Minutes of the Regular Joint Meeting of the Oakley City Council/Oakley City Council Acting as the Successor Agency to the Oakley Redevelopment Agency/Oakley Public Financing Authority held
January 9, 2024
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 Anissa Williams called the meeting to order at 6:30 p.m. in the Oakley City Council Chambers located at 3231 Main Street, Oakley, California. Vice Mayor Shannon Shaw and Councilmembers George Fuller, Hugh Henderson and Aaron Meadows were also in attendance.
1.2 Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag (Ana Ximena Escobedo Ruvalcaba, Vintage Parkway Elementary School Student)
Mayor Williams introduced 5th Grade Vintage Parkway Elementary School Student Ana Ximena Escobedo Ruvalcaba who led the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag.
1.3 Proclamation Recognizing Martin Luther King Jr. Day (Michael Dupray and Odessa Lefrancois, East Contra Costa County - NAACP)
Mayor Williams presented the proclamation to Michael Dupray and Odessa Lefrancois.
Ms. Lefrancois thanked Mayor Williams and the City Council. She invited everyone to attend a free breakfast hosted by the East County NAACP at Martin Luther King, Jr. Junior High in Pittsburg at 8:00 a.m. on January 16, 2024, to celebrate Martin Luther King, Jr. Day. 2) PUBLIC COMMENTS
Conan Moats addressed protecting salmon against local poaching and suggested reporting poachers by calling 1-888-334-CALTIP. He also commented that Dr. Fuller posted a PDF on NextDoor about Councilmember Henderson’s tenure with East Contra Costa Fire Protection District which Mr. Moats responded he believes was a smear tactic as it was unrelated to the topic of discussion on cannabis, so Mr. Moats provided a link to a school district matter involving Dr. Fuller to show that the PDF Dr. Fuller posted was unrelated and not good politics, of which he mentioned Dr. Fuller provided a response to that Mr. Moats mentioned was quickly taken down and that Mr. Moats found Dr. Fuller’s remarks offensive, comparing Mr. Moats in stature and temperament to a man who died of a drug overdose. He mentioned these are intemperate, rude, and disparaging remarks to the public, staff, and Council, and recommended the resignation or censure of Dr. Fuller.
Bud Chaddock requested the Council help get agencies involved to protect salmon in Marsh Creek against poachers. He shared information regarding fish found that had been poached and other items. He mentioned their lives have been threatened, tires slashed, and a report was made, but they never saw anyone there.
Mayor Williams requested staff obtain a list of resources/contacts for next steps.
Mary Black, a representative with the East Contra Costa Historical Society, commented that they are looking forward to working with the Oakley community, City, and schools. She provided calendars (then and now format) to the Council.
3) COUNCILMEMBER COMMENTS
City Attorney Derek Cole mentioned it is the first time that the Council is featuring this section on the agenda, Councilmembers are all members of this community and have as much right to make comments as anyone else, the Council will be subject to the same rules as the public--the 3-minute timer, comments within its jurisdiction, and there can be no responses. He mentioned that Councilmembers may request future agenda items but later when the item is called. He mentioned there will not be a back-and-forth dialogue.
Dr. Fuller commented that Bud Chaddock was a tuna fisherman in the San Pedro area which is the riskiest job in terms of death in the United States, Bud knows his water and fish, and knows how to take care of fish, so Bud has a very clear picture of what needs to be done. He mentioned poachers are a menace, it is big business and dangerous, and he would like the Council to stand strong against this activity.
4) CONSENT CALENDAR
4.1 Approve Minutes from the Special City Council Meeting held December 12, 2023 (Libby Vreonis, City Clerk)
4.2 Approve Minutes from the Regular Joint City Council/City Council Acting as the Successor Agency to the Redevelopment Agency/Public Financing Authority Meeting held December 12, 2023 (Libby Vreonis, City Clerk)
4.3 Accept Report Out of Closed Session Memo (Derek Cole, City Attorney)
4.4 Contract Extension with Flock Safety-Automatic License Plate Reader Technology (Paul Beard, Chief of Police)
Mayor Williams mentioned no public comments were submitted. She called for public comments. There being none, it was moved by Councilmember Meadows and seconded by Dr.
