TOWN COUNCIL REGULAR MEETING
March 27, 2024
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
CALL TO ORDER
The regular meeting was called to order at 6:30 p.m. by Mayor Teresa Onoda.
ROLL CALL
Councilmembers present: Mayor Teresa Onoda, Vice Mayor Steve Woehleke and Councilmembers Kerry Hillis and Renata Sos
Councilmembers absent: Councilmember David Shapiro
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENTS
There were no Special Announcements.
4. PRESENTATIONS
A. Moraga Monarchs
Julie Stagg, Moraga Garden Club, presented on the Moraga for Monarchs effort, a collaboration Cith tria vast had dropped from i0s levels, the responded to guest is from the Town Council.
There were no comments from the public.
5. PUBLIC COMMUNICATION
There were no comments from the public.
6. ADOPTION OF MEETING AGENDA
There were no comments from the public.
Town Council Regular Meeting Minutes 1 March 27, 2024
ACTION:
Motion: Woehleke / Second: Sos
Approve modification to the meeting agenda with Item 11-A. Discussion Items - Park & Recreation Interview, to be considered prior to Item 7, Consent Calendar.
Vote: (4-0-1)
11. DISCUSSION ITEMS - STUDY SESSION
A. Park & Recreation Commission Candidate Interview
Council interview and consideration of applicant, Rob Pierson for appointment to the remaining open seat on the Park & Recreation Commission.
The Town Council conducted an interview with applicant Rob Pierson for the remaining open seat on the Park & Recreation Commission.
Council discussion followed.
There were no comments from the public.
ACTION:
Motion: Woehleke / Second: Sos
Council appointed Rob Pierson to fill the remaining seat on the Park & Recreation Commission for a two-year term.
Vote: (4-0-1)
7. CONSENT CALENDAR
A. Consideration of Consent Items Removed for Discussion Consent Items 7.2 and 7.5 were pulled for discussion.
B. Acceptance of Consent Items
7.1 Receive Accounts Payable Claims for: 3/8/24 ($75.00); 3/8/24 ($254,203.06)
7.2 Approval of Minutes for the February 21, 2024 (Special), March 6, 2024 (Special) and March 13, 2024 (Regular) meetings of the Moraga Town Council.
7.3 Adopt Resolution 10-2024, authorizing the Town Manager to purchase a new 2024 Dodge Durango (Pursuit Utility) police vehicle for $51,434.59 from National Auto Fleet Group pursuant to the Town of Moraga Purchasing Policy.
7.4 Adopt Resolution 11-2024, approving contract change order with Public Restroom Company, Minden, NV to increase contract amount by $10,015 for the use of a larger crane for a Total Amount Not to Exceed $334,776 for the Commons Park Restroom Replacement Project (CIP 21-301). (CEQA STATUS: CATEGORICALLY EXEMPT)
7.5 Receivy 1, Rzort on the Town's Cash and Investment Balances as of Town Council Regular Meeting Minutes 2 March 27, 2024
ACTION:
Motion: Sos / Second: Hillis
Approve Items 7.1, 7.3 and 7.4 as shown.
Vote: (4-0-1)
ACTION:
Motion: Hillis / Second: Woehleke
Approve Item 7.2, as shown.
Vote: (3-0-2) (Councilmember Shapiro absent, Councilmember Sos abstain) Council discussion followed on Item 7.5.
There were no comments from the public.
ACTION:
Motion: Woehleke / Second: Sos
Approve Item 7.5, as shown.
Vote: (4-0-1)
8. REPORTS
A. Mayor's and Councilmembers' Reports
The Mayor and Councilmembers provided updates on meetings they had attended along with events and activities in Moraga.
Vice Mavor Woehleke reported he had participated in the Audit and Finance Committee (AFC) and Joint Study Session with the Planning Commission and Town Council on the Economic Vitality White Paper and Proposed Economic Development Policies for the Town of Moraga, creating a new element in the General Plan on Economic Vitality. He also reported he would be out of town on April 11 through 17, 2024.
