CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES
MINUTES FOR MEETING OF: Tuesday – June 18, 2024
MINUTES FOR Regular City Council Meeting of June 18, 2024 As Approved by the City Council at their regular meeting of July 2, 2024 Please note that these are action minutes only. Detailed raw transcript is attached to the minutes and made a part of the public record. These action minutes are the City’s record of a summary of actions that took place at the meeting. The vote/action is the required information of the meeting actions that took place. Approved minutes are available on the City Council Meetings page.
The public is advised that pursuant to Government Code section 54957.5 all writings submitted to the City and City Council are public records and will be made available for review. 6:00 pm City Council Regular Meeting, In Person – Sebastopol Youth Annex, 425 Morris Street, Sebastopol, CA/Virtual Format (Zoom)
Call to Order: Mayor Rich called the Regular Meeting to Order at 6:00 pm.
Roll Call:
Present: Mayor Diana Gardner Rich
Vice Mayor Stephen Zollman
Councilmember Neysa Hinton
Councilmember Sandra Maurer
Councilmember Jill McLewis
Absent: None
Staff: City Manager Don Schwartz (Zoom)
City Attorney Larry McLaughlin
Assistant City Manager/City Clerk Mary Gourley
Administrative Services Director Ana Kwong
City Engineer/GHD Consultant Toni Bertolero
Police Chief Ron Nelson
SALUTE TO THE FLAG : Mayor Rich led the salute to the flag.
REMOTE PARTICIPATION UNDER AB 2449 (IF NEEDED): To consider and take action on any request from a Council Member to participate in a meeting remotely due to Just Cause or Emergency Circumstances pursuant to AB 2449 (Government Code Section 549539(f)). None Required.
PROCLAMATIONS/PRESENTATIONS:
The following was presented:
• Proclamation Recognizing Larry McLaughlin Upon his Retirement from the City of Sebastopol after 37 years of service.
Reference Order Number: 2024-129
STATEMENTS OF CONFLICTS OF INTEREST: Conflicts of interest may arise in situations where a public official deliberating towards a decision, has an actual or potential financial interest in the matter before the Council. In accordance with state law, an actual conflict of Agenda Item Number: 3
Agenda Item Number 3/City Council Meeting Packet for Meeting of: July 2, 2024 / Page 1 of 78 interest is one that would be to the private financial benefit of a public official, a relative or a business with which the Councilmember is associated. A potential conflict of interest is one that could be to the private financial benefit of a Councilmember, a relative or a business with which the Councilmember is associated. A Councilmember must publicly announce potential and actual conflicts of interest, and, in the case of actual conflict of interest, must refrain from participating in debate on the issue or from voting on the issue and must remove themselves from the dais.
There were no stated conflicts of interest by City Councilmembers.
PUBLIC COMMENT FOR ITEMS NOT ON THE AGENDA (FIRST COMMENT PERIOD):
Up to Twenty (20) Minute Time Limit (Two Minutes for up to ten speakers). Additional public comment will be held at the end of the discussion and action items for up to an additional twenty (20) minutes. Mayor has discretion to allow for additional time beyond the 20 minutes allocated for public comment dependent upon the subject matter or number of speakers.
Process for calling on Speakers: Mayor or designee shall ask for public comment as follows: Speakers to be called on in an alternate manner (One speaker in person to be called on first; then one speaker remote to be called on second with additional speakers to be called on in the same manner) based upon the time limit.
The following members of the public spoke during public comment:
Kyle
Admin
Oliver
Linda
Kate
Myriah
Mayor Rich responded to public comment.
City Attorney McLaughlin responded to public comment.
CONSENT CALENDAR: The consent agenda consists of items that are routine in nature and do not require additional discussion by the City Council or have been reviewed by the City Council previously. These items may be approved by one motion without discussion unless a member of the City Council requests that the item be taken off the consent calendar.
The Mayor will read the consent calendar items; ask if a Councilmember wishes to remove one or more items from the consent calendar; and then open public comment to the members of the public in attendance. At this time, a member of the public may speak for up to three minutes on the entire consent calendar and request at that time that an agenda item or items be removed for discussion.
If an item or items are removed from the consent calendar, the item shall be placed at the end of the regular agenda items unless otherwise determined by the Mayor or Mayor Pro Tern.
Councilmembers may comment on Consent Calendar items or ask for minor clarifications without the need for pulling the item for separate consideration. Items requiring deliberation should be pulled for separate consideration and shall be placed at the end of the regular agenda items unless otherwise determined by the Mayor or Mayor Pro Tem.
Mayor Rich asked if any Councilmember wanted to remove a consent calendar item. There were none.
Mayor Rich opened for Public Comment(s). The following member(s) of the public provided public comment.
Linda
Kyle
Mayor Rich responded to public comment.
MOTION:
Vice Mayor Zollman moved and Councilmember Hinton seconded the motion to approve Consent Calendar Item Number(s) 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6.
Mayor Rich called for a roll call vote. City staff conducted a roll call vote.
Agenda Item Number: 3
Agenda Item Number 3/City Council Meeting Packet for Meeting of: July 2, 2024 / Page 2 of 78 VOTE:
Ayes: Councilmembers Hinton, Maurer, McLewis, Vice Mayor Zollman and Mayor Rich Noes: None
Absent: None
Abstain: None
1. Approval of City Council Meeting Minutes - Special Meeting of June 4, 2024 – City Attorney Services Proposal Interviews (Responsible Department: City Administration) City Council Action: Approved City Council Meeting Minutes - Special Meeting of June 4, 2024 – City Attorney Services Proposal Interviews
Minute Order Number: 2024-130
2. Approval of City Council Meeting Minutes for Regular Meeting of June 4, 2024 (Responsible Department:
City Administration)
City Council Action: Approved City Council Meeting Minutes for Regular Meeting of June 4, 2024 Minute Order Number: 2024-131
3. Approval of Resolution Calling and Giving Notice of a General Municipal Election to be held on Tuesday, November 5, 2024 (The first Tuesday after the first Monday in November of each year) for the Election of Members of the City Council as required, and Requesting the Sonoma County Board of Supervisors to Consolidate the General Municipal Election with the Statewide General Election to be held on that date pursuant to Elections Code; and Approval of Resolution Adopting Regulations for Candidates for Elective Office Pertaining to the Candidate Statement of Qualifications and Requiring Each Candidate Filing a Candidate Statement of Qualifications Pay in Advance to the Local Agency an Estimated Pro Rated Share ($800.00) as a Condition of Having Statement included in the Voters Pamphlet for the Municipal Election to be held on November 5, 2024.
a. (Two Seats Open at the November election: Neysa Hinton; Diana Rich) b. Nomination Papers will be available once the nomination period has opened (not earlier than the 113th day nor later than the 88th day before the municipal election). Appointments will be required. Candidates must obtain and complete the official nomination documents that are issued by the Office of the City Clerk. This is done during the official nomination period.
Nomination forms are issued at no charge. Hours Available are Monday through Thursday, Between 8:00am to 5:00pm (closed 12pm-1pm) except for City holidays. To schedule an appointment, please contact the City Clerk's Office. A candidate should be prepared to provide their name and residential address for validation of current voter registration and eligibility status.
c. Nomination period opens: July 15, 2024
d. Standard nomination period closes (deadline to file papers): August 9, 2024 e. Extended nomination period closes (deadline to file for a seat if one or more of the incumbents do not file): August 14, 2024
g. Election Day: November 5, 2024
h. Who Can Run for City Council:
• Be at least eighteen years of age or older
• Be a citizen of the United States
• Be a resident of the State of California
• Be a registered voter for not less than 30 days preceding the date of filing candidate papers. Registration will be verified before issuance of nomination papers. The candidate shall be and remain a qualified voter in the City from which he/she seeks office from the time of filing nomination papers, as well as, throughout the full term of his/her office.
Agenda Item Number: 3
Agenda Item Number 3/City Council Meeting Packet for Meeting of: July 2, 2024 / Page 3 of 78 • Have No Felony Convictions: A person is disqualified from holding an office upon conviction of designated crimes as specified in the Constitution and laws of the state. (Government Code Section 1021)
• If Elected, You Have to Serve: The Declaration of Candidacy, which each candidate must file, states that if elected the candidate will qualify for and accept the office. The affidavit also states that the candidate will not withdraw before the election. (Elections Code Section 8028, 8040, 10510, 10511) City Council Action: Approved Calling of Election/Candidate Statements Minute Order Number: 2024-132
Resolution Number: 6594-2024
6595-2024
4. Approval to Direct City Attorney to Review the Conflict of Interest Code. State law requires all public agencies, including cities, to adopt a conflict of interest code. This document identifies the positions required to file Statements of Economic Interests (Form 700) and sets forth the disclosure categories of types of interests that must be reported. These codes are to be reviewed and, if necessary, updated every two years in order to stay abreast of the current state of the law and to accurately reflect the individual office holders subject to the requirements. The update is required this calendar year. (Responsible Department: City Clerk)
City Council Action: Approved Direct City Attorney to Review the Conflict of Interest Code. State law requires all public agencies, including cities, to adopt a conflict of interest code. This document identifies the positions required to file Statements of Economic Interests (Form 700) and sets forth the disclosure categories of types of interests that must be reported. These codes are to be reviewed and, if necessary, updated every two years in order to stay abreast of the current state of the law and to accurately reflect the individual office holders subject to the requirements. The update is required this calendar year.
Minute Order Number: 2024-133
5. Approval of Acceptance of Improvements for public use and authorizing staff to file a Notice of Completion for Parquet Street Water and Sewer Replacement and Slurry Seal (the Project). The Project consisted of constructing new sewer mains, sewer manholes and laterals to replace leaking and aged sewer lines, which posed a threat to public health and the environment, and new water main and services to replace leaking water lines and lead services. (Responsible Department: Engineering) City Council Action: Approved Acceptance of Improvements for public use and authorizing staff to file a Notice of Completion for Parquet Street Water and Sewer Replacement and Slurry Seal (the Project). The Project consisted of constructing new sewer mains, sewer manholes and laterals to replace leaking and aged sewer lines, which posed a threat to public health and the environment, and new water main and services to replace leaking water lines and lead services.
Minute Order Number: 2024-134
6. Enhanced Infrastructure Finance District (EIFD) Award of Contract to Consultant, Kosmont Companies, and authorize Staff to execute an Agreement with the firm to provide Planning Consultant Services as well as perform all work required for the project, as described in the proposal from Kosmont Companies (Kosmont Proposal) in an amount not to exceed $50,000. Funding has been allocated and received from the County of Sonoma. There are no city funds expended for this contract. (Responsible Department:
Planning)
City Council Action: Enhanced Infrastructure Finance District (EIFD) Award of Contract to Consultant, Kosmont Companies, and authorize Staff to execute an Agreement with the firm to provide Planning Consultant Services as well as perform all work required for the project, as described in the proposal from Kosmont Companies (Kosmont Proposal) in an amount not to exceed $50,000. Funding has been allocated and received from the County of Sonoma. There are no city funds expended for this contract Minute Order Number: 2024-135
Agenda Item Number: 3
Agenda Item Number 3/City Council Meeting Packet for Meeting of: July 2, 2024 / Page 4 of 78 INFORMATIONAL ITEMS/PRESENTATIONS: Informational Items or Presentations are items that are informational only and do not require action by the City Council. Presentations shall be scheduled as necessary for the promotion of an event or service or general information items to the Council and should be limited to ten (10) minutes total in length of item (total length includes questions of Council to presenter and public comment).
NONE
7. Continuation - Consideration of Recommended Actions from Library Ad Hoc Committee. The Ad Hoc Committee was formed to explore future possibilities for Sebastopol’s Branch, including but not limited to the issues of increased staffing and adequate facilities. The item tonight is to receive the Report from the Library Ad Hoc Committee and discuss the recommended actions in the report. It is also recommended that the Ad Hoc Committee be dissolved as it was created for this specific purpose. Depending upon the outcome of the recommendations, the Council could consider a new Ad Hoc for specific actions. (Requestor: Vice Mayor Zollman)
Vice Mayor Zollman presented the agenda item recommending the City Council receive the report and support and approve the recommendations in the report.
Mayor Rich asked for questions of staff. The Council directed questions to City staff.
Mayor Rich opened for public comment. The following member(s) of the public spoke:
Oliver
Mary C.
Kate
Member of the audience
Robert
Kyle
Admin
Linda
City Council Discussion, Direction or Deliberations:
The City Council discussed the report and requested information MOTION:
Councilmember Maurer moved to:
• Dissolve the current sub-committee and approve creation of a new sub-committee • Appointed Vice Mayor Zollman to the sub-committee to address the recommendations starting in page 23 of 34
There was no second.
The Motion Fails Due to Lack of a Second.
Mayor Rich moved and Vice Mayor Zollman seconded the motion to support and approve the following recommendations:
• Dissolve the current ad hoc sub-committee and approve creation of a new sub-committee Agenda Item Number: 3
Agenda Item Number 3/City Council Meeting Packet for Meeting of: July 2, 2024 / Page 5 of 78 • Appointed Vice Mayor Zollman to the ad hoc sub-committee to address the recommendations starting in page 23 of 34
• No staff time
• Tasks of ad hoc as listed in the staff report page 23 – 25 of page 34 • The Committee shall provide quarterly interim reports to the Sebastopol City Council • Ad Hoc coordinate intentionally with other non profits in the community that may be serving the same purpose
• Focus on Grant Funding such as the ATP Grant to be leveraged • Council cautioning ad hoc committee not pre approving any project that might come back to the Council from the ad hoc
Mayor Rich called for a roll call vote. City staff conducted a roll call vote.
VOTE:
Ayes: Councilmembers Hinton, Maurer, McLewis, Vice Mayor Zollman and Mayor Rich Noes: None
Absent: None
Abstain: None
City Council Action: Approved the following recommendations:
• Dissolve the current ad hoc sub-committee and approve creation of a new sub-committee • Appointed Vice Mayor Zollman to the ad hoc sub-committee to address the recommendations starting in page 23 of 34
• No staff time
• Tasks of ad hoc as listed in the staff report page 23 – 25 of page 34 • The Committee shall provide quarterly interim reports to the Sebastopol City Council • Ad Hoc coordinate intentionally with other non profits in the community that may be serving the same purpose
• Focus on Grant Funding such as the ATP Grant to be leveraged • Council cautioning ad hoc committee not pre approving any project that might come back to the Council from the ad hoc
Minute Order Number: 2024-136
PUBLIC HEARING(s):
8. Continuation - Public Hearing - FY24-25 Street Lighting Assessment District - Conduct a public hearing, Adopt a resolution approving the annual Engineer’s Report, confirming the Assessment Diagram, and authorizing the levy of annual assessments for Fiscal Year 2024-25 for the City of Sebastopol Street Lighting Special Assessment District (Responsible Department: Administrative Services). This item was continued from the June 4, 2024 City Council Meeting to this meeting (time/date specific).
Administrative Services Director Kwong presented the agenda item.
Mayor Rich asked for questions of staff. The Council directed questions to City staff.
Mayor Rich opened the public hearing. The following member(s) of the public spoke:
Kyle
Linda
Agenda Item Number: 3
Agenda Item Number 3/City Council Meeting Packet for Meeting of: July 2, 2024 / Page 6 of 78 Robert
Hearing no further comments, Mayor Rich closed the public hearing.
City Council Discussion, Direction or Deliberations:
The City Council discussed the report.
MOTION:
Councilmember Hinton moved and Councilmember Maurer seconded the motion to Adopt a resolution approving the annual Engineer’s Report, confirming the Assessment Diagram, and authorizing the levy of annual assessments for Fiscal Year 2024-25 for the City of Sebastopol Street Lighting Special Assessment District.
Mayor Rich called for a roll call vote. City staff conducted a roll call vote.
VOTE:
Ayes: Councilmembers Hinton, Maurer, McLewis, Vice Mayor Zollman and Mayor Rich Noes: None
Absent: None
Abstain: None
City Council Action: Approved resolution approving the annual Engineer’s Report, confirming the Assessment Diagram, and authorizing the levy of annual assessments for Fiscal Year 2024-25 for the City of Sebastopol Street Lighting Special Assessment District.
Minute Order Number: 2024-137
Resolution Number: 6596-2024
9. Public Hearing – Public Hearing to fulfill the public protest hearing requirements in the Proposition 218 to consider a proposed increase to our City’s water and sewer rates to fund its costs for providing safe and reliable water service, including operational costs, along with capital improvement needs of the City’s water and sewer utilities and equitably recover from all customers. Upon its conclusion, the City Council shall consider adoption of Resolution Approving the new rates and are proposed to be effective July 1, 2024 (Responsible Department: Toni Bertolero (GHD)/City Manager/Administrative Services).
City Manager Schwartz presented the agenda item.
Kevin Kostiuk, Raftelis, provided a presentation.
Mayor Rich asked for questions of staff. The Council directed questions to City staff and consultant.
Mayor Rich opened the public hearing. The following member(s) of the public spoke:
Patricia
Wash Plus Laundromat
Kyle
Kate
Member of the public
Michael
Robert
Agenda Item Number: 3
Agenda Item Number 3/City Council Meeting Packet for Meeting of: July 2, 2024 / Page 7 of 78 Member of the public
Linda
Oliver
Su
Myriah
Mary C.
Hearing no further comments, Mayor Rich closed the public hearing.
City Council Discussion, Direction or Deliberations:
The Council discussed the item.
MOTION:
Mayor Rich moved and Vice Mayor Zollman seconded the motion to determine the official number of written protests received and, if the number of valid protest votes is below 50%, (total protests received 44); adopt the Resolution ADOPTING THE 2024 WATER AND WASTEWATER RATE STUDY REPORT, ADOPTING WATER AND WASTEWATER RATES FOR FISCAL YEARS 2024-25 TO FISCAL YEAR 2028- 29, AND MAKING FINDINGS UNDER THE CALIFORNIA ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY Amending the Master Fee Schedule for water and wastewater rates; the water and rate schedules under the current proposal of Option 2 Water and Option 2 Wastewater Mayor Rich called for a roll call vote. City staff conducted a roll call vote.
VOTE:
Ayes: Councilmembers Hinton, Vice Mayor Zollman and Mayor Rich Noes: Councilmember Maurer and Councilmember McLewis
Absent: None
Abstain: None
City Council Action: Approved determination that the official number of written protests received and, if the number of valid protest votes is below 50%, (total protests received 44); adopt the Resolution ADOPTING THE 2024 WATER AND WASTEWATER RATE STUDY REPORT, ADOPTING WATER AND WASTEWATER RATES FOR FISCAL YEARS 2024-25 TO FISCAL YEAR 2028- 29, AND MAKING FINDINGS UNDER THE CALIFORNIA ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY Amending the Master Fee Schedule for water and wastewater rates; the water and rate schedules under the current proposal of Option 2 Water and Option 2 Wastewater Minute Order Number: 2024-138
Resolution Number: 6599-2024
REGULAR CALENDAR AGENDA ITEMS (DISCUSSION AND/OR ACTION)(CONTINUED):
10. Discussion and Consideration of Appointment and Award of Contract – City Attorney or Request for Second Interview(s) (Responsible Department: Human Resources/Assistant City Manager/City Clerk) Deborah Muchmore, Muchmore Than Consulting, presented the agenda item.
Mayor Rich asked for questions of staff. The Council directed questions to City staff.
Mayor Rich opened the public comment.
Kyle
Admin
Robert
Agenda Item Number: 3
Agenda Item Number 3/City Council Meeting Packet for Meeting of: July 2, 2024 / Page 8 of 78 Linda
Oliver
Linda
Kate
City Council Discussion, Direction or Deliberations:
The Council directed that all four attorney firms return for future interviews in Closed Session format.
City Council Action: Directed staff to arrange to conduct second interviews with all four proposals in a closed session format.
Minute Order Number: 2024-139
11. Discussion and Consideration of Approval of Budget Continuation Resolution to Include Contract Continuations for Length of Budget Continuation (Responsible Department: Administrative Services) City Manager Schwartz presented the agenda item.
Mayor Rich asked for questions of staff. The Council directed questions to City staff.
Mayor Rich opened the public comment.
Kyle
Admin
City Council Discussion, Direction or Deliberations:
The Council discussed the budget continuation.
MOTION:
Councilmember McLewis moved and Councilmember Maurer seconded the motion to:
1. Adopt a resolution continuing appropriations that provides spending authority for the fiscal year that begins on July 1, 2024 and ends on June 30, 2025, at the same level and amounts for all funds as approved in the adopted fiscal year 2023-2024 city budget for sixty (60) days, with an additional $1,500 for Map Your Neighborhood, for a total of $4,161,500 to ensure the uninterrupted continuation of municipal services;
2. Approval extension of expiring City Contracts for services for an additional two months (July and August 2024);
3. Direct staff not to transfer the $100,000 allocation of funds to the PERS reserve fund at this time.
Added the KW Cleaning Contract
Mayor Rich called for a roll call vote. City staff conducted a roll call vote.
VOTE:
Ayes: Councilmembers Hinton, Maurer, McLewis, Vice Mayor Zollman and Mayor Rich Noes: None
Absent: None
Abstain: None
City Council Action: Approved:
1. Adopting a resolution continuing appropriations that provides spending authority for the fiscal year that begins on July 1, 2024 and ends on June 30, 2025, at the same level and amounts for all funds as approved in the Agenda Item Number: 3
Agenda Item Number 3/City Council Meeting Packet for Meeting of: July 2, 2024 / Page 9 of 78 adopted fiscal year 2023-2024 city budget for sixty (60) days, with an additional $1,500 for Map Your Neighborhood, for a total of $4,161,500 to ensure the uninterrupted continuation of municipal services;
2. Approved extension of expiring City Contracts for services for an additional two months (July and August 2024);
3. Directed staff not to transfer the $100,000 allocation of funds to the PERS reserve fund at this time.
Added the KW Cleaning Contract
Minute Order Number: 2024-140
Resolution Number: 6597-2024
12. Reconsideration of City Council Action: Reconsideration of Approval of Resolution and Contract with St.
Vincent de Paul regarding Construction and Operation of the “Gravenstein Commons,” located at 850 N Gravenstein Highway by and between the City of Sebastopol and the Society of St. Vincent de Paul District Council of Sonoma, Inc. (Project Homekey) (Requestor: Mayor Rich and Councilmember Maurer/Responsible Department: City Manager)
City Manager Schwartz presented the agenda item.
Mayor Rich asked for questions of staff. The Council directed questions to City staff.
The following Councilmembers made disclosures.
Councilmember Maurer
Mayor Rich
Councilmember Hinton
Mayor Rich opened the public comment. The following Member(s) of the public provided comments:
Oliver
Su
Calum
Robert
Kate
Admin
Michael
Adrienne
Kathleen
Kyle
Linda
Jim
Vanessa
Mary C
City Council Discussion, Direction or Deliberations:
The Council discussed the application.
MOTION:
Councilmember Maurer moved and Mayor Rich seconded the motion to Approve Resolution and Contract with St. Vincent de Paul regarding Construction and Operation of the “Gravenstein Commons,” located at 850 N Agenda Item Number: 3
Agenda Item Number 3/City Council Meeting Packet for Meeting of: July 2, 2024 / Page 10 of 78 Gravenstein Highway by and between the City of Sebastopol and the Society of St. Vincent de Paul District Council of Sonoma, Inc. (Project Homekey)
• Section 6E Fund staff support
• City Manager would be selecting consultant of its own choosing and would make payment arrangements with SVDP
• Contract would be between the City of Sebastopol and the Consultant/Expert Mayor Rich called for a roll call vote. City staff conducted a roll call vote.
VOTE:
Ayes: Councilmembers Hinton, Maurer and Mayor Rich
Noes: Councilmember McLewis and Vice Mayor Zollman
Absent: None
Abstain: None
City Council Action: Approved Resolution and Contract with St. Vincent de Paul regarding Construction and Operation of the “Gravenstein Commons,” located at 850 N Gravenstein Highway by and between the City of Sebastopol and the Society of St. Vincent de Paul District Council of Sonoma, Inc. (Project Homekey) • Section 6E Fund staff support
• City Manager would be selecting consultant of its own choosing and would make payment arrangements with SVDP
• Contract would be between the City of Sebastopol and the Consultant/Expert Minute Order Number: 2024-141
Resolution Number: 6598-2024
Due to Council protocols, the Meeting adjourned at 10:41pm ADDITIONAL PUBLIC COMMENT FOR ITEMS NOT ON THE AGENDA: Two minutes per speaker for up to twenty (20) minutes total for public comments but can be reduced at Mayor’s discretion depending upon the number of speakers or Mayor has discretion to allow for additional time beyond the 20 minutes allocated for public comment dependent upon the subject matter or number of speakers.
CITY COUNCIL/CITY STAFF REPORTS/COMMUNICATIONS/ANNOUNCEMENTS/FUTURE MEETINGS:
13. City Manager and/or City Clerk Reports: (This will be either verbal reports at the meeting, or written reports provided at or prior to the meeting)
14. City Council Reports/Committee/Sub-Committee Meeting Reports: (Reports by Mayor/City Councilmembers Regarding Various Agency Meetings/Committee Meetings/Sub-Committee Meeting /Conferences Attended and Possible Direction to its Representatives (If Needed) on Pending issues before such Boards. ((This will be either verbal reports at the meeting, or written reports provided at or prior to the meeting)
a. Budget Committee Report Out
15. Council Communications Received (Information/Meetings/Correspondence Received from the General Public to Councilmembers)
CLOSED SESSION: NONE
June 18, 2024 City Council Regular Meeting will be adjourned to the City Council Regular Meeting of Tuesday, July 2, 2024 at 6:00 pm, Sebastopol Youth Annex, 425 Morris Street.
Agenda Item Number: 3
Agenda Item Number 3/City Council Meeting Packet for Meeting of: July 2, 2024 / Page 11 of 78 Mayor Rich adjourned the City Council Meeting of June 18, 2024 at 10:42 pm to the next City Council Meeting of July 2, 2024 at 6:00 pm, Sebastopol Youth Annex, 425 Morris Street.
Respectfully Submitted:
Mary Gourley
Assistant City Manager/City Clerk
Attachment:
Raw Zoom Minutes
Agenda Item Number: 3
Agenda Item Number 3/City Council Meeting Packet for Meeting of: July 2, 2024 / Page 12 of 78 PLEASE STAND BY FOR REALTIME CAPTIONS.
CALLING THE MEETING TO ORDER AT 6:00 P.M. COULD YOU PLEASE DO THE ROLLCALL? >> THANK YOU. [ ROLL BEING CALLED ]
ALL COUNCIL MEMBERS ARE IN ATTENDANCE.
NOW THE SALUTE TO THE FLAG. PLEASE RISE.
EXCELLENT. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. WE ARE NOW GOING TO GO TO THE ONE PROCLAMATION WE HAVE. THAT IS A REALLY IMPORTANT ONE. SO SAD BECAUSE I HAD ONE OF THE LAST MEETINGS WITH THE PERSON WE ARE RECOGNIZING TONIGHT. THIS IS A PROCLAMATION OF THE CITY OF SEBASTOPOL RECOGNIZING LARRY McLAUGHLIN UPON HIS RETIREMENT FROM THE CITY OF SEBASTOPOL AFTER 37 YEARS OF SERVICE.
WHEREAS HE HAS BEEN A CITY OF SEBASTOPOL CITY ATTORNEY AND HAS ON THE CITY'S LEGAL WORK SINCE 1980 , WHERE HAS HE HAS ATTENDED ALMOST EVERY CITY COUNCIL MEETING SINCE 1985. HE HAS BEEN APPOINTED AND THE CITY ATTORNEY SINCE 2012. CURRENTLY THE CITY OF SEBASTOPOL CITY ATTORNEY AND WILL BE RETIRING JUNE 30, 2024. WHEREAS HE HAS MANAGED TO LEAVE THE CITY AS BOTH
CITY MANAGER AND CITY ATTORNEY FILLING TWO ESSENTIAL ROLES FOR THE TOWN
AND WHEREAS HIS ABILITY TO MAINTAIN THE CITY'S POSITIVE FORWARD COURSE IN
THE FACE OF MANY CHALLENGING ATTEMPTS WE FACED HAS BEEN IN LARGE PART TO
THE STEADY HAND OF THIS MAN WHO HAVE ALWAYS WITHOUT FAIL KEPT THE NEEDS OF SEBASTOPOL FOREMOST IN HIS MIND AND HEART. AND WHEREAS LARRY HAS EXHIBITED
EXTRAORDINARY LEADERSHIP IN THE CITY'S RESPONSE TO PROVIDING SHELTERS DURING THE 2017 FIRE, CITY EVACUATION, AND CITY POWER OUTAGE IN 2019, AND A FLOOD EVENT OF 2019. AND WHERE IS UPON ASSUMING THE CITY MANAGER DUTIES IN 2012 LARRY REORGANIZE THE FINANCE DEPARTMENT INTO THE CURRENT
ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES DEPARTMENT AND WORK WITH THE CITY COUNCIL TO REVERSE THE THEN EXISTING FINANCIAL DEFICIT. WHEREAS , AS CITY MANAGER,
LARRY HAS BUILT CONNECTIONS AND RELATIONSHIPS I HAVE FACILITATED TRUST AND
CONFIDENCE AND CONTRIBUTED IN A MEANINGFUL WAY TO HIS SUCCESSES AS CITY MANAGER. THEY ARE AS WE ARE HERE TODAY TO EXPRESS SPECIAL RECOGNITION TO LARRY McLAUGHLIN HIM TO HONOR HIM FOR HIS DISTINGUISHED A 37 YEAR CAREER
AND WHEREAS THE CITY OF SEBASTOPOL WISHES TO EXPRESS ITS SINCERE
APPRECIATION TO LARRY FOR HIS DEDICATION TO THE OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCE OF HIS DUTIES DURING HIS TENURE. I WHEREAS HIS PROCLAMATION IS PRESENTED TO
LARRY TO SERVE AS A REMINDER THAT ALTHOUGH HE IS RETIRING HE WILL ALWAYS
BE REMEMBERED AS A VALUED EMPLOYEE DEDICATED TO BOTH HIS POSITION AND OUR COMMUNITY. HIS PROPERTY HAPPENS TO BE WHERE PICKLES THE PIGLET WAS CAPTURED. I'M JUST SAYING. THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED AND ON BEHALF OF THE
CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SEBASTOPOL AND OUR CITIZENS I, MARY RICH, DO
HEREBY PRESENT THIS PROCLAMATION AS A TESTIMONIAL TO THE FAITHFUL DEDICATED SERVICE HE HAS PERFORMED FOR THE PAST 37 YEARS. WITH OUR BEST WISHES FOR HIS CONTINUED SUCCESS AND HAPPINESS IN THE FUTURE. BE IT
FURTHER RESOLVED WITH THE CITY OF SEBASTOPOL CITY COUNCIL COMPARED JUNE 30th, 2024 AS FOR THE CITY OF SEBASTOPOL. IN WITNESS THEREOF I HEREUNTO SET MY HAND ON THE GREAT SEAL OF THE CITY OF SEBASTOPOL THIS 18th DAY OF JUNE, 2024. THANK YOU. YOU ARE GOING TO TALK. ALL RIGHT. WE HAVE A FEW MINUTES FOR THIS FABULOUS GUY. LET'S HEAR IT, LARRY McLAUGHLIN. >> IN
DEFERENCE TO THE PUBLIC COUNCIL AND STAFF I AM DEFINITELY NOT MAKING A SPEECH TONIGHT. I MADE ONE BACK IN DECEMBER ANYWAY. I WOULD LIKE TO SAY A COUPLE THINGS. IT IS AMAZING TO ME WHEN I THINK ABOUT IT THAT I'VE BEEN PART OF EVERY SINGLE COUNCIL MEETING SINCE 1985. I DON'T THINK THAT REALLY Agenda Item Number: 3
Agenda Item Number 3/City Council Meeting Packet for Meeting of: July 2, 2024 / Page 13 of 78
HIT HOME UNTIL TODAY WHEN I SUDDENLY REALIZE HOW LONG THAT HAS ACTUALLY BEEN. THAT TO ME IS ASTOUNDING. I WANTED TO THANK MY FRIENDS AND NEIGHBORS -- FOR BRINGING MY WIFE WITH HIM TONIGHT HERE. AND I WOULD LIKE TO INTRODUCE MARTHA TO EVERYBODY. MARTHA, COULD YOU PLEASE WAVE YOUR HAND AT LEAST.
