Minutes of the Regular 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
September 26, 2023
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/Oakley Public Financing Authority
Mayor Aaron Meadows called the meeting to order at 6:30 pm in the Oakley City Council Chambers located at 3231 Main Street, Oakley California. Vice Mayor Anissa Williams and Councilmembers Dr. George Fuller, Shannon Shaw and Hugh Henderson were also present.
1.2 Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag
Councilmember Shaw led the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag.
1.3 Update from Contra Costa Animal Services (Beth Ward, Animal Services Director, Contra Costa Animal Services)
Contra Costa Animal Services Director Beth Ward provided a PowerPoint presentation.
Vice Mayor Williams inquired if the City can do anything to promote events or help facilitate low cost spay/neuter programs.
Director Ward shared that resources are scarce and costly, and they are working with local vets to reduce costs, for example, by providing a voucher, and they have a proposal to use Measure X funds to offset costs and expand the voucher program. She mentioned local vets deserve the right to make money and keep their businesses open; this proposal would help supplement costs; for example, a veterinarian could offer a reduce price, the customer could pay a deductible, and the County could cover the remainder; not only for spay/neuter but also for vaccinations.
Dr. Fuller mentioned that the Kaua’i Humane Society has a program where people can rent a dog and then they can return or adopt the dog. He inquired if there is anything they can do to enhance that interaction.
Director Ward commented that Kaua’i is one of her favorite shelters. She mentioned Contra Costa Animal Services has a program where people can take a dog out, but they must sign up as a volunteer and they are working toward reducing barriers for adoptions.
1.4 Update from BART Director Mark Foley
BART Director Mark Foley provided a PowerPoint presentation and provided two handouts.
Dr. Fuller mentioned he likes the idea of being able to pay with a credit card. He commented that certain discounts are available when using the current Clipper card. He inquired how discounts will work when paying.
Mr. Foley commented that the Clipper card has the discount on it and can still be used, and moving forward they will be able to integrate more seamlessly with the Clipper pay system so the rider wouldn’t need a regional discount card.
Vice Mayor Williams commented that she loves the new fare gates and believes they will make a huge difference. She inquired if there are talking points that the Council can use to advocate riding BART as there is a huge group of people who need this service, and she is fearful what happens to them should BART not survive.
Mr. Foley commented that transit is a social justice issue; everyone should have equal access to education, health care and jobs, and a barrier to employment should not be that someone doesn’t have a car to get to work in San Francisco. He explained that BART ridership is transit dependent and needs to have support to have access to those things to break down barriers.
He mentioned that every rider on BART is one less driver on Hwy 4; BART helps to get single car drivers off the road to help improve wear and tear on roadways and improve quality of life.
He mentioned in regard to cleanliness and safety, ask people to come back and give it a try.
Mayor Meadows shared that he had perceptions of BART and recently heard that BART is a lot cleaner and safer which is positive. He mentioned he is glad they are installing new gates and sees that they are taking some steps to improve. He commented that Mr. Foley discussed revenue decrease, but cost cutting needs to be addressed.
Mr. Foley responded that BART is a fixed rail system meaning that the costs are structured to provide a number of vehicles on the system each day. He shared that they looked at whether they could lay off staff, but their budget director has indicated that if they reduce staff, they reduce service which reduces ridership which reduces revenue; therefore, it is a death spiral, and the challenge is to always find a balance. He mentioned the new schedule focuses on evening and weekends and trying to attract ridership that is not traditionally there. He mentioned trains go to SFO packed and return empty, so they want to capture those riders and one way they are trying to capture riders is to encourage businesses to open in the transit oriented district areas but they are struggling, even though they are willing to build to order as there is no interest in office space. He shared that BART offered early retirement and 200+ employees left the system early.
Mayor Meadows commented that it is not just BART that can’t fill office buildings.
Dr. Fuller commented that Mr. Foley mentioned during his presentation that trains to SFO go out full and return empty. He mentioned that by the time travelers arriving on later flights at SFO at 9 p.m.-10 p.m. retrieve their luggage, BART trains are no longer running.
