City Council and Public Art Committee Meeting Minutes Page 1 of 16 February 24, 2025 7 City of Lafayette
City Council Minutes
Lafayette Library and Learning Center – Don Tatzin Community Hall February 24, 2025 3491 Mount Diablo Boulevard, Lafayette, California 7:00 p.m.
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City Council and Public Art Committee Meeting Minutes Page 2 of 16 February 24, 2025
1. CALL TO ORDER – 7:00 P.M.
Mayor Candell called the Regular City Council meeting to order at 7:00 p.m.
2. ROLL CALL
Present: City Council: Mayor Candell, Vice Mayor Anduri; Councilmembers Cervantes, Dawson, and McCormick
Absent: None
Present: Public Art Committee: Vice-Chair Janice Peacock, Committee Members, Dave Dondero, and Yukie Fujimoto
Staff Present: Niroop Srivatsa, City Manager; Greg Wolff, Planning and Building Director; Jonathan Katayanagi, Parks, Trails & Recreation Director, Jenny Rosen, Staff for Public Art Committee; Mala Subramanian, City Attorney; Joanne Robbins, City Clerk Disclosure and/or Take Action
3. Disclosure and/or Take Action on Remote Participation due to Just Cause or Emergency Circumstances Pursuant to AB 2449 (Gov. Code section 54953(f).)
4. ADOPTION OF AGENDA
ACTION: It was M/S/C (Anduri/Dawson) to adopt the agenda. Vote: 5-0 (Ayes: Candell, Anduri, Cervantes, Dawson, and McCormick; Noes: None).
5. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE – Mayor Candell led in the Pledge of Allegiance.
6. PUBLIC COMMENTS (For Items not on the Agenda) – 7:00 p.m.
MATTHEW RINN, BART Director, reported that BART has begun the addition to the fare gates at the Lafayette BART station and they hope to be done within two to three weeks. The improvements will help in crime reduction and improve ridership.
DAVID CLARK, Creeks Committee Member, reported the Committee met last Wednesday and unanimously approved to request that the City consider and hopefully put in place an easement across the Campana property. In meeting with Matt Luttropp and the easement will be placed on top of the Flood Control’s easement which runs through the property. He referred to page 36 of the Downtown Creeks Plan and said the horizontal line inside the circle is accurate as to where the Happy Valley Creek is underneath that parcel.
City Council and Public Art Committee Meeting Minutes Page 3 of 16 February 24, 2025 The Committee’s recommendation would be that the City put an easement to accommodate a future walkway on top of the existing Flood Control easement. If it turns out that a potential buyer comes back and indicates the easement is put in where a parking lot is potentially located, it would be straight-forward to move an easement for the walkway further south on the parcel abutting the southern property line of the parcel. The next step would be for the Council to agendize the item in the future.
LARRY LAGRAVE, , representing their Neighborhood Watch Committee, said their Committee discussed the poor appearance of the gas station located on Pleasant Hill Road and Stanley and are asking for the City’s help to have the owners paint and repair their overhang where the pumps are located. He said 22,000+ people from the City travel up and down the road daily and if one-third more is added, this is 30,000+ that will drive by that station every day. He spoke with the owner today and found out it is an individually-owned station and asked that the City do something. He noted the owner recently asked the City for a permit to put up a new monument sign in front of the station and asked that the City not grant this permit until they maintain their property, stating that their shingles are falling off of the roof, the station needs new paint, and flashing is coming off which is also a safety issue.
Mayor Candell asked Mr. LaGrave to email the City about the issue.
Vice Mayor Anduri asked and confirmed that Mr. LaGrave has spoken with the Building Department, but not the City Council.
7. CITY MANAGER’S UPDATE
City Manager Niroop Srivatsa reported today the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CalFire) published the local resource area maps for Lafayette and Contra Costa, as well as for areas within jurisdictions. The maps identify where the high fire hazard severity zones are located. She asked those interested in viewing it visit the CalFire website and search for fire hazard severity zones.
Con Fire will be updating their website to provide access to these maps, as well as a public comment portal. The City will add a link to that website as soon as this is done. Con Fire will hold a hybrid public meeting in late March and will be adopting the maps by ordinance after the public comment period because they are the agency with primary fire suppression responsibility. There is no need for cities to ratify that ordinance. There have been changes to the boundaries of the high fire hazard areas and there will be more information forthcoming.