THERE SHE IS. >> THANK YOU, MARTHA, FOR YOU ARE YEARS OF SERVICE.
APPRECIATE IT. >> I DON'T THINK IT IS REALLY KNOW THAT MUCH TO PEOPLE WHO
DON'T LIVE THROUGH IT HOW MUCH OF AN IMPACT THERE IS ON FAMILY LIFE BY VERY LENGTHY PUBLIC SERVICE. EVERY THOUSAND HOURS BY MY COUNT, I AM NOT GOOD AT MATH AS YOU KNOW -- WOULD OVER 1000 COUNCIL MEETINGS I'VE BEEN AT.
THAT IS ASTONISHING RIGHT THERE. BUT THE FULL CITY EVACUATION, THE POWER
OUTAGE, MARTHA WAS THERE THE ENTIRE WEEK RUNNING BACK AND FORTH BETWEEN THE FIREHOUSE IN CITY HALL WHICH WAS EMPTY AT THE TIME. FOLLOWED
THEREAFTER BY THE PANDEMIC WHEN SUDDENLY I WAS OCCUPYING THE END OF THE DINING ROOM TABLE AND MANAGING THE CITY FROM THE DINING ROOM. I HAD
ASSURED HER PREVIOUSLY THERE WAS NO WAY I EVER NEEDED A HOME OFFICE BECAUSE OUR HOUSE IS FIVE MINUTES FROM CITY HALL. WHO WOULD NEED A HOME OFFICE. RUNNING THE CITY FROM THE DINING ROOM TABLE. THINGS LIKE THAT IS REALLY QUITE AN IMPACT SO SHE HAS BEEN A TROOPER ALL THESE YEARS. MARTHA, I LOVE YOU AND THANK YOU FOR ALL OF THAT. I APPRECIATE THAT VERY MUCH. I HAVE NOT MUCH ELSE TO SAY. I HAVE BEEN HERE SO LONG WITH THE CITY THAT I
DISCOVERED THAT PEOPLE DON'T REALLY KNOW WHAT HAPPENED BACK WHEN I WAS DOING IT. THEY MAY BE MOVED ON. SOME OF THEM MY FAVORITE COUNCIL MEMBERS AND MAYORS ARE NO LONGER WITH US. PEOPLE THAT I WORKED WITH CLOSELY. I
HAVE GREAT MEMORIES OF ALL THE TIMES I WORK WITH ALL THOSE INDIVIDUALS AND
I WANT TO SAY TO THE CITY COUNCIL, THIS MAYOR THAT IT HAS BEEN AN HONOR WORKING WITH YOU ALL. I APPRECIATE YOU ALL. I APPRECIATE ALL OF THE CITY COUNCILS I'VE WORKED WITH OVER THE YEARS. A GREAT CITY TO WORK FOR. WE DID A LOT OF THINGS I THINK WERE IMPORTANT AT THE TIME WE DID THEM. THEY MAY
NOT BE KNOWN NOW BY EVERYBODY, BUT I THINK THEY WERE VERY SATISFYING AND IMPORTANT AND I AM GLAD AND HONORED I WAS ABLE TO BE PART OF THAT. AGAIN,
BECAUSE WE HAVE A VERY LONG AGENDA TONIGHT, I DON'T WANT TO SAY TOO MUCH ELSE ON THAT, BUT THANK YOU VERY MUCH. DON'T EXPECT TO SEE ME ANYTIME SOON AT ANY COUNCIL MEETINGS HEREAFTER.
THANK YOU, LARRY. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. CUPCAKES AND COOKIES. HE SAID HE DIDN'T WANT THEM, BUT THERE YOU GO. OKAY. THANK YOU VERY MUCH, LARRY. IT HAS BEEN A PLEASURE. AND IN HIS USUAL GRACIOUS WAY IS RECOGNIZING WE HAVE
A VERY FULL AGENDA TONIGHT SO WE WILL MOVE ON WITH THE AGENDA TO STATEMENTS OF CONFLICT OF INTEREST. LOOKING TO FELLOW COUNCILMEMBERS. ANY STATEMENTS OF CONFLICT OF INTEREST? DON'T SEE ANYONE. WE WILL MOVE ON TO PUBLIC COMMENT FOR ITEMS NOT ON THE AGENDA. COULD YOU PLEASE MANNERS OF OURS?
PUBLIC COMMENT FOR ITEMS NOT ON THE AGENDA. YOU HAVE TWO MINUTES TO DO PUBLIC COMMENTS. WE WILL DO UP TO 20 MINUTES IN THIS FIRST SEGMENT. IF YOU
DON'T GET TO DO PUBLIC COMMENT YOU HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY AT THE END OF THE MEETING. THE PROCEDURE IS I GO TO IN CHAMBERS FIRST FOR PUBLIC, AND THEN OUT TO ZOOM. CHECKING TO SEE IF THERE IS ANYONE IN CHAMBERS THAT WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A PUBLIC COMMENT FOR AN ITEM NOT ON THE AGENDA.
HI. I WOULD LIKE TO TALK TO YOU ABOUT WOODMARK. IF YOU RECALL THE LAST
TIME THAT I SPOKE TO COUNCIL ABOUT WOODMARK I WAS MAKING COMMENTS IN Agenda Item Number: 3
Agenda Item Number 3/City Council Meeting Packet for Meeting of: July 2, 2024 / Page 14 of 78
REGARD TO NOISE COMPLAINTS, GENERAL NEIGHBORHOOD DISTURBANCES , AND LACK OF CITY MANAGEMENT OVER THAT PROJECT. AS WELL AS LACK OF COMMUNICATION BY THE DEVELOPER TO CITIZENS WHO HAVE THIS TYPE OF COMPLAINT. IF YOU RECALL
THERE WERE SOME ISSUES WITH WOODMARK OPERATING FAR OUTSIDE OUR CITY'S NOISE ORDINANCE. MICAH 4:30 IN THE MORNING. I WENT AND TALKED TO THEM. I
HAVE A SMALL CHILD TRYING TO SLEEP IN THE OPERATING LARGE MACHINERY, ALARMS GOING OFF. THE RESULT OF THAT, I SPOKE TO THE CITY ABOUT THAT. THE
CITY'S RESPONSE WAS HERE IS AN EMAIL ADDRESS, AND TELEPHONE NUMBER FOR THE DEVELOPER. MULTIPLE ATTEMPTS TO REACH OUT AND NO RESPONSE. SO I CAME TO
THE COUNCIL AND, AGAIN, I GOT THE YOU COULD ALWAYS REACH BACK OUT TO US AND WE WILL TRY TO DO THIS. THE IS A PROCESS IN PLACE, BUT REALLY THERE IS
NO ACTION BY COUNCIL, NO ACTION BY THE CITY AND THERE HASN'T BEEN ANY CHANGE IN PRACTICE. REGULARLY EACH WEEK ONE TO TWO TIMES A DAY WILL BE OPERATING THEIR VEHICLES IN THE CENTER LANE. PARKED IN THE CENTER LANE.
OPERATING THE VEHICLE IDLING FOR 30 MINUTES WAITING FOR THE 7:00 TIME WHICH THEY ARE ALLOWED ONTO THE SITE. WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE PROJECT
DEVELOPMENT AND LOOK AT THE LANGUAGE OF IT SUGGESTS THAT THE DISRUPTION TO
THE PEDESTRIAN WALKWAY AND ANY SORT OF VEHICLE TRAFFIC WILL BE MANAGED
BOTH IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE CITY AS WELL AS BEING AS MINIMALLY DISRUPTIVE AS POSSIBLE. YET THIS DEVELOPMENT IS GOING ON FOR SO LONG AND THERE IS STILL NO SIDEWALK THERE. ANY SORT OF SAFETY REASON TO NOT HAVE A SIDEWALK THERE IS LONG GONE. THOSE BUILDINGS ARE FULLY DEVELOPED. BUT WE HAVEN'T PRIORITIZED RETURNING PEDESTRIAN WALKWAY TO THE STREET. IT IS MY HOME THE CITY -- >> THAT IS TWO MINUTES. I'M SORRY. THANK YOU FOR PUBLIC COMMENT.
NEXT I WILL GO OUT TO ZOOM. ADMIN, COULD YOU UNMUTE, PLEASE?
I WILL REMIND THE AUDIENCE ON THOSE PRESENCE ON ZOOM TO PLEASE DON'T RESPOND TO PUBLIC COMMENT. LET PEOPLE'S PUBLIC COMMENT STAND ON ITS OWN.
THANK YOU. I'M SORRY. WE ARE GOING ON TO ANOTHER PUBLIC COMMENT --MAYOR, COULD YOU GIVE AN OVERSIGHT QUICKLY ? WE DO NOT RESPOND TO PUBLIC COMMENT.
CORRECT. WE DO NOT RESPOND TO PUBLIC COMMENT. IF THERE IS SOMEONE IN STAFF TO RESPOND QUICKLY WE WILL OTHERWISE WE WILL REACH OUT TO THE INDIVIDUAL.
OKAY. AM I GOOD TO GO HERE?
YOU ARE GOOD TO GO. CAN YOU SEE THE TIMER?
YES, I CAN. THANK YOU.
GO AHEAD, PLEASE.
I HAVE TWO QUESTIONS FOR OUR CITY ATTORNEY. THE FIRST ONE WOULD BE WOULD
IT BE A CONFLICT OF INTEREST OR ANY MEMBER OF SEBASTOPOL'S COUNCIL TO
SIMULTANEOUSLY REPRESENT THE INTERESTS OF OUR CITY AND THE INTERESTS OF AN ORGANIZATION ATTEMPTING TO INTIMIDATE OUR CITY. THE SECOND QUESTION IS IF NOT COULD YOU PLEASE EXPLAIN WHY. THANK YOU.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR PUBLIC COMMENT. NEXT I WILL COME BACK INTO CHAMBERS.
HI. JUST A GENERAL POINT IN PUBLIC COMMENTS ABOUT ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT. I HAVE LISTENED TO SOME OF THE BUDGET MEETINGS. I AM NOT SEEING MUCH EFFORT TO DO ANYTHING OTHER THAN SAVE MONEY AND GO FISHING FOR GRANTS. BASICALLY TRY TO STAY AFLOAT AS A CITY. IN DIRE STRAITS FINANCIALLY. NOT DOING WELL Agenda Item Number: 3
Agenda Item Number 3/City Council Meeting Packet for Meeting of: July 2, 2024 / Page 15 of 78 IN THE WESTERN WORLD ECONOMICALLY. NEED TO BE VERY FOCUSED I THINK ON
BASICALLY BRINGING THE TORTOISE BACK INTO THE CITY SO WE HAVE SALES TAX
COMING IN, HOPEFULLY GETTING HOTELS BUILT, ALL OF THE BASIC STUFF WHICH
MEANS THE PEOPLE THAT LIVE HERE DO NOT HAVE TO PAY SO MUCH FOR WATER AND RESOURCES AND SO ON AND SO FORTH. IT IS A HUGE PROBLEM. EVERYTHING IS GETTING SO EXPENSIVE HERE. I AM NOT SEEN ENOUGH EFFORTS. I KNOW --IS DOING
A GREAT JOB WITH THE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE WITH THE LIMITED FUNDS SHE HAS AN'S TRYING TO STAY AFLOAT. WE REALLY HAVE TO MAKE A LOT MORE EFFORT TO BE INTELLIGENT ABOUT HOW TO ENTICE PEOPLE TO COME AND SPEND MONEY HERE. THANK YOU.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR PUBLIC COMMENT. NEXT I WILL GO BACK TO ZOOM. LINDA, CAN YOU UNMUTE YOURSELF, PLEASE? THANK YOU, LINDA. GO AHEAD WITH YOUR PUBLIC COMMENT.
AS I TOLD HER THE OTHER DAY WHEN [ INAUDIBLE ] HE IS A HARD ACT TO FOLLOW. [ INAUDIBLE ] SOME OF THE THINGS YOU DON'T KNOW HE DID WHICH SADLY SEBASTOPOL [ INAUDIBLE ] SEVERAL YEARS AGO THERE WAS A GROUP OF PEOPLE WHO
NOTICED A LOT OF PEOPLE WERE DEAD AND DYING AND HAD CANCER AT THE -- AFFORDABLE HOUSING COMPLEX. THEY GOT TOGETHER AND SIGN THE PETITION AND CAME TO THE CITY. THEY WANTED TO HAVE THE CELL TOWER BEHIND WHAT WAS THE
HOSPITAL EITHER REMOVED OR RAISED OR SOMETHING SO THAT THEY WERE NOT BEING IRRADIATED SO MUCH. THERE STILL IS AN AMOUNT OF CANCER AND DEATH THERE.
ANYWAY, LARRY AND THE CITY COUNCIL AT THAT TIME RESPONDED PROPERLY. HE
CONTACTED, AS I RECALL, THE LAWYER --
YOU HAVE 25 SECONDS.
ANYWAY, [ INAUDIBLE ] WE ALSO HAD AN ORDINANCE BANNING SMART METERS FOR ABOUT A MINUTE. BUT THE CITY COUNCIL AND CURRENT LEADERSHIP IS TOTALLY REVERSING ALL THE PROGRESS THAT WAS MADE -- >> LINDA, THAT IS TWO MINUTES.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR PUBLIC COMMENT. NEXT I WILL COME BACK TO CHAMBERS. IF
THERE IS ANYONE IN CHAMBERS WHO WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A PUBLIC COMMENT FOR AN ITEM NOT ON THE AGENDA? SEEING THEN I WILL GO BACK TO ZOOM. CATHERINE, COULD YOU UNMUTE YOURSELF, PLEASE? HI, CAN YOU SEE THE TIMER? YES. >> GO AHEAD.
THANK YOU. WE HAVE AN ELECTION COMING UP IN NOVEMBER. VOTERS SHOULD START THINKING ABOUT WHAT THEY WANT AN --IN ELECTED OFFICIALS. VOTERS SHOULD
START REFLECTING ON WHETHER SEBASTOPOL IS BETTER OR WORSE THAN IT WAS FIVE YEARS AGO. ARE THE PACK THAT SPARKS BETTER, TOWNSQUARE MORE PLEASANT, ROADS IMPROVING, BUSINESS IS THRIVING, HOW IS OUR BUDGET, INFRASTRUCTURE.
THESE ARE THE QUESTIONS TO START ASKING NOW. I WOULD LIKE TO SEE ELECTED
OFFICIALS WHO LEARN FROM THEIR MISTAKES INSTEAD OF MAKING THE SAME MISTAKES OVER AND OVER AGAIN. FOR INSTANCE, IT WAS A BIG MISTAKE FOR THE
PREVIOUS COUNCIL FOR LET THE COUNTY TO TAKE SEBASTOPOL'S ONLY HOTEL FOR
HOMELESS HOUSING AS IT ROBBED OUR CITY OF IMPORTANT REVENUE AND ROB SEBASTOPOL --LEFT SEBASTOPOL IN FINANCIAL CRISIS. IT IS GOOD FOR HOPKINS HE DOESN'T LIVE HERE DOESN'T HAVE ANY HOMELESS IN HER COMMUNITY. IT WAS NOT GOOD FOR SEBASTOPOL. RISE AND SHINE WAS ANOTHER BIG MISTAKE. VOTED TO
APPROVE THE PRODUCT EVEN THOUGH WE HAVE THE HIGHEST PER CAPITA HOMELESS HOUSING WITH -- . RISE AND SHINE WAS A DISASTER. BARELY HOUSED ANY RESIDENTS. IT WAS SO MISMANAGED THAT EVEN THE RESIDENTS WHO GOT A TWO YEAR Agenda Item Number: 3
Agenda Item Number 3/City Council Meeting Packet for Meeting of: July 2, 2024 / Page 16 of 78 ALL EXPENSES PAID VACATION COMPLAINED ABOUT IT IN THE PRESS DEMOCRAT.
THANKS TO RISE AND SHINE WE NOW HAVE AN EXPENSIVE LAWSUIT AND RV ENCAMPMENTS. I WOULD LIKE ELECTED OFFICIALS WHO ACTUALLY LISTEN TO THEIR CONSTITUENTS BECAUSE WHEN CONSTITUENTS SPEAK THEY TEND TO BE RIGHT. THEY WERE RIGHT ABOUT SMART METERS. THEY WERE RIGHT ABOUT RISE AND SHINE. AND THEY WERE RIGHT ABOUT ELDERBERRY COMMENTS. ALL THREE HAD GRAVE FINANCIAL AND CONCEPTUAL COSTS FOR SEBASTOPOL. IS SEBASTOPOL A BETTER PLACE TO LIVE THAN IT WAS FIVE YEARS AGO? I THINK EVERYONE CAN AGREE THE ANSWER IS NO.
WE NEED NEW LEADERSHIP THAT PUTS THE PEOPLE WHO LIVE HERE [ INAUDIBLE ] THANK YOU FOR YOUR PUBLIC COMMENT. NEXT I WILL COME BACK INTO CHAMBERS. IF THERE IS ANYONE IN CHAMBERS? SEEING THEN I WILL GO BACK TO ZOOM. MARIA, COULD YOU UNMUTE, PLEASE. >> YES. HELLO. I JUST WANTED TO HOP ON QUICKLY WITH SOME GOOD NEWS. CHAMBERS HAS BEEN WORKING PRETTY CLOSELY WITH SONOMA
COUNTY OVER THE PAST YEARS AND THEY GRANTED US ON FOR NEW FLOORING AND FURNITURE IN THE CHAMBER. DEMO IS DONE AS OF TODAY AND NEW FLOORS WILL BE GOING INTO THE VISITING CENTER THURSDAY AND FRIDAY. OFTEN TIMES PEOPLE'S FIRST IMPRESSION OF SEBASTOPOL . WE GET TOURISTS FROM ALL OVER THE COUNTRY
POPPING IN THE VISITOR CENTER TO GET INFORMATION AND MAPS AND GIVING THEM
A REALLY GOOD FIRST IMPRESSION WITH A NICE, CLEAN VISITOR CENTER AND NEW FLOOR WILL BE REALLY EXCITING. ONCE THAT IS DONE WE WILL PLAN A LITTLE OPEN HOUSE AND INVITE YOU ALL TO COME CHECK IT OUT.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR PUBLIC COMMENT. NEXT I WILL COME BACK INTO CHAMBERS ONE MORE TIME. SEE NONE I WILL GO BACK TO ZOOM ONE MORE TIME. SEEING NO HANDS RAISED AND NO PHONES OFF THE HOOK PUBLIC COMMENT IS CLOSED.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH. I WANTED TO NOTE THAT THE CITY OF SEBASTOPOL DID NOT ALLOW SEBASTOPOL INTO THE PURCHASED . IN FACT THE COUNTY PURCHASED IN THE CITY OF SEBASTOPOL HAD NO INPUT ON THAT DECISION. WE WERE NOT PARTY TO THE NEGOTIATIONS. WE WERE INFORMED. SECONDLY I WOULD LIKE TO INVITE OUR CITY
ATTORNEY BECAUSE HE IS STILL ON BOARD OUR CITY ATTORNEY, TO GIVE US A
REALLY BRIEF RESPONSE TO THE CONCERN I THINK IS FOCUSED ON CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS EXPRESSING OPINIONS ON AN ITEM THAT IS UPCOMING ON AN AGENDA.
SOMETHING WE ALL DO. BUT IF YOU COULD GIVE A PUBLIC SENSE OF LEGALITY I WOULD APPRECIATE IT. >> ASSUMING THAT COMMENTS MIGHT RELATE TO THE ST.
VINCENT DePAUL HOME KEY ITEM LATER IN THE MAJOR --AGENDA. I TOOK IT AS A HYPOTHETICAL QUESTION. OBVIOUSLY THE ANSWER TO THAT WOULD BE A LAWYER LIKE ANSWER OF IT WOULD DEPEND ON THE FACTS. CONFLICT OF INTEREST CASES HAVE TO BE SCRUTINIZED ACCORDING TO THE FACTS OF EACH ONE OF THE CASES. MIGHT HAVE A FURTHER COMMENT WHEN YOU REACH THE ST. VINCENT DePAUL ITEM IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO ASK ME AGAIN AT THAT TIME.
GREAT. THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THAT ANSWER. THE FINAL ITEM I WOULD LIKE TO MENTION IS THAT WE HAVE A FULL CALENDAR TONIGHT. WE INTEND ON GETTING THROUGH ALL OF THESE ITEMS. TO THE EXTENT THAT THERE IS SUBSTANTIAL PUBLIC
COMMENT THAT WE FORESEE ON A PARTICULAR ITEM WE MIGHT MAKE AN EXCEPTION TO OUR GENERAL RULE WHICH IS TWO MINUTES PER PUBLIC COMMENT. I DO NOT SEE
THAT HAPPENING GIVEN THE GROUP OF PEOPLE -- THE NUMBERS IN THE ROOM NOW, BUT I WANT TO LET PEOPLE KNOW THAT MIGHT HAPPEN. WE MIGHT BE IN A
SITUATION WHERE I HAVE TO ASK FOR A SHOW OF HANDS AND DEPENDING ON THE
NUMBER OF PEOPLE WHO WANT TO MAKE COMMENTS WE MIGHT LIMIT IT FROM TWO MINUTES TO ONE MINUTE. AGAIN, I DO NOT FORESEE THAT HAPPENING, BUT I WANT TO ALERT EVERYONE TO THAT. OUR NEXT ITEM IS THE CONSENT CALENDAR. I WILL Agenda Item Number: 3
Agenda Item Number 3/City Council Meeting Packet for Meeting of: July 2, 2024 / Page 17 of 78 READ THE ITEMS OFF ON THE CONSENT CALENDAR. THERE ARE SIX ITEMS. I WILL
NOT READ THEM VERBATIM HAVING BEEN GIVEN DIRECTION BY OUR VERY TOGETHER ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER I WILL APPROACH IT WITH TITLES. ITEM ONE, APPROVAL OF CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES, SPECIAL MEETING OF JUNE 4th, 2024. ITEM
TWO, APPROVAL OF CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES FOR A REGULAR MEETING OF JUNE 4th, 2024. ITEM NUMBER THREE, APPROVAL OF RESOLUTION CALLING AND
GIVING NOTICE OF A GENERAL MUNICIPAL ELECTION TO BE HELD ON TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 5th, 2024. AND APPROVAL OF RESOLUTION ADOPTING REGULATIONS FOR
CANDIDATES FOR ELECTED OFFICE PERTAINING TO THE CANDIDATE STATEMENT FOR
QUALIFICATIONS AND REQUIRING EACH CANDIDATE FILING A CANDIDATE STATEMENT
OF QUALIFICATIONS, PAY IN ADVANCE TO THE LOCAL AGENCY AN ESTIMATED PRORATED SHARE, $800. YES, THAT WAS A SHORT FORM OF THE ITEM. NUMBER FOUR, APPROVAL TO DIRECT CITY ATTORNEY TO REVIEW THE CONFLICT OF INTEREST CODE.
ITEM FIVE, APPROVAL OF ACCEPTANCE OF IMPROVEMENTS FOR PUBLIC USE AND
AUTHORIZING STAFF TO FILE A NOTICE OF COMPLETION FOR PARQUET STREET WATER AND SEWER REPLACEMENT AND SLURRY SEAL. ITEM NUMBER SIX, ENHANCED INFRASTRUCTURE FINANCE DISTRICT AWARD OF CONTRACT TO CONSULTANT. THOSE ARE OUR SIX CONSENT CALENDAR ITEMS. I WILL ASK MY FELLOW COUNCILMEMBERS IF ANYONE WANTS TO PULL ANY OF THOSE SIX ITEMS OFF THE CONSENT CALENDAR. SEE NONE I WILL ASK ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER TO GO OUT FOR PUBLIC COMMENT.
THANK YOU. PUBLIC COMMENT FOR CONSENT CALENDAR ITEMS. IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A PUBLIC COMMENT I WILL GO TO CHAMBERS VERSE. SEE NONE I WILL GO OUT TO ZOOM. LINDA, COULD YOU UNMUTE, PLEASE. THANK YOU. GO AHEAD WITH YOUR PUBLIC COMMENT, LINDA.
I HAVE A LOT OF QUESTIONS ABOUT THAT LIKE HOW MUCH DID IT COST, WHAT IS
THE FOOTAGE OF IT, THE MATERIALS USED, THE EXPECTED DURABILITY OF THAT, WAS A PUT OUT FOR COMPETITIVE BID AND SOME ON AND SO FORTH. SO I WOULD LIKE TO HAVE THAT REMOVED. ALSO SIX. THIS THING ABOUT EEI FD, IT SCARES ME TO DEATH. IT MAKES ME THINK YOU WILL DO ANOTHER WIRELESS SMART WE -- METER THING. AS I UNDERSTAND THAT YOU WILL BE TAKING 25% OF THE PROPERTY TAXES AND OBLIGATING THEM 35, 40 YEARS TO BE PUT IN A POT OF MONEY OVER WHICH WE HAVE NO CONTROL. IN MY MIND WHAT WE DID WITH THE $5.6 MILLION FOR THE WATER METERS WE ARE INDEBTED TO FOR 15 YEARS. THANK YOU VERY MUCH --
DIDN'T KNOW THEN WHAT YOU ARE DOING JUST LIKE I THINK YOU DON'T KNOW NOW WHAT YOU ARE DOING. BUT YOU WERE SOLD IT --
LINDA, THIS IS YOUR WARNING. IF YOU COULD FOCUS ON THE SUBJECT MATTER YOUR
COMMENTS ARE VERY USEFUL ON THE SUBJECT MATTER RATHER THAN PERSONAL ATTACKS.
I AM TALKING ON THE SUBJECT MATTER, BUT YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT YOU ARE DOING.
IS IS AN OBLIGATION, NUMBER SIX? I THINK IT NEEDS TO BE POLLED FOR FURTHER
DISCUSSION SO THAT WE CAN FIGURE OUT WHAT YOU ARE DOING SO THAT YOU DO NOT OBLIGATE THE CITY, AGAIN, FOR 35 TO 40 YEARS FOR 25% OF ITS PROPERTY TAXES INTO A POOL OVER WHICH WE HAVE NO CONTROL.
LINDA, THAT'S TWO MINUTES. THANK YOU FOR YOUR PUBLIC COMMENT. NEXT I WILL COME BACK INTO CHAMBERS. IF ANYONE IN CHAMBERS WOULD LIKE TO MAKE PUBLIC COMMENT?
THIS ONE'S REALLY QUICK, THE WAY THE CITY MANAGES ITS MINUTES HAS BEEN CHANGED MULTIPLE TIMES OVER THE LAST FEW YEARS. MOST RECENTLY WE HAVE BEEN Agenda Item Number: 3
Agenda Item Number 3/City Council Meeting Packet for Meeting of: July 2, 2024 / Page 18 of 78 GETTING MEETING TRANSCRIPTS WHICH IS AN IMPROVEMENT. VERY WONDERFUL BEING
ABLE TO TRAIN NCAI ON THE STATEMENTS OF THIS COUNCIL AND INDIVIDUAL MEMBERS OF THIS COUNCIL HAS BEEN A WONDERFUL TOOL. HOWEVER, ONE OF THE
ISSUES IS THAT THE WAY THOSE TRANSCRIPTS ARE BEING TRANSCRIBED INTO THE
OFFICIAL LETTERHEAD OF THE CITY AS PART OF THE MINUTES ENDS UP GOING INTO THE HEADER AND FOOTER. AS A RESULT OF A GOING INTO THE HEADER AND FOOTER
ANY SORT OF --
I'M SORRY I HAVE TO INTERRUPT. IS THIS ON THE CONSENT CALENDAR ITEM?
IN THE CONSENT CALENDAR IS MINUTES AND I AM COMMENTING ON THE MINUTES AS THEY ARE PRESENTED AS PART OF THE CONSENT CALENDAR. GOOD DOCUMENTATION WHICH SHOULD BE ACCESSIBLE. THERE ARE FEDERAL MANDATES AROUND ACCESSIBILITY OF DOCUMENTATION THAT SHOULD BE MacHINE-READABLE. THINGS
LIKE PEOPLE WHO HAVE VISUAL IMPAIRMENT THAT WILL NEED TO HAVE SOME SORT OF A SCREEN READER TO READ THESE THINGS. IN THE MIDDLE OF TRANSCRIPT READING
YOU'RE GETTING PAGE NUMBERS, AGENDA ITEM NUMBERS IN RED FONT ON TOP OF BLACK FONT ON TOP OF WHITE BACKGROUND. THAT IS NOT ACCESSIBLE AND IT IS NOT MacHINE-READABLE. I AM HOPING WE CAN HAVE A TEMPLATE WE USE FOR MINUTES AND OTHER AGENDA ITEMS IN GENERAL THAT IS ACCESSIBLE AND MacHINEREADABLE SO THAT PEOPLE THAT ARE VISUALLY IMPAIRED CAN USE A SCREEN READER TO HAVE ACCESS TO OUR CITY DOCUMENTATION. THANKS.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR PUBLIC COMMENT. NEXT I WILL GO OUT TO ZOOM. IF YOU
WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A PUBLIC COMMENT ON CONSENT CALENDAR ITEMS PLEASE RAISE YOUR HAND. GET MY ATTENTION. SEE NONE I WILL COME BACK TO CHAMBERS ONE MORE TIME. SEE NONE PUBLIC COMMENT IS CLOSE. SWIMMING THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
I WOULD LIKE TO REMIND THE PUBLIC IF YOU HAVE QUESTIONS YOU DON'T GET ANSWERED THE YOU NEED ANSWERS TO EMAIL [email protected].
DOCUMENTS RELATED TO ANY OF THESE MEETINGS, ANY OF OUR CITY MEETINGS ARE AVAILABLE AT CITY HALL. ANYONE CAN GO TO CITY HALL AND LOOK AT PAPER COPIES AND GET PAPER COPIES PRINTED FOR THEM IF THEY NEED THOSE. THE EIFD , VERY USEFUL COMMENTS AND WILL BE ADDRESSING ALL OF THE EIFD DETAILS LATER. AS A COMMENTOR POINTED OUT, THERE IS A LOT YET TO STILL BE
DETERMINED, BUT THE CITY COUNCIL WILL BE ADDRESSING ALL OF THOSE VARIABLES AT LATER MEETINGS AS THE EIFD PROCESS IS FILLED OUT. I AM LOOKING FOR A MOTION.
I MOVED TO APPROVE THE CONSENT CALENDAR ITEMS.
SECOND.
ROLL CALL, PLEASE.
SO MOVED BY ZOLLMAN, SECOND BY HINTON TO APPROVE CONSENT CALENDAR ITEMS ONE THROUGH SIX. [ ROLL BEING CALLED ] PASSES UNANIMOUSLY.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH. WE ARE NOW AT INFORMATIONAL ITEMS, BUT THERE ARE NONE FOR TONIGHT. SO WE WILL BE GOING ON WITH REGULAR CALENDAR. WE HAVE ITEMS SEVEN THROUGH NINE ON THE REGULAR CALENDAR. WE WILL MARCH RIGHT THROUGH THEM HOPEFULLY. THE FIRST IS ITEM NUMBER SEVEN, CONTINUATION -- I'M SORRY.