Mr. Foley responded that is a work in progress and he brought it up at a workshop; they are looking at how they can engage the opportunity to have late and early trains to accommodate travelers, an uncaptured audience, while balancing the time needed for maintenance which is currently 1 a.m.-4 a.m. He mentioned they are looking at opportunities and it would be easier at Oakland than SFO because of the distance.
1.5 Update from Nonprofits Awarded American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) State and Local Fiscal Recovery Grant Funds (a) Eleonore Zwinger, Senior Staff Attorney/East Bay Regional Director, Immigration Institute of the Bay Area (b) Lauren Huffmaster, Founder, Adventure Therapy Foundation Eleonore Zwinger, Senior Staff Attorney/East Bay Regional Director, Immigration Institute of the Bay Area, thanked the City of Oakley for providing the grant. She shared that grant funds have been used for immigration legal consultations, legal services, removal defense on a limited basis, and community outreach and education. She mentioned they were able to provide 66 legal consultations for Oakley residents and legal services for 27 Oakley residents and provided presentation and legal consultations at St. Anthony Church in Oakley on April 30 and June 4.
She explained they also provide service by phone and mentioned they reached 174 people.
Dan Torres, Board of Directors for Adventure Therapy, along with Melissa Anderson, Event/Community Coordinator for Adventure Therapy, provided a PowerPoint presentation and shared that grant funds have been used for emotional support, coaching, retreats, and providing meaningful experience for families. They mentioned a community event, “Your Greatest Adventure is Today”, was held August 27 for a network of cancer survivors and resources at Big Break Marina and shared an impact story from that event.
Vice Mayor Williams commented that she appreciates what they do and inquired about their plans for continued funding.
Ms. Anderson shared that they will have a fundraiser hosted by Hannah Nicole Vineyards on October 21, that will include art, wine, food, silent auctions, raffles and sharing stories, and grants have been submitted.
Dr. Fuller inquired where they were able to find a pink fire engine.
Ms. Anderson shared that Project Pink Wheels is a retired fire engine that takes patients to their first and last chemotherapy appointments.
2) PUBLIC COMMENTS
Two ‘thank you’ cards were submitted and circulated to the City Council.
Kristin Connelly, Contra Costa County Clerk-Recorder and Registrar of Voters, shared that they are performing outreach as part of California High School Voter Education Weeks and also nonpartisan National Voter Registration Day (September 19) as they would like to increase engagement in the County. She mentioned in 161 days, the California Presidential Primary will be held and it will be the first time an all vote-by-mail ballot election will be held for a California Presidential Primary. She mentioned her office is actively engaged in everything that they can to register as many people as they can and to educate as many voters as they can so that everyone can participate fully in the Presidential Primary and General Election. She invited any suggestions of the Council for residents of Oakley to ensure they are registered. She mentioned Oakley has a high concentration of Spanish speaking voters and election materials are provided in Spanish, Chinese and English to serve all residents. She shared that they intend to have Freedom High School be part of their Spring Voter Registration Weeks.
Carmen Lazo with the Carpenters Union spoke about labor standard in the U.S., apprenticeship programs, health care, local jobs, and labor wages.
Jackie Rider commented on a 10% rent increase, more for some, for The Oaks without anything being updated and no quality maintenance. She mentioned seniors’ income doesn’t increase 10% per year and the elderly can’t afford it. She commented that people are afraid they won’t be able to live there anymore, and they are wondering where the money is going as there are dirty trash chutes, and the garbage rooms are bacteria infested spaces. She shared that many people that are moving in are becoming ill. She shared that she read an article about garbage rooms and they harbor E. coli, salmonella, and legionnaire. She mentioned the former manager and bookkeeper are gone and she believes they need a complete audit.