She also reported that to celebrate Government Communicator’s Day, she highlighted one of the City’s most popular publications—the Weekly Round Up. Each week, Communications Analyst Suzanne Iarla compiles City news, ways to get involved, and events, and posts the Round Up on-line and also on social media and via email. Last year, the City made a concerted effort to reach out to as many community members as possible. They were able to use the public data from the voter registration polls to invite people to join the Round Up email distribution list, and most have opted to continue to receive the Round Up. Currently, it is sent out to more than 9,800 subscribers. This year, they have a goal of 10,000 subscribers, so anyone who wishes to stay in touch with local happenings is encouraged to sign up at www.lovelafayette.org/enotification.
City Council and Public Art Committee Meeting Minutes Page 4 of 16 February 24, 2025 Back in 2021, the City Council wanted to improve traffic safety around schools and allocated upwards of $1 million in funding to do so. The Transportation and Circulation Commission (TransCirc) worked diligently to identify quick improvements that could be made around each of the City’s school sites. Over the last few years, the City has been able to complete all improvements which include sidewalks, flashing beacon signs, stop signs, speed radar signs, and others. Last fall, the City Council celebrated the completion of this very important project which has improved safety around schools and staff has prepared a booklet highlighting all improvements around schools. It will be available for downloading on the City’s website.
Mayor Candell stated she and Councilmember Dawson attended a City/Schools meeting today and the Superintendent said the improvements have made a big difference around schools. Speeds are down, people are more careful, and it is really working. She thanked everyone who worked on these projects.
Vice Mayor Anduri asked if the School Board, Administrators and Superintendent have this booklet highlighting the improvements, and Ms. Srivatsa stated she believes each of the schools have received them, but she agreed to follow-up with Mr. Golier.
Vice Mayor Anduri congratulated staff on the work to increase the circulation and distribution of the Weekly Round Up. If everyone in the City received and reviewed this, people would be a lot more informed.
Vice Mayor Anduri also asked if the high fire severity maps will be adopted by Con Fire. Ms. Srivatsa confirmed and said Chief Broschard sent staff an email stating Con Fire will be adopting the maps as the final decision-maker for the Lafayette area.
Vice Mayor Anduri asked if now, no part of Lafayette is part of a very high fire severity zone.
Ms. Srivatsa stated there are a few parcels in the western edge of town abutting Orinda that are within the high fire severity zone. Up to this point, Cal Fire had one category which is “very high fire hazard.” The maps have been changed and there are three categories of hazards: 1) very high fire; 2) high fire; and 3) moderate fire. 99% of Lafayette is not in the very high fire zone. The additions include portions of Lafayette south of Hwy 24. Previously, that area was not included. tTere are areas which have been pulled out of the hazard zones north of the freeway, as well. So, it is important for everyone to look at the maps and look at their own properties. There are many questions that remain unanswered today.
Vice Mayor Anduri said it will be important to know any implications by March 7th in the Council’s priority goal-setting session.
Councilmember Cervantes added that he was surprised by the maps, noting half of Springhill Valley is in the high fire zone. Another component is moderate and another piece is out of it. So, he suggested getting into the weeds of the methodology and understand the algo rhythm because he was surprised.
Councilmember McCormick asked about the timing and whether comments from the community need to go to Con Fire or the City. Ms. Srivatsa said Con Fire is taking the lead. They have a public comment portal which will be linked to the maps but she needs to discuss this with the Fire Chief to see if each city can submit comments, as well. She mentioned that they intend to hold a public meeting in late March.
City Council and Public Art Committee Meeting Minutes Page 5 of 16 February 24, 2025 Mayor Candell noted the 120-day comment period, and Ms. Srivatsa confirmed this is Cal Fire’s comment period.
Mayor Candell opened the public comment period.
DAVID CLARK said if the categories went from two to three, he emphasized the importance of ensuring the definitions of what those categories are is consistent.
8. PRESENTATIONS
A. Public Art Committee and Jenny Rosen, Staff Liaison to the Public Art Committee Annual Update on Goals and Accomplishments and Introduce the 2025 Public Art Plan Recommendation: Receive annual update and introduction of the 2025 Public Art Plan.
Public Art Committee Staff Liaison Jenny Rosen acknowledged Committee Member Erling Horn, founding member of the committee who has asked to extend his regrets, noting this will be the first time since 1982 that he has not attended a joint City Council meeting.
Secondly, she reported that Friday she attended the Northern California Public Art Administrator’s Network meeting, where she heard reports from other cities. It was clear that the level of support we enjoy in Lafayette is unique and she thanked the Council for their support of the Public Art Committee, and introduced Vice-Chair Janice Peacock.
Vice-Chair Janice Peacock introduced Public Art Committee members Dave Dondero and Yukie Fujimoto.