THIS IS A CONTINUED ITEM. CONSIDERATION OF RECOMMENDED ACTIONS FROM THE LIBRARY AD HOC COMMITTEE. WHO IS PRESENTING ON THIS ITEM? THAT WOULD BE A VICE MAYOR ZOLLMAN. PLEASE, ON ALL OF THESE ITEMS WE ARE ADDRESSING Agenda Item Number: 3
Agenda Item Number 3/City Council Meeting Packet for Meeting of: July 2, 2024 / Page 19 of 78 TONIGHT WE HAVE NO MORE THAN 30 MINUTES ON EACH ITEM SO I WILL ASK
EVERYONE TO LIMIT IN TERMS OF THE INITIAL COMMENTS FROM THE COUNCIL OR FROM WHOEVER IS PRESENTING 10 MINUTES SO THAT WE CAN MAKE SURE THE PUBLIC COMMENT --THAT WE HAVE TIME FOR PUBLIC COMMENT ON EACH ITEM. GO AHEAD.
THANK YOU. YES, THIS WILL BE A BRIEF PRESENTATION. I FIRST AND FOREMOST
WANT TO THANK ALL THE PARTICIPANTS OVER THE LAST YEAR WHO CAME EVERY MONTH ON TIME AND CONTRIBUTED TO THIS PROCESS AT THE LIBRARY AD HOC. AS A
REFRESHER OF WHY IT IS THAT THE COUNCIL AND I FEEL VERY GRATEFUL TO FOLLOW COUNCIL MEMBERS FOR ALLOWING THIS AD HOC TO BE FORMED. AS A 1000 FOOT OVERVIEW, WHY DOES ANY OF THIS MATTER? THE IT MATTERS BECAUSE THIS IS NOT A COUNTY INSTITUTION. EACH OF THE LIBRARIES THROUGH WHAT IS CALLED A JOINT POWERS AGREEMENT CREATED CENTRAL LIBRARY ADMINISTRATION. AS A RESULT OF
THAT THROUGH THIS BUILDINGS THEMSELVES PRIMARILY ARE THE RESPONSIBILITY OF EACH OF THE CITIES. ONCE THE CITY IS PUT TOGETHER A BUILDING THEN CENTRAL
LIBRARY PUTS THE STAFF IN AND CREATES THE NICE COUCHES YOU EXPERIENCE IN ALL THOSE TYPES OF THINGS. WHAT CAUSED LONGTIME LIBRARY SUPPORTERS TO
BRING THE ISSUE TO COUNCIL IS THE FACT THE CENTRAL LIBRARY ADMINISTRATION
SAID WE CANNOT GIVE YOU MORE STAFF BECAUSE YOU ARE BUILDING THIS TOO SMALL. WE CANNOT CREATE A BIGGER BUILDING WITHOUT SOME EFFORT TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO BUILD A BIGGER BUILDING. THIS CATCH-22, NEEDING A BUILDING FOR MORE STAFF SO THEY CAN PROVIDE MORE QUALITY SERVICES WE ALL LOVE. DURING
THIS LAST YEAR WE PUT OUR HEADS TOGETHER AND I HAVE TO GIVE A BIG SHOUT
OUT TO LIBRARY COMMISSIONER WITHOUT WHICH WE HAVE NOT HAD THE EXTENSIVE
REPORT YOU ALL HAVE BEFORE YOU AND YOU HAVE HAD BEFORE YOU FORETELL A COUPLE WEEKS. 22 PAGES. A LOT OF DETAILED SITES. IF YOU GO THROUGH IT
ANYWHERE LEG I DO NOT KNOW ABOUT THIS, --I ALSO HAVE TO THINK THE FORMER MAYOR WHO ALSO SERVES AS OUR REPRESENTATIVE ON --COMMITTEE. SHE PUT IN A
LOT OF WORK AS THE LOCAL NONPROFITS THAT VALUE THE SOCIAL SERVICE PROVIDED TO OUR LIBRARY. THE HIGHLIGHTS I WANT TO MAKE A LOT OF PEOPLE WOULD SAY,
WELL, A LIBRARY, THAT'S NICE, BUT WE ARE IN A BIG DEFICIT SO I DO WE REALLY CARE. THE STATISTICS POINTED OUT IN PAGE NINE OF 34 THAT STATES AND CITES THE REASON WHY LIBRARIES ARE ECONOMIC DRIVERS. EVERYONE INVESTED IN LIBRARY EARNS BETWEEN TWO AND $10 WHICH A COMMON RETURN BETWEEN THREE AND SIX DOLLARS. FOR THOSE OF US WHO LIVE HERE A LIBRARY IS A BIG DRAW. WE ARE THE THIRD BUSIEST LIBRARY IN THE ENTIRE COUNTY. AND IT IS BECAUSE WE DON'T JUST SERVICE SEBASTOPOL. WE SERVICE MOST OF THE WEST COUNTY. EXCEPT FOR THE -- LIBRARY AND SHORTER HOURS IN FOR SALE. IT IS A BIG ECONOMIC DRIVER.
EVEN IF YOU DON'T CARE FROM A HUMANITARIAN POINT OF VIEW I HOPE YOU
UNDERSTAND IT DOES PROVIDE ECONOMIC SUPPORT AND ENTHUSIASM FROM OUR
COMMUNITY WHICH IS A BIG THING NOW BECAUSE RIGHT NOW WE ARE IN A FINANCIAL HORRIBLE SITUATION HERE. AS FAR AS THE SOCIAL SERVICES BENEFITS OF THIS,
THE ASSOCIATED LETTERS INCLUDED IN THE PACKET ARE FROM PROMINENT PEOPLE IN OUR COMMUNITY. DR. JASON CUNNINGHAM WHO PROVIDES, AS I'VE LEARNED
RECENTLY, ALL OF OUR --MOST OF OUR PHYSICAL HEALTH SERVICES ALONG WITH MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES FOR OUR AREA. HE'S ISSUED A LETTER STRONGLY
ENCOURAGING OUR COUNCIL TO CONTINUE THE WORK THE LIBRARY TO GO BEYOND THE
STAGE WE ARE AT NOW TO A FEASIBILITY STUDY WHEN HOPEFULLY THIS COUNCIL
WILL BE ABLE TO BLESS THE CREATION OF A NEW AD HOC TO CONTINUE WITH THESE
PEOPLE WHO ARE VERY INVESTED IN PROVIDING SOCIAL SERVICES FOR OUR
COMMUNITIES SO THAT WE CAN DIG DEEP WITH ALL OF THE PARTNERS TO FIGURE OUT MORE OF HOW WE CAN PULL SOMETHING LIKE THIS TOGETHER. PLEASE TAKE NOTE OF THAT. THE BOARD CHAIR OF OUR HEALTH ACTION CHAPTER HAS ALSO WROTE A LETTER. ALSO PEOPLE THAT ARE NOT ONES TO IGNORE, BUT -- ALSO A LETTER, AS Agenda Item Number: 3
Agenda Item Number 3/City Council Meeting Packet for Meeting of: July 2, 2024 / Page 20 of 78 WELL. THE LIBRARY DIRECTOR, CENTRAL ADMINISTRATION, ALSO A LETTER ENCOURAGING US TO CONTINUE THIS WORK. SO I AM HOPING EVERYBODY KEEPS AN OPEN MIND. I WANT TO TURN OVER THE TIME. I KNOW THEY WILL KEEP THEIR COMMENTS VERY BRIEF. TO FRED AND E-AND THEN BACK UP FOR DISCUSSION.
WE PROBABLY HAVE ABOUT TWO MINUTES FOR EACH OF SARAH AND FRED. THEN IF WE COULD COME BACK TO GET SOME ACTION ITEMS THAT WOULD BE GREAT.
HELLO. I SUBMITTED ALL OF THE STUFF I HAVE TO SAY OR WOULD STAY --SAY IN
WRITTEN STATEMENT -- COMMENT TO CUT THE AMOUNT OF TIME DOWN FOR THE PRESENTATION. SO I WILL LET SARAH SPEAK AND THEN WE CAN GO RIGHT INTO QUESTIONS.
THANK YOU. FIRST I WANT TO THANK THE VICE MAYOR FOR HIS LEADERSHIP ON THIS COMMITTEE. HE DID THE AGENDAS FOR US AND MANAGED A GROUP. AN HOUR A MONTH PRECISELY. VERY HELPFUL. YOUR SUMMARY IS MOST EXCELLENT. I DON'T HAVE A LOT TO SAY. AS WITH FRED I SUBMITTED COMMENTS IN WRITING, BUT I DO WANT TO
UNDERSCORE A COUPLE IMPORTANT POINTS TONIGHT AS YOUR REPRESENTATIVE ON MEASURE WHY I WANT TO LET YOU KNOW THERE IS MONEY AVAILABLE. $17.35 MILLION IN THE RECORDS OF APRIL 25th AS REPORTED TO THE MEASURE WHY COMMITTEE. UNALLOCATED, UNRESTRICTED, THEY ARE. THERE IS A PIPELINE OF
PROJECTS THAT UP IN SEBASTOPOL NEEDS TO GET IN THAT PIPELINE BECAUSE WE'VE KNOWN SINCE BEFORE --WAS ESTABLISHED WE NEED A BIGGER LIBRARY. THAT
LIBRARY IS NOT WORKING BECAUSE IT IS TOO SMALL, STAFF IS TOO LIMITED, BUT WE HAVE GREAT POTENTIAL. THERE IS OTHER MONEY AVAILABLE. WE HAVE $518,000
FROM --IN HONOR OF THEIR SON DAVID JOHNSON FOR SPECIFIC USE FOR THE SEBASTOPOL LIBRARY ONLY. ALSO, OUR COMMISSIONER FOUND MONEY THAT COULD BE
AVAILABLE, TRAINING AND MONEY AVAILABLE THROUGH A GROUP CALLED PROJECT FOR PUBLIC SPACES WHERE THEY DESIGN A SPACE FOR THE PEOPLE WHO USE IT DAILY.
OF COURSE, OTHER GREAT POSSIBILITIES IN THE EIFD FUTURE WE WILL GET TO LATER TONIGHT. I WANT TO UNDERSCORE I URGE YOU TO ENHANCE SEBASTOPOL'S ROLE AS A HOME OF THE WEST COUNTY. THE LIBRARY IS AN ECONOMIC ENGINE, SOCIAL SERVICE ENGINE, AND A COMMERCIAL LENDER. THE LIBRARY CAN DO SO MUCH FOR US. BRINGING PEOPLE FROM AS FAR AWAY AS --NEAR THE RIVER, NORTH AND SOUTH TO WINTER PARK, EAST TO WEST. THAT IS HOW BIG OUR SERVICE AREA IS.
ALL THOSE PEOPLE COME INTO TOWN AND SPEND MONEY HERE. I WILL EMPHASIZE WITH YOU THAT OUR COMMUNITY NEEDS A POSITIVE VISION FOR OUR FUTURE. WE'VE
HEARD SO MUCH ABOUT THE FISCAL CRISIS, THE THREAT OF BANKRUPTCY, RESTRICTIONS AND ALL OF THE CUTBACKS. I HOPE YOU AGREE NOW IS THE TIME TO GIVE US A REASON TO HAVE HOPE FOR OURSELVES AND A FUN FUTURE. PLEASE ADOPT THE RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE AD HOC. THANK YOU.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
ONE OTHER THING I THINK MOST OF MY COUNCIL MEMBERS ARE ASKING ABOUT SO I HOPE YOU WILL DO KNOW THAT MAYOR -- SHE DID SAY IT WAS MINIMAL. IF THE DIFFERENT AD HOC IT WOULD ALSO REQUIRE MINIMAL STAFF TIME, AS WELL. THAT IS IT.
MY QUESTION BEFORE YOU CLOSE UP YOUR COMMENTS IS TO REMIND US WHAT ACTION YOU ARE HOPING THIS ACTION WILL TAKE THIS EVENING ON THIS ITEM.
THE RECOMMENDATIONS, THEY START ON PAGE 27. VERY WELL TYPED OUT. THE FIRST
RECOMMENDATION IS TO --AS STATED IN THE INITIAL PART --TO DISSOLVE THE Agenda Item Number: 3
Agenda Item Number 3/City Council Meeting Packet for Meeting of: July 2, 2024 / Page 21 of 78
CURRENT AD HOC AND OF THE COUNCIL SO WISHES TO CREATE ANOTHER AD HOC AND IT STARTS ON THE MIDDLE PAGE OF 27. IT IS EXACTLY WHAT WE ARE RECOMMENDING THAT THE COUNCIL DO. AS FAR AS THE SCOPE, BECAUSE I KNOW IT IS ALWAYS IMPORTANT WHEN WE CREATE THINGS WE HAVE AS CLEAR A SCOPE AS POSSIBLE. ALL THE WORDING FROM THE MIDDLE OF PAGE 27 THROUGH 30 IF WE COPY AND PASTE
THAT YOU COULD REALLY HOLD US ACCOUNTABLE BECAUSE IT MARCHES THROUGH THE STEPS OF A FEASIBILITY'S BUDDY. FRED DID ALL THE RESEARCH ON ALL THIS SO THANK YOU. WE TRY TO MAKE AS HELPFUL AS POSSIBLE. >> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
FRED, WOULD IT BE HELPFUL TO HAVE A CHAIR SINCE HE MIGHT'VE QUESTIONS FOR YOU? THAT WAY YOU CAN SET UP THERE AND BE AVAILABLE. >> DIRECTS TO ME THAT WAS GREAT. EXACTLY 10 MINUTES. QUESTIONS FROM COUNCIL MEMBERS BEFORE WE GO OUT TO THE PUBLIC? THE ACTION ITEM PAGE, THAT IS THE QUESTION. JUST ONE MOMENT PLEASE.
PAGE TWO OF THE STAFF REPORT?
PAGE TWO TO THREE OF THE STAFF REPORT. IS THAT WHAT WE ARE HEARING? PAGE 23 OF 34. YOU MAY HAVE THE REPORT FROM THE LAST MEETING BECAUSE WE
CARRIED IT OVER, BUT I BELIEVE IT IS THE RECOMMENDATIONS TO PROVIDE THE AUTHORIZATION OF THIS COMMITTEE TO CONTINUE. PAGE 23 OF 34.
OKAY. PAGE 23 OF THE CURRENT STAFF REPORT, NOT THE MAY STAFF REPORT. OKAY.
THAT IS THE ANSWER TO THAT QUESTION. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS?
I WAS JUST LISTENING TO ALL OF THE DIFFERENT COMMENTS AND READING IN HERE, IT IS TO THE CULTURAL HUB AND A VARIETY OF THINGS. WE ALREADY HAVE A
COMMUNITY CULTURAL CENTER AT WHICH EVERYBODY KNOWS I'VE COMMITTED
THOUSANDS OF HOURS TO SO I AM CURIOUS HOW YOU SEE ALL THIS FITTING
TOGETHER BECAUSE IT SOUNDS LIKE OVERLAPPING SERVICES YOU ARE ENVISIONING
WITH THE LIBRARY WHEN WE HAVE ENTITIES WE ARE TELLING WE CANNOT FUND OR
REDUCING FUNDING RIGHT NOW, YET WE ARE TALKING ABOUT TRYING TO RAISE FUNDS FOR THIS. IT SEEMS CONTRADICTORY ACTION. I THINK FOR SOME PEOPLE IN THE
COMMUNITY WHO, AGAIN, ARE INVOLVED WITH THESE NONPROFITS MIGHT WONDER THE SAME THING. SO IF YOU COULD ADDRESS THAT.
VERY GOOD QUESTION. WE DO NOT WANTED TO BE ONE OR THE OTHER BECAUSE OF ALL
THE RESEARCH THAT HAS BEEN CITED ABOUT SPECIFIC LIBRARIES AND THEN BEING
ECONOMIC DRIVERS AND WAYS TO SECURE RESOURCES FOR EVERYONE REGARDLESS OF ABILITY TO PAY. THE LIBRARY DOES SERVE AS THAT. BUT, NO, THE INTENT WAS DEFINITELY NOT TO PRECLUDE OR MAKE IT ONE OR THE OTHER. IN FACT WITH THIS
REDEFINED CIVIC CENTER IF THERE WERE NONPROFITS FOR WHATEVER REASON THAT
WERE STRUGGLING WITH SPACE OR GRANT WRITERS OR WHATEVER THEY DEFINITELY CAN BE PART OF THAT ACTUAL SERVICE HUB WE ARE BEING PRESENTED FOR. SO IT IS NOT JUST A LIBRARY. IT IS A REIMAGINING OF A SERVICE QWERTY FOR GOVERNMENT TO SEE SPACES FOR STAFF, PLACES FOR NONPROFITS. BASICALLY A MEETING SPACE. WE CAN DRAW IN MONEY FROM --TO MAKE IT A FRIENDLIER PEDESTRIAN AREA.
IS JUST GOING TO, I REMEMBER HOW MANY YEARS AGO SARAH GURNEE TALKING ABOUT
THAT WHEN SHE WAS SITTING UP HERE ABOUT WANTING TO BRING SERVICES TOGETHER. IT SOUNDS LIKE THAT IS WHAT YOU ARE TRYING TO DO, BUT JUST UNDER THE LIBRARY NOW. I REMEMBER THERE WAS A VISION COMMUNICATED TO THE Agenda Item Number: 3
Agenda Item Number 3/City Council Meeting Packet for Meeting of: July 2, 2024 / Page 22 of 78 COMMUNITY CENTER ABOUT THAT AT ONE TIME. SOUNDS LIKE MAYBE THIS IS A CARRYOVER. ARE YOU FAMILIAR WITH WHAT I AM TALKING ABOUT? I HAVE NOT HEARD THAT. IT WASN'T DEFINITELY TO EXCLUDE ONE OR THE OTHER.
IT WAS ACTUALLY TO BUILD OFF OF THE LIBRARY AND THE LIBRARY SYSTEM WHICH,
AGAIN, WHEN WE WERE TOGETHER WITH THEM THERE CAN BE WAYS TO SAVE ON OUR
BUILDING AND ONGOING EXPENSES FOR MAJOR THINGS LIKE THE HEAT PUMPS AND THE -- AND ALL OF THAT. IN A WAY WE ARE HOPING THE MORE RELATIONSHIPS WE HAVE THE MORE MONEY WILL HELP US TOWARDS OUR BUDGET.
I HAD A QUESTION. I WANT TO FOCUS US BECAUSE IT SEEMS TO BE LOOKING AT THE
REPORT AND I WANT TO DOUBLE CHECK THIS THAT WHAT YOU ARE REALLY ASKING FOR HIS APPROVAL FOR A CONTINUING AD HOC FOR APPROXIMATELY 12 MONTHS TO DO
FURTHER INQUIRY INTO ALL OF THESE VARIABLES AND THEN COME BACK TO THE CITY COUNCIL. I AM HOPING THAT DOESN'T MEAN FOR INSTANCE THAT THE CITY COUNCIL
IS BEING ASKED TONIGHT TO PRE-APPROVE THIS PROJECT OR TO PRE-DESIGNATE EIFD MONEY TO THE LIBRARY OR ANY OF THOSE STEPS. MORE ABOUT GIVING YOU THE
AUTHORITY TO CONTINUE ON THE AD HOC IN ORDER TO DO FURTHER INQUIRIES INTO ALL OF THESE VARIABLES OVER THE COURSE OF THE LAST 12 MONTHS.
YES. DEFINITELY CALLED FEASIBILITY. AS THE MAIN LIBRARY DIRECTOR PUT
FORTH, ANYBODY WHO IS TRYING TO BUILD A BIGGER BUILDING WOULD HAVE TO DO A FEASIBILITY STUDY. THAT IS SOMETHING I LEARNED IS LIBRARY COMMISSIONER AND FRED COULD PROBABLY SAY AS MUCH. THAT IS BASICALLY WHAT WE ARE ASKING FOR DURING THE NEXT YEAR. WE WILL HAVE PERIODIC REPORTS SO IF ANYTHING GETS CONFUSING WE CAN ANSWER IT. >> QUICK QUESTION, FEASIBILITY STUDY SOUNDS LIKE SPENDING MONEY. DOES THIS REQUIRE ANY MONEY? JUST A COMMITTEE TO ME TO GO FORWARD? OKAY. JUST WANT TO CLARIFY.
WE DEFINITELY CANNOT SEND MONEY AT THIS POINT.
I AM ON PAGE 23 OF 34 ALMOST TO THE BOTTOM OF THE PAGE IT SAYS DURING THE
FEASIBILITY PHASE THE COMMITTEE WILL UPON FUNDING APPROVAL BY THE CITY COUNCIL COMPLETE THE FOLLOWING TASKS. I'M WONDERING WHAT THE FUNDING APPROVAL IS. IT SOUNDS LIKE THERE ISN'T FUNDING APPROVAL, BUT THIS IS WHAT IT SAYS RIGHT HERE. SO I WANT TO KNOW WHAT THAT MEANS, WHAT THE SENTENCE MEANS. ALSO HAVE A QUESTION TO STAFF. THEY ARE ASKING FOR THE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR TO BE PART OF THE AD HOC COMMITTEE. I AM WONDERING WHAT STAFF'S OPINION IS ON THAT.
ANYTHING BEFORE RETURN --
AS FAR AS FUNDING I THINK THE WAY WAS TO BE PHRASED WAS IF THERE IS A NEED
FOR MONEY, WHICH I AM ASSUMING WE WILL NOT BE ASKING FOR MONEY, WE WOULD
JUST BE ABLE TO PRICE OUT HOW MUCH THAT WOULD ACTUALLY COST, BUT I DO NOT ANTICIPATE US GOING FORWARD WITH COSTS. AS FAR AS ECONOMIC MOMENT PERSON SPENDING TIME COMING TO THE MEETING WE ALWAYS DEFER TO STAFF BEFORE. LARRY MIGHT BE ABLE TO COMMENT ON THAT TOO. WE DIDN'T MAKE IT A REQUIREMENT. IT WAS IF THEY COULD AND IF THEIR SUPERVISOR PROVE IT THEN THEY WOULD COME.
IF THEY COULD AND THEN THEY JUST DIDN'T.
THE PRIORITIES OF STAFF ARE SET BY HIS CITY COUNCIL AS A WHOLE AND I THINK
WE'RE MOVING IN A DIRECTION AS AN ORGANIZATION WE WILL BE DOING EXERCISES I HOPE THE COUNCIL MAKE DECISIONS OR SET PRIORITIES FOR US. IN THAT SENSE Agenda Item Number: 3
Agenda Item Number 3/City Council Meeting Packet for Meeting of: July 2, 2024 / Page 23 of 78 LEVEL OF OF HER MIGHT DEPEND ON THE PRIORITIES OF THE CITY. OFFERING EXPERTISE, I DO NOT SEE THAT IS OVERLY BURDENSOME. BEING AN ACTIVE PARTICIPANT MIGHT GET INTO THAT TERRITORY LITTLE MORE. I'LL BE HONEST WITH
YOU, I WILL BE GLAD IF WE COULD GET A STRONG COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR IN THE FIRST PLACE. WE'VE BEEN RECRUITING WITHOUT SUCCESS FOR A WHILE NOW. HOPEFULLY WE WILL HAVE SOMEBODY FOR WHOM THIS IS AN ISSUE.
WHEN WE COME BACK WE MIGHT WANT TO DISCUSS HOW TO MODIFY THE LANGUAGE ON PAGE 23 OF 34. GO AHEAD. I'M SORRY.
ONE MORE THING. IT SAYS THE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR WILL SERVE AS AN --MEMBER OF THE COMMITTEE. I WOULD LIKE TO UNDERSTAND WHAT THAT DOES.
IT WOULD BE DON'S PRIORITY IS TO WHETHER THEY WANTED THEM TO BE INVOLVED BUT ALSO WE WOULD REFER TO THE GENERAL MANAGER.
A REMINDER, SPEAK INTO THE MICROPHONE'S BECAUSE UNLESS THEY ARE RIGHT HERE THEY DO NOT HEAR US. OKAY. MY QUESTION IS, HYPOTHETICALLY, LET'S SAY THE
CITY COUNCIL SAYS AD HOC, CONTINUE ON IN YOUR INQUIRIES AND EXPLORATION
AND THIS GROUP COMES BACK WITH A VISIBILITY --FEASIBILITY STUDY, HAS DONE INTENSE WORK. I WANT TO MAKE SURE WE WE IN A POSITION AS A CITY COUNCIL TO
THE CLIENT TO DO WHATEVER PROJECT IS BROUGHT BACK TO US BECAUSE SO LONG AS THAT'S BECAUSE WE DON'T YET HAVE THE INFORMATION. IS THAT AN ACCEPTABLE OPTION? >> OF COURSE. YOU COULD PULL THE PLUG AT ANY TIME.
HOPEFULLY NOT, BUT JUST SAYING AS FAR AS OPTIONS. >> JUST LOOKING UNDER THE TRANSITION PORTION. IT SOUNDS LIKE YOU ARE LOOKING LONG TERM, BUT IT
ALSO TALKS ABOUT A PLAN FOR TEMPORARY FACILITIES DUE TO HOW CONSTRAINED EVERYBODY IS. SO I AM WONDERING DASHES IS TO COME BACK WITHIN SIX MONTHS.
AT THAT TIME DO YOU ANTICIPATE --IT TALKS ABOUT THE LIBRARY AND OUR
COMMUNITY-BASED ORGANIZATIONS, BUT YOU ANTICIPATE ANY FUNDING NEEDED FROM US EVEN FOR THAT TEMPORARY PORTION? AND IS THE COUNTY --ARE THEY WILLING TO FUND SOMETHING LIKE THAT? I'M JUST SAYING IF WE SPEND OUR TIME ON IT YOU KNOW DASHES >> RAMIREZ OF HOPKINS OFFICE SHE COMMITTED DEBBIE'S TIME EVERY MONTH. SO IF THERE IS SOMETHING THAT COMES UP BY WAY OF A SPOTTER
SOMETHING THEY CAN DO TO CONTRIBUTE TOWARDS ANYTHING THAT IS TEMPORARY WE WILL GLADLY RECEIVE THAT AND BRING IT FORWARD.
WE ARE NOT EXPECTING US AS A COUNCIL -- >> KNOW. I AM WELL AWARE. I AM WELL AWARE. THAT IS NOT GOING TO HAPPEN.
I DIDN'T THINK SO.
UNLESS WE HAVE OTHER QUESTIONS WE COULD GO BACK TO COUPLE, AND THEN BRING IT BACK. OKAY.
THIS IS FOR PUBLIC COMMENT ON THE DISCUSSION OF THE LIBRARY AD HOC COMMITTEE. IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO MAKE PUBLIC COMMENTS IT IS TWO MINUTES. WE GO IN CHAMBERS FIRST INTO THE COMMUNITY. ALL OF HER?
AS FAR AS I REMEMBER THE LIBRARY IS LEASED TO THE COUNTY FOR A DOLLAR. THE CITY PAYS FOR THE BUILDING. IT IS ACTUALLY A COUNTY LIBRARY. FRIENDS ARE IN THE LIBRARY BUSINESS --[ INAUDIBLE ] I AM NOT CLEAR WHY WE ARE TALKING
ABOUT BUILDING A NEW LIBRARY WHEN THE COUNTY IS GOING TO BE FROM WHAT I Agenda Item Number: 3
Agenda Item Number 3/City Council Meeting Packet for Meeting of: July 2, 2024 / Page 24 of 78 HEARD STANDARDIZING THE LIBRARIES I THINK ACROSS THE ENTIRE COUNTY. I AM A BIG FAN OF LIBRARIES. I GET BOOKS DELIVERED TO THE LOCAL LIBRARY AND SO ON AND SO FORTH SO MY POINT IS NOT AGAINST LIBRARIES. I JUST DON'T SEE THE LOGIC OF THE SERVICE POINT. LIKE THE COUNCIL MEETING THREE YEARS AGO WHEN WE SPENT HOURS TALKING ABOUT SURFACING A RIVER THROUGH THE CITY. WE HAD NO MONEY TO DO IT. WE TALKED AND TALKED AND TALKED AND NOTHING HAPPENED. IT
SEEMS THERE ARE MUCH BETTER WAYS OF USING TIME AND ENERGY GIVEN THE CRISIS
WE ARE IN NOW THAT EXPLORING THIS BECAUSE I DON'T THINK IT IS APPROPRIATE
TO HAVE THIS IS A TRIAGE CENTER FOR MENTALLY ILL PEOPLE OR HOMELESS PEOPLE
OR WHATEVER IN A LIBRARY WHERE PEOPLE AND CHILDREN ARE COMING ALONG TO GET BOOKS AND HAVE HOPEFULLY STORYTELLING SESSIONS AND THAT KIND OF THING. I'M NOT QUITE CLEAR HERE. THE COUNTY HAS THE MONEY. RAMIREZ, THE SCHOOL
SUPERVISOR OR WHATEVER HER TITLE IS, OBJECTIVES AS FAR AS THE COUNTY CHILDREN. BUT THIS SEEMS LIKE ONE OF THOSE SITUATIONS WHERE THE COUNTY IS SUPERIMPOSING ITSELF ON THE CITY RATHER THAN THE OTHER WAY AROUND. WE USED TO BE AN IMPORTANT DESTINATION OF A CITY, THAT IS OVER. WE HAVE TO ATTRACT PEOPLE TO THE CITY.
THAT IS TWO MINUTES. THANK YOU FOR YOUR PUBLIC COMMENT. NEXT OUT TO SOON.
COULD YOU UNMUTE YOURSELF, PLEASE? CAN YOU SEE THE TIMER? GO AHEAD.
I AM HEARING HOW BIG OUR SERVICE AREA IS IN MY QUESTION IS IF WE SERVE ALL OF THESE PEOPLE OUTSIDE OF OUR LITTLE TOWN WITH A BE PAYING FOR THIS TOO? WILL THEY BE PART OF IT? OR DOES THIS FALL BACK ON SEBASTOPOL AND THE NOT MANY PEOPLE LIVING HERE. THAT IS MY QUESTION. THANK YOU.
THANK YOU FOR PUBLIC COMMENT. I WILL COME BACK TO CHAMBERS FOR PUBLIC COMMENT. SEEING THEN I WILL GO BACK OUT TO SOON. UNMUTE PLEASE. CAN YOU SEE THE TIMER? GO AHEAD.
I AM JUST CURIOUS. I AM A LITTLE LOST ON THE PROCESS AND TIMELINE OF THIS PROPOSAL. AND I THINK COUNCILMEMBER ZOLLMAN HAS DONE A GREAT JOB AND THERE IS A TON OF RESEARCH. MAYBE IF HE COULD GO BACK AND EXPLAIN IT. IT JUST
SEEMS LIKE A LOT OF PUZZLE PIECES THAT ARE FITTING TOGETHER LIKE WE OWN
THE BUILDING BUT THEN SARAH WAS MENTIONING GRANT SOURCES THAT ARE
OBVIOUSLY FROM THE LIBRARY THAT WOULD BE USED FOR BUILDING THE NEW BUILDING. MAYBE IF COUNCILMEMBER ZOLLMAN COULD TAKE SOME TIME AND SHOW HOW
ALL OF THESE PIECES FIT TOGETHER AND TO DELINEATE WHAT IS THE ACTUAL
FINANCIAL COMMITMENT FROM THE CITY OF SEBASTOPOL VERSUS WHAT THE FINANCIAL
PART WOULD BE COMING FROM DIFFERENT ORGANIZATIONS SARAH MENTIONED BECAUSE IT SOUNDED LIKE QUITE A BIT OF MONEY, LIKE $17 MILLION. SEEMS LIKE I COULD DEFINITELY GET YOU STARTED ON DESIGNING AND PUTTING A BUILDING TOGETHER.
