MINUTES OF THE
REGULAR MEETING – CITY COUNCIL
April 18, 2022
City Council Meeting Minutes Page 1 April 18, 2022
Mayor Harris called a Regular Meeting of the City Council to order at 7:00 PM via teleconference, complete proceedings of which were electronically recorded. The meeting agenda was posted on the City Hall outdoor bulletin board at 100 Gregory Lane, Pleasant Hill, CA on April 14, 2022, by Deputy City Clerk Juanita Davalos.
1. CALL TO ORDER
2. ROLL CALL
Attendee Name Title Status
Michael G. Harris Mayor Present
Timothy M. Flaherty Vice Mayor Present
Ken Carlson Councilmember Present
Sue Noack Councilmember Present
Matthew Rinn Councilmember Present
3. PRESENTATIONS
None
4. CITY MANAGER COMMENTS:
June Catalano, City Manager, reported that:
the deadline for weed abatement is May 4, 2022;
Maintenance staff assisted the Pleasant Hill Police Department in rescuing a family of baby ducks and their mother; and
over 200 people attended the opening of Off the Grid held on April 6, 2022.
5. COUNCIL ANNOUNCEMENTS AND REPORTS
5.1 Reports from Councilmembers on Meetings or Conferences Attended at City Expense
(A) Contra Costa Mayors Conference Held via Teleconference on April 7, 2022
Councilmember Noack reported her attendance at the Contra Costa Mayors Conference.
Mayor Harris reported his attendance at the Contra Costa Mayors Conference and provided a brief report on the discussion topic.
(B) Other Meetings Attended at City Expense
Mayor Harris thanked all of the Councilmembers who attended the Mayor’s State of the City Breakfast.
City Council Meeting Minutes Page 2 April 18, 2022
5.2 Announcements from Councilmembers
Mayor Harris reported his attendance at Off the Grid and at the ribbon cutting ceremony for Advanced Auto Parts.
Councilmember Carlson reported his attendance at Off the Grid and at a Pleasant Hill Chamber of Commerce Government Affairs Committee meeting. Councilmember Carlson reported that he spoke at a John Muir Community Health Fund graduation ceremony.
6. PUBLIC COMMENT
Mayor Harris opened public comment.
There was no public comment.
Mayor Harris closed public comment.
7. CONSENT CALENDAR
Motion (Flaherty/Carlson) to Approve all consent items excluding item 7.5, which was pulled for further discussion, carried as follows:
AYES: Carlson, Flaherty, Noack, Rinn, Harris
7.1 Approve Minutes for the Regular City Council Meeting of April 4, 2022
7.2 Approve Checks Dated: April 1, 2022; April 8, 2022
7.3 Approve Appointment Recommendation to the Contra Costa Mosquito Vector Control District Board of Trustees
7.4 Adopt Resolution No. 24-22 Accepting Funds and Authorizing Expenditures from the California Supplement Law Enforcement Services Account (SLESA)
7.5 Adopt Resolution No. 25-22 Approving a $60,000 One-Time Grant to the Pleasant Hill Chamber of Commerce and Authorizing the City Manager to Execute the Grant Agreement - Item Pulled from Consent
Vice Mayor Flaherty requested a staff report on item 7.5.
Zach Seal, Economic Development Manager, delivered the staff report and provided the background on the grant request. Vice Mayor Flaherty asked about the other expenditures of the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds. Erick Cheung, Finance Manager, said that a presentation on the ARPA funds is scheduled as item 8.3 on the agenda.
City Council Meeting Minutes Page 3 April 18, 2022
Councilmember Noack explained that the grant is intended to replace lost revenue from cancelled events due to COVID-19, and to provide financial assistance to the Pleasant Hill Chamber of Commerce (Chamber).
Councilmember Carlson said that the grant is a gifting of funds to the Chamber due to the pandemic. He remarked that an agreement may not be necessary.
Vice Mayor Flaherty asked about an accountability provision in the grant agreement documenting the use of funds. Councilmember Noack and Susan Hurl, President of the Pleasant Hill Chamber of Commerce, explained how the funds would be tracked.
Janet Coleson, City Attorney, explained that the City Council can amend the resolution to include an accountability clause without having to modify the grant agreement.
Ms. Hurl expressed her agreement that the Chamber would be willing to report back to the City on the use of funds.
Motion (Flaherty/Carlson) to Approve item 7.5 as amended, carried as follows:
AYES: Carlson, Flaherty, Noack, Rinn, Harris
8. ADMINISTRATION AND FINANCE
8.1 Adopt Resolution No. 26-22 Approving Participation in the Public Agencies PostEmployment Benefits Trust Program, Establishing the City of Pleasant Hill Pension Rate Stabilization Program Funding and Withdrawal Policy, and Authorizing the City Manager to Execute an Agreement with Public Agency Retirement Services (PARS) to Establish and Administer a Section 115 Trust Councilmember Rinn recused himself from participating on this item.
