NOTICE OF SPECIAL MEETING
CITY COUNCIL
CITY OF REDLANDS, CALIFORNIA
MONDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 2023
In accordance with California Government Code Section 54956, Mayor Tejeda has called a special meeting of the City Council to be held on FEBRUARY 13, 2023 at 6:00 p.m. in the Council Chambers, Civic Center, 35 Cajon Street, Redlands, California, for the following purpose:
To join via Zoom on a computer, laptop, or smart device Please visit www.zoom.us
, click on Join a Meeting
Enter the Meeting ID 878 3771 5822 then run the Zoom launcher To join via Zoom with audio only (cell phone or landline):
Dial 1-877-853-5247
Enter the Meeting ID 878 3771 5822
Should the City lose connectivity with Zoom, we will halt the meeting until it can be restored. To check on the status of remote connectivity in the event of an outage, go to the City’s website at www.cityofredlands.org or to the City’s Facebook page at
@CityofRedlands or the Instagram page at @CityofRedlands_CityHall.
In the event the City cannot reestablish Zoom connectivity in a reasonable amount of time, the mayor will adjourn the meeting to a future date.
PLEASE NOTE: Anyone desiring to speak on an agendized item at this meeting may do so during the consideration of that item. Due to time constraints and the number of persons who may wish to give oral testimony, public comments will be limited to three (3) minutes.
To provide comment while participating from Council Chambers:
Although it is not required, speakers are encouraged to submit a "Speaker Sign Up Sheet" before the meeting is convened. Forms are available in the Office of the City Clerk or in Council Chambers.
After the meeting has convened, you may place the speaker form in the basket at the table along the north wall of the Chambers. Please do not disturb the City Clerk while the meeting is in progress.
To provide comment through Zoom (on a computer, laptop, or smart device):
Click the "Raise Hand" button and the moderator will unmute you when it is your turn to speak
To provide comment via audio only (cell phone or landline):
Dial *9 to "Raise Hand". The moderator will identify you by your area code and last 3 numbers of your telephone number when it is your turn to speak.
PLEASE SILENCE CELL PHONES, PAGERS AND OTHER ELECTRONIC
COMMUNICATION DEVICES UPON ENTERING THE CHAMBERS
A. Call Special Meeting to Order
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A. Call Special Meeting to Order
B. Public Comment - City Council
(At this time, the City Council will provide an opportunity for the public to address them on any subject, within the jurisdiction of the City Council, which is not already scheduled on this agenda. However, any matter that requires action will be referred to staff for a report and possible action at a subsequent meeting. Comments will be limited to three {3} minutes.) C. Study Session Workshop
1. Discussion and Possible Action Related to California Assembly Bill 2449 (Assistant City Manager McConnell)
2. Discussion and possible action to prioritize projects requested by individual City Council Members and report on previously selected projects (City Manager Duggan)
D. Adjournment
If you challenge any proposed development entitlement listed on this agenda in court, you may be limited to raising only those issues you or someone else raised at the public hearing described in this notice, or in written correspondence delivered to the City Council at or prior to this public hearing.
In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, if you need special assistance to participate in this meeting, please contact Goutam Dobey, of the Municipal Utilities and Engineering Department at (909) 798-7584 ext 2. Notification 48 hours prior to the meeting will enable the City to make reasonable arrangements to ensure accessibility to this meeting.
(28 CFR 35.102-35.104 ADA Title II)
Any writings or documents distributed to a majority of the City Council regarding an open session agenda item less than 72 hours before this meeting are available for public inspection at the City Clerk's Office or at the dais of the City Clerk once the open session meeting begins.
Staff reports or other written documentation relating to items referred to on the agenda are available at the A. K. Smiley Public Library, 125 West Vine Street, Redlands, California, and on the City’s website referenced below.
Regular meetings are televised live on Redlands TV Channel 3 (Spectrum) and Channel 35 (Frontier) and re-broadcast at 7:00 P.M. the following Wednesday, Friday and Sunday; and at 9:00 A.M. Thursday, Saturday and Monday. Meetings are also streamed live and archived for later viewing on demand on the City’s website at www.cityofredlands.org. Agendas, staff reports and minutes of the City Council of the City of Redlands are available online at: www.cityofredlands.org.
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City Council Special Meeting C. 1.