SO THAT WAS ENCOURAGING. THE OTHER QUESTION I HAD WAS I DON'T KNOW IF YOU
HAVE THIS IN THE PACKET OR NOT, BUT IS THERE A MAP OF WHERE THIS NEW BUILDING WOULD GO? I IMAGINE IT IS NOT THE EXACT SAME LIBRARY FOR PRINT WE HAVE NOW BECAUSE WE ARE OBVIOUSLY TRYING TO EXPAND. SO I AM THINKING IT IS GOING INTO THE PARKING LOT. DOESN'T THE CITY ON THE PARKING LOT. ANYWAY, I
AM JUST WONDERING HOW THESE PIECES FIT TOGETHER AND IF WE COULD HAVE A
BRIEF TIMELINE, BEST CASE SCENARIO TIMELINE IN TERMS OF THE PROJECT AND FUNDING FOR THE PROJECT. BUT IT IS A VERY INTERESTING IDEA I THINK. I AM
JUST UNCLEAR ON THE PIECES IN THE TIMELINE AND THE FUNDING AND HOW THAT COMES TOGETHER. THANK YOU.
Agenda Item Number: 3
Agenda Item Number 3/City Council Meeting Packet for Meeting of: July 2, 2024 / Page 25 of 78 THANK YOU FOR PUBLIC COMMENT. BACK TO CHAMBERS IF THERE IS ANYONE IN CHAMBERS. >> GOOD EVENING. FIRST TIME I'M HEARING ABOUT ANY OF THIS
STUFF, BUT I AM CURIOUS TO KNOW WHAT THE EMPHASIS IS ON BUILDING AN
ENTIRELY NEW STRUCTURE WHEN THERE ARE PLENTY OF STRUCTURES SUCH AS THE FORMER LOCATION OF CVS NEXT TO LUCKY THAT IS AVAILABLE AND LONG VACANT.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR PUBLIC COMMENT. NEXT I WILL GO BACK OUT TO ZOOM.
ROBERT, UNMUTE YOURSELF, PLEASE. THANK YOU. CAN YOU HEAR US? CAN YOU SEE THE TIMER? GREAT. GO AHEAD.
I THINK A NEW LIBRARY SOUNDS LIKE A GREAT IDEA. I AM NOT SURE HOW IT MAKES FINANCIAL SENSE. WE HAVE A BUDGET ISSUE IN PART BECAUSE WE ARE TRYING TO PROVIDE SERVICES AVAILABLE IN A BIG CITY WITH 3000 PROPERTY TALKS PLAYERS --PAIRS AND DECLINING REVENUE. SO A LOT OF QUESTIONS ABOUT THE FINANCIALS CENSUS BANKS IN LIGHT OF THE FISCAL ISSUES WE ARE FACING. THEY DO NOT GO TOGETHER WELL. IN TERMS OF STATISTICS, I HEARD STATISTICS ABOUT HOW GOOD IT IS FOR THE ECONOMY. I AM AN ECONOMIST SO I LOOKED INTO IT. I THINK IT IS COMING FROM A STUDY DONE IN DOWNTOWN D.C. WHICH IS NOT A GRAY ANALOG. [ INAUDIBLE ] A LOT OF BUILDINGS THERE DIDN'T WORK. MY LAST COMMENT IS IF YOU JUST PASSED ON THE CONSENT CALENDAR $50,000 CONSULTANT -- I THOUGHT WE
WOULD NOT DO THAT ON CONSENT CALENDARS ANYMORE, BUT MY QUESTION WOULD BE
HOW MUCH OF THAT MONEY DOES HE ENVISION BEING SPENT TO SUPPORT THE CONCEPT HE IS WORKING ON HERE TO CREATE THIS NEW LIBRARY. THANK YOU.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR PUBLIC COMMENT. BACK IN CHAMBERS.
BEFORE I GET STARTED I WANT TO REITERATE WHAT I HEARD. ONE, IT IS A GREAT
REMINDER THAT WE HAVE MADE STATEMENTS THAT WE ARE NOT PUTTING BUDGETARY ITEMS ON THE CONSENT CALENDAR. EVEN THOUGH I KNOW IT IS SOMEHOW FUNDED BY
ANOTHER SOURCE IT WAS ON THE CONSENT CALENDAR DESPITE DATING AS A CITY COUNCIL WE WOULD NOT PUT THOSE ON THE CONSENT CALENDAR. IN REGARDS TO THE CVS, I'VE BEEN PUSHING FOR SOME SORT OF VACANCY TAX FOR SOME TIME. IT ROSE
TO THE TOPS OF WAYS TO GET OUT OF THE FISCAL CRISIS, BUT WE NEVER RETURN TO IT. WE JUST GO BACK TO PARCEL TAX, SALES TAX, ALL THESE REGRESSIVE
TAXES AS OPPOSED TO SOMETHING THAT MIGHT PUSH PROPERTY OWNERS INTO REDUCING REDS SO THEY HAVE BUSINESSES BRINGING SALES TAX IN. WHAT I AM
CONCERNED ABOUT IS WE HAVE THIS REALLY AMAZING AGENDA ITEM LOTS OF
INFORMATION BUT WHAT IS MISSING IS WE FROM THE PRESENTATION SPECIFIC DOLLAR AMOUNTS REGARDING MEASURE Y BUT NONE OF THAT IS IN THE AGENDA ITEM.
IT IS MY HOPE THAT IF THERE IS A CONTINUATION OF AN AD HOC THAT IT IS VERY
TRANSPARENT AND CLEARLY INDICATING NUMERICAL VALUE DOLLAR AMOUNTS INSIDE REPORTS. THAT WOULD BE VERY USEFUL. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU. BACK OUT TO ZOOM. ADMIN, UNMUTE, PLEASE. CAN YOU SEE THE TIMER? GO AHEAD, PLEASE.
WHEN I HEARD SARAH TALK ABOUT THE FUNDS AVAILABLE FROM MEASURE Y AND
COUNCILMAN ZOLLMAN'S DESIRE TO EXPAND THE LIBRARY AS A SERVICE CENTER FOR
THE COMMUNITY IT OCCURRED TO ME WE MAY BE OVERLOOKING SOMETHING THAT IS AN OPPORTUNITY THAT WOULD BE WORTH EXPLORING. THAT IS THERE IS A LARGE PARKING LOT NEXT TO THE LIBRARY. I THINK WE OUGHT TO LOOK AT THE
POSSIBILITY OF CONVERTING THAT TO AN RV KIM AND THE PEOPLE WHO HAVE BEEN EVACUATED FROM THE RISE AND SHINE TRAILER PARK. I THOUGHT I WOULD THROW THAT OUT THERE. MAYBE THE NEXT REVISED AD HOC COMMITTEE ON THE LIBRARY MIGHT WANT TO EXPLORE THAT AS A POSSIBLE OPPORTUNITY. THANK YOU.
Agenda Item Number: 3
Agenda Item Number 3/City Council Meeting Packet for Meeting of: July 2, 2024 / Page 26 of 78 THINK YOU FOR YOUR PUBLIC COMMENT. I WILL COME BACK INTO CHAMBERS. IF THERE IS ANYONE THAT WOULD LIKE TO MAKE PUBLIC COMMENT? SEEING THEN I WILL GO BACK OUT TO ZOOM. LINDA, UNMUTE, PLEASE. THANK YOU. GO AHEAD WITH YOUR PUBLIC COMMENT, LINDA.
THAT LAST IDEA IS AN INTERESTING IDEA. [ INAUDIBLE ] THEY ALL HAVE VERY INTERESTING STORIES. I THINK THAT WOULD BE WAY INTERESTING TO LET THEM GO TO LOCKS DOWN NEXT TO THE LIBRARY. THE REST OF YOU COULD HEAR THEIR STORIES AND GET A TASTE OF WHAT WE ARE DOING UP HERE. WE HAVE VACANT COMMERCIAL SPACES -- >> IF YOU COULD PLEASE FOCUS ON THE LIBRARY AD HOC REPORT. THANK YOU.
ANYWAY, I AGREE WITH SOME OF THE SPEAKERS. AT THIS TIME --THERE ARE OTHER THINGS WE NEED TO LOOK AT LIKE THE RV AS A PEER AND SHOULDERS. I LOVE BOOKS AS MUCH AS ANYBODY, BUT I DON'T THINK THIS IS THE TIME. I AM ALSO
INTERESTED IN KNOWING WHERE ZOLLMAN THINGS AN ADDITIONAL LIBRARY WOULD BE BUILT. THE ISSUE OF RADIATION. TO ME THE LIBRARY AND A LOT OF DOWNTOWN I
CANNOT GO THERE BECAUSE OF TOXIC LEVELS OF RADIATION THAT THE CITY COUNCIL
REFUSES TO RECOGNIZE THE RADIOFREQUENCY AND EMF THAT IS CAUSING CANCER IN THIS TOWN AND EVERYWHERE ELSE.
YOU HAVE 25 SECONDS. >> THAT IS ABOUT IT REALLY. THANK YOU.
THANK YOU, LINDA, FOR YOUR PUBLIC COMMENT. I WILL COME BACK TO CHAMBERS IF THERE IS ANYONE IN CHAMBERS TO MAKE PUBLIC COMMENT. SEEING THEN I WILL GO BACK OUT TO ZOOM ONE MORE TIME. PLEASE UNMUTE, RAISE YOUR HAND, GET MY ATTENTION. SEEING NONE PUBLIC COMMENT IS CLOSE.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH. WE ARE NOW BACK TO COUNCIL MEMBERS WITH DISCUSSION AND ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS. I HAD ONE OBSERVATION IN TERMS OF THE MANY
PIECES OF INFORMATION WE'VE HEARD FROM MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC BOTH VIA ZOOM
AND IN PRESENCE HERE IN OUR ROOM WHICH IS THAT HOPEFULLY VICE WHERE
ZOLLMAN HAS MADE NO OF ALL OF THESE BECAUSE THESE ARE THE SORTS OF
CONSIDERATIONS THAT UNDOUBTEDLY THEY WILL LOOK INTO WITH A FEASIBILITY STUDY. THAT WOULD BE MY GENERAL COMMON. ANY SPECIFIC QUESTIONS, PIECES OF INFORMATION, VICE WHERE ZOLLMAN YOU WANTED TO SHARE? >> THANK YOU. I DID TAKE NOTES. I APPRECIATE OTHER PEOPLE FROM THE PUBLIC. IT IS A TRICKY THING WHEN DEALING WITH A JOINT POWERS AGREEMENT. IT IS A SHORT DOCUMENT, THREE PAGES, ON OUR LIBRARY BRANCH. I ENCOURAGE PEOPLE TO DIG IN AND SEE THE DIFFERENT RESPONSIBILITIES WE SHARE WITH THE COUNTY.
I'M CURIOUS IF YOU LOOKED INTO THE CVS BUILDING AND WHAT THE SQUARE FOOTAGE IS OF THE BUILDING. IF THERE IS 17 MILLION THAT BUILDING IS FOR SALE. JUST CHECKING IN WITH THAT.
AGAIN, AT THE VERY LEAST, I THINK YOU HAVE SOME IDEAS. DID YOU HAVE A SPECIFIC ANSWER?
I DO NOT, BUT THAT WOULD DEFINITELY BE PART OF USABILITY. THANK YOU.
THE OTHER PIECE I WOULD LIKE TO RESPOND TO FROM A MEMBER OF THE PUBLIC WAS REGARDING THE $50,000 ALLOCATION FOR THE EIFD CONSULTANT. THAT WAS AN
AMOUNT GRANTED TO THE CITY OF SEBASTOPOL SPECIFICALLY GRANTED FOR A EIFD CONSULTANT. THAT IS LIGHT WAS ON CONSENT. I APPRECIATE THE REMINDER ABOUT Agenda Item Number: 3
Agenda Item Number 3/City Council Meeting Packet for Meeting of: July 2, 2024 / Page 27 of 78 BUDGETARY ISSUES. >> REGARDING THAT 50 TO FOLLOW-UP, WE DID DISCUSSION AND OPEN SESSION AS A FULL AGENDA ITEM. JUST COMING BACK FOR FINAL APPROVAL. I WANTED TO REITERATE WEIGHING IN ON THIS ITEM TONIGHT, INVESTIGATING AND LIBRARIES HAVE ALWAYS BEEN A HOPE FOR THE TOWN. I
REMEMBER LIVING OUT IN THE COUNTRY AND THE LITTLE LOT YELLOW LIBRARY BUS THAT USED TO COME OUT. I DON'T KNOW IF THEY STILL HAVE THOSE LITTLE YELLOW BUSES FOR THE KIDS THAT LIVE OUTSIDE TOWN. THERE WAS ALWAYS AN IMPORTANT RESOURCE. I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE WE ARE CLEAR [ INAUDIBLE ] A LOT OF COMPETITION IN MY MIND FOR THIS MONEY, FOR THE EIFD. I KNOW IT IS LISTED NUMBER ONE IN THE AGENDA ITEM. I'VE SAID IT BEFORE, I DON'T WANT TO COMMIT
IN ANY WAY FOR ALL OF THE VALUABLE PROJECTS THAT WILL COME FORTH IN THAT INVESTIGATION NOT JUST FOR SEBASTOPOL, BUT THE ENTIRE WEST COUNTY. CAN'T OBVIOUSLY TAKE IT ALL. WANT TO MAKE SURE I UNDERSTAND THIS MOVING FORWARD.
ARGUMENT MIGHT BE, WELL, WE ARE READY TO GO. I WANT TO SAY IT VERY
PUBLICLY, I DON'T THINK IT IS FAIR TO CONTINUE TO APPROVE AN AD HOC
COMMITTEE THAT HAS A BIG GOAL AND THAT IS THEIR NUMBER ONE HERE ON YOUR
AGENDA REPORT YOU ARE LOOKING AT BECAUSE SOMEBODY BROUGHT UP TONIGHT THE PARK PLAN. THE PARKLAND HAS BEEN PART OF THIS COMMUNITY AND MANY PEOPLE ENJOY THE PARK AS WELL FOR --I DON'T KNOW --MAYBE LARRY WOULD KNOW. A VERY BIG DOCUMENT WE SPENT A LOT OF MONEY ON. WE HAVE A PLAN WE ARE TRYING TO FUN FOR THAT. WE ALSO MIGHT NEED AN A.D.A. COMPLIANT FIREHOUSE. THERE ARE OTHER THINGS ON THE TABLE. I JUST WANT TO BE CLEAR ABOUT THAT.
NOTE TAKEN. AGAIN, THIS IS FEASIBILITY. YOU WILL DO WITH IT WHATEVER YOU WANT. YOU MIGHT PULL THE PLUG EARLIER THAN A YEAR.
I AGREE WITH COUNCILMEMBER HINTON'S COMMENTS ON EIFD. WHEN THIS CAME BACK
TO COUNCIL A WHILE BACK WE WERE TOLD THIS COULD BE USED FOR ROADS AND IT WAS A TOP PRIORITY. I LISTEN TO COUNTY CONVERSATION ON THE EIFD AND WHAT THEY WANTED WAS AFFORDABLE HOUSING SO LIBRARY WAS NEVER MENTIONED. I SUPPORT THE LIBRARY AND I WOULD LIKE TO SEE YOU CONTINUE YOU WORK ON IT. I THINK EVERYONE FOR WORKING ON IT. I WOULD MAKE A MOTION TO DISSOLVE THE
CURRENT AD HOC AND RECEIVE THE REPORT AND THEN CREATE A NEW AD HOC COMMITTEE AND RECOMMENDING HINTON --MAURER --ZOLLMAN FOR THAT POSITION. >> THERE IS A MOTION ON THE TABLE, BUT I THINK COUNCILMEMBER ZOLLMAN WAS HOPING WE WOULD APPROVE THE SCOPE OF THE AD HOC. BUT WE COULD START WITH THAT. CAN WE START WITH THAT MOTION, PROVE IT, THEN GO ON TO THE PARAMETERS?
I WOULD RECOMMEND GETTING A SECOND ON THE MOTION AND I COULD CLARIFY THE
MOTION SO IT IS NOT AS SPECIFIC AS THE TASK ASKING ABOUT IF THAT WOULD BE HELPFUL. END THERE IS A MOTION ON THE TABLE. IS THERE A SECOND? [ INAUDIBLE ]
YES. WHEN THERE IS A MOTION ON THE TABLE WE LOOK FOR A SECOND. IF THERE IS
A SECOND --TO CLARIFY, IF THERE IS A SECOND ON THE MOTION OUR DISCUSSION IS LIMITED TO THE MOTION. IF THERE IS NO SECOND CONFESSION CONTINUES ON THE TOPIC IN GENERAL. ANY SECOND HERE? NOT AT THE MOMENT SO WE WILL CONTINUE WITH DISCUSSION ON THIS ITEM. WAS THERE ANY OTHER DISCUSSION ? I JUST WANTED TO COMMENT THAT I AGREE WITH COUNCILMEMBER HINTON. I DO HAVE CONCERN ABOUT THAT BEING FIRST ON THE LIST. THERE ARE A NUMBER OF DIFFERENT PROJECTS WITHIN THE CITY. I WANT TO BE CLEAR THAT TONIGHT Agenda Item Number: 3
Agenda Item Number 3/City Council Meeting Packet for Meeting of: July 2, 2024 / Page 28 of 78
WHATEVER WE VOTE ON I PERSONALLY AM NOT PRIORITIZING ANYTHING HERE AS FAR AS THE LIBRARY FOR EIFD. IT SEEMS TO ME THE SCOOP IS HEADING DOWN THAT
PATH ALREADY AND I HESITATE TO HAVE THE ARGUMENT COME BACK AS WAS ALREADY STATED. IT IS NOT A GIVEN FOR ME.
I WOULD REITERATE THAT. I THINK VICE WHERE ZOLLMAN AND THE OTHERS WORKING ON THIS PROJECT WILL HEAR CLEARLY . I'M SORRY, COUNCILMEMBER HINTON THEN COUNCILMEMBER MAURER.
I JUST HAVE QUESTIONS. I AM ALSO NOT IN FAVOR AT THIS POINT FOR ASSIGNING STAFF . WE DON'T EVEN HAVE A STAFF PERSON RIGHT NOW READY TO GO ON THAT.
ALSO CLARIFYING QUESTION OF IS THAT STAFF AN ACTUAL MEMBER OF THE
COMMITTEE OR --MAYBE THIS IS FOR THE CITY ATTORNEY --BECAUSE I HAVE HEARD IS STAFF A MEMBER OF THE COMMITTEE OR NOT. I WANT TO CLARIFY THAT.
THE QUESTION IS WHETHER A STAFF MEMBER HAS A VOTE ON A COMMITTEE OR INSTEAD IS SIMPLY THERE AS GUIDANCE AND A SOURCE OF INFORMATION. AND THAT IS A QUESTION FOR LEGAL COUNSEL.
TYPICALLY IN OUR COMMITTEE SYSTEM STUFF IS THERE TO SUPPORT THE COMMITTEE BUT DOES NOT HAVE A VOTE AND DOES NOT PLAY THAT ACTIVE ROLE.
THANK YOU. WEISSMAN ZOLLMAN, ANY PLAN TO DIFFER IN THIS COMMITTEE? NO. THAT IS HOW MAYOR HAS SERVED. UNLESS SHE THINKS DIFFERENTLY WE WON'T CHANGE ANYTHING.
WE HAVE A COUPLE QUESTIONS I HEAR. NUMBER ONE IS DISSOLVING THE CURRENT AD HOC. NUMBER TWO IS CREATING A NEW AD HOC. NUMBER THREE WOULD BE WHETHER STAFF IS GOING TO BE INVOLVED IN THIS AD HOC. FINALLY, WHAT ARE THE TASKS.
I AM LOOKING AT THE CLOCK AND WOULD LIKE TO WRAP THIS UP AS SOON AS POSSIBLE SAID GO AHEAD.
YOU BEEN SERVING ON THE COMMITTEE, BUT NOW WE'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT THE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT PERSON. WITH THAT DEFAULT TO THE PLANNING PERSON RIGHT NOW WHEN A PERSON IS TAUGHT --PART-TIME AND ELLEN CONTRACTED?
VERY DIFFICULT FOR THAT PERSON TO PARTICIPATE IN ANY KIND OF ACTIVELY AT THIS POINT FOR THOSE REASONS.
I JUST HAVE CONCERNS ABOUT ANY STAFF TIME RIGHT NOW.
SO WHO WOULD BE THE STAFF MEMBER, VICE WHERE ZOLLMAN, IF ANY WOULD LIKE TO PARTICIPATE IN A NEW AD HOC?
OF COURSE I WOULD PUT HER MARY, BUT IT IS DON'S JOB. IT IS HIS CALL.
SUBJECT TO THE DIRECTION OF THE CITY MANAGER. ALL RIGHT. LET'S DO IT THIS WAY, HOW ABOUT WE DO JUST A THUMBS-UP AND TAKE A FULL VOTE? DISBANDING THE CURRENT AD HOC, IS EVERYONE OKAY WITH THAT? OKAY. CREATING A NEW AD HOC? OKAY. I WILL JUST GO AHEAD WITH MAJORITY VOTE HERE AND THEN INVITE COMMENTS. SO WE HAVE CREATED A NEW AD HOC. THE NEXT QUESTION IS THE TASKS FOR THE AD HOC. THUMBS-UP, LET'S ASSUME FOR PURPOSES OF YOU FOR MEMBER McLEWIS IF A NEW AD HOC IS FORM THE QUESTION FOR EVERYONE WOULD BE ARE WE Agenda Item Number: 3
Agenda Item Number 3/City Council Meeting Packet for Meeting of: July 2, 2024 / Page 29 of 78
COMFORTABLE GIVING THE CITY MANAGER DISCRETION TO APPOINT STAFF AS HE SEES FIT. THUMBS-UP OR THUMBS DOWN . MAN TWO. MINORITY. OKAY. THAT IS INTERESTING. IN TERMS OF TASKS WE HAVE A FULL LIST OF TASKS. LET'S RESOLVE THE WHOLE FORMATION OF THE NEW AD HOC. YELLOW FOUR WILLING TO PUT TOGETHER
A NEW AD HOC AREA I WOULD LIKE TO LEAVE THAT ALONE AND MOVE WITH IT AND GO TO QUESTIONS ABOUT THIS AD HOC WILL DO. COUNCILMEMBER MAURER? DOES THIS NEW AD HOC REQUIRE STAFF TIME? FOR SOME REASON I WAS THINKING IT DIDN'T.
IT WOULD BE GREAT, BUT GIVEN WHERE WE ARE FINANCIALLY IT IS DEFERRING TO DON. HE IS THE GENERAL MANAGER AND CONTROL HIS PEOPLE.
MY SENSE IN TALKING TO MARY ABOUT THIS IF IT IS CONTINUING THE ROLE SHE HAS BEEN PLAYING THAT IS SOMETHING WE CAN CONTINUE TO DO. IF IT IS
EXPANDED WILL OR PLANNING COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR THAN IT DEPENDS
ON FIRST THE ABILITY TO FIND SOMEONE AND WHAT ELSE IS ON THAT PERSON'S PLAY. I WOULD LIKE THEM TO COMMIT MORE THAN A LIGHT LEVEL OF PARTICIPATION FOR [ INAUDIBLE ]
I WILL TRY TO WRAP THIS UP AND JUST FOCUS ON THE ISSUES. [ INAUDIBLE ]
WE HAVE FROM COUNCILMEMBER COMMITTEES.
CLIMATE ACTION FOR EXAMPLE? WE STILL HAVE STOPPED DOING CLIMATE ACTION? OKAY. WE HAVE ELIMINATE THE CURRENT COMMITTEE, CREATE A CRYING COMMITTEE.
THERE IS A DISCUSSION ABOUT WHETHER STAFF SHOULD BE ADDED. I WOULD LIKE EVERYBODY TO WEIGH IN AND THEN WE HAVE TO FIGURE IT OUT. MARY, DO YOU HAVE A COMMENT?
BASED ON MY EXPERIENCE IN THE LAST YEAR IT WAS NOT A LOT A STOP TIME OTHER THAN DOING THE MEETING, SOME RECAP AND THINGS LIKE THAT. I THINK DOWNTIME
IS BASED UPON THE CITY MANAGER, BUT IT IS DEPENDENT ON WHAT THAT MEETING ENTAILS. THE FORMER COMMITTEE DID ALL THE WORK. I WILL SAY THAT. THERE WAS LIMITED STAFF TIME ON THAT. BUT, AGAIN, WE WERE ONLY THERE IF WE THOUGHT
THAT --IF WE WERE REQUESTED WE WOULD TALK TO THE CITY MANAGER AND SAY SHOULD A STAFF MEMBER BE HERE. MOST OF THE TIME I WAS THE ONLY STAFF MEMBER THERE AND I DID NOT DO A LOT OF WEB WORK. THE COMMITTEE DID.
AS FAR AS STAFF TIME I AM NOT SUPPORTIVE HAVING PLANNING OR COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT PERSON INVOLVED WITH THIS. WE HAVE ITEMS COMING UP THAT OUR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT RELATED, HOTELS, ALL THOSE THINGS. I WANT TO ENSURE
THEY ARE SPENDING TIME ON THINGS THAT WILL BRING REVENUE TO THE CITY, NOT SUCK TIME DOWN AWAY. I WANT TO SEE THEM SPEND THEIR TIME THAT WAY.
LISTENING TO COMMENTS HERE AND I THINK WHAT WE ARE SETTLING DOWN TO IS NO PLANNING DIRECTOR, NO COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR. AND, I THINK, WITH
MARY'S COMMENTS, THERE IS A POTENTIAL TO HAVE MAYOR CONTINUE TO PROVIDE
STAFF SUPPORT AT THE LEVEL SHE HAS AND IN THE ROLE SHE HAS BEEN PROVIDING IT UP UNTIL THE PRESENT. THUMBS-UP OR THUMBS DOWN ON ALLOWING MAYOR TO CONTINUE . OKAY. SO AT SOME POINT WE WILL HAVE TO HAVE A MOTION BUT I AM Agenda Item Number: 3
Agenda Item Number 3/City Council Meeting Packet for Meeting of: July 2, 2024 / Page 30 of 78
HEARING AD HOC ENDS, NEW AD HOC GETS CREATED, POTENTIAL FOR MAYOR TO BE AVAILABLE AS A STAFF PERSON. LET'S TALK ABOUT TASKS FOR JUST A MINUTE. I LOOK AT TESTS ON PAGE 23 OF 34. THEY ARE SUBSTANTIAL. THEY GO FROM PAGE 23 TO PAGE 24 AND THEN THE MIDDLE OF PAGE 25. I HAVE READ THROUGH THOSE AND MY ONLY CONCERN IS IT SAYS 12 MONTHS, AND OUTLINES VARIOUS REPORTS, I THINK IT IS ORDERLY REPORTS OUT TO THE CITY COUNCIL. IT TALKS ABOUT SPECIFIC TASKS THE FEASIBILITY STUDY WILL INCLUDE, HAVING WORKING GROUPS.
THE ONE PIECE I WOULD LIKE TO SEE ADDED IS A REQUIREMENT WHICH MAY ALREADY
BE IN HERE, BUT A REQUIREMENT --AND THIS IS WHAT WE HEARD FROM COUNCILMEMBER McLEWIS --THAT THIS AD HOC COORDINATE INTENTIONALLY WITH
OTHER NONPROFITS WITHIN THE COMMUNITY THAT MIGHT BE SERVING THE SAME
PURPOSE LIKE THE SEBASTOPOL COMMUNITY CULTURAL CENTER OR CENTER FOR THE ARTS OR COMMIT SENIOR CENTER. THAT IS WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO ADD. DOES ANYONE HAVE MODIFICATIONS TO THE TASK LIST?
I WOULD LIKE TO ADD FROM FORMER COUNCILMEMBER GURNEYS LETTER, THIS ATP
GRANT WHICH I DID NOT SEE LISTED IN THAT GROUP OF WORK, BUT WE SEE IT IN HER LETTER THAT THERE IS POSSIBLY $250,000 THAT COULD BE LEVERAGED. FOR
ME, INSTEAD OF FOCUSING ON THE EIFD WHICH WILL HAVE A LOT OF COMPETITION I WOULD RATHER SEE THE FOCUS ON FREE MONEY FROM GRANTS.
FREE MONEY FROM GRANTS. I LIKE THAT. THEN WE HAVE OTHER COMMUNITY GROUPS TO ADD THOSE ITEMS. [ INAUDIBLE -OVERLAPPING SPEAKERS ] I WOULD SUPPORT LIMITED PARTICIPATION BY STAFF.
I WAS JUST GOING TO ASK IF WE CAN HAVE SOME SORT OF REPORT ON HOW MUCH DOWNTIME IS BEING UTILIZED SO WE CAN GAUGE THAT. I TOTALLY TRUST MARY.
JUST FOR ALL OF US BECAUSE WE ARE SO CONSCIENTIOUS ABOUT STAFF TIME RIGHT NOW.
MARY, I THINK IF YOU ARE TRACKING THIS THAT THE ADDITIONS TO THE TASKS
INCLUDE THAT THE REPORT OUT FROM THIS AD HOC INCLUDE A REPORT OUT ON
SOMETIME BEING USED AND THAT WE ADDED TO THE TASK FOCUS ON FREE MONEY AND
GRANT MONEY AND THAT WE HAD INTENTIONAL ENGAGEMENT WITH OTHER GROUPS IN THE COMMUNITY THAT MIGHT BE SERVING THE SAME GOALS. ANY OTHER ADDITIONS?
ESPECIALLY SEEING THE THUMBS WHICH WERE TWO UP, TWO DOWN, ONE MAY BE, MAYOR ONLY HAS SO MUCH TIME . MARY. COMMITTEE HAS BEEN DOING SO MUCH WORK
AND WOULD REALLY LIKE TO LEAN TOWARDS NOT USING STAFF TIME OR MARY TIME EVEN THOUGH SHE ALWAYS SAYS YES. I HAVE TO SAY THAT OUT LOUD.
COULD YOU HELP US UNDERSTAND WHAT IMPLICATIONS THAT MIGHT HAVE FOR THE WORK OF THE AD HOC?
I WILL TRY NONE. I RELY ON MARY BECAUSE I AM NOT TYPING LOGICALLY ASTUTE.
SENDS OUT EMAILS TO SCHEDULE THINGS.
WE HOST THE ZOOM FOR THE MEETINGS AND SEND OUT THE INVITES TO THE MEETING.
I THINK MAYOR WOULD HAVE TO TRAIN YOU. >> YES. I COULD FIGURE IT OUT. >>
WHAT I AM HEARING IN TERMS OF CONSENSUS --LET ME CAPTURE THIS AND MAYBE IT WILL BE A MOTION. TERMINATE THE CURRENT AD HOC. CREATE A NEW AD HOC AND THAT NEW AD HOC WILL NOT USE STAFF TIME. THE TASKS OF THE AD HOC WILL BE Agenda Item Number: 3
Agenda Item Number 3/City Council Meeting Packet for Meeting of: July 2, 2024 / Page 31 of 78 AS LISTED IN THE STAFF REPORT UNDER THE HEADING RECOMMENDATIONS. BEGINNING ON PAGE 23 OF 34 AND CONTINUING THROUGH THE CENTER OF PAGE 25 OF 35 RIGHT UP UNTIL THE CITATIONS HEADING. IN ADDITION TO THOSE TASKS WE WILL ADD ON FOCUS ON GRANTS AND OTHER FREE MONEY IS SUCH AS THE ACP GRANTS. LOOK AT THOSE SPECIFICALLY. IT HAS BEEN IDENTIFIED SPECIFICALLY OVER EIFD. SO FOCUS ON FREE MONEY. ALSO INTENTIONAL COORDINATION WITH OTHER COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS THAT PROVIDE SIMILAR SERVICES. I THINK THAT IS A MOTION.