Absent are Chair Patrick Dunne and Members Carter Considine, Erling Horn, and Sandra Wolfe. She gave a PowerPoint presentation and spoke of their working groups to get things done. They are going to be interviewing some new committee members shortly to make it easier to meet their quorum numbers.
Vice-Chair Peacock gave an overview of their several exhibition events held in four different gallery locations. They have a new Homework Room location in the library which has added to events being able to be held, as well as in the Town Hall Theater Lobby and a 3-D art display case in the library. They are taking a programmatic approach in how they curate the art and are holding quarterly Call for Artists now where they can have artists send in applications which has helped them increase the quality and number of events. She then presented and described the exhibitions in the galleries and display case, and the development projects (950 Hough’s Blue Oak and Woodhaven’s Komorebi (Japanese word for light filtering through tree leaves).
Other accomplishments and goals which Vice-Chair Peacock described include:
• Improved programming this year, adding a program at the Town Hall Theater called, Poetry for the Ages, which allowed seniors to come during daytime hours. • Held two events last year and will continue to do those this year as well. • Contributed to the Day at the Library last October by hosting a Public Art tour, two Meet the Artist events and participating in a treasure hunt event.
• Have worked on indigenous recognition projects, including a bilingual street sign honoring the Bay Miwok heritage, utility box wraps recognizing the City’s land acknowledgement, and educational signs that will go up at the Rain Garden and Community Center about Bay Miwok people.
• The Committee has a way to see all of their beloved bird houses through an interactive map.
City Council and Public Art Committee Meeting Minutes Page 6 of 16 February 24, 2025 • The Committee is getting new bronze art plaques which will have Braile and a QR code on them for public art requirement works.
• Have worked with ABG Art Group who issued a Call to Artists to find a muralist for the mural on the site of Zahra’s Boutique in downtown Lafayette in May. • Giant “Dandelion” puffs will be installed this year by Kinematic LAB at the BART station near the entrance to the downtown.
• Work is underway to update all art labels in the library, some of which are missing or damaged, and do some conservation and maintenance work on the artworks. • Work continues with local artists for exhibitions, development teams with projects during their building process, and offering arts programming.
Vice Mayor Anduri asked and confirmed that on March 12th in this room there will be an exciting presentation on the City’s public art collection led by Vice-Chair Peacock called Wonders of the World.
And, during Library Week on April 8th, the Committee is having a panel discussion with three artists that have their art in the library, and Vice-Chair Peacock will be moderating it.
Mayor Candell and Councilmembers thanked the Public Art Committee for their accomplishments, goals, and the many projects being undertaken. They questioned the plaque process which Ms. Rosen confirmed are for the public art requirement works, which she described, as well as the timeline of installation for “Dandelions” at the BART Station.
Jenny Rosen then introduced the Public Art Plan which is on the Consent Calendar and said it is the first update to the plan since its original creation in 2013. Revisions include updates to the collection inventory, committee member roster, the number of exhibits held, and a record of accomplishments for the last 12 years.
The most significant change is that the plan has been revised to align with the Municipal Code update adopted by the City Council in October 2023. The key changes include the establishment of a mural program and the clarification of two types of public art, the first being the public art requirement art or “public art for projects” which consists of the 1% allocation from development projects. The second definition of public art are works not tied to the public art requirement. Additionally, the code changes allowed for the creation of a separate public art fund distinct from the public art requirement fund which means the committee now has the ability to pursue grant opportunities to support art programming in the City. They are excited about these updates and appreciate the Council’s support.
Mayor Candell opened the public comment period.
MARYANN HOISINGTON thanked the Public Art Committee for their time, efforts, and the enhancement of our knowledge of art in Lafayette and how much more people are aware of it than before the committee was organized. However, she voiced complaint about the $36,000 for murals which she asked go to trees, thinks certain murals do not necessarily enhance space and thinks murals are not needed in Lafayette, especially the one by Uncle Yu’s. She thinks art is in the eye of the beholder and thinks the mural is forced upon residents.
CHERYL MACDONALD echoed the comments about the mural by Uncle Yu’s, encouraged the Public Art Committee to receive public outreach before installing murals, supports a Native American mural and working with the artist to ensure it is represented correctly, and asked for youth and schools to be engaged.
City Council and Public Art Committee Meeting Minutes Page 7 of 16 February 24, 2025 Mayor and Councilmembers recognized the Public Art Committee’s impressive work, Ms. Rosen for staffing the Committee, and thanked them for their presentation.
9. CONSENT CALENDAR
Mayor Candell asked and confirmed there were no requests for removal of items or public comments.
A. Minutes – February 10, 2025
Recommendation: Approve.