DATE: 02/13/2023
TO: Honorable Mayor and City Council Members
SUBJECT: Discussion and Possible Action Related to California Assembly Bill 2449 (Assistant City Manager McConnell)
MOTION:
The following motions are provided:
I move that the City Council authorize the continued use of Zoom for all meetings of the City Council in order to comply with teleconferencing requirements as described in California Assembly Bill 2449.
OR
I move that the City Council discontinue the use of Zoom for all meetings of the City Council.
The City Council may also provide direction to staff regarding the use of Zoom for all meetings of the City's Commissions, Boards and Committees as noted in the discussion below.
DISCUSSION:
AB 2449 Summary
In September 2022, California Governor Gavin Newsom signed California Assembly Bill 2449 (AB 2449). Beginning in January 2023, AB 2449 authorizes a local agency to use teleconferencing without complying with the teleconferencing requirements of the Brown Act that requires:
Each teleconference location be identified in the notice and agenda; and1.
Each teleconference location be accessible to the public.2.
Under the new legislation, local agencies do not have to comply with the aforementioned Brown Act provisions provided at least a quorum of the members of the legislative body participate in person from a singular physical Redlands Special Meeting of 02-13-23
location clearly identified on the agenda that is open to the public and situated within the local agency’s jurisdiction.
Under this exception and until AB 2449 expires on January 1, 2026, members of the legislative body are authorized to participate remotely under two specified circumstances, “just cause” or “emergency circumstances.” Just Cause and Emergency Circumstances Definitions & Procedures Just Cause is defined as the following:
Childcare or caregiving of a child, parent, grandparent, grandchild, sibling, spouse, or domestic partner that requires a Council Member to participate remotely.
A contagious illness that prevents a member from attending in person.
A need related to a physical or mental disability
Travel while on official business of the City Council or another state or local agency.
In order for the Council Member to participate under the Just Cause exception, the Council Member must notify the Council at the earliest opportunity of the need to participate remotely and a general explanation as to which of the aforementioned categories requires their remote participation.
It is important to note that the Just Cause exception may only be used by a Council Member twice in a calendar year.
Emergency Circumstances is defined as a physical or family medical emergency that prevents a Council Member from attending in person.
In order for a Council Member to participate remotely under the Emergency Circumstances exception, the Council Member must notify the Council at the earliest opportunity and provide a brief description of the need to teleconference under Emergency Circumstances. The Council must take formal action approving the request. If the request does not allow for the item to be placed on the agenda, the Council may take action on the matter at the beginning of the meeting by majority vote.
It is important to note that whether it be the Just Cause or Emergency Circumstances exception, any Council Member may not attend remotely for more than 3 consecutive months or 20 percent of the regular meetings within a calendar year. Therefore, the maximum number of meetings a Council Member may teleconference under AB 2449 is 4 meetings per calendar year.
City Council Meeting AB 2449 Requirements
For the City Council to operate within the parameters of AB 2449 and the teleconferencing requirements contained within, the Council will need to provide Redlands Special Meeting of 02-13-23
the following means of additional accessibility to Council meetings:
A two-way audiovisual platform or two-way telephonic service and live webcast of the meeting to address the Council.
Council must give notice of means by which members of the public may access and provide comment.
Council agenda must identify a call-in option, an internet-based service option, and accessibility at the in-person location of the meeting.
Council must not take action if the call-in option or internet-based service is lost.
Council cannot require that public comment be submitted in advance of the meeting.
Since Council meetings began being offered via Zoom, the City is currently in compliance with each of these requirements. However, a few additional requirements will be placed on Council Members as part of AB 2449. Those requirements include the following:
Council Members participating remotely MUST participate via audio and video technology.
Council Members participating remotely must publicly disclose at the meeting and before any action has been taken, if an individual 18 years or older is present in the telecommunication location and what the relationship is to that person.
City Council Options
In October 2022, Governor Gavin Newsom announced that the COVID-19 State of Emergency will end on February 28, 2023. As a result, and at that time, the City Council will no longer be able to teleconference under AB 361 guidelines.
AB 361 allowed the City to conduct fully remote or hybrid teleconference City Council meetings without meeting the teleconference access and notice requirements of the Brown Act, provided the Governor has declared a state of emergency and the Council has either imposed or recommended measures to promote social distancing OR have found meeting in person would present imminent risks to health or safety of attendees.
On March 1, 2023, the City Council will have the following options available to it related to teleconferencing.
AB 2449 Just Cause or Emergency Circumstances (requires Zoom for meeting)
Traditional Brown Act teleconferencing
The AB 2449 Just Cause or Emergency Circumstances requirements were outlined earlier in this memo.
