Mayor Councilmembers
Tessa Rudnick Paul Fadelli
Mayor Pro Tem Lisa Motoyama
Carolyn Wysinger Gabriel Quinto
EL CERRITO CITY COUNCIL MINUTES
SATURDAY, JANUARY 13, 2024
Accommodations: In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, if you need special assistance to participate in this meeting, please contact the City Clerk at 510- 215-4305. Notification 48 hours prior to the meeting will enable the City to make reasonable accommodations.
Conduct: This meeting shall be conducted pursuant to the El Cerrito City Council Rules of Order and Procedure, including adjourning by 11:00 PM unless extended to a specific time determined by a majority of the Council.
Public Comments:
1. In-person by submitting a request to speak to the City Clerk.
2. By Email to [email protected] identified in the subject line as Public Comments – Agenda Item #.
Written comments received by 2:00 p.m. Friday, January 12, 2024 will be provided to the City Council and posted online in advance of the meeting. Comments received after the deadline will be provided to the City Council and will be posted after the meeting. 9:00 AM ROLL CALL - CONVENE SPECIAL CITY COUNCIL MEETING Mayor Rudnick called the meeting to order at 9:05 AM.
Present: Mayor Rudnick, Mayor Pro Tem Wysinger (arrived at 9:10 AM), Councilmember Fadelli, Councilmember Motoyama, Councilmember Quinto Absent: None
1. ORAL COMMUNICATIONS FROM THE PUBLIC
All persons wishing to speak should sign up with the City Clerk. Remarks are typically limited to 3 minutes per person and to items on the special meeting agenda only.
Public Comments: Written comments submitted prior to and during the meeting are posted online as supplemental materials and incorporated into the official meeting record.
Charles Taylor - Plaza Station Library group request regarding development of new library (including adequate funding for the design work for an accurate cost estimate and public outreach) before placing the library on the ballot SPECIAL CITY COUNCIL MEETING (9:00 AM)
El Cerrito Community Center, Garden Room 7007 Moeser Lane El Cerrito, CA 94530 This meeting will be held in-person only with no livestream or broadcast. 01/13/2024 City Council Minutes Page 1 of 3
DocuSign Envelope ID: 97A20EC8-BD8E-4476-B341-AD257B36FEC7 measure.) Funding for the library now and into the future, budget funding to continue supporting extra hours and staff to pay for hours non-dependent on the general fund.
2. CONSIDER AND TAKE ACTION ON ANY REQUEST FROM A
COUNCILMEMBER TO PARTICIPATE IN THE MEETING REMOTELY
DUE TO EMERGENCY CIRCUMSTANCES PURSUANT TO AB 2449
3. CITY COUNCIL WORKSHOP RETREAT
Action Proposed: Conduct a facilitated City Council retreat focused on the Fiscal Year (FY) 2024-25 and FY 2025-26 Budget Kickoff and 2024 Priority Setting.
Contact: Karen Pinkos, City Manager, City Management; Nancy Hetrick, Facilitator, Raftelis
Presentation and Discussion: A general budget overview was provided; presenters and staff responded to comments and questions raised by members of the council regarding annual upfront UAL payment savings, status of class and comp study, property tax projections, and approach for Measure R renewal.
The Council recessed from 9:46 AM to 9:59 AM.
2024-2029 Strategic Plan Goals, strategies and current initiatives were reviewed; discussion included awards regarding the financial content of the budget, reserve plan for the Capital Improvement Program, dedicated staffing for the Emergency Operations Plan, public safety dispatch, response to illegal dumping, use and adjustment to the San Pablo Ave Specific Plan, status of entitled projects, and City's emissions reductions.
The Council recessed from 11:05 AM to 11:12 AM.
Council discussed what excites them, what success looks like this time next year, and what changes are needed; including staying agile yet focused in the face of change, broader public events and community gatherings, sister city programs, and additional bike racks. What Council needs from staff to maintain focus including continuity in response to public requests, continuous and increased communication, decision-making by collaboration with the city manager, Council communicating public concerns to city staff and community hearing a response, and continuous public updates of status and progress of strategic plan goals.
Action: General directions were provided to staff, no formal action was taken.
4. ADJOURN SPECIAL CITY COUNCIL MEETING
The special meeting adjourned at 11:49 AM
01/13/2024 City Council Minutes Page 2 of 3
DocuSign Envelope ID: 97A20EC8-BD8E-4476-B341-AD257B36FEC7 Tessa Rudnick, Mayor
This is to certify that the foregoing is a true and correct copy of the minutes of the City Council meeting of January 13, 2024 as approved by the El Cerrito City Council.
Holly M. Charléty, MMC, City Clerk
01/13/2024 City Council Minutes Page 3 of 3
DocuSign Envelope ID: 97A20EC8-BD8E-4476-B341-AD257B36FEC7