MARY, DID I CAPTURE --
YES. IS THAT A MOTION?
THAT IS A MOTION. CAN --IS THERE A SECOND? >> I CAN SECOND IT.
COMMENT ON THE MOTION? OKAY. THEN I THINK WE WILL CALL IN AND SEE IF WE CAN WRAP THIS UP.
APPROVED THE FOLLOWING, DISSOLVE THE CURRENT AD HOC SUBCOMMITTEE AND
APPROVE THE CREATION OF A NEW AD HOC SUBCOMMITTEE, APPOINTED VICE MAYOR ZOLLMAN TO THE AD HOC SUBCOMMITTEE, NO STAFF TIME FOR THIS COMMITTEE.
TASKS FOR THE AD HOC AS LISTED ON PAGES 23 THROUGH 25 OF 34 PAGES. THE COMMITTEE SHALL PROVIDE QUARTERLY REPORTS TO CITY COUNCIL. THE AD HOC
COORDINATE INTENTIONALLY WITH OTHER NONPROFITS IN THE COMMUNITY MAY BE SERVING THE SAME PURPOSE. THAT THE AD HOC FOCUS ON GRANT FUNDING SUCH AS ATP TO LEVERAGE.
I HAVE TO MODIFY MY MOTION THAT IT INCLUDE DETAILS --NEVERMIND. WE AREN'T USING STAFF. I DON'T NEED TO MODIFY IT THAT WAY. BUT I THINK I DO NEED TO
MODIFY IT TO MAKE IT CLEAR THAT THE COUNCIL IS CAUTIONING THE AD HOC
COMMITTEE IN MAKING THIS MOVE TODAY WE ARE NOT PRE-APPROVING ANY PROJECT THAT MIGHT COME BACK TO US FROM THE AD HOC.
YES.
ALL RIGHT. I THINK WE ARE LOOKING FOR ROLL CALL.
[ ROLL BEING CALLED ] MOTION PASSES UNANIMOUSLY. >> THANK YOU FOR THE VERY COLLABORATIVE EFFORT. AND THANK YOU VICE MAYOR ZOLLMAN AND EVERYONE ELSE WORKING HARD ON THIS PROCESS AND WHO APPEARED TODAY TO PARTICIPATE.
WE ARE NOW GOING ON TO OUR NEXT ITEM WHICH IS ITEM NUMBER EIGHT.
CONTINUATION OF AN ITEM THAT WAS BROUGHT FORTH IN A PUBLIC HEARING OPENED EARLIER ON STREETLIGHTING ASSESSMENT DISTRICT. WE ARE REOPENING PUBLIC HEARING. REMIND ME WHAT WE ARE DOING HERE.
WE ARE NOT REOPENING. WE ARE CONTINUING FROM THE LAST MEETING. SEE YOU WILL RECEIVE -- >> WE ARE WITH BERTOLERO. AS I CORRECT? THANK YOU. I WILL JUST BE QUIET HERE. THANK YOU. 10 MINUTES, MAX. MARY, I WILL ASK YOU TO TIME US. 10 MINUTES FOR PRESENTATION THEN OUT TO PUBLIC COMMENT.
I WILL BE VERY QUICK. THANK YOU. THE ITEM TONIGHT IS TO REQUEST THE COUNCIL CONDUCT A PUBLIC HEARING TO RECAP THE PROCESS ON APRIL 16, 2024 THE COUNCIL ADOPTED RESOLUTION NUMBER 6582 APPOINTING THE ENGINEER DIRECTING THE PREPARATION AND FILING OF THE ANNUAL ENGINEER REPORTS. THE ENGINEER REPORT SUBSEQUENTLY PREPARED AND FILED WITH THE CITY ON MAY 21st, 2024. BY ADOPTING RESOLUTION 65 NEA INDICATING THE INTENTION TO LEVY AND Agenda Item Number: 3
Agenda Item Number 3/City Council Meeting Packet for Meeting of: July 2, 2024 / Page 32 of 78 COLLECT ANNUAL ASSESSMENT FOR 24-25. TONIGHT'S FINAL CITY COUNCIL ACTION.
THE COUNCIL CAN ADOPT A RESOLUTION APPROVING THE FISCAL YEAR 24-25
ENGINEER REPORT, ASSESSMENT DIAGRAM AND AUTHORIZE LEVY AND COLLECTION OF THE ANNUAL ASSESSMENT AS DESCRIBED IN THE STAFF REPORT. WITH THIS ACTION
THE COUNCIL ALSO FURTHER AUTHORIZES THE SUBMISSION OF THE ASSESSMENT
INFORMATION IN THE ANNUAL ENGINEER REPORT TO THE COUNTY OF SONOMA AUDITOR
OFFICE FOR THE LEVY AND COLLECTION OF THE ASSESSMENT FOR THE CITYWIDE STREETLIGHTING. WITH THAT STAFF RECOMMENDED COUNCIL --STAFF RECOMMENDED COUNCIL CONDUCT PUBLIC HEARING AND [ INAUDIBLE ] APPROVING ASSESSMENT DIAGRAM AND ASSESSMENT FOR 24-25.
OKAY. VERY EFFICIENT. IT IS A PUBLIC HEARING. CAN WE TAKE QUESTIONS NOW OR --
ASK QUESTIONS OF STAFF NOW AND THEN OPEN PUBLIC HEARING AFTER THAT.
THANK YOU. ANY QUESTIONS FROM COUNCILMEMBERS ON THIS ITEM? I HAVE ONE
QUESTION WHICH I'M SURE IS IN THE PATH --STAFF REPORT, BUT PLEASE REMIND US WHAT THE NEW ASSESSMENT AMOUNT WOULD BE?
$32. IT DOESN'T CHANGE FROM CURRENT YEAR.
THINK YOU VERY MUCH. WE CANNOT GO OUT TO THE PUBLIC. >> THANK YOU. PUBLIC HEARING FOR THE ASSESSMENT DISTRICT. IF YOU LIKE TO MAKE A PUBLIC, I GO TO IN PERSON FIRST THEN ZOOM.
MET LIGHTING, RIGHT? OKAY. ONE MAKES HIM UP FOR THE RIGHT THING. ONE THING
ABOUT THE CONTINUATION OF AN AGENDA ITEM WAS THERE WERE MULTIPLE PUBLIC
ITEMS COMMENTS ORIGINALLY, BUT THEY DO NOT CARRY FORWARD WITH THE CONTINUATION. IT IS NOT SURPRISING NONE OF THE COUNCILMEMBERS HAD
QUESTIONS BECAUSE IT IS LIKELY IN PREPARATION FOR THIS MEETING THEY WERE
LOOKING AT PUBLIC COMMENTS MADE AT THIS MEETING AS OPPOSED TO WHEN THIS WAS ORIGINALLY A GENDERIZED. IT WOULD BE MY HOPE MAY BE THOSE THINGS COULD
GET CARRY FORWARD SO COUNCIL CAN RESPOND THE PUBLIC COMMENT IN A MEANINGFUL WAY AS PART OF THE PROCESS. I WILL REITERATE WHAT I SUBMITTED IS PUBLIC, WHICH IS SPECIFICALLY ABOUT ADMINISTRATIVE COST. WHEN YOU LOOK
AT THE ADMINISTRATIVE COST WE HAVE ON THIS AGENDA ITEM FOR THE LIGHTING ASSESSMENT DISTRICT SOMEWHERE IN THE RANGE OF 35% WHICH IS KIND OF HIGH
CONSIDERING HEARING OTHER COMPARABLE LIGHTING DISTRICTS AND WHAT WE EXPECT TO SEE. IF YOU LOOK AT A COMPARABLE LIGHTING DISTRICTS PROBABLY SOMEWHERE IN THE 10 TO 20% RANGE SO 30 TO 35% PROBABLY NEEDS FURTHER INVESTIGATION.
IT IS CLEAR WE HAVE A PROBLEM IN TERMS OF THE WAY WE MANAGE ADMINISTRATIVE
COST IN OUR CITY AND I THINK IT IS IMPORTANT WE ARE MUCH MORE VIGILANT LOOKING AT THOSE COSTS AND FINDING WAYS TO REDUCE THOSE. IF NOT THEY MUST JUSTIFY THOSE COSTS PLEASE. THANK YOU.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR PUBLIC COMMENT. NEXT I WILL GO OUT TO ZOOM. IF THERE IS
ANYONE THAT WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A PUBLIC COMMENT ON THE PUBLIC HEARING FOR THE LIGHTING ASSESSMENT DISTRICT? LINDA, EMILE, PLEASE. GO AHEAD WITH YOUR PUBLIC COMMENT, PLEASE. >> [ INAUDIBLE ] LAWSUITS IN THE COURTS OVER THE LIGHT. THE PROPOSAL OF THE AND A LOT OF OTHER THINGS THAT DON'T SEEM TO BE
IN CONSIDERATION ABOUT THE HEALTH AND ENVIRONMENTAL EFFECTS OF THE LIGHTS WE ARE USING. ALSO THE RADIOFREQUENCY. I MENTIONED IT BEFORE. THE LIGHTS HERE AT O'REILLY'S ARE LETHAL. I CANNOT BE AROUND THEM VERY LONG WITHOUT Agenda Item Number: 3
Agenda Item Number 3/City Council Meeting Packet for Meeting of: July 2, 2024 / Page 33 of 78 FEELING SIGNIFICANTLY UNWELL. WHERE I LIVE I GOT MY ELECTRICITY ALMOST ALL OFF AND I HAVE INCANDESCENT LIGHTS BECAUSE I DON'T TOLERATE L.E.D. ANOTHER
ASPECT THE CITY COUNCIL I AM SORRY TO SAY SHOULD START LOOKING AT THE EFFECTS AND THE COST OF TECHNOLOGY IN THEIR POLICIES AND PROJECTS. THANK YOU. MY THANK YOU FOR YOUR PUBLIC COMMENT. NEXT BACK INTO CHAMBERS . IF
YOU WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A PUBLIC COMMENTS IN PUBLIC HEARING ABOUT THE LIGHTING ASSESSMENT. CNN I WILL GO BACK OUT TO ZOOM. ROBERT, A NEW, PLEASE. I CAN HEAR YOU.
JUST A QUICK ONE. I DON'T KNOW IF ANYONE NOTICED YOU ARE APPROVING AN ASSESSMENT OF -- THAT WILL CONTINUE THE DEFICIT. YOU ARE USING MY MONEY -- PROBLEM FOR MANY YEARS. WATER SEWER FISCAL CRISIS IS COMING UP SOON. THAT IS HOW THAT GOT STARTED. I DON'T KNOW IF ANYBODY WANTS TO CALL THAT OUT.
THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU FOR YOUR PUBLIC COMMENT. NEXT I WILL AGAIN COME BACK TO CHAMBERS. IF ANYONE WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A PUBLIC COMMENT? SEE NONE BACK OUT TO ZOOM. PLEASE RAISE YOUR HAND VIRTUALLY OR UNMUTE YOUR TELEPHONE. SAYING ON PUBLIC HEARING IS CLOSED.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH. BACK WITH COUNCILMEMBERS.
I HAVE A QUESTION AND I APOLOGIZE I DIDN'T ASK THE SOONER, BUT IT JUST OCCURRED TO ME. MONTHS AGO I HAD RESIDENTS WHO LIVE ON WILLOW STREET
ASKING ME IF THERE IS ANYTHING TO DO ABOUT THE BRIGHT LIGHTS THAT COME FROM THE LITTLE LEAGUE FIELD. THEY SET IN THE SUMMER THEY SHINE VERY BRIGHT INTO RESIDENTS ALL ALONG THE STREET THERE. I MEANT TO ASK ABOUT THAT. I DON'T KNOW THAT IS THE WAY PLACE OR TIME, BUT THEY WERE ASKING FOR
SOME SORT OF SHIELDS UP AND ALMOST SO IT IS NOT SHINING -- IT IS NOT DIRECTLY ON POINT HERE, BUT A COUNCILMEMBERS CONCERNED. STAFF, PLEASE, CITY MANAGER, COULD YOU MAKE SURE THERE IS A FOLLOW-UP? EXCELLENT.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH. ANY OTHER COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS ON THIS ITEM? I DID HAVE A FOLLOW-UP QUESTION. I READ THE STAFF REPORT BEFORE, BUT IN TERMS OF
THIS ASSESSMENT COVERING THE ACTUAL PROJECTED EXPENSES CAN WE HAVE A RESPONSE TO THAT CONCERN? WILL THE ASSESSMENT COVER THE ACTUAL OBJECTIVE EXPENSES RELATED TO THIS AREA? VERY BRIEF, PLEASE. >> ARE YOU ASKING THAT THE COLLECTION OF THE ASSESSMENT IS COVERING CURRENT EXPENSES? IT DOESN'T, BUT THERE IS ENOUGH ADEQUATE FUND BALANCE IN THE FUND ITSELF. THAT IS WHY
WE TRY TO KEEP THE ASSESSMENT AMOUNT THE SAME UNLESS YOU HAVE PROJECTS
PLANNED DASHES
YOUR PROJECTION IS THERE IS ENOUGH OF A RESERVE IT IS BEST TO USE A
PORTION OF THE RESERVE SINCE THERE IS NO EXPECTATION OF ANY MAJOR --RATHER DO THAT THEN BURDEN THE LANDOWNERS BUILD UP SAVINGS NEST. IS THAT ACCURATE? GREAT. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU TO THE MEMBER OF THE PUBLIC FOR RAISING MY QUESTION. I THINK I AM LOOKING FOR A MOTION TO APPROVE THE SLIDING ASSESSMENT. ANYONE WANT TO MAKE THE MOTION? HAPPY TO MAKE THE MOTION TO APPROVE FISCAL YEAR 24-25 STREET LIGHTING ASSESSMENT DISTRICT. YOU WILL FIX THE WORDING.
I WILL ADD ADOPTING THE RESOLUTION.
I WILL SECOND THAT MOTION.
Agenda Item Number: 3
Agenda Item Number 3/City Council Meeting Packet for Meeting of: July 2, 2024 / Page 34 of 78 AS MODIFIED BY MARY. ROLL CALL, PLEASE.
SO MOVED BY COUNCILMEMBER HINTON AND SECOND BY COUNCILMEMBER MAURER TO
ADOPT A RESOLUTION APPROVING THE ENGINEER REPORT INCLUDING ASSESSMENT DIAGRAM AND AUTHORIZING LEVY ASSESSMENTS FOR FISCAL YEAR 25 AND 25 FOUR -- . [ ROLL BEING CALLED ] MOTION PASSES UNANIMOUSLY.
AWESOME. AGENDA ITEM NUMBER NINE --AND, THANK YOU TO STAFF FOR THAT PRESENTATION AND PROVIDING THE INFORMATION. WE ARE NOW ON AGENDA ITEM
NUMBER NINE WISHES WATER AND WASTEWATER RATES TO MAINTAIN PUBLIC HEARING AND ADOPT RESOLUTION APPROVING WATER AND WASTEWATER RATES. CAN I SEE A
SHOW OF HANDS OF THOSE HERE AND ANTICIPATE MAKING PUBLIC COMMENT ON THIS ITEM. I SEE ONE. ON ZOOM I SEE ONE. PERFECT. THEN WE WILL STICK WITH TWO MINUTES PER PERSON. PRESENTATION GOES TO OUR CITY MANAGER.
I WILL BE BRIEF. LIGHTING ASSESSMENT DISTRICT ITEM WAS VERY BRIEF.
WE WILL HOLD YOU TO 10 MINUTES.
LONG AND CHALLENGING PROCESS. --WAS HERE AND -- MAKING THE PRESENTATIONAL AND THEN GETS THE PUBLIC HEARING PART.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH. STICKING TO 10 MINUTES. HE'S TELL US WHAT YOU CAN.
NO, WE CANNOT HEAR YOU. BASICALLY IN YOUR FACE. NO, IT'S NOT. GO AHEAD.
SPEAK TO US.
THIS PRESENTATION IS GOING TO BE LAID BY --. HE WILL GO OVER THE WATER RATE PLAN IF YOU ARE CALL FROM THE LAST MEETING. THERE WAS A
RECOMMENDATION TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THE OPTION FOR BOTH WATER AND WASTEWATER. BECAUSE OF THAT WATER RATES HAD TO BE UPDATED AND IT HAS BEEN PART OF THE AGENDA PACKET. HE WILL BE GOING OVER THAT REPORT AT THIS POINT.
OKAY. BE CONCISE AND BRIEF, PLEASE.
GOOD EVENING. WHAT WE ARE HERE TO DO -- IF WE COULD GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE.
I AM SEEING IT IN PRESENTATION MODE FOR THOSE OF YOU NOT ONLINE JUST SO WE ARE CLEAR. STARTING WITH SLIDE --THIS HAS BEEN EIGHT YEARS LONG PROCESS.
AND THEN DOCUMENTING OUR WORKS. REVIEWED BY STAFF AND LEGAL COUNSEL AND THEN READING OPTIONS WHICH IS WHERE WE ARE TONIGHT. CUTTING THE CHASE FOR THE TYPICAL CUSTOMER WITH THE IMPACT PROPOSER. A BIMONTHLY BILL OF -- KEY OBJECTIVES ARE GUIDING PRINCIPLES FOR THE STUDY. FIRST AND FOREMOST
FINANCIAL STABILITY, WE HAVE ISSUES ON WATER AND WASTEWATER WHEN IT COMES TO -- FOR FAIRNESS BETWEEN OUR CUSTOMERS AND WASTEWATER SYSTEMS. HOW WE GET THERE IS THE NEXT SLIDE. FOR FINANCIAL STABILITY WE WANT TO MAINTAIN A
RELATIVELY HIGH DEGREE OF FIXED-RATE REVENUE THAT INCLUDES WE HAVE A HIGH
DEGREE OF FIXED REVENUE RECOVERY -- --SHOWN HERE IS THE CASH FLOW FOR THE CURRENT FISCAL YEAR. NET CASH FLOW OF -1.2 MILLION ON THE WATER UTILITY.
ROUGHLY 1.5 MILLION ON THE WASTEWATER. THAT IS CASH FLOW. WHEN YOU TALK
ABOUT THE BALANCE OF THE SAVINGS ACCOUNT ARE PROJECTED BALANCE OF WATER ONLY . THE CASH FLOW MEANS WE REQUIRE IMMEDIATE LARGE RATE INCREASES.
RESERVES HAVE BEEN DRAWN DOWN OF THE LAST SEVERAL YEARS TO KEEP RATES LOW.
CURRENT RATE REVENUES AREN'T EVEN SUFFICIENT FOR OUR OPERATING . FOR
WASTEWATER, TO REPAY THE GENERAL FUND FOR THAT --
Agenda Item Number: 3
Agenda Item Number 3/City Council Meeting Packet for Meeting of: July 2, 2024 / Page 35 of 78 I WILL INTERRUPT A MINUTE. THE PUBLIC IS NOT ABLE TO SEE THE FULL SLIDES.
CAN WE CORRECT THAT? GO AHEAD. WE DO NOT WANT TO SLOW YOU DOWN. >> THANK YOU. HOW DO WE FIND UTILITIES AND GET THEM TO STAND ON THEIR OWN. THIS IS A SCHEDULE TO PROVIDE FOR THAT. HE IS TO GET OUT OF THE STRUCTURAL
BENEFITS IT, ALLOW FOR EXTERNAL LENDING AND ALLOWED TO REPLAY THE GENERAL FUND AS OPPOSED TO BORROWING THIS YEAR. KEY CHAINS FOR THE WATER USE RATES
AND RESIDENTIAL USERS GOING FROM THE WATER SYSTEM WIDE UNIFORMLY TO A THREE-TIERED SYSTEM. WHAT YOU SEE IS A CURRENT RATE OF $4.52 TO THE
PROPOSED RATES WHICH INCLUDE BOTH REVENUE INCREASES AND THE SEXUAL CHANGE AND RAIN.
IS THERE ANYTHING WE CAN DO ABOUT THE SCIENCE, MARY? ON ZOOM THEY ARE FINE, BUT THEY ARE NOT SEEN THE SECOND SIDE ON THE RIGHT. MAYBE WE COULD MOVE THE ZOOM VIEW I THINK IT IS NEW. THEY DO NEW STARTS. I GUESS HE JUST MOVE ON. SLIDE THIS GREAT. THAT'S PERFECT. THANK YOU. I KNOW YOU ARE TRYING TO BE EFFICIENT FOR US. MATTHEW QUICKLY WHEN OTHER TIME HE WOULD GO AHEAD.
EXAMPLE OF CALCULATIONS TYPICAL FOR AVERAGE SINGLE-FAMILY USERS WHICH IS $9000 OF WATER USE PER MONTH. THIS IS THE WATER CALCULATION. UNDER CURRENT
RATES AND THAT WAS RIGHT AROUND MY PROPOSED RATES FOR WATER SERVICE WOULD STEP THROUGH THE TEARS. PUT THOSE TWO TOGETHER WE HAVE [ INAUDIBLE ] ROUGHLY $25 INCREASE IN AGGREGATE. REVENUE INCREASED AND STRUCTURAL CHANGE INCREASE. HERE IS --. WATER RINSE, AGAIN, MOVING TO A THREE-TIER PROPOSAL FROM RESIDENTIAL USERS. THEN SEVERAL . CURRENT RATES ACROSS THE SYSTEM.
INTENDING TO MOVE TO CLASS PHASE RESIDENTIAL AND HAVING THAT THREE-TIERED STRUCTURE. NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE. TURNING TO THE WASTEWATER RATES, SAME FIXED PLUS A VARIABLE. FIXED BY METER SIZE. THE PROPOSAL HERE MODIFIES HOW THOSE DIFFERENTIALS ARE BETWEEN METER SIZES. RIGHT NOW IT IS BASED ON WHAT WE REFER TO AS HYDRAULIC CAPACITY. POTENTIAL WATER USE THROUGH THE METER AT THE FRONT-END TO HOW WASTEWATER IS USED. THAT IS THE RATIONALE FOR DIFFERENTIAL YOU SEE. ON THE CHANGES PREDOMINANTLY TO THE LARGER METER SIZES IN THE PROPOSAL. MODERATING AGAIN IN YEARS TWO, THREE, FOUR, FIVE.
VARIABLE COMPONENT BASED ON GENERATION. BASED ON YOUR AVERAGE WINTER CONSUMPTION, HOW MUCH WATER YOU USE IN THE WINTER PERIOD. EACH UNIT OF WATER CURRENTLY CHARGED AT $10.31 WITH THE INCREASE THAT WILL BE $50.47 FOR THE FIRST YEAR THAT INCREMENTAL IN YEARS TWO THROUGH FIVE. THIS IS A
REHASH OF OUR SECOND SLIDE JUST SHOWING THE WATER AND WASTEWATER BROKEN DOWN. COMBINED BIMONTHLY BILL FOR A TYPICAL SINGLE-FAMILY. 5/8 AND THREEQUARTER METER CONNECTION, 9000 GALLONS OF WATER PER PERIOD AND 6000 SEWER PER BILLING PERIOD. CURRENT BILL $220 IN CHANGE. THAT UTILITY WHEN WE COMPARE WITH NEIGHBORING AGENCIES WE ARE THINKING NOW IN MONTHLY TERMS.
MOST AGENCIES DO BILL IN MONTHLY TERMS. A LOT OF US THINK IN MONTHLY TERMS WHEN WE BUDGET FOR UTILITY BILLS, ET CETERA. SO WHEN LOOKING AT MONTHLY
WATER CHARGES ACROSS PEER AGENCIES SEBASTOPOL CURRENT WATER PLUS WASTEWATER MONTHLY BILL IS ABOUT $114 AND CHANGE. THE PROPOSED WOULD BE $151.80. WELL BELOW --, A BIT ABOVE --. WHAT WE WANT TO A KNOWLEDGE IS WE HAVE -- IN THE MIDDLE OF STUDIES. THERE ARE OTHER AGENCIES HERE I WOULDN'T
BE SURPRISED IF THEY OPENED THEIR RATE STUDIES A LITTLE BIT EARLIER BASED OFF OF FINANCIAL CHALLENGES WE ARE SEEING ACROSS THE BOARD. NEXT SLIDE.
THE TAKE AWAY HERE, WE'VE SEEN THE RATES, SEE THE IMPACTS, THE KEY POINTS.
PROPOSING THREE-TIER WATER USE RATE STRUCTURE FOR SINGLE-FAMILY RESIDENTIAL STRUCTURES. PORTABILITY LOW TO AVERAGE USERS AND MAINTAINING Agenda Item Number: 3
Agenda Item Number 3/City Council Meeting Packet for Meeting of: July 2, 2024 / Page 36 of 78 OUR FIXED REVENUE RECOVERY AT A FAIRLY HIGH LEVEL OF ROUGHLY 50% FOR BOTH WATER AND WASTEWATER. AGAIN, DIFFERENTIATED BY FLOW PATTERNS RATHER THAN WATER POTENTIAL CAPACITY TO IMPROVE FAIRNESS BETWEEN THOSE CLASSES. AND
HAVING TIERED RATES HELPS TO MODERATE THE IMPACTS WE SEEN TO MOST CUSTOMERS. THIS REPRESENTS MORE THAN 75% OF YOUR CUSTOMERS. >> ARE YOU CLOSE TO DONE?
I BELIEVE I AM DONE. NOW I WILL TURN IT BACK TO CITY MANAGER AND CITY CLERK FOR THE PUBLIC HEARING ITSELF.
CAN I ASK FROM A STAFF PERSPECTIVE HOW MUCH MORE TIME WILL BE NEEDED TO FINISH UP THE PRESENTATION?
WE ARE DONE WITH THE PRESENTATION AND READY TO OPEN PUBLIC HEARING. A LITTLE BIT OF INFORMATION FOR YOU AS WE DO THAT. FIRST, VASQUEZ FROM OUR FINANCE TEAM IS HERE. HELPS WITH THE COUNTY PROCESS. SHE'S BEEN TRACKING.
WE RECEIVED ABOUT 42 VALID PROTEST SO FAR. SHE MIGHT HAVE A SLIGHTLY MODIFIED NUMBER, BUT -- 44. THANK YOU. LET'S SEE --FOR TO BE VALID AND THAT WOULD ESSENTIALLY INVALIDATE THE RACE. WE WILL OPEN FOR PUBLIC COMMENT AND CALL FOR ADDITIONAL WRITTEN PROTESTS. I WOULD LIKE TO WRAP UP WITH THOUGHTS ON NEXT STEPS AFTER THIS PROCESS. >> THANK YOU. AT THE
COUNCIL TABLE WITH ANY QUESTIONS FOR STAFF AND THEN WE WILL GO OUT TO THE PUBLIC. GO AHEAD COUNCILMEMBER McLEWIS?
ARE WE ON TRACK TO INCREASE COSTS FOR COMMERCIAL PURCHASERS OF WATER AND I KNOW WE'VE BROUGHT THAT UP AT EVERY MEETING WE HAD.
I BELIEVE WE ARE --YOU COULD CORRECT THEM, BUT THE HIGHEST LEVEL IRRIGATION RATES.
I'M TALKING ABOUT AT THE LAST MEETING DANTE STATED THAT IT WOULD BE READY
TO GO WHEN WE RAISE THE RATES FOR THE RESIDENTS WHEN THEY FILL UP WITH WATER.
YES. THAT IS PART OF THE RESOLUTION.
THANK YOU. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? NO. WE WILL GO OUT TO PUBLIC COMMENT.
THANK YOU. THIS IS FOR THE PUBLIC HEARING ON THE PROPERTY TO 18 WATER RATES. I WILL GO TO IN CHAMBERS FIRST AND THEN OUT.
UNFORTUNATELY MY PUBLIC COMMENT SUBMITTED BASED ON THE CITY'S SUGGESTION OF THE:00 P.M. DID NOT GET POSTED SO I HAVE TO PULL IT UP VERY QUICKLY.
I'M SURE THIS IS EATING INTO MY TIME.
WE WILL WAIT TO START YOUR TIME WHEN YOU ARE READY.
THANK YOU SO MUCH. >> I AM SURE MARY GOURLEY WILL BE LOOKING INTO PUBLIC COMMENT AND MAKING SURE IT IS POSTED.
IT WILL BE POSTED IF IT HAS NOT ALREADY. I DID NOT GET A CHANCE TODAY.
SORRY.
Agenda Item Number: 3
Agenda Item Number 3/City Council Meeting Packet for Meeting of: July 2, 2024 / Page 37 of 78
LET US KNOW WHEN YOU ARE READY AND WITH WE NEED TO LET SOMEBODY GO BEFORE YOU LET US KNOW. OKAY. THANK YOU. WE HAVE A NEW PUBLIC COMMENT.
HELLO. MY NAME IS PATRICIA FRALEY. I LIVE IN SEBASTOPOL FOR 63 YEARS . IT
IS REALLY HARD FOR US NOW AS SENIORS AND IT IS GETTING HARDER AND HARDER WITH THE INCREASES, THE GROCERIES, EVERYTHING. LIVED IN THE SAME HOUSE FOR 47 YEARS. WHEN I BOUGHT THE HOUSE WE THOUGHT IT WOULD BE GREAT BECAUSE IT HAD A SWIMMING POOL. I ADVISE ANYBODY TO NOT GET A SWIMMING POOL WITH WATER RATES NOWADAYS. WE HAD TO DO A REVERSE MORTGAGE FIVE YEARS AGO BECAUSE MY HUSBAND HAS HAD CANCER SEVERAL TIMES. WE ARE ON A VERY SMALL FIXED INCOME. I CAN BARELY PAY THE WATER RATES I DO NOW. SAW IN THE PAPER YOU NEED LIKE $3.5 MILLION PER YEAR TO GET THIS GOING. I HAVE A QUESTION, WHERE IS THE $17 MILLION AND CAN IT BE USED TO HELP THIS WATER THING GET GOING? FOR THAT .. I JUST DON'T UNDERSTAND ALL OF IT. BUT I WROTE A LETTER. MY NEIGHBORS HAVE TOO. THEY CAN BE HERE. AS I SAID, IT IS JUST HARDER AND HARDER. I WANT TO THANK SANDRA -- EXCUSE ME --FOR VOTING NO ON
THIS AND THINKING OF THIS SENIORS AND THE LOW INCOME PEOPLE THAT WILL MOVE
INTO THOSE NEW APARTMENTS THAT ARE NOT GOING TO BE ABLE TO AFFORD THE WATER BECAUSE I AM SURE IT IS NOT INCLUDED. PLEASE RETHINK THIS.
RESTRUCTURE IF YOU CAN TO START IT SLOWER TO [ INAUDIBLE ] MY BILL WENT UP $30 . THANK YOU.