Traditional Brown Act teleconferencing would require the following:
At least a quorum of the City Council must participate from Redlands Special Meeting of 02-13-23
teleconferencing locations within the City of Redlands.
Each teleconference location must be identified in the notice and agenda of the meeting.
Agendas must be posted at each teleconference location.
Each location must be accessible to the public.
The agenda must provide the opportunity for the public to address the City Council directly at each teleconference location.
All votes must be by roll call.
CITY COMMISSIONS, BOARDS AND COMMITTEES
Since AB 2449 applies to all members of the legislative bodies of the City, the City Council may choose to authorize Zoom for all meetings of the City's Commissions, Boards and Committees (collectively "Commission(s)"). In making this decision, the City Council may wish to consider how often teleconferencing has been used by members of the various Commissions and how regularly the public has participated via Zoom at the Commission meetings. Should the Council desire to revert back to all in-person Commission meetings with public participation in person, teleconferencing under the exceptions of AB 2449 or traditional Brown Act teleconferencing can be accommodated as long as advanced notice is given to staff in order to properly notice the meeting and set-up Zoom. If advanced notice could not be given, the Commission member would not be able to participate via teleconferencing, resulting in a meeting absence.
ALTERNATIVES:
The City Council may elect to discontinue the regular use of Zoom for all meetings of the City Council. However, to comply with teleconferencing requirements as described in California Assembly Bill 2449, City staff must receive notice well in advance of a meeting in order to authorize Zoom and issue the proper notice on the meeting agenda.
SUBMITTED BY:
Janice McConnell, Assistant City Manager
RECOMMENDED BY:
Charles M. Duggan Jr., City Manager
REVIEWED BY:
Chris Boatman, Assistant City Manager
Danielle Garcia, Management Services Director
Yvette Abich Garcia, City Attorney
PREPARED BY:
Ross Wittman, Project Manager
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Fiscal Impact
Discussion:
There is no fiscal impact associated with this agenda item.
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City Council Special Meeting C. 2.
DATE: 02/13/2023
TO: Honorable Mayor and City Council Members
SUBJECT: Discussion and possible action to prioritize projects requested by individual City Council Members and report on previously selected projects (City Manager Duggan)
DISCUSSION:
On October 18, 2021, the City Council held its first workshop to discuss and prioritize requested projects made by individual City Council Members to the City Manager. This approach was taken to allow us to better focus finite staff time on items the full Council wishes to pursue and in which order. As a result of the October workshop, City Council identified the following four projects for staff to explore for possible development.
Adding on-street parking downtown (Former Council Member Foster)1.
Progress reporting to greater community on Resolution No. 8113 Racism is a Public Health Crisis (Council Member Davis)
2. Explore the creation of a mental health response team (Council Member Guzman-Lowery)
3. Explore local union labor required for City Projects (Mayor Tejeda)4.
On April 20, 2022, the City Council held its second workshop. City Manager Duggan provided an update on the four projects identified above. Projects 1, 2, and 3 continued as priority research projects. Project 4 was deferred to the City Manager for recommendation at a later time if deemed appropriate. No new priority research projects were identified.
WORKSHOP AGENDA
Brief report by staff on progress relating to the three identified projects followed by Council discussion and possible direction.
1. Review and possible prioritization of further projects. Attachment "A" includes projects previously identified by individual City Council Members.
2. Redlands Special Meeting of 02-13-23
PROJECT PROGRESS REPORT
Adding on-street parking downtown (Former Council Member Foster) The Downtown Parking Study is currently underway. Progress includes the recent completion of the Existing Conditions Report. This report provides an inventory of parking in the downtown as well as results of parking utilization surveys. It also includes responses from intercept surveys that the City's consultant undertook with random people in the downtown and employees of businesses on State Street. It also incorporates excerpts related to parking from the City’s recently completed community survey.
The next phase of the project will involve options and recommendations related to parking improvements and parking management. Staff anticipates discussions with the Traffic and Parking Commission on these sometime in March/April and then moving forward to the City Council in late spring or early summer.
Progress reporting to greater community on Resolution No. 8113 Declaring Racism is a Public Health Crisis (Council Member Davis) As previously reported, staff conducted research to identify how other municipalities are reporting Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion efforts in support of Resolution No. 8113. Staff found that organizations that are reporting significant progress in DEI on their websites have dedicated resources to this area. While the City does not have a dedicated Office of Equity, staff is focusing efforts towards the advancement of DEI as provided in the City's 6-Year Strategic Plan.