B. 2024 Storm Drain Project, Final Acceptance of Construction Contract No. 014-9744 Recommendation: Accept the 2024 Storm Drain Project, No. 014-9744, as complete and authorize staff to file a Notice of Completion.
C. Resolution 2025-07 Ordering the Preparation of a Report Proposing the Levy of Assessments for FY 2025-26 for the Core Area Landscape and Lighting District 1979-1 Recommendation: Adopt Resolution 2025-07.
D. Resolution 2025-08 Ordering the Preparation of a Report Proposing the Levy of Assessments for FY 2025-26 for the Residential Lighting District 1979-2 Recommendation: Adopt Resolution 2025-08.
E. Resolution 2025-09 Stormwater Pollution Prevention Program - Establishing the Rate Per Equivalent Runoff Unit for FY2025-265 and Requesting the County Flood Control and Water Conservation District Adopt an Annual Parcel Assessment for Drainage Maintenance and the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System Program Recommendation: Adopt Resolution 2025-09.
F. Resolution 2025-12 Deem the City owned property at 949 Moraga Road “exempt surplus” under the Surplus Land Act to facilitate eventual sale to an affordable housing developer Recommendation: Adopt Resolution 2025-12.
G. Resolution 2025-11 Adopting the 2024 Hazard Mitigation Plan (HMP) City of Lafayette Annex (LHMP)
Recommendation: Adopt Resolution 2025-11.
H. First Amendment to Memorandum of Understanding By and Between the City of Lafayette and All Ages Recreation Downtown Regarding Funding for Design of the Two-Park Collaborative Concept
Recommendation: Approve the First Amendment to the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with All Ages Recreation Downtown (AARD) and authorize the City Manager to execute the agreement.
I. Resolution 2025-15 Adopting the 2025 Public Art Plan Recommendation: Adopt Resolution 2025-15.
J. Surplus Property Report
City Council and Public Art Committee Meeting Minutes Page 8 of 16 February 24, 2025 Recommendation: Declare that the equipment described is surplus property and donate or sell as appropriate.
ACTION: It was M/S/C (Anduri/Dawson) to approve the Consent Calendar Items A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H, I, and J. Vote: 5-0 (Ayes: Candell, Anduri, Cervantes, Dawson, and McCormick; Noes: None).
10. OLD BUSINESS – None.
11. STAFF REPORTS
A. Jonathan Katayanagi, Parks and Recreation Director
Resolution 2025-13 Adopting the Age Friendly Action Plan as prepared by the Lafayette Senior Services Commission and acknowledge the First Year Implementation Plan as a guiding framework for priority actions during the fiscal year.
Recommendation: Adopt Resolution 2025-13.
Parks and Recreation Director Jonathan Katayanagi gave the staff report and overview of the request for the Council to adopt a resolution adopting the Age Friendly Action Plan prepared by the Senior Services Commission, and acknowledge the First Year Implementation Plan as a guiding framework for priority actions.
Vice Mayor Anduri asked and confirmed that the first-year plan was the same as contained in the December 9th memo to the Council.
Councilmember Cervantes said there is a lot the budget will not be able to handle, and he asked if there are any possibilities for grants or other funding sources.
Director Katayanagi said having the plan in place allows the City to carry the document forward and work towards grants. To date, Commissioners and staff members have maintained a table for each of the domains. Moving forward the Commission work with the Council to bring forward priorities and then have Commissioners work together to advocate for stakeholders to perform actions and to seek grant funding where possible.
Mayor Candell said if staff has a single request for funding with no limit she asked what it would be or top three ideas to push this initiative forward. She asked to categorize the items in priority and value-wise so the Council can understand the top three needs.
Director Katayanagi said the model with the single year implementation plans will help them to prioritize ideas and bring them forward.
Vice Chair Conrad Breece recognized Director Katayanagi and is the parks and trails leader and kept them on task during a time when it was not that easy, particularly when not meeting in person.
Mayor Candell opened the public comment period.
CHERYL MACDONALD thanked Director Katayanagi and the Commission and recognized how far they have come, is impressed with their work, and also recognized the Public Art Committee.
City Council and Public Art Committee Meeting Minutes Page 9 of 16 February 24, 2025 Vice Mayor Anduri agreed that the work of the Commission is very impressive, recognized the Commission realized this is not something that could be accomplished quickly, and the idea was to take the domains from AARP and the World Health Organization and adapting those models to Lafayette to make the town a more age friendly community. Even though they cannot accomplish it all, it is a call to action where if there are service groups that would like to take on one item and develop it and work with the Commission.