Fuller to approve the Consent Calendar. Motion was unanimous and so ordered. (5-0) 5) PUBLIC HEARINGS
None.
6) REGULAR CALENDAR
None.
7) REPORTS
7.1 CITY MANAGER
(a) City Manager
(b) Business License Update
City Manager Joshua McMurray announced that the City will hold its next Leadership Academy for Oakley residents who are 16+ years of age, beginning in April for the first time since 2019; more information and the application form are available on the City’s website. He also announced that the request for proposals for the Climate Action Plan has been released and closes February 7, 2024, at 5:00 p.m. He shared that the City celebrates its 25th Anniversary this year, Mayor Williams and Councilmember Meadows both participate in the 25th Anniversary planning committee, and the City will be issuing a list of events for the community that the committee is organizing. He mentioned the business license update for December is attached.
7.2 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
Councilmember Meadows reported he attended a Contra Costa Transportation Authority meeting in mid-December.
Vice Mayor Shaw reported she attended a Tri-Delta Transit meeting, the swearing-in ceremony for Oakley’s newest officer, a CalCities’ Public Safety Policy Committee orientation, and a Board of Supervisors reorganization luncheon hosted by Supervisor/Chair Federal Glover in Antioch today.
Mayor Williams reported she attended the Tri-Delta Transit meeting and Tri-Delta is taking a position against MTC and ABAG if public transit funding is stripped out of a bill; they want to see how the final bill shakes out before taking a full stand. She reported she is also on a policy committee for public quality that addresses topics such as mental health issues and unhoused, and they had a general meeting where they adopted priorities, and they have budget asks to protect cities because of funding shortfalls; the next committee meeting will be held January 18. (b) Requests for Future Agendas
Dr. Fuller mentioned he would like to request an opinion providing clarification regarding whether it is appropriate for a Councilmember to say he/she/they strongly oppose an issue before voting on the issue.
Mayor Williams mentioned she does not think she heard a future agenda item request.
City Attorney Derek Cole commented unless a Councilmember would like to second the opinion Dr. Fuller raised for him to provide a report.
Dr. Fuller commented that he is happy with a written report providing a legal opinion.
Mr. McMurray inquired if Dr. Fuller is requesting the report be handled offline or brought back to the Council.
Dr. Fuller responded that he would appreciate it if the Council could receive it.
Mayor Williams inquired if it requires a second, which Mr. Cole confirmed it does.
The future agenda item was seconded by Vice Mayor Shaw.
Mr. Cole mentioned he will not have time to prepare it for the next meeting because the deadline for items to be submitted for the next agenda is Friday so he will bring it back two meetings from now.
Dr. Fuller commented that he is content if it is done within two months.
Vice Mayor Shaw mentioned the Council recently received guidelines and protocols in preparation for its next governance meeting in February. She mentioned the last governance meeting was in 2021 where there was a running theme that when there are disagreements among the Council, they must hold each other accountable, peer to peer. She requested a future agenda item for Mr. Cole to bring back to the Council an item addressing how the Council may hold each other accountable, including what Councilmembers can do if guidelines are not being followed or actions that would generate a response from the Council.
Dr. Fuller mentioned he will second the request if it includes a procedure for censure, how it is handled with the Council and others, recourse, and how much is involved, to provide a clear understanding.
Vice Mayor Shaw commented that she is not speaking solely of censure; she is speaking of all levels of which they hold each other accountable.
Mr. Cole mentioned censure could be covered within that topic and he can prepare a report before the February governance meeting.
8) WORK SESSIONS
None.
9) CLOSED SESSION
None.
10) ADJOURN
There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 7:00 p.m.
Respectively Submitted,
Libby Vreonis
City Clerk