal and Presentation of FY 2020-21 Annual Comprehensive Financial Report (ACFR)
Action Proposed: Receive and file the transmittal of and presentation on the Fiscal Year 2020-2021 Annual Comprehensive Financial Report Contact: Ahmed Badawi, President, Badawi & Associates
Presentation and Discussion: Presenters and staff responded to comments and questions raised by members of the council regarding agreement between city and auditor in the document's content, definition of structurally balanced, pension costs, fire rebates, understanding how the summary ties to the detailed funds, separation of enterprise and general fund money, successor agency funds, available housing funds, cashflow and Tax Revenue Anticipation Note (TRAN), healthy reserve levels, continuation of reporting for Redevelopment Agency Successor Agency, auditing in regard to the Municipal Services Corporation, average annual contributions to unfunded liabilities and retirement trends.
Public Comments: All written comments submitted prior to and during the meeting were posted online as supplemental materials and incorporated into the official meeting record. Written public comments for this item were received from Steve Price, Paul and Sue Duncan.
Action: Received and filed.
B. FY 2021-22 Mid-Year Budget Update
Action Proposed: Receive an update on City revenues and expenditures for the first six months of the fiscal year through December 31, 2021 and adopt a resolution authorizing amendment to the FY 2021- 22 budget and approving new spending limits.
Contact: Karen Pinkos, City Manager, City Management
Presentation and Discussion: Presenters and staff responded to comments and questions raised by members of the council regarding electric vehicle charging station grant opportunities, fire truck ability to service mid-high range buildings, clarification on request for replacement of a fire engine, sustainability of covering increased expenses, ongoing versus one-time expenses, unfunded liability, 115 trust, basis for Human Resources investigations, and recruitment costs.
03/01/2022 City Council Minutes Page 5 of 6
Public Comments:
Dan Schulman - spoke in favor of adjustments as presented, an increase to Recreation programs, and support of a transportation focused position.
Moved/Seconded: Mayor Pro Tern Motoyama/Councilmember Abelson Action: Approved Resolution No. 2022-14 Ayes: Mayor Quinto, Mayor Pro Tern Motoyama, Councilmember Abelson, Councilmember Fadelli, Councilmember Rudnick Noes: None
9. CITY COUNCIL LOCAL & REGIONAL LIAISON ASSIGNMENTS
Mayor and City Council communications regarding local and regional liaison assignments and committee reports.
Mayor Quinto and Councilmember Fadelli - announced fundrais ing efforts for July 4th World One Celebration.
Councilmember Fadelli - reported on attendance at West Contra Costa Transportation Advisory Committee (WCCTAC) meeting.
Councilmember Abelson - reported on attendance at Planning Commission, Arts and Culture Commission, and Committee on Aging meetings.
Councilmember Rudnick - report on attendance at RecycleMore meeting.
Mayor Quinto - announced opening of The Joint Chiropractic, small business in the Safeway shopping center.
10. ADJOURN REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING
The meeting adjourned at 10:21 pm in memory of El Cerrito resident Richard Bell and in support of the people of Ukraine.
~?do
Gabe Quinto, Mayor
This is to certify that the foregoing is a true and correct copy of the minutes of the City Council meeting of March 1, 2022 as approved by the El Cerrito City Council.
03/01/2022 City Council Minutes Page 6 of 6