Minutes of the Joint Meeting of the Oakley City Council/Oakley City Council Acting as the Successor Agency to the Oakley
Redevelopment Agency and Special Meeting of the Oakley Public Financing Authority held
May 24, 2022
1) OPENING MATTERS
1.1 Call to Order and Roll Call of the Oakley City Council/Oakley City Council Acting as the Successor Agency to the Oakley Redevelopment Agency and Special Meeting of the Oakley Public Financing Authority Mayor Randy Pope called the meeting to order at 6:30 p.m. in the Oakley City Council Chamber located at 3231 Main Street, Oakley, California. Vice Mayor Aaron Meadows and Councilmembers Anissa Williams, George Fuller and Sue Higgins were also present.
1.2 Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag (Riley- Girl Scout Troop 33790, Reagan-Girl Scout Troop 33787)
Riley and Reagan led the Pledge of Allegiance.
2) PUBLIC COMMENTS
Ken Peacock requested more speed humps on Teakwood Drive (north side of Main Street) to slow down traffic for public safety.
Randi Adler commented the City should put metal detectors in schools to relieve some of issues nation is having when it comes to violence in schools.
Police Chief Paul Beard shared the last active shooter training with schools was in January 2020 and they plan to pick up training again soon. 3) CONSENT CALENDAR
3.1 Approve Minutes from the Regular Joint City Council/City Council Acting as the Successor Agency/Public Financing Authority Meeting held May 10, 2022 (Libby Vreonis, City Clerk)
3.2 Adopt a Resolution Amending the 2022 City Council Appointment List (Libby Vreonis, City Clerk)
3.3 Waive the First Reading and Introduce an Ordinance amending Title 7 (Building & Housing Regulations) Chapter 7.1.102 of the Oakley Municipal Code to adopt by reference the 2019 Edition of the California Fire Code, California Code of Regulations, Title 24, Part 9, as amended by Contra Costa Fire Protection District Ordinance 2019-37, including Findings. (Brent Smith, Community Development Director)
3.4 Consideration of a Resolution in Support of Ensuring the Health and Sustainability of the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta (Felicia Escover, Assistant to the City Manager)
Item 3.4 was moved to the Regular Calendar.
It was moved by Vice Mayor Meadows and seconded by Councilmember Higgins to approve the remainder of the Consent Calendar. Motion was unanimous and so ordered. (5-0)
4) PUBLIC HEARINGS
None.
5) REGULAR CALENDAR
Item 3.4
Councilmember Fuller commented water from the Sacramento River is already routed through Tracy and to the San Joaquin Valley and the proposed pump will make it go faster but will upset the ecosystem which can have a major impact on Oakley.
Vice Mayor Meadows agreed they need to continue to send the message to protect the Delta.
It was moved by Vice Mayor Meadows and seconded by Councilmember Fuller to adopt the resolution. Motion was unanimous and so ordered. (5-0)
5.1 Consideration of a Resolution Establishing a Reward Fund for Information Leading to the Location of 24-year old Oakley Resident Alexis Gabe (Joshua McMurray, City Manager)
Felicia Escover presented a PowerPoint presentation.
Councilmember Williams inquired what happens with funds if nothing comes about with tips.
Councilmember Fuller expressed he would like to see $50k included in the budget and allow the Chief of Police and City Manager to determine distribution.
Councilmember Higgins expressed she would like to see the City contribute $50k on top of the City’s $10k to find answers.
Public Comment
Randi Adler provided public comment suggesting any remaining funds be used for funeral expenses if needed.
Councilmember Higgins agreed some of the funds could be used for that purpose and suggested a scholarship could be set up.
Ms. Escover commented she can work with Finance on details of the funds for the current and future years and if the reward increases, there could be an option to use less than the maximum amount for reward.
Vice Mayor Meadows moved to adopt the resolution as presented. The motion died for lack of a second.
It was moved by Mayor Pope and seconded by Councilmember Fuller to adopt the resolution increasing the City’s contribution amount to $50k to be used for this case or any future cases with discretion of distribution to be handled by the investigation team.
AYES: Fuller, Higgins, Pope, Williams. NOES: Meadows. (4-1)
5.2 Adopt a Resolution approving the Oakley Police Association Memorandum of Understanding (Jeri Tejeda, Human Resources Director) Human Resources Director Jeri Tejeda presented the PowerPoint presentation.
Councilmember Fuller commended Police for asking for Juneteenth as a holiday rather than having a floating holiday.
Public Comment
Randi Adler provided public comment inquiring what the City is doing to offset officers on leave for job injuries.
