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
January 23, 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 Dr. George Fuller, Hugh Henderson and Aaron Meadows were also present.
1.2 Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag (Jonah Sims, O'Hara Park Middle School Student) Mayor Williams introduced O’Hara Park Middle School student Jonah Sims who led the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag.
2) PUBLIC COMMENTS
Jimmy Ramirez requested the Council consider an ordinance requiring 1.5% of development fees to be dedicated to construction of public art.
One online comment was submitted by William Ulitsky and was made part of the meeting record.
3) COUNCILMEMBER COMMENTS
Dr. Fuller thanked Jimmy Ramirez for his suggestion and mentioned he has not forgotten his suggestion to include an indigenous museum section in the park. He thanked the City Clerk for her work preparing the minutes and mentioned he will take the MP4 recording and put it on his webpage with approved minutes and maybe include unapproved minutes for comparison.
Mayor Williams commented that she believes everyone here is well apprised of her desire for more affordable housing and just because a city, government, or state has a policy, that doesn’t mean that is the practice of what is happening. She shared that she looked on Zillow for properties for sale in Oakley under $500k which resulted in 5 units available; 2 were vacant land for $300k, and 3 were mobile homes, one of which was exclusive to ages 55+. She mentioned the median income needed to afford a $500k home is $102k; however, the median income in Oakley is $42k. She shared that she is mentioning it so that people hear and realize why she is saying that Oakley doesn’t do enough for affordable housing; people today can’t move into a home in Oakley, and she wants more people to experience it. 4) CONSENT CALENDAR
Dr. Fuller pulled item 4.2.
No public comments were submitted.
It was moved by Dr. Fuller and seconded by Councilmember Meadows to approve the remainder of the Consent Calendar. Motion was unanimous and so ordered. (5-0) Item 4.2
Dr. Fuller commended Public Works Director/City Engineer Kevin Rohani for a great report. It was moved by Dr. Fuller and seconded by Vice Mayor Shaw to accept the report. Motion was unanimous and so ordered. (5-0)
4.1 Approve Minutes from the Regular Joint City Council/City Council Acting as the Successor Agency to the Redevelopment Agency/Public Financing Authority Meeting held January 9, 2024 (Libby Vreonis, City Clerk)
4.2 Filing of Fiscal Year 2023-24 Annual Reports for the City’s Maintenance and Services Community Facilities Districts and Police Services Special Tax (Kevin Rohani, P.E., Public Works Director/City Engineer)
4.3 Accept a Report Summarizing the Special Events Beer and Wine Concessions from 2023 (Jeri Tejeda, Administrative Services Director)
4.4 Consideration of two Resolutions Approving the Updates to the City’s Personnel Rules and a Side Letter to the MOU between the City of Oakley and the Oakley Police Officers Association (Jeri Tejeda, Administrative Services Director)
4.5 Consideration of a Resolution of the Successor Agency to the Oakley Redevelopment Agency, approving the Recognized Obligations Payment Schedule (ROPS) and Administrative Budget for the Fiscal Year of July 2024 through June 2025 (Jeri Tejeda, Administrative Services Director) 5) PUBLIC HEARINGS
5.1 Diamond Hills Sports Club and Spa Sign Exception Permit (SEP 01-23) (Evan Gorman, Associate Planner)
California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Determination: Find that the project is exempt from CEQA under the Class 1 Exemption for existing facilities (14 Cal. Code Regs./CEQA Guideline, § 15301)
Associate Planner Evan Gorman presented the staff report.
Staff received a question from the City Council.
Mayor Williams opened the public hearing. The applicant responded to questions of the Council.
No public comments were submitted.
Mayor Williams closed the public hearing.
Vice Mayor Shaw commented that she looks forward to what the City can do to help businesses all the time and this is a great opportunity to use City land to see if it will help bring more business.
It was moved by Dr. Fuller and seconded by Vice Mayor Shaw to adopt the resolution. Motion was unanimous and so ordered. (5-0)
6) REGULAR CALENDAR
6.1 Appeal of City Manager’s Decision Regarding 3930 Marsh Way, Oakley, California (APN 034-270-037) (Kim Snodgrass, Deputy City Clerk)
Deputy City Clerk Kim Snodgrass confirmed the property owner and his engineer/translator were present. She presented the staff report.
The City Council presented questions of which staff, the property owner, and the property owner’s engineer/translator responded to.
It was moved by Vice Mayor Shaw and seconded by Councilmember Henderson to uphold the City Manager’s decision to record the Notice of Violation. Motion was unanimous and so ordered. (5-0)
6.2 An Ordinance of the City Council of the City of Oakley Amending Section 2.1.006 of the Oakley Municipal Code Increasing the Salaries of the Members of the City Council Following the November 2024 General Election (Derek Cole, City Attorney) Assistant City Attorney Elizabeth Fratarcangeli presented the staff report.
