*Consent Items
MINUTES
FREMONT CITY COUNCIL MEETING
MARCH 5, 2024
FREMONT CITY HALL AND
VIRTUAL MEETING VIA ZOOM
7:00 P.M.
1. PRELIMINARY
A. Call to Order: Vice Mayor Shao called the m eeting to order at 7:01 p.m.
B. Flag Salute: Councilmember Salwan led the salute to the flag.
C. Roll Call: Present: Mayor Mei (via Zoom), Vice Mayor Shao, Councilmembers: Keng, Campbell, Kassan, Salwan, and Cox
D. Announcements by Mayor/City Manager/City Attorney
Vice Mayor Shao announced the Boards and Commissions vacancies.
Assistant City Manager Stott introduced staff.
E. Report Out of Closed Session
City Attorney Alvarado reported that the Council conducted a conference in Closed Session yesterday evening, March 4, 2024, at 6:00 P.M. The Council held a Special Meeting to have a Closed Session Conference with Legal Counsel, Anticipated Litigation Pursuant to Government Code Section 54956.9(d)(4), One Case. The Council took no reportable action.
2. CONSENT CALENDAR
* A. Waive Reading of Ordinances: Vice Mayor Shao read the title of ordinance to be considered.
On a motion by Councilmember Campbell, seconded by Councilmember Cox, the City Council waived further readings of proposed ordinances.
Ayes: Mayor Mei, Vice Mayor Shao, Councilmembers: Keng, Campbell, Kassan, Salw
an, and Cox
Noes: None
Absent: None
A
bstain: None
*Consent Items
* B. Vice Mayor Shao opened consideration of Approval of Minutes for the Special and Regular Meetings of January 9, 2024, the Regular Meeting of February 6, 2024, the Special and Regular Meetings of February 13, 2024, and the Regular Meeting of February 20, 2024
On a motion by Councilmember Campbell, seconded by Councilmember Cox, the City Council approved minutes for the Special and Regular Meetings of January 9, 2024.
Ayes: Mayor Mei, Councilmembers: Keng, Campbell, Kassan, Salwan, an
d Cox
Noes: None
Absent: None
A
bstain: Vice Ma yor Shao (Had not attended 1/9/2024 meetings)
The City Council also approved minutes for the Regular Meeting of February 6, 2024, the Special and Regular Meetings of February 13, 2024, and the Regular Meeting of February 20, 2024.
Ayes: Mayor Mei, Vice Mayor Shao, Councilmembers: Keng, Campbell, Kassan, Salwan, an
d Cox
Noes: None
Absent: None
A
bstain: None
* C. Vice Mayor Shao opened consideration of a Second Reading and Adoption of an Ordinance of the City of Fremont Amending Fremont Municipal Code Section 10.05.1000 “Declared Prima Facie Speed Limits”
This item was removed from the Consent Calendar. Vice Mayor Shao opened the public comment period. The following person commented: Kelly Abreu. There being no additional speakers, Vice Mayor Shao closed the public comment period.
On a motion by Councilmember Cox, seconded by Councilmember Keng, the City Council waived second reading and adopted Ordinance No. 02-2024 amending Section 10.05.1000 of the Fremont Municipal Code to update established speed limits on City roadways.
Ayes: Mayor Mei, Vice Mayor Shao, Councilmembers: Keng, Campbell, Kassan, Salwan, an
d Cox
Noes: None
Absent: None
A
bstain: None
*Consent Items
* D. Vice Mayor Shao opened consideration of Approval to Authorize the City Manager or Designee to Execute Agreement with Nanogen Science and Services, LLC, a California Limited Liability Company dba Mad Science of the Bay Area. (Recreation Services for Classes and Camps)
On a motion by Councilmember Campbell, seconded by Councilmember Cox, the City Council authorized the City Manager or her designee to execute a Recreation Services Agreement with Nanogen Science and Services, LLC a California Limited Liability Company dba Mad Science of the Bay Area not to exceed $300,000 from March 1, 2024 through February 28, 2026.
Ayes: Mayor Mei, Vice Mayor Shao, Councilmembers: Keng, Campbell, Kassan, Salwan, an
d Cox
Noes: None
Absent: None
A
bstain: None
* E. Vice Mayor Shao opened consideration to Adopt a Resolution Approving Additional Affordable Housing Funding for the Doug Ford Community Apartments Project and Making Findings of CEQA Exemption
See Green Sheet on file.
