Mayor Councilmembers
Carolyn Wysinger William Ktsanes
Mayor Pro Tem Lisa Motoyama
Gabe Quinto Rebecca Saltzman
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MINUTES
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 4, 2025
View:
1. Cable T.V. Broadcast on KCRT Channel 28
2. Livestream Online at www.el-cerrito.org/CouncilMeetingMaterials 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. Closed Captions available via zoom.
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. the day of the meeting 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.
REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING (6:00 PM)
City Council Chambers - 10890 San Pablo Ave, El Cerrito Closed Captions available Via Zoom:
https://us06web.zoom.us/j/82058028323?pwd=aanVbEA0GiIDTOD1lWJ4SJMcJf4tl8.1 Meeting ID: 820 5802 8323 Password: 478755 Dial in: 1-408-638-0968 02/04/2025 City Council Minutes Page 1 of 5
Docusign Envelope ID: 4F1B6349-490C-4D18-9580-BC05B3233814 6:00 PM ROLL CALL – CONVENE REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING Mayor Wysinger called the meeting to order at 6:00 PM.
Present In-Person: Mayor Wysinger, Mayor Pro Tem Quinto, Councilmember Motoyama, Councilmember Saltzman Present
Remotely: Councilmember Ktsanes Absent: None
1. CONSIDER AND TAKE ACTION ON ANY REQUEST FROM A
COUNCILMEMBER TO PARTICIPATE IN THE MEETING REMOTELY
DUE TO EMERGENCY CIRCUMSTANCES PURSUANT TO AB 2449
Councilmember Ktsanes participated under the "Just Cause" exception of AB2449.
2. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OR OBSERVATION OF A
MOMENT OF SILENCE
3. TELECONFERENCE AND PUBLIC COMMENT INSTRUCTIONS
4. COUNCIL/STAFF COMMUNICATIONS
Reports of closed session, commission appointments and informational reports on matters of general interest which are announced by the City Council and staff.
Assistant City Manager Alex Orologas - announced open house on 2/8 at Fire Station 55, call for artists of Gallery Space on the second floor of City Hall, 2/27 reception for current Black History Month exhibit, registration for summer camps opening 2/11, and 3/8 Crab Feed at Community Center.
Councilmember Motoyama - announced 2/9 El Cerrito Historical Society talk on indigenous people from the east bay, and ability to sign-up for field sports rain out text notification on recreation website.
Mayor Wysinger - creating an ad-hoc committee comprised of Councilmember Motoyama and Mayor Wysinger for the purpose of reviewing the City Council Administrative Policies and Rules of Order and Procedure for City Council meetings and read a statement reaffirming El Cerrito's Sanctuary City status.
5. 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.
Public Comments: Written comments submitted prior to and during the meeting are posted online as supplemental materials and incorporated into the official meeting record.
Henry Pinkard, Janet Byron, Carrie Shulman, Gaia Sonatina - spoke in support of Richmond Streets Complete Streets project.
02/04/2025 City Council Minutes Page 2 of 5
Docusign Envelope ID: 4F1B6349-490C-4D18-9580-BC05B3233814 Garrett Brown - spoke regarding protection of vulnerable residents and increased distribution of available resources.
6. PRESENTATIONS
A. Recognition of 2024 Exemplary Police Employees
Action Proposed: Approve a proclamation recognizing the 2024 exemplary contributions of 1) Officer James Rizzo (2024 Officer of the Year), 2) Records Specialist Leslie Miranda (2024 Professional Staff of the Year), and 3) Volunteer Atcha Blacklock (2024 Volunteer of the Year).
Contact: Paul Keith, Chief of Police, El Cerrito Police Department Moved/Seconded: Councilmember Motoyama/Mayor Pro Tem
Quinto Action: Approved proclamations. Ayes: Mayor Wysinger, Mayor Pro Tem Quinto, Councilmember Ktsanes, Councilmember Motoyama, Councilmember Saltzman Noes: None
B. Recognition of 2024 Firefighter of the Year
Action Proposed: Approve a proclamation recognizing Engineer Anthony Dawson as the 2024 Firefighter of the Year
Contact: Eric Saylors, Fire Chief, Fire Department
Moved/Seconded: Councilmember Saltzman/Councilmember
Motoyama Action: Approved Proclamation. Ayes: Mayor
Wysinger, Mayor Pro Tem Quinto, Councilmember Ktsanes,
Councilmember Motoyama, Councilmember Saltzman Noes: None C. A3 Contra Costa Presentation
Action Proposed: Receive and file a brief presentation on services and response provided to El Cerrito.