No public comments were submitted.
The City Council deliberated.
It was moved by Vice Mayor Shaw and seconded by Mayor Williams to increase the City Council salary to $1,275 per month with no additional compensation from the City of Oakley for committees, boards and commission on which Councilmembers serve. AYES: Shaw, Williams.
NOES: Fuller, Henderson, Meadows. Motion failed to pass. (2-3) It was moved by Councilmember Henderson and seconded by Vice Mayor Shaw to waive the first reading and introduce an ordinance to increase the City Council salary to $800 per month with a 5% COLA built in and no additional compensation from the City of Oakley for committees, boards and commission on which Councilmembers serve. AYES: Henderson, Meadows, Shaw, Williams. NOES: Fuller. Motion carried. (4-1)
Mayor Williams called for a brief recess at 7:51p.m. The Council reconvened at 7:57p.m.
6.3 East Cypress Corridor Specific Plan Subsequent Environmental Impact Report Resolution Approving an Agreement with Raney Planning and Management (Consultant) in an Amount Not to Exceed $392,518.00, Authorizing the City Manager to Execute the Agreement, and an Appropriation of $100,000.00 in ARPA Funds for the Fiscal Year 2023/2024 Budget (Ken Strelo, Planning Manager) Planning Manager Ken Strelo presented the staff report.
Staff received questions from the Council and responded to them.
One online public comment was submitted by John Gonzales and was made part of the meeting record.
It was moved by Councilmember Meadows and seconded by Vice Mayor Shaw to adopt the resolution as presented. Motion was unanimous and so ordered. (5-0) 7) REPORTS
7.1 CITY MANAGER
(a) City Manager
(b) Annual Report for Calendar Year 2023
(c) Tyler Enterprise ERP Implementation Update
City Manager Joshua McMurray mentioned the Annual Report for Calendar Year 2023 is included in the agenda and staff will post it on the City’s website and on social media. He introduced Holly Sitton Orognen, Project Manager with Koa Hills Consulting, to provide an update on the Tyler Enterprise ERP implementation.
Ms. Sitton Orognen provided a PowerPoint presentation and commended staff for being ahead of time and on budget.
Vice Mayor Shaw, Councilmember Meadows and Mayor Williams thanked staff.
Mayor Williams requested that if staff receives a lot of work requests, she wants to elevate and reprioritize items, so they don’t take away from this good work that moves the City forward, and she doesn’t want the team to become burned out.
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 and Vice Mayor Shaw discussed the Affordable Housing Ad-Hoc Advisory Committee will need an extension for another month.
Councilmember Meadows reported he attended a Contra Costa Transportation Authority meeting and the Mayors’ Conference.
Vice Mayor Shaw reported she participated in the interview for the consultant for the upcoming governance training, she spoke at the Chamber Mixer, and she attended the Affordable Housing Ad-Hoc Advisory Committee meeting, the CalCities’ Public Safety Policy Committee, and a Zoom meeting for the CalCities’ East Bay Division.
Dr. Fuller reported he attended the Diablo Water District meeting, and he provided comments regarding ABAG.
Mayor Williams reported she attended the Mayors’ Conference, a committee meeting that addressed Prop 47, and the first business opening in the new mercantile building for Tortas Ahogadas El Tio, an Oakley Chamber member. She mentioned she administered the oath of office to the Oakley Chamber of Commerce Board. She also reported that she attended the CalCities’ Community Services Policy Committee meeting and an Ad-Hoc Parks and School Committee meeting.
(b) Requests for Future Agendas
Mayor Williams requested a presentation on a funding mechanism/evergreen grant program to encourage small business growth that will benefit Oakley. The request was supported by Vice Mayor Shaw who added that she would also like it to include how much the City has already provided to non-profits, businesses and grant programs.
Mayor Williams requested a report from the City Attorney on AB 1033. The request was supported by Vice Mayor Shaw.
City Manager Joshua McMurray mentioned the City Attorney or Townsend can provide a report. 8) WORK SESSION
8.1 1961 Carpenter Road Preliminary General Plan Amendment (PA 01-23) Work Session to discuss the merits of a potential project to amend the General Plan Land Use Designation of an approximately 3.66-acre parcel from Commercial (CO) to Residential High (RH) (Evan Gorman, Associate Planner) Associate Planner Evan Gorman presented the staff report.
The applicant provided a PowerPoint presentation.