Chief of Police Paul Beard shared preventive measures they are taking to protect officers from injuries.
It was moved by Councilmember Fuller and seconded by Vice Mayor Meadows to adopt the resolution as presented. Motion was unanimous and so ordered (5-0).
5.3 General Overview of the Fiscal Year (FY) 2022/23 Capital Improvement Program (CIP) and Budget (Joshua McMurray, City Manager, Kevin Rohani, P.E., Public Works Director/City Engineer, Tim Przybyla, Finance Director) Public Works Director/City Engineer Kevin Rohani presented a PowerPoint Presentation.
Councilmember Higgins inquired about recycled water, requested lights at the playground at Civic Center Park for Friday Night Bites, and requested a stoplight across from the Oakley Tavern for people to cross the street safely who support businesses.
Councilmember Fuller commented in favor of shade at the dog park, opposed the parking lot being built and would rather the $6.5 million be spent on the library, expressed his preference is for the budget to be bifurcated so that if he wants to vote no on a project he can do so without voting no to the entire budget and this is the only agency in his experience where it is not bifurcated; and he requested projects be upfront in budget materials for the public to see.
Councilmember Williams requested detail on amount of funds already spent on projects in advance of budget approval so if the Council wants to move forward or walk away from projects it knows the amount already invested. She inquired if any tangible improvements have been made with the school regarding parks.
Councilmember Meadows inquired if road and parking lot projects can be postponed considering current price of asphalt.
Mr. Rohani responded to the Councilmembers’ comments:
• Untreated well water is used for irrigation and the City has been in discussion with ISD for many years to explore the opportunity of recycled water when building new roads,
• Flood lights can be rented to provide lights at the playground at Civic Center Park for Friday Night Bites however all City parks are closed at dark, • Two crosswalks currently exist for pedestrians on Main Street near the Oakley Tavern and the area will not warrant a traffic signal, • It is common practice for projects to be intertwined with budget as there can be ramifications throughout the rest of the budget if projects are separated from it,
• The report tonight is to provide information and the Council can decide adjustments to the budget next month when it is brought back which will include the amount spent on each project,
• School parks are a work in progress and the City installed signage at each park indicating they are owned and maintained by the school district, and • The cost of asphalt is high but the City will not be price gouged—staff will rebid or bring back if the cost is too high.
Mr. McMurray added that the Planning Commission needs to recommend to the Council the CIP projects to approve so it will go to the Planning Commission on June 7 and return to Council on June 14, and in future years the budget process will start earlier.
Public Comments
Paul Seger provided public comment thanking Councilmember Higgins for her concern for people in the park at night and he agreed with Councilmember Fuller that projects should be openly discussed among everybody and the Council doesn’t need to rubber stamp projects to approve the budget.
Randi Adler provided public comment that parking lots with nothing attached are a waste of taxpayer money when everyone is still recovering from COVID. She suggested the projects be put on hold until the economy recovers.
Angela Lowrey, ISD liaison, thanked Councilmember Higgins for discussing recycled water and explained the biggest cost is getting purple pipes in the ground and they can remain dormant until having approval for recycled water, but it is cheaper to do that than dig up roads later to place them in the ground. She mentioned the General Manager spoke to the partnership ISD and DWD have to do what is best for the City and community. She shared with new drought information, stronger mandates may be needed and recycled water is very valuable. She invited Planning Commissioners to tour their facilities and she hopes for continued dialogue between ISD, DWD and the City regarding recycled water.
City Attorney Derek Cole advised no action is being requested so if there are no objections to the information provided and no additional information to add, staff will bring forth the budget at the next meeting for approval.
Vice Mayor Meadows commented he is okay with items presented in the CIP report and he is interested in future to have a line item in the spreadsheet to know how much has been spent already.
Mayor Pope agreed with having lights at Civic Center Park for events, he suggested if a Councilmember doesn’t agree with the budget as presented a motion could be made to object, he indicated the City cannot just pull out of projects with no impact as the City and others have invested a lot of money into the projects so it would be helpful to have that history included, he agreed with stopping the joint park agreement upon its expiration, he suggested a traffic calming measure on Main Street near the Oakley Tavern, he mentioned delaying road projects because of asphalt prices is gambling as there will likely be a 10% annual inflation, parking in the Downtown is hard to find and it is a good problem to have, the City doesn’t have control over water, sewer, or recycled water as it is not a full-service municipality, and while he understands there are consequences to any vote taken, he has never been told he has to vote a certain way. 6) REPORTS
6.1 CITY MANAGER
(a) City Manager
City Manager Joshua McMurray announced the Fire Station 55 ribbon cutting on June 1 at 10am, Friday Night Bites with a summer concert on June 3 and SummerFest on July
2. 6.2 OAKLEY CITY COUNCIL/OAKLEY CITY COUNCIL ACTING AS THE
SUCCESSOR AGENCY TO THE OAKLEY REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY
(a) Reports from Council Liaisons to Regional Committees, Commissions and Boards AND Oakley City Council/Oakley City Council Acting as the Successor Agency to the Oakley Redevelopment Agency
Vice Mayor Meadows reported he attended the Bypass Authority meeting via zoom a week and a half ago.