He thinks coming in with the first-year implementation uses as little resources as possible and the Council can talk in their goal-setting about how the City will handle its fiscal situation, given many things in the plan require a lot of money. One item not in the plan for the first year is transportation, and his view is that transportation is key to everything for older adults to be able to remain active in the community. This is something that will require more money.
Councilmember Dawson echoed the incredible work and thinks the focus aligns on communication and wildfire risk and preparation, use of stakeholders, low cost/no cost, and thanked the Commission and staff for their work.
Councilmember McCormick echoed comments and suggested more investigation regarding employment opportunities and to think about businesses in Lafayette. There may be a collaboration with the Chamber of Commerce on seniors interested in working part-time, which helps bring connection. Seniors have decades of experience and have a lot to give, so there may be potential opportunities. Additionally, regarding programming, the Park Theater will open in 2026 so there will be opportunities for seniors with movies and events. So, finding those things that are high impact with moderate cost will be great.
Director Katayanagi knows the Chamber of Commerce to be a great collaborator and thanked them for partnering with the Spirit Van to pilot the Age Friendly shopping shuttle and stops for businesses.
Councilmember Cervantes recognized the great work, thinks the element that runs through each item is transportation which is critical but expensive. He likes the Mayor’s suggestion for identifying top goals in the high impact/low-cost quadrant and thinks this is terrific work.
Mayor Candell thanked the Commission for the impressive work, and asked for a motion.
ACTION: It was M/S/C (Anduri/Cervantes) to adopt Resolution 2025-13. Vote: 5-0 (Ayes: Candell, Anduri, Cervantes, Dawson, and McCormick; Noes: None).
B. Stefanie Cervantes, Senior Planner and Greg Wolff, Planning and Building Director Potential sale of City owned property at 949 Moraga Road (APNs 243-210-013, -014, -015, and -016) to an affordable housing developer to construct below-market-rate housing. Staff seeks direction to enter into negotiations with Satellite Affordable Housing Associates (Eve Stewart) and Sunflower Hill (Rosemary Kirbach) for potential sale of the property.
Recommendation: Direct staff to enter into negotiations and for the Council to meet in closed session to discuss price and terms of payment.
Planning and Building Director Greg Wolff gave the staff report and overview of the item regarding 949 Moraga Road which was heard at the last Council meeting wherein the Council authorized staff to bring forward a resolution deeming 949 Moraga Road exempt surplus land under the Surplus Land Act and making it eligible in facilitating an eventual potential sale to an affordable housing developer.
City Council and Public Art Committee Meeting Minutes Page 10 of 16 February 24, 2025 He said the affordable housing developer has expressed interest in the property and staff requests the Council meet in Closed Session to discuss price and terms of payment and direct staff to enter into negotiations.
Mayor Candell opened the public comment period.
DAVID CLARK, Creeks Committee Member, said the committee sees a potential benefit for placing an easement across the northern-most parcel which buts up against property which the church owns there.
He knows it is moving quickly, but the committee identified this as an opportunity so the Council can consider it in closed session negotiations. He sent a copy of page 36 of the Downtown Creeks Plan and that northern-most portion of the parcel they are suggesting an easement might be placed is not a specific part of the Downtown Creeks Plan and not explicitly mentioned in the plan. What is mentioned on page 36 are various ways to get from the improved area around Lafayette Circle. There is ingress and egress mentioned in the plan both south out to East Street and a couple of different routes as the plan was being developed out to Moraga Road. The admonition on this page is to work with the church to create pedestrian connections to Moraga Road.
The Creek Committee’s thought was to create an easement across the northern portion of the 949 parcel might make that piece available for connection with something across the church property in the future that could be developed for the pedestrian connection to Moraga Road. So, it is a potential opportunity they wanted to point out so it is considered in negotiations.
Vice Mayor Anduri asked if Mr. Clark emailed the materials to the Council, and Mayor Candell noted it was part of the late public comment.
Vice Mayor Anduri asked if an easement on the north part of this parcel would be at a different elevation than the church property. When going west, this property goes up.
Mr. Clark confirmed and said it takes a jog. He said it will take some work to lay this out but this is a piece of it that would allow access to Moraga Road in the general area anticipated. They might have to go to the western-most portion of the 949 parcel and then jog over to get onto the church property.
Vice Mayor Anduri asked what is in the plan now in terms of getting from Lafayette Creek as it goes behind the Huff property to Moraga Road.
Mr. Clark said there is a suggestion that a walkway or pedestrian pathway would split the two buildings on the church property where there is already an existing walkway. So, it is implied that this is one way out to Moraga Road. Another way might be alongside the creek itself which was in a former iteration of the Downtown Creeks Plan.
Councilmember Cervantes said for this option to really work the church must be involved with this.