Councilmember Hillis reported the RecycleSmart Board of Directors would meet on March 28, 2024 and he briefed the Town Council on the agenda items. He reminded everyone that The Town FC home opening would occur on May 3, 2024, with individual ticket sales now available and with significant VIPs anticipated to be in attendance.
Councilmember Sos reported she had been out of Town, was grateful to be back in Moraga, and thanked the Town Council and the Town Manager for providing the space for her to attend to family matters. She also thanked the Vice Mayor who had spent hours on the phone with her to address her views on several Town matters. Councilmember Sos thanked the Town Council and the Planning Commission for their contributions during the Economic Vitality Joint Study Session.
Councilmember Sos also provided an overview of RecycleSmart's two-year process to solicit bids for RecycleSmart's business for the next 10 to 20 years. The next RecycleSmart Board meeting was scheduled for March 28. She added that RecycleSmart had appointed an Ad-Hoc Committee that would select vendors based on the results of a Request for Proposals (RFPs), and noted that Councilmember Hillis served as a member of that Committee.
Mavor Onoda reported she had attended the AFC meeting; Chaired the Art in Public Spaces Committee: and attended the Joint Study Session with the Planning Commission and Town Council on Economic Vitality for the Town of Moraga. She briefed the Council on all discussions.
Mavor Onoda also reported the pear on display on the Council dais symbolized the importance of pear orchards in Moraga. The pear had been donated by Moraga resident Laszlo Bonnyay, who Town Council Regular Meeting Minutes 3 March 27, 2024
had recently passed away, and whose life story and book she highlighted. She reported that she had attended the funeral for resident Mille McCormack who had also recently passed away, and also highlighted her life story.
B. Town Manager
Town Manager, Mitnick deferred his remarks until the end of the meeting.
9. PUBLIC HEARINGS
There were no public hearings.
10. ORDINANCES, RESOLUTIONS AND REQUESTS FOR ACTION
A. Opposition to Potential November 5, 2024 State Ballot Initiative "Taxpayer Protection and Government Accountability Act"
Adopt a Resolution opposing the November 5, 2024 Statewide Ballot Initiative commonly referred to as the "Taxpayer Protection and Government Accountability Act."
Town Manager Scott Mitnick introduced the item and Sam Caygill, Regional Public Affairs Manager, East Bay Division, League of California Cities, provided a PowerPoint presentation which included an overview of the League of California Cities and the State Ballot Initiative "Taxpayer Protection and Government Accountability Act." Town Manager Mitnick, Assistant Town Attorney Denise Bazzano and Ms. Caygill responded to questions from the Council.
There were no comments from the public.
Council discussion followed with Vice Mayor Woehleke providing redline changes to the resolution contained in Attachment A, Draft Resolution - CBRT State Ballot Initiative, to the March 27, 2024 staff report.
The Town Council also took a straw poll vote which was unanimous in its support to send a letter in opposition to State Ballot Initiative "Taxpayer Protection and Government Accountability Act." ACTION:
Motion: Sos / Second: Hillis
Adopt Resolution 12-2024, opposing the November 5, 2024 Statewide Ballot Initiative commonly referred to as the "Taxpayer Protection and Government Accountability Act," subject to redline changes and additions as proposed by Vice Mayor Woehleke, Councilmember Sos and Assistant Town Attorney Bazzano, and with Mayor Onoda to submit a cover letter with the resolution to indicate the Town Council's opposition.
Vote: (4-0-1)
Town Manager Mitnick reported the cover letter would be ready to go for the Mayor's signature and the letter would be presented to the League of California Cities, Governor's Office, State Senator and State Assemblymember, and he stated he was in discussions with his counterparts in the cities of Orinda and Lafayette on the possibility of sharing a lobbyist.
B. Proposed FY 2023/24 Mid-Year Budget Adjustments
Town Council Regular Meeting Minutes 4 March 27, 2024
Adopt a Resolution Approving Mid-Year Budget Adjustments to the Fiscal Year 2023/24 Budget
Councilmember Hillis recused himself for the first portion of item 10-B given his principal residence was within 500-feet of the Hacienda de Las Flores, which would be the subject matter for the first part of the proposed Fiscal Year (FY) 2023/24 Mid-Year Budget Adjustments presentation.