On a motion by Councilmember Campbell, seconded by Councilmember Cox, the City Council:
1. Adopted Resolution No. 2024-06 authorizing th e City Manager or her designee to amend the existing loan documents to add an additional $1,350,000 in funding to the project and take such other actions as required to - increase the total loan amount to $10,350,000 to Allied 4038 Irvington, L.P. and making findings of CEQA exemption.
2. Appropriate $1,350,000 from Fund 196 (Affordable Housing Development Fund) for the Doug Ford Community Apartments project.
Ayes: Mayor Mei, Vice Mayor Shao, Councilmembers: Keng, Campbell, Kassan, Salwan, an
d Cox
Noes: None
Absent: None
A
bstain: None
* F. Vice Mayor Shao opened consideration of Approval to Authorize the City Manager, or Designee, to Issue a Purchase Order with StarChase, LLC in an amount not to exceed $250,000 (StarChase Pursuit Alternative Technology Devices)
On a motion by Councilmember Campbell, seconded by Councilmember Cox, the City Council authorized the City Manager, or designee, to issue a Purchase Order with StarChase, LLC in an amount not to exceed $250,000 for StarChase devices.
*Consent Items
Ayes: Mayor Mei, Vice Mayor Shao, Councilmembers: Keng, Campbell, Kassan, Salwan, and Cox
Noes: None
Absent: None
A
bstain: None
3. CEREMONIAL ITEMS – None.
4. PUBLIC COMMUNICATIONS
A. Oral and Written Communications
The following persons commented: Gulrez Khan, Hiba Salman (ICF), Moina Shaiq, Aisha Diop (Ohlone College ASOC), Yasir Ahmed, Mohammed Abdul Razzak, Sara Faiyaz (Ohlone College), Naseer Syed, Inga Pevchin, Sharat Lin, Afifah Arif (Islamic Center of Fremont), Charles Dornfest, Thomas Cabral (provided a handout), Anish Suthar, Owais Ahmed, Fatma El Helwih, Neheed Barakat, Ambarene Khader (Islamic Center of Fremont), Haniya, Salim Mastan, Naren Immadi, Thiano Sanchez Casagrande, Hamza Bandarkar, Gargi, Naseer Irfan, and Abdullah Rashini.
This ended the 30-minute time period for Oral Communications.
5. SCHEDULED ITEMS – None.
6. OTHER BUSINESS
A. Vice Mayor Shao opened consideration of an Update on the Status of the FY 2023/24 General Fund Operating Budget and Preliminary Three-Year Forecast; Approve Budget Adjustments; Make Findings of CEQA Exemption (Fiscal Year 2023/24 Mid-Year Budget Report)
Finance Director David Persselin gave a presentation and responded to questions from Councilmembers. Vice Mayor Shao opened the public comment period. The following person commented: Kelly Abreu. There being no additional speakers, Vice Mayor Shao closed the public comment period. Councilmembers asked questions and provided comment.
On a motion by Councilmember Cox, seconded by Councilmember Campbell, the City Council:
1. Increased the General Fund revenue es timate for property tax by $5.3 million.
2. Decreased the General Fund revenue esti mates for sales tax by $50.3 million and hotel tax by $1.0 million.
3. Decreased the General Fund transfer appr opriation to the Capital Improvements Fund (Fund 501) for street and building maintenance by $4.5 million.
4. Increased the General Fund citywide savings estimate by $4.3 million.
*Consent Items
5. Approved the transfer of $10 million from th e Accrued Leave Liability Reserve in the Employee Benefits Fund (Fund 630) to the General Fund Budget Uncertainty Reserve.
6. Found the action is exempt from CEQA revi ew, per CEQA Guidelines Section 15378(b).
Ayes: Mayor Mei, Vice Mayor Shao, Councilmembers: Keng, Campbell, Kassan, Salwan, and Cox
Noes: None
Absent: None
A
bstain: None
7. ITEMS REFERRED BY COUNCILMEMBERS
A. Council Referrals – None.
B. Appointments to Boards, Commissions, Committees – None.
C. Legislative Actions – None.
D. Report on Committee Assignments – None.
The Oral Communications period resumed.
The following persons commented: Mubeen Quadri, Johanzeb Ahmed, Mohamed Khadbai, Mariam Syeda, Uzma Kardame, Davida Scott (Teachers Raising Leaders, provided a handout), Chase Cavanaugh, and Abbas Z. Zaidi.
8. ADJOURNMENT: There being no further business, Vice Mayor Shao adjourned the meeting at 9:10 p.m.
Attest: Approved:
_____________________________ ___________________________ Susan Gauthier, City Clerk YANG SHAO, Vice Mayor