Mr. Clark replied, not necessarily. This gets back to Vice Mayor Anduri’s observation that there is a hill there. If they ran a line straight back from Moraga Road along a potential easement across the northern part of 949, it would butt up against the church property but it would not be on the church property. This would require an easement across that parcel to some distance. Eventually, whatever pathway that will be there is going to cross the church property so at some point it would have to drop back down to the church property with their concurrence.
City Council and Public Art Committee Meeting Minutes Page 11 of 16 February 24, 2025 Councilmember McCormick said he and Mr. Clark chatted before the meeting because their business is right there at the parking lot, and the elevation difference is not impossible but a challenge. To confirm, there is currently a path between Moraga Road and the property right now through the two buildings on the church property. He asked what additional access the easement on 949 would give the City.
Mr. Clark said it would be a dedicated public pathway, but he is not sure what the current arrangement is.
Councilmember McCormick commented that the path is used frequently by the public getting from the road to where the creek is, and Mr. Clark confirmed.
ALISON HILL, Inclusive Lafayette, drew attention to the letter they submitted at the last Council meeting on the topic of 949 Moraga Road. She read a relevant part of the letter in that they suggested the land be donated to Sunflower Hill SAHA for $0 so they can have the most competitive score possible for State Housing funds. If they do not have access and a market rate developer is interested in the property this would change many things such as traffic and the size of the project. Her fellow Board Members feel strongly that affordable housing developers would find it extremely difficult to afford to buy the site. So, she wanted to get this suggestion on record. It is a great option to get Sunflower Hill there and build affordable housing that does not have a great impact on the City and fulfills the State requirements, but the money may well be an issue.
ROBERT LAVOIE referred to the surplus land designations and asked what would happen to the current parking spaces and whether these would be lost, whether the sale proceeds go back to the parking fund, and asked if there is some other land they are thinking about purchasing that would improve the downtown parking situation. He asked if they can require the new buyer to provide some parking as part of the deal, asked if they are being given a break on land price in exchange for residual parking, and if they are trying to build a bridge it will cost a lot of money so he suggested sticking with the Methodist Church walkway and the hill issue behind the north side of the parcel, given it would be difficult to have a path on the 949 Moraga side of the parcel, and lastly, putting a path along the creek would be the nicest. So, it seems the south side of the creek would be the best choice.
Mayor Candell said she did not think there were many answers for speakers right now because the Council has not discussed it, and thanked speakers for asking the questions.
ACTION: It was M/S/C (Anduri/Cervantes) to direct staff to enter into negotiations and for the Council to meet in closed session to discuss price and terms of payment. Vote: 5-0 (Ayes: Candell, Anduri, Cervantes, Dawson, and McCormick; Noes: None).
12. PUBLIC HEARINGS – None.
13. ITEMS REMOVED FROM CONSENT – None.
14. COUNCIL / COMMISSION REPORTS
A. Councilmembers report on activities and consideration of matters a Councilmember wishes to initiate for placement on a future agenda.
City Council and Public Art Committee Meeting Minutes Page 12 of 16 February 24, 2025 Councilmember Dawson reported meeting with the City/Schools Subcommittee today covering E-bikes and E-scooters, school related road projects, school evacuation plans, a demographic study, and an update for the RFP for crossing guard programs. The Council had asked for clarity on the RFP process to obtain insight into costs which the City and school are currently sharing. There was comment from the School Board President to look more deeply in considering the City taking on that program as well as the full funding.
Vice Mayor Anduri referred to the public comment about the service station on Pleasant Hill Road and asked if staff could follow-up on this and report on the status of this at the next meeting. City Manager Srivatsa said yes, and she views this as a code enforcement complaint and staff will follow-up and let the Council know whether it rises to the level of enforcement.
Mayor Candell stated their next Mayors’ meeting will be in Lafayette on March 6th hosted out at the Veterans Hall. Hopefully, former Councilmembers will be in attendance, as well.
B. Councilmember Cervantes and Mayor Candell
1. Legislative Platform for 2025
Recommendation: Approve changes to the legislative platform.
Councilmember Cervantes reported that the packet includes a Legislative Platform for 2025. The red-lined version is helpful because it shows the changes to the prior version. He understands there is a note of appreciation to former Councilmember Bliss for getting this ball rolling because it is a way to organize the Council’s thinking with respect to legislation.
The red-line notes a new section regarding emergency preparedness which is a focus area for the City which they share with neighbors. He highlighted in fiscal matters in Item 6 there is a note where supporting legislation will return e-commerce and internet sales tax revenue to the jurisdiction where the buyer resides which is a key change. This is the heart of the problem with respect to the Bradley Burns Sales Tax Allocation, which is the goal the Council would like to see. Former State Senator Steve Glazer worked on this for many years.