THANK YOU FOR PUBLIC COMMENT. NEXT I WILL GO OUT TO ZOOM. I AM NOT SURE THE NAME, BUT IT SAYS iPAD 3. CAN YOU UNMUTE YOURSELF, PLEASE. [ CAPTIONERS
>> I WILL JUMP IN WHEN YOU HAVE ABOUT 30 SECONDS LEFT SO GO AHEAD WITH YOUR PUBLIC COMMENT, PLEASE. >> OKAY. I'M READING PART OF A LETTER AS A PART OF WASH PLUS LAUNDROMAT. AS THE PROPRIETOR OF WASH PLUS, A LOCAL
BUSINESS HEAVILY RELIANT ON WATER FOR ITS OPERATIONS, I AM DEEPLY
CONCERNED ABOUT THE ADVERSE EFFECTS THE CYCLE WILL HAVE ON MY ENTERPRISE AND THE ABILITY TO REMAIN IN BUSINESS. WHILE I ACKNOWLEDGE THE NECESSITY
OF MAINTAINING AND ENHANCING OUR WATER IN AND STRUCTURE SUCH A SUBSTANTIAL RATE PLEASE IS AN UNWANTED BURDEN ON SMALL BUSINESSES LIKE MINE. OPERATING
ON THIN PROFIT MARGINS, ANY NOTABLE RISE IN OPERATIONAL COSTS DOES LIBERATORS OUR SUSTAINABILITY. AMOUNTING TO AN ESTIMATED 4900 PER BILLING CYCLE IN 2024 ALONE. THIS ABRUPT RISE FAILS TO CONSIDER THE BROADER ECONOMIC REPERCUSSIONS ON BUSINESSES LIKE MINE. AS A SMALL BUSINESS OWNER,
I AM ACUTELY AWARE OF THE DELICATE BALANCE BETWEEN MAINTAINING AFFORDABLE SERVICES FOR OUR PATRONS AND COVERING OPERATIONAL EXPENSES. TRYING TO STAY WITHIN TIME. I URGE THE SEBASTOPOL WATER DEPARTMENT TO RECONSIDER THIS
DECISION AND EXPLORE ALTERNATIVE APPROACHES TO ADDRESS THE FINANCIAL NEEDS OF OUR WATER INFRASTRUCTURE. I AM GOING TO END THERE. I AM WITH MY HUSBAND, DEVON. WE ARE THE OWNERS OF HONEYMOON FROZEN YOGURT. WE USE A LOT
OF WATER AND LIKE STEVE, WHO OWNS THE LAUNDRY MAT, THIS HAS A VERY STRONG POSSIBILITY TO PUT US OUT OF BUSINESS. THE RATE HEIGHT IS TOO EXTREME FOR BUSINESSES AS STRONG AS OURS TO MAINTAIN. I DON'T SEE HOW WE ARE GOING TO BE ABLE TO STAY IN BUSINESS IF YOU DO THIS TO US. THANK YOU.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR PUBLIC COMMENT. NEXT I WILL COME BACK TO CHAMBERS.
KYLE? >> --ON THE TOPIC OF UTILITY INCREASES. THE DATA PRESENTED IN THE
SEBASTOPOL TIMES TO CLEARLY DEMONSTRATE THAT THESE RESIDENTS ARE FACING A
SUBSTANTIAL INCREASE IN THEIR UTILITY RATES PARTICULARLY WHEN COMPARED TO Agenda Item Number: 3
Agenda Item Number 3/City Council Meeting Packet for Meeting of: July 2, 2024 / Page 38 of 78 SINGLE-FAMILY HOMEOWNERS. THE PREVIOUS COUNCIL MEETING HAVE SEEN EFFECTIVELY IRRESPONSIBLE. WHILE TECHNICALLY CORRECT IN THE DOLLAR PER
DOLLAR COMPARISON, SEBASTOPOL TIMES PROVIDED TABLE STARKLY CONTRASTS THE
CHUTE TO ILLUSTRATE THE CURRENT BIMONTHLY COMBINED RATE FOR CUSTOMERS IS 8783, WHICH IS A HIGHLY CONSIDERED AMOUNT. LOOKING AHEAD TO 2028, THE RATE WILL INCREASE $246 AND $75. THIS REPRESENT OVER 180% IN FIVE YEARS. ON THE
OTHER HAND, THE RATES FOR SINGLE FAMILY RESIDENCES WILL INCREASE STARTING AT 105.87. AN INCREASE OF JUST 77%. SO, WHILE IT IS PARTICULARLY TROUBLING
THE IMPACT ON RESIDENTS DUE TO THE PIPE NEXT YOU, THEN YOU NEED STATEMENTS
FAILED TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THE POSTAL RATE INCREASE FOR THESE RESIDENTS IS SIGNIFICANT HIGHER. THIS DISPARITY NOT REALLY A MATTER OF OVERSIGHT BUT A FUNDAMENTAL MISREPRESENTATION OF THE IMPACT OF THESE RATE CHANGES. IT IS
IMPERATIVE THAT OUR COMMUNICATIONS WITH THE PUBLIC, ESPECIALLY REGARDING
FILMING AS VITAL AS UTILITY RATES BE TRANSPARENT, ACCURATE, AND CONSIDERATE OF ACTUAL BURDENS PLACED ON OUR RESIDENCE. THE CURRENT
NARRATIVE SUGGESTING THAT RESIDENTS ARE SOMEHOW BETTER OFF IS NOT ONLY INCORRECT BUT ALSO DISMISSIVE OF THEIR LEGITIMATE CONCERNS. I URGE THE
COUNCIL TO RE-EVALUATE THE RATE STRUCTURE, ENSURE THAT OUR COMMUNITY'S MOST VULNERABLE MEMBERS ARE NOT JUST EMOTIONALLY EFFECTIVE. IT IS OUR DUTY
TO PROTECT ALL RESIDENTS FROM UNDUE FINANCIAL STRAIN AND THAT STARTS WITH HONEST, HONEST AND CLEAR COMMUNICATION.
THANK YOU, KYLE, FOR PUBLIC COMMENT. NEXT I WILL GO BACK UP TO SOON. KATE, CAN YOU UNMUTE YOURSELF, PLEASE?
YES. THANK YOU.
THANK YOU. CAN YOU SEE THE TIMER STILL?
I CAN.
GO AHEAD, PLEASE. >> FIRST OFF, AS MANY HAVE BEEN LISTENING TO MY PUBLIC COMMENTS AROUND THE WATER, I FIRMLY DISAGREE WITH THESE RATES. I DO NOT BELIEVE THAT THEY TREAT THE COMMUNITY HOLISTICALLY. I THINK THEY WILL BE
VERY BAD FOR BUSINESSES, WHICH WE NEED TO SURVIVE, SO WE HAVE SALES TAX INTERESTS. I ALSO THINK THERE WILL BE UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCES ON THE
CITY'S BUDGET BECAUSE ALL DEPARTMENTS, FIRE DEPARTMENTS, THE PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT WILL ALL SEE RADICAL INCREASES IN WATER. THE OTHER ISSUES THAT
I HAVE BROUGHT FORTH BEFORE IS THAT --AND I GOT CONFIRMATION FOR THIS --
WAS THAT THE DATA WAS USED TO PRICE THE TIERS OF WATER USERS WAS BASED ON THE FISCAL YEARS 2021/2022 WERE ONLY HALF THE METERS IN THE CITY WERE
SMART LEADERS, THE REST WERE ANALOG MEANING WE DID NOT GET AN ACCURATE
REPRESENTATION OF HOW MUCH WATER PEOPLE WITH ANALOG METERS WERE ACTUALLY USING . SO, THE TIERS MIGHT ACTUALLY BE MUCH MORE STINGY THAN PEOPLE'S ACTUAL WATER USAGE. I BROUGHT UP SEVERAL TIMES ABOUT HOW AN ALLOCATION STUDY HAD NOT BEEN DONE FOR OVER 20 YEARS AND SO, THE CITY HAD BEEN MOST LIKELY DOES APPROPRIATE IN BETWEEN 507,000 $500,000 AND $70,000 THROUGHOUT THE DECADE. THAT HAS NOT BEEN RECTIFIED. I'D LIKE TO SEE A COMMITTEE FOR
OUR WATER FUNDS TO ADDRESS THOSE THINGS AS CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS, TIMELINES AND FUNDING. THE TWO CONTAMINATED WELLS. ARE THOSE WELLS STILL
CONTAMINATED AND HAS THE CITY GOTTEN ANY MONEY TO REPAIR THEM FROM THE
PEOPLE WHO CONTAMINATED THEM , THE QUOTE UNQUOTE ON A SYSTEM THAT IS USED
FOR COMMERCIAL HAULERS IS UNACCEPTABLE, AND MAKE SURE OUR WATER AND SEWER THEORIES ARE ACTUALLY JUST GOING FOR WATER AND SEWER. THANK YOU.
Agenda Item Number: 3
Agenda Item Number 3/City Council Meeting Packet for Meeting of: July 2, 2024 / Page 39 of 78 THANK YOU, KATE, FOR YOUR PUBLIC COMMENT. NEXT I WILL COME BACK TO IN CHAMBERS. AN GOOD EVENING ONCE AGAIN. I AM GOING TO FOLLOW-UP. MY NEIGHBORHOOD SAID ABOUT THE AFFORDABILITY OF THESE NEW RATES. FOR PEOPLE
WHO WERE ON NEXT INCOMES, MY UNDERSTANDING OF SPEAKING TO A FRIEND TODAY IN SANTA ROSA IS THAT THEY HAVE A PLAN FOR PEOPLE SUCH AS A CARE PROGRAM.
I DON'T KNOW IF SOMETHING LIKE THAT EXISTS IN OUR BILLING SYSTEM. IT DOES? I AM SEEING WITH THE STATE. BUT ANYWAY, THANK YOU. IF THERE IS ONE, I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW MORE INFORMATION. IF THERE IS NOT, IS THERE ANY
CONSIDERATION ABOUT, CREATING SOME SORT OF CARE PROGRAM SUCH AS TO PEOPLE WHO ARE ON FIXED OR LIMITED INCOMES? THANK YOU.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR PUBLIC COMMENT. NEXT I WILL GO BACK OUT TO RESUME.
COULD YOU UNMUTE YOURSELF, PLEASE?
I BELIEVE I AM UNMUTED.
YOU ARE. CAN YOU SEE THE TIMER, STILL?
I CAN. THANKS.
GO AHEAD.
WELL, I WANTED TO OBJECT TO THE RISING WATER RATES. BUT I THINK THAT THE
TIERED SYSTEM IS UNFAIR AND THE REASON I THINK KEVIN , MAYBE WE CAN CHECK WITH KEVIN Mc ABOUT THIS BUT DURING HIS PREVIOUS PRESENTATION, HE IMPLIED
THAT'S PART OF THE JUSTIFICATION FOR THE TIERED SYSTEM WAS TO MAKE THE RISE IN WATER RATES ELIGIBLE TO THOSE, THE MAJORITY. I THINK HE SAID 75%.
WHO ARE IN TIER 1. SO, THEY WON'T BE EXPERIENCING A 40% INCREASE IN THEIR WATER RATES. AND I THINK THE REASON THAT THIS IS UNFAIR IS BECAUSE PEOPLE HAVE YOUNG CHILDREN, FAMILIES, AND --WELL, BASICALLY THEM. BUT PEOPLE WHO
HAVE YOUNG FAMILIES AND HAVE CHILDREN ARE GOING TO USE MORE WATER AND THEY
ARE GOING TO BE CHARGED AT A RIDICULOUSLY HIGHER RATE WHEN I GET JAUNTED UP INTO TIER 4. AND I THINK THAT IS UNFAIR AND I THINK IT IS A DETRACTION
TO THE COMMUNITY BECAUSE I THINK SEBASTOPOL DEMOGRAPHICALLY IS A COMMUNITY
THAT IS MAINLY MADE UP OF PEOPLE WHO ARE AGING BOOMERS AND I THINK THAT AGING BOOMERS TEND TO LIVE BY THEMSELVES. MAYBE THEIR CHILDREN ARE GONE AND IT IS ALSO A BURDEN ON PEOPLE WHO HAVE ADUS . THE AGING BOOMERS WHO LIVE BY THEMSELVES IN THE HOUSE ARE NOT GOING TO BE OUT OF TIER 1 AND THEY
ARE GOING TO PAY A HIGHER RATE BUT A REASONABLY HIGHER RATE, AT LEAST COMPARED TO THE 40% INCREASE THAT PEOPLE WHO HAVE CHILDREN AND HAVE ADUS , WHICH THEY WERE ENCOURAGED TO BUILD BY THE WAY, HAVE TO PAY. I JUST DON'T
THINK THAT IS A GOOD IDEA AND I DON'T THINK THAT THERE HAS BEEN ANY OTHER JUSTIFICATION PRESENTED FOR THE TIERED RATE SYSTEM. AND SO, THAT IS WHY I OBJECT TO THE WATER INCREASE AS IT IS NOW. >> THAT IS TWO MINUTES.
ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR PUBLIC COMMENT. NEXT I WILL COME TO IN CHAMBERS. >> HELLO. MY NAME IS MICHAEL NORTON. I DON'T FEEL LIKE I KNOW ENOUGH ABOUT
THIS SUBJECT TO BE AN AUTHORITY, BUT MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT THIS RATE
HIKE IS BECAUSE OF A DEBT THAT WAS CREATED AND I DO NOT KNOW IF THE RESIDENCE OF SEBASTOPOL ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR THAT --GREETING THAT DEBT.
Agenda Item Number: 3
Agenda Item Number 3/City Council Meeting Packet for Meeting of: July 2, 2024 / Page 40 of 78 MAYBE THEY ARE DIRECTLY OR BY DEFAULT. I DON'T KNOW ALL THE DETAILS. YOU
KNOW, CAN WE AT LEAST GO TO MONTHLY BILLS IF THAT IS WHAT EVERYONE ELSE IS
DOING AND THAT IS GOING TO GIVE US A SOFTER, YOU KNOW, EASIER WAY TO TRY
TO INCORPORATE THESE INCREASED FEES INTO OUR DAILY LIVES OR INTO OUR MONTHLY LIVES --MONTHLY BILLS. LET'S DO THAT. LET'S GIVE PEOPLE A CHANCE.
CAN WE DELAY THE GO AHEAD ON THIS RATE HIKE AND EMPOWER OR FORM SOME SORT
OF COMMUNITY TASK FORCE TO TAKE A CLOSER LOOK AT THIS ISSUE AND COME UP WITH AN ALTERNATIVE PROPOSAL OR ALTERNATIVE SOLUTIONS? DO WE HAVE TO GO WITH THIS NOW? DO WE? 2800 PEOPLE AND SOMETHING ARE THE NUMBER OF RESIDENTS IN HOMES IN THIS CITY AND YOU SAID THERE WERE 44 PROTESTS. WELL, THERE IS MORE ADDED NOW. BUT, YOU KNOW, I THINK IT SHOULD BE REVERSED. I
THINK THE CITY SHOULD HAVE TO HAVE A MAJORITY OF RESIDENTS THAT APPROVE OF THEIR PLANS .
MICHAEL, YOU HAVE ABOUT 25 SECONDS. >> THANK YOU. ASSUMING THAT I KNOW COMMENT IS A YES VOTE, IT ISN'T. >> THANK YOU FOR YOUR PUBLIC COMMENT.
NEXT I WILL GO OUT TO ZOOM. ROBERT, CAN YOU UNMUTE YOURSELF, PLEASE? >> CAN YOU HEAR ME?
I CAN HEAR YOU. CAN YOU SEE THE TIMER?
I CAN.
GO AHEAD, PLEASE.
JUST AS PROCEDURE, THE RATES THAT YOU SET UP IN THAT NOTICE ARE DIFFERENT THAN THE RATES THAT YOU PRESENTED TONIGHT. I DON'T KNOW IF YOU WERE GOING TO PROVIDE SOME CLARIFICATION ON THAT. BECAUSE I WOULDN'T GO WITH OPTION TWO TONIGHT. THAT IS IT. THANKS.
THANK YOU, ROBERT. NOW I WILL GO BACK TO PUBLIC COMMENT IN THE CHAMBERS IF ANYONE WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A PUBLIC COMMENT ON THE HEARING. >> WHAT HE SAID WAS VERY TRUE IS THAT I KNOW COMMENT IS DEFINITELY NOT A YES VOTE. I WALKED AROUND NEIGHBORHOODS. EVERYBODY WAS AGAINST IT. EVERYBODY. THEY JUST DON'T WANT TO SIT HERE FOR THEIR LONG AFTER WORKDAY. IT IS VERY UNAFFORDABLE. IT IS A VERY BAD IDEA. YOU GUYS NEED TO FIGURE OUT ANOTHER.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR PUBLIC COMMENT. I WILL GO BACK OUT TO ZOOM. LINDA, CAN YOU UNMUTE YOURSELF, PLEASE? THANK YOU. GO AHEAD WITH YOUR PUBLIC COMMENT, LINDA. >> MICHAEL, I'D LIKE TO ELABORATE -- AND IT IS BECAUSE TWO YEARS AGO, LEDGER WROTE THIS THING UP ABOUT $2 MILLION PLUS DEFICIT THAT CITY COUNCIL HAS SQUANDERED $2.2 MILLION ON 3002 MICROWAVE RADIATION ADMITTING
NONRECYCLABLE PLASTIC LITHIUM BATTERY POWERED WATERLESS WIDER METERS WHICH NEED TO BE REPLACED EVERY FIVE YEARS. COMPARED TO THE AMERICAN-MADE MECHANICAL READERS LIVE UP TO 40 YEARS. SO, ANYWAY, THE WAY THAT THAT CAME ABOUT WAS PART IN A FIGHT $1 MILLION LOAN THAT THE CITY COUNCIL WAS CONNED
INTO TAKING BY, I AM SORRY TO SAY, DANTE AND PUBLIC WORKS GUY WHO ASSURED THEM OVER AND OVER THAT IT WAS NO COST. ACCEPT PROCEEDING. NO COSTS. THEY
DIDN'T EVEN KNOW AT THE END OF THE YEAR WHEN THEY WERE PRESSURED INTO GETTING THIS SUPPOSEDLY LOW INTEREST LOAN WHAT THEY WERE VOTING FOR. IT WAS A $5 MILLION --WITH INTEREST, TURNED OUT TO BE --
[ INAUDIBLE - OVERLAPPING SPEAKERS ]
Agenda Item Number: 3
Agenda Item Number 3/City Council Meeting Packet for Meeting of: July 2, 2024 / Page 41 of 78 LINDA, YOU HAVE ABOUT 25 SECONDS. >> --THE CITY, THE MAYOR AND LISA ARE RESPONSIBLE. THEY ARE THREE OF THE BILLS THAT WERE ABSOLUTELY RESPONSIBLE AND THEY STILL WON'T ACKNOWLEDGE THAT $5 MILLION LOAN THAT SHE DIDN'T KNOW ABOUT THAT THEY VOTED .
LINDA, THAT IS TWO MINUTES. THANK YOU FOR YOUR PUBLIC COMMENT. NEXT, I WILL COME BACK INTO CHAMBERS. ALL OF HER?
THANK YOU. JUST TO ECHO SOME OF THE POINTS THAT SOME THE FIXED INCOME PEOPLE MADE. I DID ACTUALLY TALK TO SEVERAL OF MY NEIGHBORS TODAY AND VERY
FEW PEOPLE KNOW WHAT TO DO ABOUT THIS TO THE POINT THAT THE LADY THERE WAS SAYING. A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE VERY ANGRY ABOUT THIS BUT THEY DIDN'T READ THE LETTER. DIDN'T UNDERSTAND THE LETTER. DIDN'T KNOW WHAT THEY WERE SUPPOSED TO DO NEXT. DIDN'T REALLY UNDERSTAND THAT THERE WAS GOING TO BE A TOWNHALL. A NEIGHBOR OF MINE DUE DATE THOUGHT IT WAS A DONE DEAL AND I SAID, NO, THERE IS A MEETING TONIGHT. SHE IS TOO OLD TO COME IN AND SIT
AND TALK FOR HOURS UNTIL THIS AGENDA ITEM COMES UP SO I THINK THERE WAS A LOT OF CONCERNS HERE. THERE ARE A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO THE FIXED INCOME THING IS ONE THING. THE SMALL BUSINESSES, THEY ARE GOING TO PACK UP AND GO. I SAID THIS BEFORE . PEOPLE LIKE HAIRDRESSERS DON'T HAVE TIME TO SIT HERE ALL EVENING . I CAN'T RUN MY HAIRDRESSERS ANYMORE BECAUSE ACCOUNT FOR THE
WATER BUT THEY ARE JUST GOING TO PACK UP AND PEOPLE ARE GOING TO GET THEIR HAIR CUT SOMEWHERE ELSE AND GET THE SALES TAX. SO I JUST THINK WE ARE SAILING INTO VERY UNCHARTED WATERS HERE. THESE ARE ENORMOUS NUMBERS AND ONE OTHER THING THAT I'M STANDING HERE. PMI WERE HERE LAST WEEK OR THE WEEK BEFORE. TAKING THE COVERS OFF, DOUBLE CHECKING ALL THE NUMBERS ON THEM . I DON'T KNOW WHAT WAS GOING ON. THE GUY IN THE STREET TOLD ME HE WAS VERIFYING SOME THINGS BUT WHEN BE TOO EXPLICIT ABOUT IT. SO WE HAVE
DATA FROM THE CONSULTANTS FROM ANALOG OR PARTIALLY FROM ANALOG WATER
METERS FROM THE LAST YEAR, DIGITAL WATER METERS WHICH MAY HAVE NOT BEEN
READING THE RIGHT NUMBERS, BASED ON THAT, I DON'T THINK AT THIS POINT THE CONSULTANTS NUMBERS CAN BE AS SOLID AS WE THINK THEY ARE. WE MAY BE IN FOR
A REALLY NASTY SHOCK WHEN THE DIGITAL WATER METER START TAKING ALL THE
WATER UP IF THIS PASSES THROUGH AND IT TURNS OUT WE ARE ALL PAYING FAR FOR MORE FOR WATER. WHICH IS FINE IF YOU COULD FILL YOUR SWIMMING POOL. GREAT.
MOST PEOPLE CAN'T. SO, YEAH. THANK YOU.
THANK YOU, OLIVER FOR YOUR PUBLIC COMMENT. NEXTIVA GO OUT TO ZOOM. SU, CAN YOU UNMUTE YOURSELF, PLEASE? >> THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU. CAN YOU SEE THE TIMER? >> I CAN.
GO AHEAD, PLEASE.
I HAVE A COUPLE OF COMMENTS RESPONDING TO WHAT THE PEOPLE HAVE SAID.
SOMETHING AS IMPORTANT AS DOUBLING HOOKUP RATES THIS YEAR. DOUBLING IN ANOTHER COUPLE OF WEEKS AND INCREASING AGAIN OVER THE NEXT 3 TO 4 YEARS AND YOU, MAYOR RICH, PUSH TO HAVE A 10 MINUTE PRESENTATION . I UNDERSTAND YOU ON A TIMELINE TO GET THE MEETING DONE BY 10:30. THIS TOPIC, THIS
PUBLIC HEARING AND THE RATE PAYING RESIDENTS OF SEBASTOPOL DESERVE A
SEPARATE , STANDALONE PUBLIC HEARING TO DISCUSS THIS AND SHARE WHAT THIS MEANS FOR PEOPLE. OLIVER JUST MENTIONED --
WE ARE GOING TO ASK PEOPLE IN THE ROOM TO PLEASE BE QUIET SO WE CAN HEAR OTHER PUBLIC COMMENT. THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR WE WILL HAVE TO TAKE A Agenda Item Number: 3
Agenda Item Number 3/City Council Meeting Packet for Meeting of: July 2, 2024 / Page 42 of 78 RECESS AND WE WON'T BE ABLE TO ADDRESS THIS ITEM. THANK YOU. NEXT PUBLIC COMMENT PLEASE, MARY.
WILL CONTINUE? >> PLEASE, THANK YOU, SU. PLEASE CONTINUE.
I WOULD LIKE TO SEE THIS DISCUSSION PUSHED TO A SEPARATE STANDALONE
NOTIFIED ADVERTISED PUBLIC HEARING WHERE YOU MIGHT ACTUALLY RECEIVE MORE THAN 44 WRITTEN PROTESTS BECAUSE I KNOW THAT THERE IS MORE THAN 44 PEOPLE WHO PROTEST THIS. BECAUSE IT JUST DOESN'T SEEM STRUCTURED WELL. LET'S SEE.
I HAVE GOT THROWN OFF THEIR. I AM TRYING TO FIND MY NOTES THERE. MORE
IMPORTANTLY, I THINK WE NEED TO UNDERSTAND THAT THESE RATES ARE ACTUALLY ONLY PAYING FOR MAINTAINING AND PROVIDING SERVICES. THESE SERVICES HAVE
BEEN UNDERFUNDED IN PAST YEARS BY THE CITY DIVERTING FUNDS TO OTHER PROJECTS AND DEPARTMENTS. CATCHING UP, AND I SAY THAT", TO DO WHAT WAS
INTENTIONALLY NOT FUNDED IN THE PAST YEARS SHOULD NOT BE INCLUDED IN THE COSTS OF INCREASED RATES. TO PROVIDE AND CONDUCT ONGOING MAINTENANCE.
INSTEAD, IT APPEARS IT IS FILLING A BUDGET GAP CAUSED BY PAST BUDGETING DECISIONS AND AS YOU MUST BE AWARE, THE STATE SUPREME COURT IN 2021 FOUND
FOR APPELLANTS AND NULLIFIED THE RATE INCREASES FOUND BY THE CITY OF
FLORIN WHEN THE CITY CANNOT SHOW THAT THERE NEW RATES DID NOT EXCEED WHAT WAS NEEDED TO RUN THEIR DEPARTMENTS. CAN YOU SHOW THAT THESE NEW RATES
SUPPORT ONLY THE COSTS OF MY ONGOING AND CURRENT MAINTENANCE AND NOT BACKTRACKING TO FILL THE BUDGET GAPS CAUSED BY PAST COUNCILS? THANK YOU.
THANK YOU, SUE, FOR YOUR PUBLIC COMMENT. NEXT I WILL COME BACK TO CHAMBERS IF THERE IS ANYONE IN CHAMBERS THAT WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A COMMENT. SEEING NONE, WE WILL GO BACK OUT TO ZOOM. MARIA, YOU CAN MAKE YOUR COMMENT, PLEASE.
I JUST WANT TO SPEAK UP AGAIN IN SUPPORT OF OUR BUSINESS COMMUNITY. THE CHAMBER CURRENTLY REPRESENTS 287 BUSINESSES IN SEBASTOPOL. I HAVE YET TO HEAR FROM ONE BUSINESS OWNER THAT IS IN SUPPORT OF THIS . A LOT OF THEM
ARE STRUGGLING TO KEEP THE DOORS OPEN ANYWAY AND IF THIS IS THE STRAW THAT BREAKS THE CAMELS BACK AND IT IS 11 BILL THAT THEY CAN'T BAY PAY AND THEIR
DOORS HAVE TO CLOSE, THAT IS SOMETHING THAT NEEDS TO BE CONSIDERED,
ESPECIALLY SINCE THE CITY OF SEBASTOPOL 'S NUMBER ONE SOURCE OF REVENUE IS SALES TAX. INVITING TAURUS AND WORKING WITH COUNTY TOURS AND ON BREAKING
PEOPLE TO SEBASTOPOL AND BRANDING OUR TOWN , YOU TAKE THEM THROUGH A WALK
THROUGH DOWNTOWN AND EVERY THROUGH DOORS, YOU SEE AN EMPTY LOT OR A CLOSED BUSINESS THAT IS NOT A GOOD LOOK. SO JUST TO KEEP THAT INTO CONSIDERATION AND THINK ABOUT THE SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS. THANK YOU.
THANK YOU, MYRIAH, FOR YOUR PUBLIC COMMENT. NEXT I WILL COME BACK INTO
CHAMBERS IF THERE IS ANYONE THAT WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A PUBLIC COMMENT ON THIS HEARING. SEEING NONE, I WOULD GO BACK TO ZOOM. MARY, CAN YOU UNMUTE YOURSELF, PLEASE? MARY, CAN YOU UNMUTE YOURSELF, PLEASE? OKAY. CAN YOU HEAR ME? I CAN HEAR YOU. CAN YOU SEE THE TIMER? YES, I CAN.
THANK YOU. THE CITIZENS DID NOT GET US INTO ANY DEBT. WE WERE PAYING OUR WATER BILLS FOR THE LAST 10 YEARS OR SO AND IT WAS SUPPOSED TO BE GOING
TOWARDS WATER, BUT THE CITY WAS SIPHONING SOME OF THAT OUT AND USING IT TO PAY THEIR CITY BILLS. AND SO NOW, WE ARE BEING ASKED TO PAY MORE EVEN
THOUGH WE ALREADY PAID THEM THE AMOUNT AND MY OTHER POINT IS, WE ACTUALLY Agenda Item Number: 3
Agenda Item Number 3/City Council Meeting Packet for Meeting of: July 2, 2024 / Page 43 of 78 HAVE WELLS THAT VIRTUALLY DO NOT RUN OUT OF WATER EVER. EVEN DURING THE DROUGHT. THAT IS ALL. THANK YOU.
THANK YOU, MARY, FOR YOUR PUBLIC COMMENT. NEXT, I WILL COME BACK INTO CHAMBERS. IF THERE IS ANYONE IN CHAMBERS THAT WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A PUBLIC COMMENT. SEEING NONE, I WILL GO BACK OUT. IT IS iPAD 3. CAN YOU UNMUTE YOURSELF, PLEASE? iPAD 3, CAN YOU UNMUTE YOURSELF, PLEASE? MARY, DID WE ALREADY HEAR FROM THIS INDIVIDUAL ON THIS INDIVIDUAL ITEM? I THINK WE DID. OKAY. WE DID. YES. SO, iPAD 3, WE HAVE ALREADY HEARD FROM YOU, SO WE ARE GOING TO MOVE ON. MARY GOURLEY, ANY OTHER DIRECTION?
I WILL COME BACK INTO CHAMBERS IF THERE IS ANYONE THAT WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A PUBLIC HEARING --PUBLIC COMMENT ON THE PUBLIC HEARING. SEEING NONE, ONE LAST TIME TO GO OUT TO ZOOM. SEEING NONE, PUBLIC HEARING IS CLOSED.
OKAY. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. WE HAVE SOME QUESTIONS THAT WE CAN ANSWER WHEN
WE COME BACK, BUT WE ARE GOING TO TAKE A QUICK BIO BREAK AND LET'S MAKE IT QUICK. FIVE MINUTES. NO MORE. SO, WE WILL COME BACK AT 830, PLEASE. [ THE EVENT IS ON A RECESS. THE SESSION WILL RECONVENE AT (8:30PM PDT).
CAPTIONER ON STANDBY. ]
OKAY. SO, I AM GOING TO THROW OR THE THUMBS UP. THUMBS UP FROM 19 AND STAFF. ARE WE READY TO ROLL? >> YES?
YES. OKAY. WE ARE CALLING THE MEETING THAT ORDER HERE AT 8:30 P.M. WE ARE IN THE MIST OF ITEM NUMBER --LET'S SEE. NUMBER NINE. THE PUBLIC HEARING ON PROPOSITION 218. WE HAD PUBLIC COMMENT . SUBSTANTIAL PUBLIC COMMENT. I
HAVE A COUPLE OF ITEMS I WOULD LIKE TO ADDRESS THAT WERE RAISED BY THE
PUBLIC AND I ENCOURAGE THOSE WHO DON'T GET ANY QUESTIONS ANSWERED HERE TO AGAIN REACH OUT TO MARY GOURLEY AND SHE CAN GET ANSWERS FOR YOU. THAT IS [email protected] .
WE DO HAVE PAYMENT PLANS IN PLACE. IF ANYONE OUT THERE HAS QUESTIONS ABOUT THOSE PLANS, HOW DO THEY FIND OUT ABOUT THEM? >> AND IT IS ALSO JUST A LOW INCOME -- >> WE HAVE THE LOCAL LOW INCOME THAT WE POSTED ON THE WEBSITE. WE ALSO HAVE PAYMENT PLAN THAT PEOPLE CAN FILL OUT OR CALL THE OFFICE.
CALL THE OFFICE. AND THE PHONE NUMBER AGAIN IS 707-823-7863.
