TOWN OF MORAGA
REGULAR MEETING
June 28, 2023
Rovember, 1974 MINUTES
6:30 p.m.
The following are minutes of the actions taken by the Town of Moraga Town Council.
A full video recording of the meeting is available on the Town's website at:
https://livestream.com/moraga
Council Chambers
335 Rheem Boulevard, Moraga, California 94556
1. CALL TO ORDER
The regular meeting was called to order at 6:30 p.m. by Mayor Sos.
ROLL CALL
Councilmembers present: Mayor Renata Sos, Vice Mayor Teresa Onoda, Councilmembers Kerry Hillis, David Shapiro, and Steve Woehleke Councilmembers absent: None
Staff present: Town Manager Scott Mitnick, Assistant Town Attorney Denise Bazzano, Administrative Services Director Annie To, Public Works Director Shawn Knapp, Parks and Recreation Director Mackenzie Brady, Planning Director Afshan Hamid, and Police Chief Jon King
2. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
Vice Mayor Teresa Onoda led the Pledge of Allegiance.
SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENTS
None.
4. PROCLAMATIONS AND PRESENTATIONS
None.
5. PUBLIC COMMENTS AND SUGGESTIONS
There were no comments from the public.
6. ADOPTION OF CONSENT AGENDA
A. Acceptance of Consent Items
6.1 Receive Accounts Payable Claims for: 6/16/23 ($106,259.45) Town Council Regular Meeting 1 June 28, 2023
6.2 Approve the Minutes for the Regular Council Meeting on June 14, 2023
6.3 Approve the Minutes for the Special Council Meeting on June 16, 2023
6.4 Proclamation Recognizing July as Parks and Rec Month Motion and second, Woehleke and Onoda, to approve the Consent Agenda, passed unanimously.
B. Consideration of Consent Items Removed for Discussion None.
7. ADOPTION OF MEETING AGENDA
Motion and second, Onoda and Hillis, to adopt Meeting Agenda, passed unanimously.
8. REPORTS
A. Town Manager
Mr. Scott Mitnick reported that the Town of Moraga received the Contra Costa County Grand Jury report on Affordable Housing along with other cities. Mayor Sos requested more information to be brought to a Council at a later date.
B. Mayor's and Councilmembers' Reports
The Councilmembers provided updates on meetings they attended, and events and activities in Moraga.
Councilmember Hillis gave remarks about hate: "I was dismayed recently when I learned of antisemitic attacks directed at a friend and colleague of mine, Walnut Creek Councilmember Kevin Wilk. While many of these attacks, which occurred at Walnut Creek Council meetings, came from out-of-state speakers, they were accompanied by antisemitic banners attacking Wilk on a 24 overpass in Lafayette. Around the same time that this was occurring, Nazi related graffiti was also found and removed by our Town staff at Mulholland Ridge here in Moraga. This week, the California Attorney General's office released its 2022 Hate Crime in California Report and found that Anti-Jewish bias incidents increased by more than 24% between 2021 and 2022. According to a separate survey the Jewish Community Relations Council released in 2022, 1/3 of Bay Area Jews indicated that they have experienced or directly witnessed antisemitism in the last three years. Hate of any kind is unacceptable. I stand with Walnut Creek Councilmember Wilk and the Lamorinda Jewish Community and reaffirm that Moraga supports and welcomes people of all backgrounds. I also implore others in our community to speak out when things like this occur.
Hate thrives in silence. If you see or hear something, please say something, the Town of Moraga will have your back."
Councilmember Woehleke reminded everyone that it is now Fire Season and that gutter guards will be available from MOFD.
Vice Mayor Onoda encouraged the community to participate in a mural survey that is on the Town's website, thanked Public Works staff for maintaining the islands, and announced that there are two new sculptures in West Commons and one more is coming very soon.
Mayor Sos encouraged the community to donate to support the 4* of July fireworks event.
Town Council Regular Meeting 2 June 28, 2023
Council had a workshop on June 16, 2023 and Councilmember Woehleke, Vice Mayor Onoda and Mayor Sos gave positive feedback. Mayor Sos thanked Amy Worth, former Orinda Mayor/Councilmember who facilitated.