Bonnie McCord submitted a written comment that was entered into the meeting record. 3) CONSENT CALENDAR
3.1 Approve Minutes from the Regular Joint City Council/City Council Acting as the Successor Agency to the Redevelopment Agency/Public Financing Authority Meeting Held September 12, 2023 (Libby Vreonis, City Clerk)
3.2 Accept Report Out of Closed Session Memo (Derek Cole, City Attorney)
3.3 Adoption of a Resolution to Establish Special Speed Zones for Specific City Streets (Kevin Rohani, P.E., Public Works Director/City Engineer)
3.4 Acceptance of work with the City Hall Human Resources Department Remodeling Project - Capital Improvement Project Number 290 (Kevin Rohani, P.E., Public Works Director/City Engineer)
3.5 Adopt a Resolution Authorizing the City Manager to Enter Into a One-Year Agreement with Townsend Public Affairs, Inc. for On-Call Grant Writing Services (Danielle Navarro, Assistant City Manager)
It was moved by Dr. Fuller to approve the Consent Calendar.
Vice Mayor Williams requested to pull items 3.3 and 3.5 for discussion.
Dr. Fuller amended his motion to approve items 3.1, 3.2 and 3.4. It was seconded by Councilmember Shaw. Motion was unanimous and so ordered. (5-0) Item 3.3
Public Works Director/City Engineer Kevin Rohani presented the staff report.
Vice Mayor Williams commented that speed limits are a contentious item for people and that people have expressed to her that speeders are being rewarded. She asked if staff could explain why the City is required to change the speed limit.
Mr. Rohani explained that the City is required by state law to set the speed limit at the infamous 85 percentile, the speed that 85% of vehicles travel at or below. He mentioned anywhere drivers will deviate from that, but Oakley’s speed limits are set at the 85 percentile. He indicated that this is based on state law and the California Vehicle Code.
Vice Mayor Williams mentioned public feedback has been that speed keeps increasing because of lack of traffic enforcement.
Mr. Rohani explained that the Police Department is now fully staffed and has dedicated traffic officers to enforce speed limits which he has heard of late has been a major improvement. He mentioned when there is no enforcement, drivers tend to go faster, and the speed limit can increase the 85 percentile. He shared that he believes they have reached a turning point to stay in front of the speeding issue.
It was moved by Vice Mayor Williams and seconded by Dr. Fuller to adopt the resolution. Motion was unanimous and so ordered. (5-0)
Item 3.5
Assistant City Manager Danielle Navarro presented the staff report.
Vice Mayor Williams requested a rough amount of the amount of funding they have been able to secure.
Mayor Meadows responded that it is $2.9 million.
Vice Mayor Williams inquired if the City would have had the capacity to secure the funding without Townsend’s assistance.
City Manager Joshua McMurray responded that he believes the amount would have been lower given the staffing numbers of the City and tapping into Townsend’s experience helped.
Vice Mayor Williams inquired what things Townsend will be going after and what trends for grant funding are circulating in other cities.
Carly Shelby, Associate with Townsend, mentioned they are looking at state and federal earmark opportunities, they are preparing a grant for the boat launching facility for the Oakley Community Park, and they are having ongoing conversations with staff regarding big projects. In conjunction with grants, she mentioned they are also closely following legislation which includes upcoming bond proposals which includes housing affordability, parks, recreation facilities and others.
It was moved by Vice Mayor Williams and seconded by Councilmember Shaw to adopt the resolution. Motion was unanimous and so ordered. (5-0)
4) PUBLIC HEARINGS
4.1 Update to the Master Fee Schedule (Kitchen Fees) (Jeri Tejeda, Administrative Services Director)
Administrative Services Director Jeri Tejeda presented the staff report.
Mayor Meadows called for Council questions; there being none, he opened the public hearing and called for public comments. There were none and Mayor Meadows closed the public hearing and called for Council deliberation.
Vice Mayor Williams thanked staff for their time to bring this revision forward. She explained it enables local businesses to get their start in Oakley; they do not have to go to Brentwood for kitchen use. She mentioned she likes that there is not an application fee or minimum hours required.