The City's management team began its extensive DEI training last year in June. Training is held quarterly. Topics have included DEI 101, unconscious bias, and, most recently, mitigating microaggression. The next training session will include creating psychological safety. Staff recognizes the significance of this training as we delve into assessing department policies and practices to support DEI and Resolution No. 8113.
Staff continues to work on reporting methods to the community on the City's DEI efforts. Due to GIS staffing shortages, exploring the use of Esri's ArcGIS Hub (Hub) is on hold temporarily. Conceptually, the Hub would be an ideal avenue for the City’s reporting on its DEI efforts once the City makes decisions on which data is available and relevant to the City’s DEI efforts. The Hub will allow the user to examine the information and statistics on the City’s efforts in the manner they wish. In the meanwhile, the City's website has been expanded to include DEI efforts the City has undertaken.
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Explore the creation of a mental health response team (Council Member Guzman-Lowery)
At the last workshop, staff reported on the volume of calls for service (CFS) for persons in mental health crises and found that it has remained relatively steady for the past four years with an average of 110 calls per year. Staff also reported that cities have implemented a variety of team-based approaches to improve the handling of mental health crisis calls, such as Mobile Crisis Response Team (MCRT). MCRTs are designed to allow for the immediate stabilization of the situation provided by the officer, the handling of any immediate medical issues by the paramedic, followed by service identification and delivery provided by the mental health professional. MCRTs are becoming more popular throughout the country, especially in areas with larger populations, higher volumes of mental health crisis calls, and readily available mental health professionals.
As requested by Council Members Davis and Guzman-Lowery staff researched the mental health response teams for the cities of Eugene, Oregon, and Riverside, California.
EUGENE, OR
The City of Eugene CAHOOTS (Crisis Assistance Helping Out On The Streets) program is a mobile crisis intervention program staffed by White Bird Clinic (mental health clinic) and has been in place for nearly 30 years.
CAHOOTS provides support for the Eugene Police Department (EPD) by taking on many of the social service type calls for service to include crisis counseling. CAHOOTS personnel often provide initial contact and transport for people who are intoxicated, mentally ill or disoriented, as well as transport for necessary non-emergency medical care.
The City of Euguene funds the CAHOOTS program through the EPD. For FY17-18, the CAHOOTS annual budget was $798,000 which funded 31 hours of service per day, seven days a week. One van was on duty 24 hours a day, and another provided overlap coverage 7 hours a day. For FY 22-23, the CAHOOTS annual budget is not-to-exceed $835,656.
In 2021, CAHOOTS was dispatched and arrived at 16,479 calls for service (~45 calls per day). CAHOOTS records indicate they divert 3-8% of calls from EPD. If not for CAHOOTS, an officer would be dispatched to handle the situation. Some of the CAHOOTS calls are a joint response, or CAHOOTS is summoned to a police or fire call after it is determined their services are a better match to resolve the situation.
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RIVERSIDE, CA
In 2019, the Riverside City Council voted unanimously to allocate $3.45m in Measure Z money to create a Public Safety and Engagement Team (PSET).
The multi-department approach is designed to maintain order in public places while also providing homeless individuals with a path out of homelessness.
Employees from Police, Community and Economic Development, and Parks, Recreation, and Community Services have received training on mental health, public health, and engaging with homeless individuals.
PSET stats for the first 5 months of 2021 are below:
Jan
2021
Feb
2021
Mar
2021
Apr
2021
May
2021
Total
Locations 526 476 521 510 368 2,401
Number of Contacts (Engagement) 524 472 522 563 405 2,486 Number of Individuals Accepting
Services
49 23 46 54 62 234
Number of Code Enforcement
Notices Issued
147 122 153 147 87 656
Number of Citations Issued 32 33 44 48 24 181
Number of Arrests 39 50 47 73 44 253
Tons of Trash / Debris Removed
From Public Areas / Public Rights
of way
41.64 61.1 46.14 43.51 24.71 217.1
Vehicles Towed 1 3 6 1 8 19
With less than half of one call per day on average and the funding required to support a mental health response team, the City Council should decide whether it is appropriate to continue pursuing such an effort at this time.