Administrative Services Director Katie Bruner provided a PowerPoint presentation on the first part of the budget adjustments for the proposed Fiscal Year (FY) 2023/24 Mid-Year Budget Update for the Hacienda de las Flores. There were no questions from the Council.
There were no comments from the public.
ACTION:
Motion: Sos / Second: Woehleke
Adopt Resolution 13-2024, approving Mid-Year Amendments to the FY 2023/24 Hacienda de las Flores Facility Budget, as presented.
Vote: (3-0-2)
Councilmember Hillis returned to the dais.
Ms. Bruner continued the PowerPoint presentation and provided an overview of the Mid-Year Adjustments to the Fiscal Year (FY) 2023/24 Budget, and along with Town Manager Mitnick, Assistant Town Attorney Bazzano and Chief of Police Jon King responded to questions from the Council
Council discussion followed.
There were no comments from the public.
ACTION:
Motion: Woehleke / Second: Hillis
Adopt Resolution 14-2024, approving Mid-Year Amendments to the Fiscal Year 2023/24 Budget, as summarized in the proposed Mid-Year FY 2023/24 Adjustments, as presented.
Vote: (4-0-1)
12. COUNCIL REQUESTS FOR FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS
Vice Mavor Woehleke requested an update to the Town Council on plans for the Town's anniversary celebrations. Consensus given.
Councilmember Sos requested a proclamation recognizing the Citizen of the Year for the April 10, 2024 Town Council meeting. Consensus given.
13. COMMUNICATIONS
There were no communications.
Town Council Regular Meeting Minutes 5 March 27, 2024
14. TOWN MANAGER FOLLOW-UP AND ANNOUNCEMENTS
Town Manager Mitnick thanked the Town Council for its actions on the budget items and noted that staff would follow-up accordingly. He reported the Commons Park Restroom Project was near completion and PG&E would reenergize the electricity on April 10, 2024 with the restrooms to open the next day. The next Town Council meeting would be April 10, 2024. He reported that he and Mayor Onoda had been present on the Saint Mary's College (SMC) campus to greet the SMC Basketball Men's Team and others to show Town support. Also, the SMC Men's Rugby Division 1 Team, which was undefeated and ranked number one in the nation won its latest competition. He emphasized the partnership between SMC and stated the Town remained strong and work continued collaboratively on items of interest.
In addition, on April 30, 2024, a community-wide meeting would be held at SMC's Hagerty Lounge on the General Plan Update with more information on the Town website, and a community-wide meeting on fire services would be held in May, also at SMC, with more information to be posted on the Town website. Further, a community-wide meeting would also be held on April 11, 2024 at 8:30 p.m. at SMC Hagerty Lounge with respect to lights proposed for the Men's Baseball, Women's Softball and Football Stadium. He added that SMC was the only Division 1 college/university in the state absent lights for their outdoor sports facilities. Public notices had been sent to the adjacent residents of the Rheem, Valley Manor, Saint Mary's Gardens and The Bluffs neighborhoods, with more information on the SMC and Town websites.
Councilmember Sos encouraged residents to attend the April 11 community-wide meeting at Vice Mayor Woehleke reported he would be unable to attend the April 11 meeting and clarified with the Town Manager the meeting would also address not only the lights but noise, traffic and parking, which issues would be addressed as an application was processed through the Town of Moraga, and would be articulated at the meeting.
Councilmember Hillis also clarified with the Town Manager that the lights for the football stadium would be largely, if not totally funded, by The Town FC.
15. ADJOURNMENT
Mayor Onoda adjourned the meeting at 8:22 p.m.
Respectfully submitted by:
leavener
Amy Heavener, CMC
Town Clerk
Approved by the Town Council:
teresa Onoda
Teresa Onoda,
Mayor
Town Council Regular Meeting Minutes 6 March 27, 2024