Dr. Fuller commented that he likes that there is not an hourly or minimum requirements and he would like to see it promoted so people are aware that the City is offering a service that seems like a good deal.
It was moved by Vice Mayor Williams and seconded by Dr. Fuller to adopt the resolution. Motion was unanimous and so ordered. (5-0)
5) REGULAR CALENDAR
None.
6) REPORTS
6.1 CITY MANAGER
(a) City Manager
City Manager Joshua McMurray thanked Recreation and Public Works staff for their work at the Heart of Oakley Festival and mentioned it was well attended. He reported that the reorganization approved by the Council on August 22 has been implemented, the Administrative Services Department worked hard to post jobs and hired three new positions, HR Manager, Recreation Manager and Accountant, that will begin work mid-October, and they are on a great path to provide excellent service to the community and internal services. He announced the following upcoming community events:
• 10/6/23-Friday Night Bites with Maya Latin Roots band at Civic Center Plaza, 5pm-9pm • 10/7/23-Oakley Recreation Center Movie, Nightmare Before Christmas • 10/21/23-Oaktober Festival, Civic Center Plaza, 12pm-4pm
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
Dr. Fuller reported he attended an event hosted by Senator Glazer for its Nonprofit of the Year that was awarded to St. Vincent de Paul. He also reported he attended District Day hosted by Assemblymember Lori Wilson and they agree on a lot of things such as holding cities accountable to their RHNA. He also reported he attended the Heart of Oakley Festival.
Vice Mayor Williams reported she met with Assemblymember Lori Wilson to discuss Oakley’s priorities, transportation and housing partnerships, jobs, small business economic development, and she has some good ideas who to connect Oakley with for these things. She also reported she attended the CalCities’ Annual Conference and Expo last week and went to different sessions including, “From Conflict to Conversation,” “California Cannabis: Seven Years After Legalization”, a session on social media and public engagement, “Adapting Main Street for a Changing Retail Landscape,” “How to Solve Big City Problems in Small Towns,” and “Managing Difficult Conversations with Constituents” of which she shared key points. She also reported that she attended the Heart of Oakley in her role as President of a non-profit.
Councilmember Shaw reported she also attended District Day with Assemblymember Lori Wilson and stayed for different sessions including staff, special districts, local business, and non-profits which she thought was great to separate to allow groups to come together to listen and talk. She mentioned during her 1-1 meeting with Assemblymember Wilson they discussed E. Cypress, funding, transit and parks, and Assemblymember Wilson understands the limitations Oakley has. She also reported attending the CalCities’ Annual Conference and Expo where she attended workshops on fees, staying ahead of news and monitoring social and news media, stop hate speech: freedom of speech versus hate speech, and having difficult conversations with constituents. She also reported attending the Heart of Oakley Festival.
Mayor Meadows reported he attended the Contra Costa Transportation Authority (CCTA) meeting a couple of weeks ago and CCTA appointed a member and alternate to the San Joaquin Joint Powers Authority (SJJPA); the member is Supervisor Diane Burgis and he is the alternate so he will be attending SJJPA meetings in relation to the Amtrak train platform. He mentioned during the Bengals v. Rams football game televised last night that two former Freedom High School students played, Joe Mixon for the Bengals and Ronnie Rivers for the Rams.
(b) Requests for Future Agendas
Councilmember Shaw requested staff look into an early warning system for when train track barriers are down east of Sellers Avenue and reach out to BNSF to see what is being done.
Vice Mayor Williams supported the request.
Dr. Fuller requested the City Clerk relay to the County Registrar that it is his understanding that all 18-year-olds of all genders must register for the draft, and they do this at the high school. He asked if they are doing this at the high school for students to receive a voter registration card at that time and the high school can return the registration card to the County Elections office.
Mayor Meadows called for a 5-minute break at 8:04 p.m. The City Council reconvened at 8:09 p.m.