SUBMITTED BY:
Janice McConnell, Assistant City Manager
RECOMMENDED BY:
Charles M. Duggan, Jr., City Manager
REVIEWED BY:
Yvette M. Abich Garcia, City Attorney
Attachments
Attachment "A" - Research Projects
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City Council Member Research Projects / Requests to possibly appear on a future agenda Revised 2/9/2023 CC Member Item Request made Notes
Underway
Barich Transitional housing for the homeless Existing Good Nite Inn (HOMEKEY) Davis Low Income Utility Bill Assistance Existing In progress Tejeda Local Union Labor required for city projects – check Palm Springs Existing Deferred to CM Tejeda Procedure for selecting individuals to fill a City Council vacancy 10/9/2021 12/20/22 Council Mtg tabled
Tejeda Warehouse Tax Nov. Ballot
1 Davis Implement Esri Hub 7/16/2021 On Hold (GIS staffing) 2 Davis Racism is a Public Health Crisis Reso Section 4: A. annual training on implicit bias, etc. Existing Strategic Plan Objective
3 Davis Racism is a Public Health Crisis Reso Section 4: C. diversity based hiring practices Existing Strategic Plan Objective 4 Davis Racism is a Public Health Crisis Reso Section 4: E. progress reporting to greater community Existing Website updated
Esri Hub On Hold
5 Davis Racism is a Public Health Crisis Reso Section 4: I. GARE membership follow-up reporting Existing Staff to revisit membership
6 Guzman-Lowery Explore the creation of a Mental Health Response Team 10/13/2021 7 Guzman-Lowery Inclusionary housing / Affordable Housing 12/2/2021 Inclusionary Housing to PC
2/14, Affordable Housing
Strategic Plan Objective
8 Tejeda NREL's instant solar permitting app 7/16/2021
9 Tejeda Adding on street parking downtown – ex. Eureka between Redlands and Brookside 7/15/2021 Downtown Parking Study in
progress
CC Member Item Request made Notes
Not Prioritized
1 Barich RUSD pool use over summer by P&R Existing
2 Davis Racism is a Public Health Crisis Reso Section 4: B. assessing and revising department policies Existing
3 Davis Racism is a Public Health Crisis Reso Section 4: D. diversity of commissions, race, age, gender Existing
4 Davis Racism is a Public Health Crisis Reso Section 4: F. amplify issues of racism and engaging Existing
5 Davis Racism is a Public Health Crisis Reso Section 4: G. adding health, etc. to purview of commissions Existing
6 Davis Racism is a Public Health Crisis Reso Section 4: H. support “Unity of Community” Existing 7 Davis FRAN / Free Rides Around the Neighborhood - Anaheim Resort Transportation (rideart.org) 11/21/2021
8 Davis Sign Code Amendment to allow flag signs for businesses 9 Davis City shuttle services 7/21/2022
10 Davis Contract for female trauma councilors 1/10/2023 11 Davis Expand Omnitrans bus to connect to RCH for workers and patients 1/10/2023 12 Davis Community Centers as safe night shelters 1/10/2023 13 Davis Ordinance to ban gas leaf blowers in Redlands 2/9/2023 14 Davis / Guzman-
Lowery Bicycle sharing program 12/1/2021
15 Guzman-Lowery Northside Econ Dev/Opportunity Zones (small business incentives) Existing 16 Guzman-Lowery Green Infrastructure 2/1/2023
17 Guzman-Lowery Parks and Open Space 2/1/2023
18 Saucedo Good Nite Inn Naming Committee 1/30/2023
19 Saucedo Crosswalk at intersection of E. Pioneer Ave. and Occidental St. 2/9/2023 20 Saucedo Landscape plan for Santa Ana River Trail bluff along Riverview Drive from Cave St to Riverbend Dr. 2/9/2023
21 Tejeda Palm moratorium Existing
22 Tejeda Policy to prohibit long term leases for city property Existing 23 Tejeda Holiday Art and Decorations and RUSD – funding? Existing 24 Tejeda Elected Mayor research and questions 10/6/2021 25 Tejeda Match ADU fees to square footage on a graduating scale 10/13/2021 26 Tejeda Create rental information resource for ADU owners 10/13/2021 27 Tejeda Playgrounds for special needs children 10/13/2021 28 Tejeda Require planting drought tolerant trees in parking lots to reduce heat islands 10/13/2021 29 Tejeda Live Oak Canyon Protections 7/21/2022
30 Tejeda Sidewalk Vendor Ordinance Under staff review
31 Tejeda / Davis Flag Policy 6/7/2022
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