9. PUBLIC HEARINGS
A. Moraga Street Lighting Assessment District
Consider a Resolution Confirming the Engineer's Report for the Town of Moraga Street Lighting Assessment District 1979-1, Approving Assessments and Assessment Diagram and Levying Assessments for FY 2023/24 - Continue to July 12, 2023
There were no comments from the public.
Motion and second, Woehleke and Onoda, to continue this item to July 12, 2023, passed unanimously.
10. ORDINANCES, RESOLUTIONS AND REQUESTS FOR ACTION
B. Hacienda Biennial Budget
Proposed Resolution 39-2023 to Adopt the Biennial Fiscal Year 2023-24 and Fiscal Year 2024-25 Operating and Capital Improvement Program Budget for Hacienda de las Flores Facility
Councilmember Kerry Hillis recused himself only from this item as the location is within his sphere of influence.
Administrative Services Director Annie To and Public Works Director Shawn Knapp presented the report and responded to Council's questions. Parks and Recreation Director Mackenzie Brady provided additional information.
There were no comments from the public.
Motion and second, Woehleke and Shapiro, to adopt Resolution 39-2023 Adopting the Fiscal Year 2023/24 and Fiscal Year 2024/25 Biennial Operating and Capital Improvement Budgets for the Hacienda de las Flores Facility, passed 4-0-1 with Councilmember Hillis abstaining.
B. Operating and Capital Improvement Budget
Proposed Resolution 40-2023 to Adopt Biennial Fiscal Year 2023-24 and Fiscal Year 2024- 25 Operating and Capital Improvement Program Budget, and Resolution 41-2023 to Establish the Annual Gann Appropriation Limit for Fiscal Year 2023-24 Budget Town Manager Scott Mitnick presented the report and responded to Council's questions.
Administrative Services Director Annie To provided additional information.
The recommendations are to adopt the Biennial Operating and CIP budget, establish Gann Appropriations Limit, establish 50" anniversary Ad Hoc Committee, award four $5,000 small business grants, approve $20,000 Lamorinda Spirit Van Program subsidy, and give the Town Manager direction to work on the evacuation study with local partners.
There were no comments from the public.
Town Council Regular Meeting 3 June 28, 2023
Motion and second, Woehleke and Hillis, to adopt Resolution 40-2023:
1- Approving the Proposed FY 2023/24 Operating Budget for $22,621,768 and FY 2024/25 Operating Budget for $21,167,755;
2- Approving the Proposed Capital Improvement Budgets for $5.3 million for FY 2023/24 and $11.6 million for FY 2024/25 and a carryover of $3.8 million of unspent capital appropriation from Fiscal Year 2022/23;
3- Authorizing the Town Manager to carry out and make administrative adjustments to the budget if those changes are consistent with Town Council policies and will not increase the allocation of funding for any specific fund in either the Operating or Capital Improvement Program budget; and
4- Upon publication, a copy of the budget document will be made available for public review at Town Hall and on the Town's website, passed unanimously. *Councilmember Shapiro declined to approve the ARPA Funds for the Small Business Recovery Grants of $20,000.
The Hacienda Budget and the Operating and Capital Improvement Budget were approved separately.
Motion and second, Sos and Hillis, to adopt Resolution 41-2023 to establish the Annual Gann Appropriation Limit for FY 2023/24 Budget, passed unanimously.
11. DISCUSSION ITEMS
None.
12. COUNCIL REQUESTS FOR FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS
Mayor Sos clarified the process for items that go on this section of the agenda.
There were no Council requests for future agenda items.
13. COMMUNICATIONS
14. TOWN MANAGER FOLLOW-UP AND ANNOUNCEMENTS
Mr. Mitnick gave updates on Town projects, the 4th of July celebration, Mayors Conference on July 6 hosted by the Town, and mentioned future agenda items. Planning Department has received two grants from ABAG: $600,000 for School Street and $87,000 for Amendments to the MCSP development standard
15. ADJOURNMENT
The meeting adjourned to Closed Session at 7:43 p.m.
Respectfully submitted by:
Yashin Abbas, Interim Town Clerk
Approved by the Town Council:
Renata M. Sos, Mayor
Town Council Regular Meeting 4 June 28, 2023