7) WORK SESSION
7.1 Review the results of the second online survey for the Oakley Regional Park and for City Council to provide recommendations on a preferred alternative to finalize the Master Plan for this park (Kevin Rohani, P.E., Public Works Director/City Engineer)
Public Works Director/City Engineer Kevin Rohani presented the staff report.
Brian Fletcher of Callander Associates, the City’s consultant, provided a PowerPoint presentation.
Mayor Meadows inquired about Proposition 68 which Mr. Fletcher explained is the state park grant that they have been going after but have not received.
Vice Mayor Williams shared that she was initially for all ball fields, however in talking to baseball moms, she understands it is customary for them to attend out of town tournaments where they often drive up to 30 minutes to get to a 4-field complex. She mentioned she spoke with a professional angler who is very excited about it. She mentioned she likes the third option where ball fields would be completely removed because down the street there will be ballfields and she would like alternative activities for kids to do if they are going camping there or if a fishing tournament is happening. She inquired how many different uses can be put into that space without cramming in too much.
Mr. Fletcher responded that they could include the pump track, disc golf, hiking/walking trails, shoreline access, fishing from the shore and destination and regular play, because they would have room if removing the ballfields and associated parking.
Mayor Meadows commented that less is more, and he doesn’t want to load up just to load up.
He shared that he is leaning toward option 3.
Councilmember Henderson agreed option 3 is the right direction. He mentioned they have opportunities at other parks to take care of other activities; this is the one property to showcase the Delta and Oakley’s one access to the water and making that a priority is important.
Mayor Meadows inquired if the corporation yard shown in the presentation is an additional yard or if everything is going there. He inquired if it would be big enough for build-out.
Mr. Rohani responded that the current yard is located at the corner of Neroly Road and Main Street, but the property has sold and they will eventually have to move maintenance operations; the yard at 4th Street that currently exists will continue to provide inside office space, and the area proposed on Sellers would be an outdoor yard area.
Mayor Meadows commented that there is also a yard just outside near the City Hall parking lot.
Mr. Rohani mentioned it is more of a parking lot and eventually it will be used for a library.
Engineering Manager Billilee Saengchalern shared that she spoke with the City’s Parks and Landscape Manager and they took measurements for the three existing yards and added them up for the footprint for the proposed yard on Sellers.
Mayor Meadows commented that they should do it once and do it right so they can put everything there or look at another location.
City Manager Joshua McMurray responded that staff can take a look at it and provide more detail when they present next.
Councilmember Shaw commented that she prefers option 3 if they are not going to go with all ballfields; they should go all water themed. She inquired how much nature would be included with nature play as some kids may want a traditional play structure.
Mayor Meadows commented that there are other playgrounds in the City that are not logs.
Mr. Fletcher responded that they could do both with smaller nature play elements throughout the trails. He gave the Presidio as an example. He mentioned logs can be wonderful and they want to provide destination play that is universally accessible.
Councilmember Shaw mentioned someone had mentioned a wheelchair accessible swing and she would love to see that brought forward.
Dr. Fuller inquired if option 3 is option 2 without the ball fields and Mr. Fletcher confirmed it is.
Dr. Fuller mentioned he also endorses option 3. He mentioned the Emerson house is still there and he keeps hearing the Gilbert house mentioned. He commented that the Emerson house strikes him more as a Delta house than the Gilbert house and he is not sure if the Emerson house can still be put in play. He mentioned someone made the comment that they could have wedding venues there, but he is hesitant that the City would be competing with existing privately-owned wedding venues in Oakley as the City might charge similar fees as others for security, maintenance, decoration, etc. He mentioned he is leaning toward the Emerson house.
He shared that he likes option 3 for diversity, equity, and inclusion as they would be opening up the river to everybody for recreation use. He commented that people live here because of it and spend time on it but is currently privileged and not all currently have access. He mentioned this would allow access and it opens up the river to the entire community and for other outdoor uses through trails coming into the park and leaving the park that run to Sacramento and possibly Walnut Creek. He mentioned kids love splash parks and it is a good place for a family to have lunch. He mentioned the park would be open for everyone with the concept of incorporating the river and shoreline play like in the logo.