Erick Cheung, Finance Manager, introduced Rachel Sanders from the Public Agency Retirement Services (PARS).
Ms. Sanders delivered a presentation on working with PARS and its banking and investment partners. Ms. Sanders explained the purpose and benefits of Section 115 Prefunded Trusts. She reported on the City’s pension funding status and commented on its projected employer contributions.
Mr. Cheung explained the necessity to earn extra interest income in order to address rising costs.
Mr. Cheung reported that the Budget Committee recommended proceeding with a Section 115 Trust.
Councilmember Carlson asked about the investment policy and the contributions based upon the higher of $50,000 or 10% of the annual unassigned General Fund surplus balance to be City Council Meeting Minutes Page 4 April 18, 2022
transferred to the Section 155 Trust. Ms. Sanders and Mr. Cheung responded to Councilmember Carlson.
Councilmember Noack explained the purpose of the unassigned General Funds and commented that the 10% or $50,000 contribution is the minimum amount.
Mayor Harris reiterated that Councilmember Rinn had recused himself and was not in the meeting room.
Councilmember Carlson expressed concern that the language regarding the 10% or $50,000 contribution as a minimum amount is not clear and recommended amending the resolution to clarify.
Mayor Harris asked about the fee structure, which was answered by Ms. Sanders.
Mayor Harris opened public comment.
There was no public comment.
Mayor Harris closed public comment.
Motion (Noack/Carlson) to Approve item 8.1 amended, carried as follows:
AYES: Carlson, Flaherty, Noack, Harris
RECUSED: Rinn
8.2 Adopt Resolution No. 27-22 Approving an Updated General Fund Reserve Policy Erick Cheung, Finance Manager, provided the background and purpose of the City’s General Fund reserve. Mr. Cheung spoke about the need to update the General Fund Reserve Policy to include the Pension Rate Stabilization Reserve with the intent to fund the Section 115 Pension PARS Trust.
Mayor Harris opened public comment.
There was no public comment.
Mayor Harris closed public comment.
Councilmember Noack remarked on the Budget Committee feeling it was appropriate that the $1,000,000 going into the Section 115 Pension PARS Trust come from the $10,000,000 General Fund reserve.
Motion (Noack/Flaherty) to Approve item 8.2, carried as follows:
AYES: Carlson, Flaherty, Noack, Rinn, Harris
City Council Meeting Minutes Page 5 April 18, 2022
8.3 Adopt Resolution No. 28-22 Approving Amendments to the Annual Budget for Fiscal Year 2021/22 to Appropriate American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) Funds and Elect the Standard Allowance Allowed by the U.S. Treasury for the Revenue Loss Category
Erick Cheung, Finance Manager, delivered the presentation regarding COVID-19 relief funding and explained the eligible uses of the funds provided by the Appropriate American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA), which is administered by the federal government. Mr. Cheung reported that the City received an allocation of $8.3 million from the ARPA. He said that the U.S. Treasury issued a “Final Rule” regarding the use and reporting of ARPA funds.
Mayor Harris opened public comment.
There was no public comment.
Mayor Harris closed public comment.
Motion (Flaherty/Noack) to Approve item 8.3, carried as follows:
AYES: Carlson, Flaherty, Noack, Rinn, Harris
8.4 Conduct a Discussion on City of Pleasant Hill Teleconferenced Public Meetings and Returning to In-person Meetings
Janet Coleson, City Attorney, summarized State law AB 361 which temporarily authorizes local agencies to use teleconferencing without having to comply with the requirements imposed by the Brown Act. Ms. Coleson discussed the options available to the City Council regarding the format of future meetings. Ms. Coleson and Danielle Habr, Principal Management Analyst/City Clerk, confirmed that the City Council would be able to conduct hybrid meetings.
Councilmembers, Ms. Coleson, Ms. Habr, and June Catalano, City Manager, engaged in discussions regarding logistics and safety protocols for conducting in person or hybrid meetings; allowing flexibility for the City commissions and committees to self-determine their meeting protocols; and researching how other jurisdictions are conducting their meetings.
Mayor Harris opened public comment.
There was no public comment.
Mayor Harris closed public comment.
Councilmembers, Ms. Habr, Ms. Coleson, and Ms. Catalano continued further dialogue regarding training for Councilmembers and staff for hybrid meetings; contact tracing and social distancing protocols; and allowing for the most flexible policy under AB 361.
City Council Meeting Minutes Page 6 April 18, 2022
The City Council provided directions to staff for allowing a hybrid meeting to be conducted in June 2022.
9. PUBLIC WORKS AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT
9.1 Adopt Resolution No. ___-22 Approving a Preferred Land Use Alternative for the Preparation of the Update of the General Plan and Housing Element Item is continued to the meeting of May 2, 2022
10. ADJOURNMENT
Mayor Harris adjourned the meeting at 8:34 p.m. The next regular meeting will be held on Monday, May 2, 2022, beginning at 7:00 p.m.
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CAROL W. WU, CITY CLERK RECORDER