City Manager Srivatsa said this is a revision to the Council’s Legislative Platform and staff recommends the Council approve it with changes being recommended by the Legislative Committee.
Councilmember McCormick asked if there is any monitoring of legislation regarding insurance reform, as he did not see it mentioned and it is affecting every homeowner in town. He asked if this was discussed by the Committee.
Mayor Candell said they did not discuss this and thinks it is a gap. It goes under emergency preparedness and if this can be modified, they could add a line item tonight.
Councilmember Cervantes likened this to a great observation and is a very complicated field right now.
Mayor Candell opened the public comment period, and there were no speakers.
Councilmembers thanked the Legislative Committee, Townsend Public Affairs and staff for their recommendations.
City Council and Public Art Committee Meeting Minutes Page 13 of 16 February 24, 2025 ACTION: It was M/S/C (Dawson/Cervantes) to approve changes to the Legislative Platform 2025, as amended, to add a section on Monitoring Legislation aimed at insurance reform to ensure insurance is accessible and affordable to Lafayette Resident and Businesses as Item 7 under Emergency Preparedness.
Vote: 5-0 (Ayes: Candell, Anduri, Cervantes, Dawson, McCormick; Noes: None).
2. Consideration of a Lamorinda Legislation Committee to consider bills and funding opportunities of subregional importance
Recommendation: Approve the idea in concept and direct staff to work with Townsend Public Affairs to prepare a proposal and costs for regional advocacy to be approved by the City Council at a later date.
Councilmember Cervantes said there was a discussion regarding the Lamorinda cities teaming up and emulate what the Tri-Valley communities have done with San Ramon, etc. so on certain topics they have consensus they can go to Sacramento with one voice that amplifies their message and stance with the idea that three cities are stronger than one city. He said it may be standard in the beginning which may evolve, but this is the concept.
City Manager Srivatsa said the City Managers met with Casey Elliott from Townsend Public Affairs last week and began discussions on how this would work. Orinda and Lafayette have Legislation Committees and their own Legislative Platforms. Moraga is considering its own platform. This has worked successfully in the Tri-Valley region where they identify early on bills of subregional importance and those bills go straight to the three Mayors. In the Tri-Valley model, the three Mayors would review the legislation against their individual Legislative Platforms and if there was consensus, they would submit letters of concern or support and not return to the City Council. If there was no consensus, there would not be a Lamorinda opinion.
The other important benefit of collaboration is funding. If the three cities submit a request for grant funding to their legislators here and in D.C., that catches their attention more than applications from individual cities. This will be another topic the three Mayors would discuss.
Mayor Candell said the models discussed would be for the Mayors attend and do not return to their Councils. Mr. Elliott said he has seen other situations where it does return to Council so the City can do it however they want but there are definitely pluses and minuses of each of the models.
Councilmember McCormick said he does not particularly feel a need that the Council needs to revisit everything. He assumes the rule would be the same for all three City Councils, noting this is already a slow process. The Councils can empower their Mayors.
Councilmember Dawson asked and confirmed that as far as splitting funding costs, City Manager Srivatsa said staff is working out those details. There may be an additional cost, but a lot of work has already been done by the Legislation Committees so they have not yet arrived at that “sweet spot” and will continue to work with Townsend. Moraga has suggested if there is a Lamorinda Committee that it start the same time as the fiscal year or July 2025 because it has budgetary impacts.
City Council and Public Art Committee Meeting Minutes Page 14 of 16 February 24, 2025 Vice Mayor Anduri said he can understand and is in favor of a Tri-City Committee focused on funding requests. He sees that as being very powerful, but in discussions with the Tri-Valley group, he asked if they have any metrics or examples of success by doing this together. It seems that it is a slower process and was not sure if the three Lamorinda cities together would be more effective than Moraga, Orinda, and Lafayette all submitting their legislation. But, splitting funding is a great idea, but he is not sure he is seeing it with respect to legislation.
Ms. Srivatsa agreed to follow-up with Tri-Valley on metrics or examples of success.
Mayor Candell opened the public comment period, and there were no speakers.
Councilmember Cervantes said he thinks there is a value of the three cities teaming up on some matters where there is a compelling regional or subregional interest which he thinks would get more play in the legislature versus Lafayette doing it on their own. They are not large cities but he guessed it would be a benefit if they are teaming up on certain key items. He supposed it would be net additive relative to where they are now. As to the scope, it would have to be things where there is commonality.