IS THAT CORRECT? . YOU CAN ALSO WALK INTO THE OFFICE AND THAT WILL BE HELPFUL. THE POINT REGARDING A COUPLE OF PEOPLE, COULD WE DO THIS MORE SLOWLY, MORE GRADUALLY? OPTION TWO IS THE OPTION THAT THE MAJORITY OF THE CITY COUNCIL ADOPTED IN ORDER TO MAKE THIS MORE GRADUAL. RECOGNIZING OF COURSE THAT IT IS STILL A BURDEN FOR THE COMMUNITY. IN TERMS OF THE $17
MILLION AMOUNT THAT SARAH GOURLEY MENTIONED, IT IS NOT FUNDING THAT IS AVAILABLE FOR THE CITY OF SEBASTOPOL TO ADDRESS. IT IS WATER OR SEWER ISSUES . THAT WOULD BE GREAT BUT WE DON'T QUALIFY. IN TERMS OF THE
PROTEST, IT WASN'T REQUIRED THAT INDIVIDUALS COME TO THIS MEETING TO PROTEST. THEY WERE PROVIDED INFORMATION THAT WOULD ALLOW THEM TO SEND IN LETTERS TO PROTEST. IS THAT ACCURATE, MARY GOURLEY AND DON? YES? THANK YOU VERY MUCH. AND DANTE DELP READY TO CON ANYONE INTO SUPPORTING THE WIRELESS Agenda Item Number: 3
Agenda Item Number 3/City Council Meeting Packet for Meeting of: July 2, 2024 / Page 44 of 78 WATER METERS. THE INFORMATION WAS PRESENTED TO THE CITY COUNCIL AND THE CITY COUNCIL MADE A GROUP DECISION. PMI PMI DID ANSWER A LOT OF QUESTIONS AT THE LAST --THERE WERE QUESTIONS RAISED BY COUNCILMEMBER McLEWIS ABOUT
THE INDIVIDUAL WHO WAS OUT DOING EXAMINATION OF THE COVERS OF OUR METERS
AND THAT INFORMATION, THOSE ANSWERS WERE PROVIDED BY STAFF PROMPTED BY COUNCILMEMBER Mc LEWIS AND THAT INFORMATION IS AVAILABLE ON THE VIDEOTAPE OF THAT MEETING. AND ANYONE WHO WAS TRACKING THE TIME DOES THAT THE
PRESENTATION ON THIS EVENING TONIGHT REGARDING THE WATER AND SEWER RATES WAS NOT LIMITED TO 10 MINUTES . IN FACT, WE HAD A VERY THOROUGH
PRESENTATION THAT WENT WAY BEYOND THAT AND PROVIDED A DEPTH OF DETAIL THAT I FOUND INTERESTING AND USEFUL. FINALLY I WAS HOPING TO GO INTO OUR CITY ATTORNEY , LARRY McLAUGHLIN, JUST TO GIVE US A QUICK --BECAUSE I THINK THERE IS A NEED TO PLEASE THEIR. A QUICK REMINDER OF WHY WE NEED A
SUBSTANTIAL AMOUNT OF MONEY IN TERMS OF THE DAMAGE THAT WAS DONE TO OUR WELL 7, I THINK IT WAS. WELL 4. I'M SORRY. AND I'M SORRY, I AM GOING TO DEFER TO COUNCILMEMBER HINTON. I THINK SHE CAN BE CLEAR ON HER QUESTION
AND WE WILL GO DOWN THE LINE WITH ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS FROM OTHER COUNCILMEMBERS. >> I JUST WANTED TO ADDRESS THE MEMBER OF THE PUBLIC THAT
SAID THAT WE HAD DAMAGED WELLS IN THE PAST AND WE HAD SETTLED AND WE GOT COMPENSATION FOR THOSE. THAT WAS, FOR MANY YEARS, AND I YOU SPOKE TO IN
THE PREVIOUS MEETING BUT A MEMBER OF THE PUBLIC ASKED ABOUT IT SO I THOUGHT YOU SHOULD RESPOND TO THAT.
THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER HINTON.
DID WANT ME TO --
PLEASE DO. BRIEFLY.
WE HAD TWO DIFFERENT DETERMINATION EVENTS AT WELL 4. EACH ONE WAS GASOLINE RELATED PRODUCTS. THE OTHER WAS DRY CLEANER RELATED PRODUCTS. IN EACH
CASE, WE HIRED OUTSIDE LEGAL COUNSEL AND RECEIVED WHAT WAS DESCRIBED THEN AND NOW AS VERY GOOD FINANCIAL SETTLEMENTS FOR BOTH OF THOSE. MOST
RECENTLY, WE WERE USING WELL FOUR TO CONTINUE TO FILTER OUT CONTAMINATION
THAT IS OF A DIFFERENT SORT FROM THE DRY CLEANERS AND WE ARE BEING COMPENSATED FOR THE USE OF THAT WELL.
GREAT. THANK YOU VERY MUCH AND THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER HINTON, FOR RAISING THE QUESTION. DISCUSSION AMONGST THE COUNCILMEMBERS ON THIS ITEM.
ANYONE HAVE ANY COMMENTS? COUNCILMEMBER HINTON, GO AHEAD.
I DIDN'T EXPECT TO GO FIRST BUT ANNA, WOULD YOU MIND PULLING THAT SLIDE UP? I JUST WANTED TO SAY AGAIN BECAUSE IT FELT LIKE WE HAD A LOT OF QUESTIONS AND I THINK THAT WE HAD ADDRESSED. I DON'T KNOW HOW MANY
MEETINGS WE HAVE HAD ON THIS BUT I THINK THREE OR FOUR, AND I THINK NOBODY WANTS TO PAY MORE FOR ANYTHING. WE ARE ALL STRUGGLING. BUT IT WAS FUNNY.
ACTUALLY, THE ONE THAT HAS ALL THE RATES THAT STARTS WITH SEBASTOPOL BEING $115 AND HAS US GOING UP TO $151.
THE RATES WERE COMPARED TO DIFFERENT JURISDICTIONS?
YES. TWO OTHER JURISDICTIONS. I THINK WE NEED TO PULL THAT BACK UP. THE
REALITY IS WE HAVE EIGHT AGING THE STRUCTURE DOWN HERE AND WE COOKED THE CAN DOWN THE ROAD BE IN 2019 BECAUSE OF COMPLAINTS AND WE LOOK AT WHAT OUR Agenda Item Number: 3
Agenda Item Number 3/City Council Meeting Packet for Meeting of: July 2, 2024 / Page 45 of 78
RATEPAYERS HAVE BEEN PAYING, WE HAVE BEEN ON THE VERY, VERY LOW SIDE AND IS GOING TO COME UP IN A MINUTE. IT IS UNFORTUNATE.
THAT IS THE ONE.
I JUST WANT TO POINT OUT AGAIN WHEN YOU LOOK AT WHERE WE'RE AT RIGHT NOW WITH 115 AND WHERE WE ARE GOING AND MANY COUNCILS HAVE IT ON THEIR AGENDA.
IN FACT, ALL YOU HAVE TO DO IS GOOGLE AND I DID THIS LOOKING IN APRIL OF
THIS YEAR, IT SAID A CALIFORNIA MAP SHOWS WHERE PEOPLE WOULD SEE HUGE INCREASES AND WATER BILLS THIS YEAR. EVERY JURISDICTION IS FACING WHAT WE ARE FACING. THAT IS AGING AND STRUCTURE. I KNOW FOR ME PERSONALLY SPEAKING, MY HOME IS MY BIGGEST ASSET THAT I HAVE THAT I WILL RELY ON.
SOMEBODY BROUGHT UP TONIGHT REVERSE MORTGAGE TO HELP THEM GET THROUGH RETIREMENT. WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE WE HAVE SEWER AND WATER AND OF THE INFRASTRUCTURE TO GET THAT TO OUR HOMES AND BUSINESSES. I MEAN, I DON'T LIKE IT ANYMORE THAN ANYBODY ELSE BUT I JUST HAVE TO SAY THAT. I DON'T KNOW WHAT ELSE CAN DO. NOT RAISE THE RATES? NOT FIX THE PIPES? NOT FIX WELL FOUR? I JUST REALLY HAVE TO SAY THAT. I DIDN'T WANT TO RAISE THE RATES EITHER BUT WE HAVE TO. I DON'T SEE ANY OTHER OPTIONS AND WE HAVE
BEEN DISCUSSING THE BEST WAY TO DO IT OVER MULTIPLE MEETINGS AND MULTIPLE DISCUSSIONS INTERESTED, WITH THE BEST SOLUTIONS FOR OUR COMMUNITY.
SO, THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER HINTON, ANY OTHER COMMENTS BECAUSE OTHERWISE I WILL BE A MOTION AND SOME ACTION HERE . I'M SORRY, COUNCILMEMBER MAURER, BUT WHAT WOULD BE THE ACTION WERE REQUIRED TO DO IS TO APPROVE THE RATES? MARY GOURLEY? THAT IS OKAY. WE WILL GO TO COUNCILMEMBER MAURER. GO AHEAD.
I'M SORRY.
I UNDERSTAND THAT WE HAVE INFRASTRUCTURE THAT OF COURSE NEEDS UPGRADING AND THE RATES THAT WERE SET. THE LAST RATE SETTING WERE INADEQUATE FOR OUR NEEDS. THE PLACE WHERE I JUST CAN'T GET OVER IT. THE PRESENTERS SAID THAT
THE KEY OBJECTIVES INCLUDED FINANCIAL STABILITY, AFFORDABILITY, CONSERVATION, AND FAIRNESS IN RATES. WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE WASTEWATER RATES FOR THE FOUR CREST RESIDENCE, I JUST CANNOT SEE HOW THAT IS FAIR AT ALL.
YOU ARE GOING FROM RAISING THEIR RATE, AND I UNDERSTAND THIS IS 86 RESIDENCE THERE WERE 86 TRAILERS THERE. YOU START AT 1276 THIS YEAR. THAT IS THEIR CURRENT RATE AND THE NEXT YEAR, IT JUMPED TO $6300. THE NEXT YEAR, IT IS $700,000 AND IT GOES UP TO $9000. SO, IT IS GOING FROM $1200- $9000. TO ME, THAT IS NOT FAIR. I DON'T SEE ANY FAIRNESS IN THAT. I WOULD
PROPOSE IF THE COUNCIL WOULD BE WILLING TO DISCUSS THIS, TO COMBINE THE THREE INCH RATE WITH THE FOUR INCH RATE. SO THE FOUR INCH, INSTEAD OF GOING UP TO 6000, IT WOULD GO FROM $1200-$2000. SO WHAT I AM LOOKING AT IS THE CHART ON PAGE ONE OF THE STAFF REPORT. PAGE ONE OF 86 AND INSTEAD OF CHARGING FROM $1200-$6000, JUST DO THE THREE INCH AND FOUR INCH IN THE SAME RATE HIKES.
OKAY. THANK YOU.
THAT IS MY PROPOSAL. >> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER MAURER. IF WE COULD ALL EXPRESS OUR OPINIONS AND LET'S GO AHEAD AND WRAP THIS UP.
YES. I WANTED TO SAY I COMPLETELY UNDERSTAND THE CHALLENGE THAT WE HAVE.
THE NEED FOR -- WE HAVE FEELING IN FOR STRUCTURE. I UNDERSTAND ALL OF THAT AND FORGIVE ME I HAVE A NEW PRESCRIPTION SO I'M HAVING A HARD TIME. THE Agenda Item Number: 3
Agenda Item Number 3/City Council Meeting Packet for Meeting of: July 2, 2024 / Page 46 of 78 CHALLENGE I HAVE, I UNDERSTAND THE DEFICIT. I UNDERSTAND THE COSTS ASSOCIATED WITH WELL FOUR AND ALL OF THE CHALLENGES WE HAVE. I ALSO
UNDERSTAND IN MY OPINION FROM THE PAST, THE CITY HAS BEEN IN MY OPINION
REMISS WITH NOT DOING THE ALLEGATION STUDIES AND THEY UNDERSTAND IN THE
PAST, WE DIDN'T RAISE THE RATES BECAUSE OF COMPLAINTS BUT WE ALSO DIDN'T
TRY TO REMEDY ANYTHING BY REDOING ALLOCATION STUDIES AND THINGS THAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN DONE. AND THE FAIRNESS FACTOR IS HUGE FOR ME. BEING A
BUSINESS OWNER HERE AND HAVING HEARD FROM A LOT OF THE BUSINESSES, MANY DO
NOT FEEL LIKE THAT IS BEEN DISCUSSED ENOUGH AND THE IMPACT THAT HAS ON
THEM, FOR EXAMPLE THE LAUNDROMATS AND THE HAIR STYLISTS AND ALL OF THE DIFFERENT BUSINESSES THAT UTILIZE A LOT OF WATER. THERE IS A LOT OF ANGER
OUT THERE AND THEY DO NOT FEEL LIKE THIS IS FAIR AND THE BIGGEST CHALLENGE
I HAVE WITH THIS IS THE PROCESS IS IMPORTANT TO ME AND I FEEL LIKE FROM THE VERY BEGINNING, THIS HAS NOT BEEN DONE WELL BY US. IT IS NOT OUR
FINEST MOMENTS AND FOR PAST HISTORY WITH NOT DOING THE ALLOCATION STUDY IS
NEEDED SALES DISTRUST AND FRUSTRATION WITH US AND FOR US TO CONTINUE TO PERPETUATE THAT IS SO UNFORTUNATE. I JUST WISH THIS WAS DONE BETTER AND
ANOTHER IS A CITY MANAGER'S AND STRESSED TO ME , HE WISHED HE COULD'VE GIVEN US MORE OPTIONS. AND I DO TOO. AND I JUST, AT THIS POINT, HAVING
LISTENED TO SO MANY BUSINESSES, I JUST CAN'T SEE HOW THIS IS FAIR TO ANY
OF THEM AND I KNOW THAT I HAVE SPOKEN ABOUT THE TIERS IN THE PAST AND
THERE HAVE BEEN A VARIETY OF DIFFERENT EMAILS COMING OUT SHOWING THAT
PERHAPS, THE RATE WOULD NOT BE QUITE --THE RATE MAY ACTUALLY BE CHEAPER
FOR SOME AT THE THREE TIERS, BUT AT THIS POINT, IT IS SO FRUSTRATING TO ME
THAT I WISH THAT OVERALL IT COULD HAVE BEEN DONE DIFFERENT AND I
APPRECIATE THE SUGGESTION THAT YOU MADE, COUNCILMEMBER MAURER, BECAUSE I
DON'T HAVE A CLEAR SUGGESTION BUT I DO SEE THAT I KNOW THE LAUNDROMAT ARE
IN THE THREE AND THE FOUR INCH AND THAT COULD MAKE A BIG DIFFERENCE FOR THEM. IN A TIME WHERE WE NEED BUSINESSES TO BE MAKING MONEY, NOT PAYING OUT MORE MONEY TO US BECAUSE WE DID NOT DO OUR DUE DILIGENCE IN THE PAST.
I JUST CAN'T VOTE FOR IT AND I UNDERSTAND THAT WE HAVE A LOT OF PROBLEMS HERE IN OUR STRUCTURE BUT THE WAY WE HAVE GONE ABOUT IT , I CAN APPROVE.
SO I AM REPRESENTING THE BUSINESSES IN THIS CITY. I JUST CAN'T DO IT AT THIS POINT. SO, THAT IS WHERE I AM AT.
THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER Mc LEWIS. VICE COUNCILMEMBER, DO YOU WANT TO WEIGH IN ON THIS?
THANK YOU, MADAM MAYOR. IT IS A DIFFICULT SITUATION. THERE IS NO DOUBT ABOUT IT, BUT I DO ECHO A LOT WHAT COUNCILMEMBER HINTON SAID. SITTING
THROUGH THIS AND READING EVERYTHING FOR THE LAST COUPLE OF MONTHS, I DON'T KNOW WHAT ELSE TO DO. WE CAN'T JUST NOT DO ANYTHING. WE HAVE TO DO THIS AND HOPEFULLY IT WILL TURN OUT BETTER THAN WE THOUGHT. I DON'T KNOW. WE CAN ALWAYS RETEST THINGS BACK. I JUST DON'T REALLY KNOW WHAT ELSE WE CAN DO AND DOING NOTHING IS DEFINITELY NOT AN OPTION. I AM AN BUSINESS OWNER
TOO AND I HAVE BROKEN AT LEAST A FAIR SHARE OF BUSINESSES AND THEY ARE
LIKE, I DON'T WANT TO DO IT EITHER BUT IN THE SAME TOKEN, I DON'T WANT THE CITY TO GO BANKRUPT EITHER SO YOU DO WHAT YOU NEED TO DO. SO AGAIN, I DON'T KNOW WHAT ELSE. I FEEL LIKE WE ARE SMART GROUP OF PEOPLE AND IF
SOMEBODY COULD'VE PRESENTED A DIFFERENT OPTION THAN THIS, I AM THINKING THEY PROBABLY WOULD'VE SO I AM IN FAVOR OF THIS.
OKAY. THAT BRINGS EVERYONE'S EXPRESS THAT THEY ARE PUTTING IN. I APPRECIATE THAT. HOPEFULLY THE PUBLIC UNDERSTANDS THAT WHAT YOU'RE HEARING Agenda Item Number: 3
Agenda Item Number 3/City Council Meeting Packet for Meeting of: July 2, 2024 / Page 47 of 78
ARE VERY CONCERNED COUNCILMEMBER IS BECAUSE THIS IS A REALLY IMPORTANT ISSUE. WE HAVE ADDRESSED THIS OVER THE COURSE OF I THINK FIVE MEETINGS. IS THAT CORRECT, MARY GOURLEY? FIVE MEETINGS? >> FIVE MEETINGS INCLUDING TONIGHT. >> THERE ARE A LOT OF USEFUL COMMENTS HERE FROM THE CITY COUNCIL BUT ALSO FROM THE PUBLIC. BUT ONE THAT I HAVE TO ECHO IS COUNCILMEMBER Mc LEWIS' WISH IT WERE HAD BEEN DONE BETTER. YES. I WISH IT HAD BEEN DONE
BETTER, BUT PICKING UP ON VICE MAYOR ZOLLMAN'S COMMENT, WE ARE WHERE WE ARE AND THIS IS ECHOED BY THE COMMENTS FROM COUNCILMEMBER HINTON. WE ARE
WHERE WE ARE AND WE HAVE AGING PIPES AND WE HAVE AN ESSENTIAL NEED AND I
AM CONFIDENT THAT THAT NEED IS A REAL NEED THAT CAN'T BE DELAYED BY CONTINUING THIS PROCESS. SO, AS MUCH AS IT PAINS ME , AS MUCH AS IT PAINS ME, I HAVE TO SUPPORT THESE RATE HIKES. I ABSOLUTELY HAVE TO. I FEEL IT IS
THE RIGHT THING FOR THE CITY AND IT IS A HARD DECISION, BUT THAT IS WHY WE
ARE VOTED INTO MAKE THE HARD DECISIONS THAT PROVIDE STABILITY FOR THIS TOWN. SO, I AM LOOKING FOR A MOTION OR I AM HAPPY TO MAKE A MOTION. OKAY.
I WILL GO AHEAD AND MAKE A MOTION AND I'M SORRY, THIS IS A PUBLIC HEARING.
IT APPEARS THAT --AND I'M SORRY. CITY MANAGER, DO YOU HAVE SOMETHING NEEDED TO SAY?
NOT BEFORE. I HAD A COUPLE COMMENTS AFTER A SUGGESTED MOTION IN THE PACKET.
I DO SEE THAT. IT SAYS CONDUCT THE PROPAGATION TO 18 AND DETERMINE THE
OFFICIAL NUMBER OF PROTESTS ON WASTEWATER INCREASES AND I THINK WE CAN CONFIRM THAT THAT HAS BEEN REPORTED AS 44. IS THAT CORRECT? OKAY. SO THEN, THAT WOULD BE PROTEST VOTES ARE BELOW 50% OF THE OWNER OF PROPERTY OWNERS.
I MOVE THAT WE ADOPT THE RESOLUTION AMENDING THE NAFTA FEE SCHEDULE FOR WATER AND WASTEWATER RATES AS PROPOSED IN THIS STAFF REPORT. MARY GOURLEY, IS THAT AN APPROPRIATE MOTION OR DO WE NEED YOU ONCE AGAIN TO RESTATE IT.
CAN I STICK THE MOTION AND YOU CAN LET ME KNOW? WELL, DO WE HAVE A SECOND? WELL, LET ME STATE THE MOTION FIRST AND SEE IF YOU ACCEPT IT. YOU HAVE DETERMINED THAT THE NUMBER OF WRITTEN PROTESTS RECEIVED IS 44, WHICH IS BELOW THE VALID PROTEST APPROACH AND BELOW 50%. YOU ARE ADOPTING THE RESOLUTION, ADOPTING THE 2024 WASTEWATER RATES, ADOPTING THAT RACE WATER WAITS FOR FISCAL YEARS 2425 TWO FISCAL YEAR 2829 MAKING FINDINGS OUT OF
THE CALIFORNIA ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY ACT, AMENDING THE MASTER FEE SCHEDULE
FOR THOSE RATES WITH THE CURRENT PROPOSAL OF OPTIONS TO WATER IN OPTION TWO WASTEWATER.
YES. THAT IS MY MOTION. I AM LOOKING FOR A SECOND.
SECOND.
ROLL CALL, PLEASE, MARY GOURLEY. >> SECONDED BY VICE MAYOR ZOLLMAN TO ADOPT THE RESOLUTION AMENDING THE 24 WASTEWATER REPORT AND ADOPTING THE WASTEWATER RATES FOR FISCAL YEARS 2425 THROUGH FISCAL YEAR 2829 AND MAKING
THE FINDINGS UNDER CEQA AND AMENDING THAT FEE SCHEDULE FOR THE OPTION TO WATER IN OPTION TWO WASTEWATER. COUNCILMEMBER HINTON. >> AYE.
COUNCILMEMBER MAURER. >> NO.
COUNCILMEMBER McLEWIS. AYE. >> MOTION PASSES 3-2. COUNCILMEMBER MAURER AND COUNCILMEMBER McLEWIS IN OPPOSITION. >> THANK YOU, MARY GOURLEY.
Agenda Item Number: 3
Agenda Item Number 3/City Council Meeting Packet for Meeting of: July 2, 2024 / Page 48 of 78 OKAY. SO, THIS IS MOVING TO THE NEXT ITEM. THIS IS ITEM NUMBER 10 ON OUR AGENDA . THIS ITEM IS ASKING US TO DO -- I'M SORRY. I.T. NEEDS US TO -- MUTE YOUR MICROPHONE. NO. THAT IS WEIRD. OKAY. SO, WE ARE GOING TO MOVE ALONG WITH ITEM NUMBER 10. THIS ITEM IS REGARDING THE CITY ATTORNEY INTERVIEW FOLLOW-UP AND NEXT STEPS. WE ARE BEING PRESENTED WITH VARIOUS
OPTIONS AND THIS IS BEING PRESENTED BY DEBORAH MUCHMORE OF MUCHMORE CONSULTANT . AND IOWA STATE IT IS IS A FOLLOW-UP TO OUR INITIAL INTERVIEWS OF FOUR APPLICANTS FOR OUR CITY ATTORNEY SLOT, CORRECT? THAT IS CORRECT. >> I AM GOING TO KEEP YOU TO 10 MINUTES.
OKAY. GOOD EVENING, MADAM MAYOR. COUNCILMEMBER.
GOOD EVENING. >> SO, THE CITY STAFF HAD CONDUCTED A RFQ ON REQUEST OF THE CITY COUNCIL FOR TERMS THAT APPLY TO THAT RFP. THEY ALL MET THE CRITERIA ON JUNE 4th . INTERVIEWS WERE SCHEDULED AND THE COUNSEL FROM 9 A.M. TO 3:00 AND AFTERNOON INTERVIEWED THE FOUR FIRMS AND THIS MEETING IS TO ALLOW
DISCUSSION REGARDING THOSE INTERVIEWS TO COUNSEL CAN EITHER APPROVE AN
APPOINTMENT TONIGHT, THEY CAN DIRECT STAFF TO ARRANGE FOR THEM TO CONDUCT SECOND INTERVIEWS . THOSE THE SECOND INTERVIEWS CAN BE DONE IN CLOSED
SESSION ACCORDING TO AN EXCEPTION IN THE BROWN ACT THAT WOULD ALLOW THE
COUNCIL TO ASK QUESTIONS RELATED TO LEGAL STRATEGIES THAT HAVE TO DO WITH
LEGISLATIVE MATTERS, PERSONAL MATTERS AND ANYTHING LIKE THAT THAT WE WOULDN'T WANT TO DO IN THE OPEN SESSION INTERVIEWS. THEY ALSO CAN RECHECK
ALL PROPOSALS AND DIRECT STAFF TO ISSUE A NEW REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL FOR THE ATTORNEY SERVICES. SO I AM GOING TO STEP AWAY AND ALLOW YOU TO DISCUSS. I WILL STAY CLOSE.
GREAT. WE WILL START OUT WITH QUESTIONS FROM COUNCILMEMBERS AND GO OUT TO PUBLIC COMMENT. . ANY QUESTIONS FROM COUNCIL MEMBERS AT THIS POINT? NO? OKAY. I THINK WE GO OUT TO PUBLIC COMMENT AND WE WILL COME BACK FOR DISCUSSION. >> THIS IS PUBLIC, FOR THE AGENDA ITEM ON THE CITY ATTORNEY SERVICES. IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO GO TO PUBLIC COMMENT, I WOULD GO TO IN CHAMBER FIRST AND THEN OUT TO ZOOM. KYLE?
HI. CURIOUS ABOUT THE PROCESS HERE. IT IS MY CURRENT UNDERSTANDING THAT
THE CITY ATTORNEY WILL BE RETIRING SOMETIME WITHIN THE NEXT FEW WEEKS, BUT
HERE WE ARE WITH IN THAT WINDOW OF A FEW WEEKS MAKING A BIG DECISION ABOUT THE DIRECTION THAT WE ARE GOING TO GO WITH LEGAL SERVICES. THE AMOUNT OF
TIME THAT WE AS A CITY HAVE KNOWN ABOUT THE CITY ATTORNEY RETIREMENT HAS BEEN A LONG, LONG TIME, AND YET HERE WE ARE ONCE AGAIN MAKING AN 11th HOUR DECISION. IT IS MY HOPE THAT UNLIKE MOST OF THE PUBLIC COMMENT THAT I HAVE
MADE THIS EVENING THAT COUNSEL CAN ADDRESS THE CONTINUED APPROACH OF MAKING 11th HOUR DECISIONS, LARGE-SCALE FINANCIAL DECISIONS THAT WE DON'T HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO REVISIT BECAUSE OF THE CRUNCH DEADLINE. IF WE DON'T MAKE A DECISION TONIGHT, WHAT IS LIKELY TO HAPPEN? WE WILL BE WITHOUT LEGAL REPRESENTATION IN LESS THAN 2 TO 3 WEEKS. SO, PLEASE, IN THE
FUTURE TRY, TRY TO MAKE DECISIONS IN A TIMELY MANNER THAT DON'T PUSH US TO
A POINT OF MAKING DECISIONS THAT MIGHT NOT BE THE BEST DECISIONS FOR OUR CITY AS A RESULT OF A TIMELINE. THANK YOU.
THANK YOU, KYLE, FOR YOUR PUBLIC COMMENTS. I WILL GO OUT TO ZOOM. ADAMANT, CAN YOU AND BE YOURSELF, PLEASE?
Agenda Item Number: 3
Agenda Item Number 3/City Council Meeting Packet for Meeting of: July 2, 2024 / Page 49 of 78 I HOPE I UNMUTED. >> YOU ARE UNMUTED. AND I HOPE YOU CAN STILL SEE THE TIMER.
I DO. >> THANK YOU. GO AHEAD.
MY COMMENT ABOUT THIS IS THAT ALMOST ALL OF THE PROCESS TO HIRE A FIRM TO REPRESENT THE PLACEMENT FOR LARRY McLAUGHLIN HAVE BEEN UNDER CLOSED
SESSIONS AND SO THE PEOPLE HERE KNOW ALMOST NOTHING ABOUT WHO HAS BEEN
INTERVIEWED OR WHEN THEY HAVE BEEN INTERVIEWED --WELL, WE KNOW WHEN BUT WE
KNOW NOTHING ABOUT IT SO I GUESS MY MAIN QUESTION IS, HOW CAN WE BE
EXPECTED TO MAKE A PUBLIC COMMENT ABOUT SOMETHING WE KNOW NEXT TO NOTHING ABOUT? THAT IS ALL. THANKS. >> THANK YOU FOR YOUR PUBLIC COMMENT. I WILL
COME BACK INTO CHAMBERS IF THERE IS ANYONE THAT WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A PUBLIC COMMENT. SEEING NONE, I WILL GO OUT TO ZOOM. ROBERT, CAN YOU UNMUTE YOURSELF, PLEASE?
DID IT WORK? >> IT WORKED. CAN YOU SEE THE TIMER?
I CAN.
GO AHEAD, PLEASE. >> I ECHO ADMIN'S, THAT I HOPE THERE WILL BE A PRESENTATION BEFORE WE GOT TO PUBLIC COMMENT. SINCE IT WAS DONE IN SECRET, WE HAVE NOTHING TO SAY, BUT HEY, I AM HERE. THE ONE THOUGHT I HAD THAT I
JUST DON'T WANT TO KILL MYSELF AND BEAT MYSELF ON THE HEAD IF YOU DO THIS
WITHOUT HEARING WHY YOU DID IT, TWO OF THE FIRMS I THINK WERE FROM
SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA AND I'M TRYING TO IMAGINE WHAT THE COST IS OF HAVING
ATTORNEYS DRIVE OR FLY FROM SEVILLE SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA TO SEBASTOPOL TO
ATTEND A MEETING OR DEAL WITH SOMETHING THAT IS AS COMPLEX THAT THEY CAN'T JUST DO IT ON ZOOM. I DON'T KNOW WHY YOU WOULD ACCEPTED THE APPLICATIONS FROM SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA. ONE OF THE FIRMS BARELY ADDRESSED THE KINDS OF ISSUES THAT YOU GUYS TO DEAL WITH ALL THE TIME. I AM HOPING THAT IS NOT
THE ONE YOU PICKED AND THERE WAS ANOTHER ONE THAT WAS A LITTLE EXPENSIVE BUT COVERED EVERYTHING. I DON'T ENVY YOUR DECISION . I WOULD LIKE TO HEAR A LOT MORE DISCUSSION ABOUT IT BEFORE WE HAVE PUBLIC INPUT BUT, THANK YOU.
THANK YOU, ROBERT. NEXT I WILL COME INTO CHAMBERS. ALL OVER HIS? >> THERE WAS ACTUALLY AN OPEN DOES NOT YOU COULD ATTEND THE INTERVIEWS. I DIDN'T SEE THEM BUT PRESUMABLY THERE ARE AND I CARVE -- THE OPTIONS. TO SOME OF THE POINTS THAT WERE MADE, YOU KNOW, APPROVE THE APPOINTMENT . COUNSEL CAN
APPOINT TO THE CLOSED SESSION OF THE REPORT AND INTO OPEN SESSION AND IT IS ALL VERY OPAQUE AS PEOPLE HAVE SAID ON ZOOM. I DON'T REALLY KNOW WHAT IS GOING ON HERE. IT IS A BIT LIKE ATTENDING SOME OF THE BUDGET MEETINGS
LAST YEAR WHERE YOU LISTEN IN, YOU LISTEN AND LISTEN BUT YOU CAN'T KINDA FIGURE OUT WHAT THE IS GOING ON BECAUSE YOU'RE SO CONFUSED. SO SOME SORT
OF EXPLANATION WOULD REALLY HELPFUL TONIGHT IF THAT IS REALLY POSSIBLE ON WHERE WE ARE AND WHAT CAN HAPPEN NEXT. SO, THANK YOU. THAT IS MY COMMENT.