Councilmember Higgins announced the Memorial Day event will be held Saturday. She reported she attended the Taste of Oakley and gave a shout out to the youth for their work at Friday Night Bites. She mentioned the Tri-Delta Board meeting is this week.
Councilmember Fuller reported Fire Chief Helmick’s Facebook broadcast assured East County will receive fire protection especially with Station 55 opening.
Mayor Pope mentioned the Memorial Day event is always a nice event to attend with the high school ROTC and participation of youth is important to ensure memories don’t die. He reported he attended the Taste of Oakley. He announced the Mayors Conference will be held next Thursday on Zoom and Friday Night Bites will be held next Friday.
(b) Requests for Future Agendas
Councilmember Williams requested letters of support for AB 1944 and AB 2449 regarding Brown Act modernization items. Councilmember Higgins supported her request.
Councilmember Higgins requested support for a resolution to take to the Board of Supervisors to ban oil and gas drilling and shut down any current oil and gas extraction the County has. She also requested lights at Civic Center Park for Friday Night Bites.
Councilmember Williams supported her request.
7) WORK SESSION
7.1 Work Session #2 to Discuss Drive-Through Restaurants, Carwashes, Gas Stations, and Self-Storage (Ken Strelo, Planning Manager) Ken Strelo provided a PowerPoint presentation.
Public Comment
Randi Adler provided public comment regarding her neighbors’ double fences on both sides of her and her neighbor stealing internet from her; and she requested the City clear the high growth on the trail nearby her home before the 4th of July to reduce risk of fire.
Mark Pleis shared he is representing John Joseph and Sandy Lane family members, he has experience with Starbucks drive-throughs in Dublin and in Alameda, and Starbucks is considering a drive-through near the ARCO station, but the 300-foot buffer scares them and he would like to continue discussion on the matter.
George Cardinale encouraged the Council to involve owners, developers and tenants in the discussion regarding these things that impact commercial development.
Paul Seger encouraged the Council to invite all stakeholders for discussion including people who live in the community and will be impacted by development.
Mayor Pope called for a break at 8:58 p.m. The City Council reconvened at 9:05 p.m.
Councilmember Williams commented many local businesses cannot afford to rent in Oakley, the 300-foot buffer around schools is non-negotiable for her, the overlays are not intended to eliminate the rest of businesses-they just don’t want more of these specific businesses, land use decisions can be made case by case, but she wants to see more stringent standards to avoid a lawsuit when the CUP says land use decisions are discretionary.
Councilmember Fuller agreed with Vice Mayor Meadows to look for the best balance between commercial businesses and the community. He expressed support for the buffer and mentioned if businesses do not like it, others will come.
Vice Mayor Meadows commented Oakley will not have public safety without tax revenue and Oakley currently has one of the lowest tax revenue in the County so it is important to bring business here; Oakley doesn’t have developed space but he has seen comparable rents; staff is receiving real feedback from developers like Safeway who are concerned about developing in Oakley when certain decisions are made; developers look at demographics and if they cannot build what they want in Oakley, they will look elsewhere; Oakley doesn’t have a freeway that touches on it like I-5; and many decisions from the past they may not like, but they started 25 years + ago.
Councilmember Higgins opposed more self-storage businesses, suggested moving businesses toward E. Cypress so they are not saturated in old Oakley; and expressed she doesn’t want to see a 4-corner gas configuration at every 4-corner intersection.
Mayor Pope agreed that they need to listen to all residents of Oakley, including those that may want these services; they shouldn’t pick businesses, market analysis will support which businesses come in; he expressed he likes approaching it on a case by case basis but that could be problematic for prospective investors who spend money on development to later have the rug pulled out from under them so he would like to see something in place for developers to know what to expect; and he mentioned they need to look at the future needs of development, not just the present. 8) CLOSED SESSIONS
None.
9) ADJOURN
There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 9:32 p.m.
Respectively Submitted,
Libby Vreonis
City Clerk