Mayor Meadows inquired if the Emerson house still exists, and Mr. McMurray confirmed that it is gone.
Dr. Fuller commented that he saw a beautiful white two-story house on Dutch Slough that looked well kept.
Mr. Rohani commented that he had not seen a two-story house on this campus. He explained that when the Emerson dairy business closed and the dairy was abandoned, the building was unsafe and silos falling down so the City cleared a lot of the old buildings and the only building that was kept is what they call the Gilbert house, a single-family house with a wraparound porch and picket fence; the building will require some rehabilitation. He mentioned the river comes to this site and everything else on this campus was related to the dairy operation.
Dr. Fuller clarified that the house he is referring to was in the area but wasn’t implying it was in the same campus; it was out on the levee before it was breached.
Mr. Rohani explained that if he was accessing the house he speaks of from Jersey Island, that is not in proximity to this site.
Mayor Meadows explained that the Emerson house was formerly Iron House School located at Sellers Avenue and Cypress Road, and when Stan Emerson came back to the dairy because his father started it, he moved it farther to the north and west but south of what was the Contra Costa Canal and remodeled the house and lived in it. He mentioned it is his understanding the house had issues and when it was converted, its historical value was gone so it was torn down.
He mentioned the father also had a house west of that which was also torn down.
Councilmember Shaw commented that she would like to see a splash pad, pump track, and disc golf-but not a full course, but she is not sold on RV parking but if that is the direction they are going, to have picnic tables and barbeques. She added if there are no ball fields there will be no concession stand, but it should have some kind of store if there will be RVs, day or overnight.
Mayor Meadows commented that he would support a full disc golf course if there are no ball fields.
Vice Mayor Williams commented that there would still be amenities in two different places on the site where there is wine tasting, an incubator retail space that she imagines could have some sort of food, wine and different things, and also an earlier presentation showed something at the campground for option 2 that could service day use and overnight stay.
Mr. Fletcher reviewed the proposed site plan for option 2 and showed where there could be small stores, a check-in site, wine tasting incubators, restrooms/showers, a boat launch bait store, and restrooms and amenities throughout.
Vice Mayor Williams mentioned there are already 2 wedding venues in Oakley so that is saturated. She mentioned their neighboring cities do science camp and kids in Oakley don’t have that opportunity. She commented that UC Davis studies the ecology of the water around here often and she would like to see if there might be a grant funding opportunity through that to encourage kids to get into science. She mentioned they could still rent out for something like corporate retreats, but also use it as a science camp area. She shared that UC Davis has a wine program that may also provide another grant opportunity. She mentioned the space could be used so it doesn’t compete with local businesses.
Dr. Fuller inquired what Mr. McMurray’s assessment would be of fields available if they go with option 3, if there will be two new fields at Dal Porto Ranch and with Creekside coming back.
Mr. McMurray commented that there is a fair share of fields in the City looking at the per capita rate and he believes they are doing a good job. He mentioned they are always going to run into the perspective of others that there is not enough space; this is only access to water for Cityowned property, they have other fields coming online, and the complex at Dal Porto Ranch will be impressive.
8) CLOSED SESSIONS
8.1 CONFERENCE WITH LABOR NEGOTIATORS
Agency designated representatives: Jack Hughes, Legal Counsel, Liebert Cassidy Whitmore; Joshua McMurray, City Manager and Jeri Tejeda, Administrative Services Director Employee organization: Oakley Peace Officers Association Mayor Meadows announced the closed session and mentioned thereafter the meeting will adjourn. He announced the next regular City Council meeting will be held October 10, 2023, in the Oakley City Council Chambers beginning at 6:30 p.m. 9) ADJOURN
There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 8:55p.m.
Respectively Submitted,
Libby Vreonis
City Clerk