Contact: Debbie Thomas, MH Program Manager; Eric Jackson, Supervisor, A3 Contra Costa
Presentation and Discussion: Presenters and staff responded to comments and questions raised by members of the Council regarding process and collaboration when calls are received by law enforcement, CORE Staff, and the un-housed community; and status of location move.
Action: Received and filed
7. 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 Saltzman/Mayor Pro Tem Quinto Action: Approved the consent calendar as indicated below. Ayes: Mayor Wysinger, Mayor Pro Tem Quinto, Councilmember Ktsanes,
Councilmember Motoyama, Councilmember Saltzman Noes: None 02/04/2025 City Council Minutes Page 3 of 5
Docusign Envelope ID: 4F1B6349-490C-4D18-9580-BC05B3233814 A. Black History Month Proclamation
Action Proposed: Pass a motion to approve a proclamation declaring February as Black History Month in the City of El Cerrito.
Contact: Shannon Bassi, Human Resources Manager, City
Management
Action: Approved Proclamation
B. 2024 Meeting Report for Boards, Commissions, and
Committees
Action Proposed: Receive and file a report of meetings held by City Board, Commission and Committees for the Calendar Year of 2024. Contact: Holly M. Charléty, City Clerk, City Management Action: Received and filed
8. PUBLIC HEARINGS
9. POLICY MATTERS
A. FY 2024-25 Second Quarter General Fund Budget Quarterly Update through December 2024
Action Proposed: Receive and file an update on City General Fund revenues and expenses for FY 2024-25 through December 2024.
Contact: Crystal Reams, Finance Director/City Treasurer, Finance Department
Presentation and Discussion: Presenters and staff responded to comments and questions raised by members of the Council regarding franchise tax, monthly allocation for workers compensation, section 115 trust interest earnings, conservative approach for use of general fund surplus, current year contributions to section 115 trust, and real property transfer tax.
Action: Received and filed
B. FY 2023-24 Annual Comprehensive Financial Report (ACFR) Action Proposed: Receive and file the transmittal of the Fiscal Year 2023-2024 Annual Comprehensive Financial Report
Contact: Crystal Reams, Finance Director, Finance Department; Sheldon Chavan CPA, Managing Partner, Chavan and Associates, LLC
Presentation and Discussion: Presenters and staff responded to comments and questions raised by members of the Council regarding pension expense projections, settlement costs and personnel liability insurance, insurance premium increases, reporting of the cannabis community funding, reference to 02/04/2025 City Council Minutes Page 4 of 5
Docusign Envelope ID: 4F1B6349-490C-4D18-9580-BC05B3233814 Richmond retirement, and status of replacement of Barnes and Nobles space at the plaza.
Action: Received and filed
10. CITY COUNCIL LOCAL & REGIONAL LIAISON ASSIGNMENTS Mayor and City Council communications regarding local and regional liaison assignments, committee reports, and any required reporting under AB 1234 for meetings (as defined by the Brown Act) attended at the public'sexpense.
Mayor Pro Tem Quinto - reported on attendance at Bay Area Air Quality Management Board (BAAQMD) retreat.
Councilmember Motoyama - reported on attendance at Chamber of Commerce swearing in, Police Department Swearing in, Association of Bay Area Governments (ABAG) Executive Committee meeting, El Cerrito MLK Jr. Day Parade, Japanese American Citizens League meeting, Financial Advisory Board Meeting, and presentation given at Cal Cities New Mayor and Councilmember Academy.
Councilmember Saltzman - reported on attendance at New Mayor and Councilmember Academy, and West Contra Costa Transportation Advisory Committee meeting.
Councilmember Ktsanes - reported on attendance at New Mayor and Councilmember Academy, and RecycleMore meeting.
Mayor Wysinger - reported on attendance at the New Mayor and Councilmember Academy, City Council retreat, meeting with East Bay Regional Parks District; announced appointments to National League of Cities Small Cities Council and Police Safety Committee.
11. ADJOURN REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING
The next regularly scheduled City Council meeting is Tuesday, February 18, 2025 at 6:00 p.m.
The regular meeting adjourned at 8:13 PM in memory of Bay Area Civil Rights Activist and Reverend Phil Lawson.
Carolyn Wysinger, Mayor
This is to certify that the foregoing is a true and correct copy of the minutes of the City Council meeting of February 4, 2025 as approved by the El Cerrito City Council.
Holly M. Charléty, MMC, City Clerk
02/04/2025 City Council Minutes Page 5 of 5
Docusign Envelope ID: 4F1B6349-490C-4D18-9580-BC05B3233814