One online public comment was submitted by Charles Daggett and was made part of the meeting record.
Angela Lowrey commented as a resident homeowner that the city is overdue for rental units and this location was examined in 2015. She inquired if the house at Neroly and Empire was mandated to be a car wash. She mentioned the location is one of the main entrances to the city so it is important they pick something that makes people come here. She discussed open land in the area, gated access, traffic on Empire, emergency access, number of homes, an onsite manager, increase Police staffing, parking, visibility of the trash receptacle, impact to school enrollment, and community impact fees. She requested more public input before changes to the General Plan.
The City Council asked questions which the applicant responded to.
The City Council provided comments.
The City Council was not supportive of changing the zoning designation.
Mayor Williams announced a brief recess at 9:12pm. The Assistant City Attorney left the Chambers and joined by phone. The Council reconvened at 9:18pm. Mayor Williams confirmed the Assistant City Attorney was on the phone.
8.2 Oakley Downtown Specific Plan ("DSP") Work Session (Ken Strelo, Planning Manager)
City Manager Joshua McMurray mentioned the intent of the item is to confirm if the Council wishes to open up and look at the Downtown Specific Plan.
Planning Manager Ken Strelo presented the staff report and PowerPoint presentation.
No public comments were submitted.
The City Council provided comments in favor or opposition of opening the Plan and discussed timing, height restrictions, density, traffic, and pedestrian use.
Councilmember Meadows requested when it is opened up in the future that staff address height restrictions (too low) of which Mayor Williams supported, higher residential density in the Downtown, and expanding the Plan deeper toward DelBarba’s vineyard out to Rose Avenue.
Dr. Fuller requested they share data regarding traffic in the Downtown and tell people why it is great to have traffic, and the same with the high-density concept of the Downtown. He suggested they look at why Livermore is having a problem and how to avoid it.
Councilmember Meadows, Vice Mayor Shaw, Councilmember Henderson and Mayor Williams did not support opening the Plan at this time. Dr. Fuller supported opening the Plan to allow residents who may not have been here during its adoption to provide input.
8.3 General Overview of the Recreation Fee Schedule (Jeri Tejeda, Administrative Services Director and Troy Faulk, Recreation Manager)
Administrative Services Director Jeri Tejeda introduced Recreation Manager Troy Faulk who provided a PowerPoint presentation regarding the Recreation Fee Schedule. There were six areas of consideration: facility rentals, after school program, park rentals, youth summer camp, contract classes and class refunds. The City Council had an opportunity to ask questions and share comments with staff.
Facility Rentals
Staff received direction from the Council to provide numbers on residents versus non-residents renting the facility, raise the rental fee 5% across the board, add a cleaning/repair fee at $95 per hour for staff time, and a time & material rate for third party vendors for repair and/or cleaning.
After School Program
Councilmembers Henderson and Meadows, Vice Mayor Shaw, and Mayor Williams supported increasing fees to $10 per day.
Dr. Fuller supported the staff recommendation to increase fees to $8 per day and suggested staff monitor when registered teens do not attend because their parents expect them to be at the program when they might be off with friends if they are not there.
Vice Mayor Shaw suggested staff make the center attractive for the teenage group with equipment and requested staff report back to the Council in November to let them know how it is going.
Mayor Williams suggested they include activities (eventually sports).
Park Rentals
Councilmembers Henderson and Meadows, Vice Mayor Shaw, and Mayor Williams supported increasing all fees by 50%. Dr. Fuller supported the current fee structure until a structure for fees for club teams can be increased.
Youth Summer Camp
Councilmember Meadows supported a fee increase for residents to $125/week. He mentioned he cannot support subsidizing non-residents and suggested non-residents be charged $200/week.
Vice Mayor Shaw supported a fee increase for residents to $125/week, increasing fees for nonresidents, and an additional fee for optional extended care.
Dr. Fuller commented that for non-residents, $200/week more seems much. He suggested keeping fees for residents the same.
Mayor Williams supported a fee increase for residents to $125/week with increased programming, and an additional fee of $50/week for optional extended care. She requested information on how many participants are residents v. non-residents.
Contract Classes
The Council had no questions or comments.
Class Refunds
The Council had no questions or comments.
9) CLOSED SESSIONS
None.
10) ADJOURN
Mayor Williams adjourned the meeting in memory of Alexis Gabe who went missing January 26, 2022, and encouraged everyone to participate in Kindness Day on Friday, January 26, in her honor. She also adjourned the meeting in memory of Bruce Connelly, who served on the Oakley City Council from 2005-2010, and served as Mayor in 2008.
There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 10:59 p.m.
Respectively Submitted,
Libby Vreonis
City Clerk