Vice Mayor Anduri said it would be putting the structure in place at an additional cost, and he would like to hear others that have done this as to whether it has been valuable, and he would abstain.
Councilmember McCormick said he is conceptually in favor of the Council working more closely with Orinda and Moraga on many angles and thinks this gets them more closely working together. They have many areas of common interest but the City can send a letter to their State Senator quickly. If they go through a three-member panel it would likely take longerso he asked when things would need to go to the combined group and when things can be handled on their own.
Mayor Candell said this is what Casey Elliott is really good at, and she thinks they can rely on him a lot and he will have all three cities taking his direction to point them in the right direction.
Councilmember McCormick said he is supportive of the concept. A question would also be whether it is the Mayor or member of the Legislative Committee and he asked if there was discussion on the structure.
Mayor Candell said it was the Mayors which is what Mr. Elliott was familiar with around the State.
Councilmember Dawson said she agrees in the concept but she thinks the Council needs to see the proposal, determine how it would work, noting that it is important to vet it to the public. She suggested the costs for regional advocacy to be considered at a later date in the motion.
ACTION: It was M/S/C (McCormick/Cervantes) to approve the idea in concept and direct staff to work with Townsend Public Affairs to prepare and consider a proposal and costs for regional advocacy to be considered by the City Council at a later date. Vote: 4-0-1 (Ayes: Candell, Cervantes, Dawson, and McCormick; Noes: None; Abstain: Anduri).
3. Legislative Bill Matrix, Legislative Update and Legislative Calendar Recommendation: Receive and file.
City Council and Public Art Committee Meeting Minutes Page 15 of 16 February 24, 2025 Councilmember Cervantes presented the Legislative Bill Matrix which is a subset of bills going on in the legislature, and there are likely even more. The Committee went through this and there are certain bills flagged for ones the Council might support, ones with a question mark, and others that they believe are a bad idea. He asked and confirmed they would not go through each bill but it is more to present to the Council for consideration and return later after they see what is happening with the legislature.
Mayor Candell agreed, but if a Councilmember has a question about a bill, she asked how they would obtain an answer.
City Manager Srivatsa asked that Councilmembers send their questions to her and she will work with Mr.
Elliott. The Legislative Committee identified a dozen bills and he is tracking them. But, if other Councilmembers want staff to focus on bills and have questions, she asked to let her know, as the item’s recommendation is to receive and file.
Mayor Candell opened the public comment period, and there were no speakers.
Mayor Candell asked Councilmembers to send any questions on particular bills to Ms. Srivatsa.
C. Councilmembers Anduri and Dawson
Resolution 2025-14 Appointing members to the Senior Services Commission Recommendation: Adopt Resolution 2025-14 Appointing members to the Senior Services Commission.
Vice Mayor Anduri said the Senior Services Commission is authorized for seven members and there are two vacancies. He reported that he, Councilmember Dawson, Chair Black interviewed two candidates and are recommending both candidates; Joseph DiPrisco and Cherry Sprague be appointed to the Senior Services Commission. He emphasized that these candidates are being appointed because they felt both individuals would be strong additions to the Commission.
Councilmember Dawson echoed Vice Mayor Anduri’s comments and spoke of the candidates’ backgrounds.
Mayor Candell opened the public comment period, and there were no speakers.
ACTION: It was M/S/C (Anduri/Dawson) to adopt Resolution 2025-14 appointing Joseph DiPrisco and Cherry Sprague to the Senior Services Commission with the term expiring June 30, 2026. Vote: 5-0 (Ayes:
Candell, Anduri, Cervantes, Dawson, and McCormick; Noes: None).
15. WRITTEN COMMUNICATIONS – None.
16. PUBLIC COMMENTS (For Closed session Items) – None.
17. CLOSED SESSION
Mayor Candell adjourned the regular meeting at 8:52 p.m. to Closed Session.
City Council and Public Art Committee Meeting Minutes Page 16 of 16 February 24, 2025 A. Conference with Real Property Negotiators:
Government Code section 54956.8
Property: 949 Moraga Road (APN 243-210-013, -014, -015, and -016) Agency Negotiators: Niroop Srivatsa, Greg Wolff, and Stefanie Cervantes Negotiation Parties: Eve Stewart, Satellite Affordable Housing Associates and Rosemary Kirbach, Sunflower Hill
Under Negotiation: Price and terms of payment
REDCONVENE MEETING/REPORT OF CLOSED SESSION
Mayor Candell announced that no reportable action had been taken in Closed Session.
18. ADJOURNMENT – 9:45 p.m.
APPROVED:
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Susan Candell, Mayor
ATTEST:
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Joanne Robbins, City Clerk