THANK YOU, OLIVER, FOR YOUR PUBLIC,. I WILL GO OUT TO ZOOM. LINDA, CAN YOU UNMUTE YOURSELF, PLEASE? THANK YOU, LINDA. GO AHEAD WITH YOUR PUBLIC COMMENT, PLEASE. >> THIS IS SO TYPICAL OF THE CITY COUNCIL AND PREVIOUS CITY COUNCIL . THE MAYOR SPECIFICALLY . GETTING OUT OF TOWN OR CONSULTANTS . OUT-OF-TOWNERS TO WEIGH IN ON THIS CITY ON WHICH THEY KNOW NOTHING OF .
SO ANYWAY, THERE IS THAT AND ALSO, KYLE'S VERY INSIGHTFUL COMMENTS ABOUT WAITING TILL THE LAST MINUTE TO COME UP WITH THE DECISION . AND AMONG Agenda Item Number: 3
Agenda Item Number 3/City Council Meeting Packet for Meeting of: July 2, 2024 / Page 50 of 78
THOSE LINES, YOU KNOW, I WOULD JUST LIKE TO POINT OUT ONCE AGAIN THAT THE
MAYOR, AFTER DECIMATING OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT BY BULLYING THEM INTO
QUITTING, WE ARE ALSO LOOKING AT THE RETIREMENT OF OUR CURRENT POLICE CHIEF BY THE END OF THE YEAR -- >> LINDA, STAY ON TOPIC. WE ARE TALKING ABOUT THE CITY ATTORNEY INTERVIEWS. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU. ANYWAY, JUST
WATCH AND WAIT UNTIL THE VERY FINAL YEAR --VERY FINAL MONTH OR TIME BEFORE NELSON RETIRES. IT IS A REAL SHAME THAT WE HAVE GOT AN OUT OF TOUCH MAYOR . DESTROYING THIS TOWN WITH HER STUPID DECISIONS.
CAN YOU PLEASE KEEP ON TOPIC. WE ARE TALKING ABOUT THE CITY ATTORNEY INTERVIEWS HERE. THANK YOU, LINDA. >> I WISH YOU WOULD RESIGN. PLEASE. WE USED TO HAVE A PEDOPHILE.
[ INAUDIBLE - OVERLAPPING SPEAKERS ] >> I'M GOING TO HAVE TO HAVE YOU REMOVE HER COMMENTS ABOUT PEDOPHILE. THAT IS NOT ACCEPTABLE. THAT IS VERY DISRUPTIVE. THANK YOU, LINDA. IN THE FUTURE, PLEASE, LET'S NOT DO THAT.
MARY?
THANK YOU, LINDA, FOR YOUR PUBLIC COMMENT. NEXT, I WILL COME BACK IN CHAMBERS. IF THERE IS ANYONE IN CHAMBERS, SEEING NONE, I WILL GO BACK TO ZOOM. KATE, CAN YOU UNMUTE YOURSELF, PLEASE? >> YES. THANK YOU. MY PUBLIC COMMENT IS TWO FOLD. THE FIRST PART OF MY PUBLIC COMMENT IS THAT IT SEEMS
LIKE THERE IS NO GOALSETTING IN TERMS OF -- I DID NOT HAVE TIME TO WATCH
THE INTERVIEWS IN THE OPEN MEETING, BUT THE SCOPE THAT IS LISTED UNDER THE
BACKGROUND SECTION OF THE AGENDA ITEM HAS VERY GENERIC TYPES OF GOALS
WHEREAS IN FACT, THE CITY IT'S SELF HAS A HISTORY, FOR INSTANCE, WITH
PROBLEMS WITH EMPLOYEES DOING THE CITY AND ALSO, WE ARE OBVIOUSLY IN AN
ACLU LAWSUIT THAT HAS BEEN BROUGHT BY SOME OF THE RESIDENCE OF HER RISING SIGN. AND SO WE ACTUALLY HAVE SPECIFIC NEEDS AS A CITY THAT AREN'T QUITE AS GENERALIZED AS THIS. AND SO I AM A BIT CONCERNED THAT YOU ARE NOT
SEEKING CANDIDATES THAT ARE SPECIALIZED IN THE AREAS WHERE SEBASTOPOL
SEEMS TO HAVE THE MOST LITIGATION AND THEN, SECONDLY, AS A CITIZEN OF
SEBASTOPOL, IT SEEMS LIKE THE CITY IS LOOKING FOR COUNSEL THAT REPRESENTS
THE CITY ITSELF, BUT NOT NECESSARILY THE INTERESTS OF THE CITIZENS SO WE
HAVE HAD SEVERAL TIMES IN THE PAST WHERE THE COUNCIL HAS A CERTAIN AGENDA AND THEN OUR PAST CITY ATTORNEY KIND OF TOOK FORTH WITH THAT. FOR INSTANCE
ON MOORE STREET WHERE IT WAS CONTINUOUSLY SAID WE COULDN'T HAVE PARKING
REGULATIONS UNTIL FINALLY, LARRY ADMITTED WE COULD HAVE PARKING RELATIONS
ON MOORE STREET AND THEN, SECONDLY THE ISSUE WITH THE WATER AND ALLOCATION STUDIES. I DON'T REALLY FEEL THAT THAT THE CITIZENS WERE BEING ADVOCATED FOR. AT THE CITY WAS JUST ADVOCATING FOR ITS SELF. THANK YOU.
THANK YOU, CATE, FOR YOUR PUBLIC COMMENT. NEXT, I WILL COME BACK IN CHAMBERS. IF THERE'S ANYONE IN CHAMBERS THAT WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD ON THIS ITEM.
[ CAPTIONERS TRANSITIONING
THOSE FOUR FIRMS WERE INTERVIEWED HERE. IT WAS A RECORDED MEETING. IF ANYONE IS INTERESTED IN DOING IT IS RECORDED ON THE WEBSITE. JUST TO GIVE Agenda Item Number: 3
Agenda Item Number 3/City Council Meeting Packet for Meeting of: July 2, 2024 / Page 51 of 78
US STRUCTURE, MY THOUGHT IS TO GO THROUGH A FORMAT THAT WOULD BE NUMBER ONE, DO WE WANT TO DISMISS ALL CANDIDATES? NUMBER TWO, DO WE WANT TO
INVITE ALL OF THEM BACK FOR AN ADDITIONAL CLOSED SESSION THEN WE CAN GO INTO OTHER PERMUTATIONS. COMMENTS FIRST? I DON'T KNOW WHO RAISED THEIR HAND FIRST. GO AHEAD, COUNCILMEMBER COUNCIL MEMBER McLEWIS AND PLEASE MAKE ANY COMMENTS YOU WANT.
YOU SAID A DISMISSAL OR BRING ALL BUT A QUESTION I HAD WHEN I WAS READING
ALL THIS WAS, SHOULD WE BE TRYING TO NARROW IT DOWN BECAUSE IN MY MIND THAT IS WHAT I THOUGHT BUT I JUST WONDERED WHAT YOUR THOUGHTS ARE ON THAT.
SOME OF THE REASON IT IS A LITTLE VAGUE IN THE INSTRUCTIONS WAS BECAUSE
THE OPEN SESSION YOU HAD DID NOT ALLOW FOR YOU IS A COUNSEL TO HAVE A
DISCUSSION ABOUT THE INTERVIEWS AND WHAT YOU'VE HEARD FROM THE DIFFERENT
FIRMS, SO THIS IS ANOTHER OPPORTUNITY FOR THE PUBLIC BECAUSE I THINK THERE
WAS ONLY ONE MEMBER OF THE PUBLIC THAT ATTENDED THAT MEETING TO HEAR YOUR
DISCUSSION OUT OF THOSE INTERVIEWS, SO THAT IS THIS OPPORTUNITY NOW TO DO
THAT AND OUT OF THAT , HOPEFULLY SOME CLARITY WILL COME AS TO WHAT YOU MIGHT WANT TO DO AND THEN I DO HAVE A COUPLE OF QUICK STATEMENTS. ONE IS
THAT THE CITY USES A NUMBER OF DIFFERENT LEGAL FIRMS OR LEGAL SERVICES ,
SPECIALTY FIRMS FOR LABOR RELATIONS , FOR LITIGATION, DIFFERENT THINGS LIKE THAT. THE CITY ATTORNEY IS ACTUALLY DESCRIBED IN GOVERNMENT CODE, AND
ITS PURPOSE IS TO ADVISE CITY OFFICIALS IN ALL LEGAL MATTERS PERTAINING TO
CITY MATTERS, FRAME AND ORDINANCE OR RESOLUTION REQUIRED BY THE
LEGISLATIVE BODY, PERFORM OTHER LEGAL SERVICES REQUIRED FROM TIME TO TIME BY THE LEGISLATIVE BODY AND THAT IS UNDER CODE 41802 IF ANYONE IS
INTERESTED, AND THE COUNCIL IS ALLOWED TO APPOINT THE CITY ATTORNEY AND
SETS THE SALARY FOR THEM, SO I'M GOING TO AGAIN ALLOW YOU TO HAVE A DISCUSSION.
OKAY. THANK YOU FOR THAT, DEBORAH. SO YEAH, I UNDERSTAND YOUR SUGGESTION.
I'M GOING TO ASK JUST A BASELINE QUESTION HERE BECAUSE I THINK IT WILL HELP US, AND IF NO ONE IS READY TO APPROACH THIS IN THIS WAY, LET ME KNOW.
MY FIRST THOUGHT IS, IS ANYONE FEELING THAT WE SHOULD --IS ANYONE HERE FEELING THAT WE SHOULD NOT CONSIDER ANY OF THESE FOUR APPLICANTS? IS ANYONE HERE FEELING THAT WAY? OKAY, I THINK THAT IS IMPORTANT. IS ANYONE
HERE FEELING THAT WE SHOULD DO ADDITIONAL INTERVIEWS WITH ALL FOUR APPLICANTS? OKAY, PERFECT. THAT'S WONDERFUL. SOMEWHERE IN THE MIDDLE THERE -- OKAY. AND YES, GO AHEAD , COUNCIL MEMBER MAURER.
I WOULD APPRECIATE HAVING MORE TIME TO GET TO KNOW THE DIFFERENT FIRMS, BUT IS THERE A COST TO INTERVIEW THEM? DO WE PAY, FOR EXAMPLE, THE FEE FOR THEM TO FLY UP HERE OR THEM TO DRIVE HERE? IS THERE A COST? SORRY, I DID NOT MEAN TO TAKE OVER FROM YOU. THERE IS NO COST TO THE CITY.
IF THEY COME UP FROM SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA THEY PAY THEIR OWN AIRFARE, HOTEL AND MILEAGE. WE DO NOT NEED TO HAVE THEM COME UP TO INTERVIEW WITH US.
OKAY, WE WILL JUST GO DOWN INTO QUESTIONS. VICE MAYOR.
THANK YOU. I'M JUST GOING TO JUMP IN. I -- YES, SOMEBODY HAD MENTIONED
SOMETHING ABOUT WHY YOU WOULD EVEN ENTERTAIN LAW FIRMS THAT ARE WAY OUT OF
YOUR AREA, DON'T EVEN HAVE ANY IDEA ABOUT THE ISSUES THAT WE FACE, AND THE PRACTICALITIES IN THIS COUNTY. FOR THAT VERY REASON, THE ONLY ONE OUT OF Agenda Item Number: 3
Agenda Item Number 3/City Council Meeting Packet for Meeting of: July 2, 2024 / Page 52 of 78
ANY OF THESE THAT I WANT TO HAVE BACK FOR SECOND INTERVIEWS AND IN-DEPTH
QUESTIONS THAT WE COULD HAVE IN A CLOSED SESSION ABOUT LITIGATION TACTICS,
ALL THOSE TYPES OF THINGS, IS REDWOOD PUBLIC LAW AND THE REASON I SAY THAT
IS THE FACT THAT FOR EVERYONE WHO HAS BEEN DIALING IN, ALL THESE PEOPLE
ARE PEOPLE WE HAVE ALREADY HEARD FROM, AND I CAN SAY SPECIFICALLY WE ARE
GOING TO NEED THEIR ADVICE SOMETIME IN THE NEAR FUTURE FOR ALL THESE SPECIFIC REACHER -- REASONS. THAT ONE MAKES THE MOST SENSE TO ME BECAUSE
THEY ALREADY KNOW US SO THEY'VE ALREADY RESEARCHED A LOT OF OUR ISSUES, SO
I DEFINITELY WOULD WANT TO HAVE THEM BACK AND HONESTLY I WILL MENTION THE ONE ADAM AND McNALLY JUST BECAUSE IT'S CARRIE McNALLY AND I REALLY LIKE
HER AND REALLY APPRECIATE HER DOING THIS BUT I AM SORRY, BEING SOMEBODY IN THIS AREA, YOU CAN'T MANAGE WHAT LEGAL YOU DON'T KNOW . THIS IS NOT A SLAM , THIS IS JUST MY UNDERSTANDING BECAUSE SHE WAS GOING TO COME AND PRESENT
THEM REPRESENT US ON ONE SINGLE ISSUE AND THEN BRING IN OTHER PEOPLE IN THE SPECIALIZED AREAS TO MANAGE. YOU CANNOT MANAGE WHAT AREA YOU DON'T KNOW IN-DEPTH.
OKAY, COMMENTS AND SUPPORT OF REDWOOD LAW AND KIND OF KNOW.
I WOULD LIKE TO SEE US RANK THEM BECAUSE WE MAY HAVE, YOU KNOW, MAYBE THAT'S A POSSIBILITY. WE ARE ALL GOING TO HAVE DIFFERENT OPINIONS AND I WANT TO BE FAIR, NOT JUST LIKE HAVE YOU KNOW, SIT HERE AND DO COMMENTARY.
IS THAT POSSIBLE?
CAN I ASK A QUESTION? IS ANYONE HERE FEELING THAT THEY WANT TO MAKE A DECISION TONIGHT? AS OPPOSED TO BRINGING THEM BACK ? BECAUSE I DEFINITELY WANT TO BRING THEM BACK FOR ANOTHER INTERVIEW.
I WANT TO BRING BACK LIMITED PEOPLE.
LET'S LOOK AT THE FIRST FIRM. THE COLON, HIGHSMITH WATLEY. ANYONE HAVE ANY PARTICULAR STRONG COMMENTS ON THEM YAY OR NAY? >> I WOULD LIKE TO INTERVIEW THEM AGAIN.
OKAY, SO WE HAVE TOLENTINO , YOU WOULD LIKE TO HAVE INTERVIEWED AGAIN.
I'M CHANGING MY VOTE. I WOULD INTERVIEW ALL OF THEM.
OKAY, ALL RIGHT, SO YOU WOULD INTERVIEW ALL OF THEM. WHAT ABOUT OTHER THAN
THAT,, IS THERE ANYONE WHO WOULD WANT TO REINTERVIEW ADAM, SOBER AND WITH DOLLY? OKAY. OKAY. OKAY. >> [ INAUDIBLE ]
I KNOW. IT'S KIND OF -- CAN YOU SHARE, MAYBE? AND WHILE WE ARE WAITING FOR THAT, ANYONE WANT TO BRING BACK THE FOURTH ONE? I HEAR COUNCIL MEMBER MAURER FEELS WE SHOULD BRING THEM ALL BACK. ANYONE ELSE? OKAY. APPRENTICE HALL WAS A YES . WE HAD TWO YESES AND I'M SORRY, COUNCIL MEMBER McLEWIS.
IS THIS WORKING?
NO, I CAN'T HEAR YOU.
NOW, YEAH.
Agenda Item Number: 3
Agenda Item Number 3/City Council Meeting Packet for Meeting of: July 2, 2024 / Page 53 of 78 FOR ME IT WAS REDWOOD AND McNALLY BECAUSE I DON'T THINK WE NECESSARILY HAVE TO HIRE ONE FIRM THAT DOES EVERYTHING. I WOULD RATHER HAVE PEOPLE WHO ARE EXPERTS IN THEIR FIELD. I MEAN, WE ALREADY DO THAT ALREADY SO IT DOES
NOT SEEM LIKE THAT MUCH OF A DEPARTURE FROM WHAT WE DO ALREADY HAVING ALREADY WORKED WITH SOMEONE. I THINK THERE IS VALUE IN THAT.
YEAH, SO, I HEAR YOU AND I AM IN FAVOR OF BRINGING THEM ALL BACK BUT WE
HAVE TO RECOGNIZE THAT WE SHOULD DISCUSS HERE WHETHER THERE ARE THREE
VOTES , IF THERE IS ANYONE HERE WHO IS ALREADY DECIDED THAT THEY REALLY DON'T WANT TO GO WITH, FOR INSTANCE, THE FIRST FIRM.
I WILL, . I DO NOT WANT TO INTERVIEW ANYONE OTHER THAN REDWOOD .
OKAY, THAT'S CLEAR FROM THE VICE MAYOR. I AM IN FAVOR OF INTERVIEWING ALL FOUR. COUNCIL MEMBER MAURER IS IN FAVOR OF INTERVIEWING ALL FOUR.
I WILL DO ALL FOUR. OKAY, SO I HAVE THREE VOTES FOR INTERVIEWING ALL FOUR.
IS THAT CORRECT? SO THAT IS IT UNLESS --DO WE NEED A MOTION FOR THAT? I THINK THE DIRECTION IS CLEAR AND I THINK THAT IS ENOUGH FOR NOW.
OKAY THEN ANY OTHER COMMENTS REGARDING THESE FOUR FIRMS ANYONE HERE WOULD LIKE TO SHARE BEFORE WE CLOSE UP THIS TOPIC?
JUST FOR THE MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC THAT SAID WE REALLY DIDN'T MAKE COMMENTS. EACH OF THE FIRMS ARE QUALIFIED AND HAVE GOVERNMENTAL EXPERIENCE. WE JUST NEED TO MEET THEM MORE THAN ONCE TO GET TO KNOW THEM
SO YEAH, IT WAS AN INITIAL SET OF QUESTIONS AND THAT IS ALL WE REALLY HAVE TO RECORD AND IT IS PUBLIC AND IT'S ON THE WEBSITE AND THERE YOU HAVE IT. >> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. DEBORAH, ANYTHING ELSE YOU WANTED TO SHARE WITH US?
THE ONLY THING I WANTED TO SAY WAS THERE WAS A COMMENT FROM THE PUBLIC IF YOU WOULD LIKE ME TO ANSWER, ABOUT THE TIMELINE OF THE RETIREMENT .
GO AHEAD, IF YOU COULD BRIEFLY PLACE.
VERY BRIEFLY, THE CITY HAS FIRMS THERE UNDER CONTRACT WITH THAT COULD
SUPPORT THE CITY DURING ANY PERIOD OF TIME IT TAKES TO MAKE A CONSCIENTIOUS AND THOUGHTFUL DECISION.
THANK YOU, AND I WILL CONFIRM ON BEHALF OF THE ENTIRE CITY COUNCIL THAT WE
ARE GOING TO MAKE THE INTENTIONAL , CONSCIENTIOUS, WELL THOUGHT OUT DECISION AND WE ARE NOT GOING TO RUSH THROUGH IT, CLEARLY. THANK YOU. WE WILL CLOSE OUT THAT ITEM. THANK YOU FOR THAT DISCUSSION AND I HAVE TO
APOLOGIZE TO OUR CITY MANAGER BECAUSE WE CLOSED OUT THE LAST ITEM DESPITE
THE FACT THAT I THINK YOU HAD SOMETHING YOU WANTED TO COMMENT TO US ABOUT THE WATER AND SEWER ITEM.
THANK YOU FOR RECOGNIZING THAT, IF I COULD JUST WAIT UNTIL CITY MANAGER COMMENTS TO MAKE SURE THERE IS TIME AT THE END.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH. WE ARE NOW DONE WITH THAT ITEM AND MOVING ON TO THE BUDGET. THIS WOULD BE THE BUDGET CONTINUATION ITEM, THAT IS ITEM NUMBER Agenda Item Number: 3
Agenda Item Number 3/City Council Meeting Packet for Meeting of: July 2, 2024 / Page 54 of 78 11, AND I'M HOPING TO GET US THROUGH THIS BY NO LATER THAN 10:00 SO THAT
WE CAN FINISH OUR FINAL ITEM BUT WE WILL DO WHAT WE NEED TO DO FOR THE PUBLIC.
THANK YOU, APPRECIATE THAT. BASICALLY TONIGHT WE ARE ASKING FOR A FEW
ACTIONS TO ALLOW US TO CONTINUE OPERATING UNTIL WE HAVE A FINAL ADOPTED BUDGET FOR NEXT YEAR, WHICH WE ANTICIPATE WITHIN THE FIRST TWO MONTHS. THE
FIRST ACTION IS TO CONTINUE APPROPRIATIONS , WHICH IS BASICALLY TO SPEND
FOR CITY OPERATIONS CONTRACT AND STAFF -RELATED EXPENSES FOR EXAMPLE SO WE CAN BASICALLY KEEP ON GOING. SECOND IS TO EXTEND SOME CONTRACTS THAT ARE EXPIRING ON JUNE 30th. THERE ARE THE SIX THAT ARE LISTED BEFORE YOU. WE
HAVE A SEVENTH IDENTIFIED THAT I WOULD ADD TO THAT LIST TO MAKE SURE WE HAVE THAT COVERED. THIRD IS WE HAVE WHAT YOU MIGHT THINK OF AS A MODEST ADJUSTMENT FOR THE NAP YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD PROGRAM. THAT WAS MY
UNDERSTANDING, KIND OF A GLITCH IN LAST YEAR'S BUDGET THAT IF YOU WANT TO
CONTINUE THAT FOR A COUPLE OF MONTHS, THE SAME LEVEL AS EVERYBODY ELSE TO
MAKE THIS MODEST ADJUSTMENT AND FINALLY THAT WE WOULD NOT TRANSFER $100,000 TO THE RESERVE WHICH WAS AND IS IN THE BUDGET FOR FY 2023-24. WE
THINK KEEPING THAT IN THE CITIES FUND BALANCE, A LITTLE MORE LIQUID, IS THE WISE THING TO DO. STAFF RECOMMENDED THAT AND OUR FINANCIAL ADVISER CONCURS IN THE BUDGET COMMITTEE CONCURS WITH THAT, AS WELL. THOSE ARE THE ACTIONS BEFORE YOU AND HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH. I WOULD ASK THAT THE BUDGET COMMITTEE WEIGH IN ON THIS BUDGET CONTINUATION ITEM. ANY COMMENTS?
WE DEFINITELY HAD DISCUSSIONS AND I CONCUR WITH STATEMENTS MADE BY THE GENERAL MANAGER.
AND SIMILARLY FROM --THANK YOU VERY MUCH, COUNCIL MEMBER McLEWIS. >> IS THAT WORKING?
YEAH, NOT REALLY. WHEN THE PROBLEM IS, THOSE ON ZOOMER NOT GOING TO BE ABLE TO HEAR YOU. >> SO, I KNOW I HAVE ASKED THIS AND I JUST WANTED TO HAVE A CLEAR ANSWER. WHAT ARE THE CHALLENGES OR PENALTIES ON THE 60 DAYS ?
I THINK I'VE MENTIONED THAT BEFORE BUT DID NOT HAVE A CLEAR -- I KNOW THERE IS AN AUDITOR ISSUE BUT WHAT HAPPENS IF YOU GO BEYOND THE 60 DAYS LIKE FOR SOME REASON WE NEEDED TO?
FROM --I DON'T THINK A CITY ATTORNEY CAN WEIGH IN ON THIS BUT I DON'T
THINK THERE ARE ANY PUNISHMENTS OR NEGATIVE CONSEQUENCES, PENALTIES, THOSE SORTS OF THINGS. THERE IS DATA WE HAVE TO PROVIDE UNLESS WE GET A WAIVER
FROM THE COUNTY AUDITOR'S OFFICE TO PROVIDE ESSENTIALLY THE BUDGET INFORMATION THAT WE WOULD BE CONTINUING, BUT THAT IS MY UNDERSTANDING. I
WOULD SAY FROM AN OPERATIONAL PERSPECTIVE BUT ALSO A BUDGET FINANCIAL
PERSPECTIVE IT DOES MAKE IT A LITTLE MORE CHALLENGING FOR EXAMPLE, WE ARE
GOING TO REDUCE THE CONTRACT OR IF YOU WANT TO HOLD A POSITION VACANT OR
FILL IT , IT DELAYS THAT DECISION SO IT CAN BE A LITTLE HARDER TO MAKE THE NUMBERS ADD UP, DEPENDING ON HOW LONG THAT TAKES. THE SUMMER WILL CONTINUE RISING. WE WILL CONTINUE TO OPERATE BUT I WANT TO DEFER TO THE CITY ATTORNEY.
THANK YOU. THE CITY MANAGER JUST SUMMARIZE THE INFORMATION DEVELOPED FOR
THIS ITEM WHICH IS AGAIN, THERE ARE SOME PROCEDURE HOOPS TO GO THROUGH Agenda Item Number: 3
Agenda Item Number 3/City Council Meeting Packet for Meeting of: July 2, 2024 / Page 55 of 78 POTENTIALLY WITH THE COUNTY AUDITOR AT THE END OF THE 60 DAY PERIOD BUT I
WOULD ADVISE THAT THE ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES DIRECTOR SHOULD DISCUSS THAT WITH THE AUDITOR'S OFFICE, AS IT IS POSSIBLE TO OBTAIN A WAIVER.
OKAY, FOLLOW UP QUESTION, THE ASSUMPTION HERE IS THAT THERE IS A 60 DAY EXTENSION SO WE WOULD NEED TO GET A NEW BUDGET IN PLACE WITHIN 60 DAYS , WHICH WOULD BE BY SEPTEMBER 1?
YES, AUGUST 31st .
THANK YOU. ANY ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS? COUNCIL MEMBER HINTON.
YOU MENTIONED THE SEVENTH ITEM BUT I DIDN'T HEAR YOU SAY WHAT IT WAS. >> DW CLEANING. THEY DO CLEANING FOR US. THIS IS THE CONTRACT THE POLICE
DEPARTMENT MANAGES AND WE JUST DID NOT HAVE THAT INFORMATION IN TIME TO INCORPORATE THAT INTO THE LIST.
OKAY, ANY OTHER CHANGES TO THIS --ANYTHING OTHER THAN KW CLEANING NEEDING TO BE ADDED?
METHOD WE ARE AWARE OF BUT I CERTAINLY WOULD'VE HOPE THAT WE WOULD KNOW ABOUT THAT.
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS FROM COUNCILMEMBERS BEFORE WE GO OUT TO THE PUBLIC ? WE WILL HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY WHEN WE BRING IT BACK.
THANK YOU, MAYOR. THIS IS PUBLIC COMMENT FOR THE CONSIDERATION OF THE CONTINUATION OF THE BUDGET FOR TWO ADDITIONAL MONTHS. IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO MAKE PUBLIC COMMENT WE GO TO IN CHAMBER FIRST THEN OUT TO ZOOM.
IN THE AGENDA ITEM IN THE HIGHLIGHTED RED FONT AT THE BOTTOM OF THE FIRST
PAGE WHICH MAKES INDICATION OF PARTICULAR ATTENTION TO THE EXPLANATION AND IMPACTS COLUMN. IN THE SPREADSHEET THAT FOLLOWS THERE IS NO EXPLANATION IN THE IMPACTS COLUMN. I DO KNOW THERE WERE SOME PREVIOUS BUDGET COMMITTEE
AGENDIZED ITEMS THAT DID HAVE SPREADSHEETS THAT HAD EXPLANATIONS AND IMPACTS. I'M JUST CURIOUS WHAT HAPPENED TO THOSE COLUMNS ON THE
SPREADSHEET IN TONIGHT'S AGENDA ITEM AND IF THERE IS ANY SORT OF
COUNCILMEMBER CONFUSION AS TO THAT COLUMN AND WHERE IT WENT OR WHERE THEY MIGHT FIND THOSE COLUMNS ON THE EXISTING SPREADSHEET AND TONIGHT ITEM.
THANKS.
MARY, DID YOU HAVE --
I THINK WHAT YOU'RE LOOKING AT, KYLE, IS THE REPORT OUT FOR THE COMMITTEE.
IS IT THE ROLLING DOCUMENT , THE TITLE OF IT THAT YOU'RE LOOKING AT? THE
AGENDA ITEM TONIGHT IS TALKING ABOUT THE RESOLUTION FOR THE CONTINUATION ON A BUDGET.
ALL RIGHT, I GOT A LITTLE MORE TIME, BECAUSE THE VERY LAST THING I WILL
MENTION IS THAT THAT THING WAS ADDED TO THE AGENDA AT SOME POINT THIS
EVENING WHICH ALSO IS CONCERNING TO ME BECAUSE MOST OF THE AGENDA ITEMS
WERE POSTED BY THURSDAY BUT IN THIS ITEM IS APPEARING AT THE BOTTOM OF THE LIST OF TONIGHT'S AGENDA THAT HAPPENED AT SOME POINT LATER TODAY.
Agenda Item Number: 3
Agenda Item Number 3/City Council Meeting Packet for Meeting of: July 2, 2024 / Page 56 of 78
OKAY, SO THE COMET APPEARS TO BE REGARDING THE BUDGET COMMITTEE REPORT OUT.
YOU ARE CORRECT. JUNE 6, IT IS A RECAP OF THE BUDGET COMMITTEE SO IT WAS
POSTED TONIGHT FOR THE COMMITTEE REPORT OUT AT THE END OF THE MEETING SO IT WAS NOT DONE UNTIL LATE MONDAY , SO IT IS NOT AN AGENDA ITEM ITSELF. IT IS JUST THE WRITTEN REPORT OUT FOR THE COMMITTEES.
THANK YOU, MARY. IT LOOKS LIKE WE HAVE PUBLIC COMMENT FROM ZOOM.
YES. NOW WE WILL GO OUT TO ZOOM.
I THINK I'M IN MUTED AGAIN.
YOU ARE. PLEASE GO AHEAD WITH THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD
I WOULD LIKE TO TAKE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO EXPRESS A HIGH LEVEL OF CONFIDENCE IN THE ABILITIES OF OUR RELATIVELY NEW CITY MANAGER. I THINK WE
COULD PROBABLY TAKE WHAT HE SAYS IS SOMETHING THAT IS A REASONABLE PROPOSITION AND MOVE FORWARD BASED ON THAT. I DON'T ALWAYS AGREE WITH HIM BUT I THINK HE IS DOING A GREAT JOB AND I WANTED TO COMMEND HIM FOR THAT.
THANK YOU.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR PUBLIC COMMENT. I CAN I WILL COME BACK INTO CHAMBERS IF THERE IS ANYONE WHO WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A COMMENT . SAYING THAT I WILL GO BACK OUT TO ZOOM.
PLEASE MUTE. MOVING ALONG, AGAIN, THIS IS FOR PUBLIC COMMENT ON THE BUDGET CONTINUATION. IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A PUBLIC COMMENT PLEASE RAISE YOUR HAND OR MUTE THE PHONE. SEEING NONE, PUBLIC COMMENT IS CLOSED.
ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. WE ARE BACK AT THE COUNSEL TABLE HERE FOR DISCUSSION AND CONSIDERATION OF THIS CONTINUATION OF THE BUDGET ITEM.
COMMENTS FROM ANYONE?
I WAS JUST GOING TO SAY , I ASKED THESE QUESTIONS JUST BECAUSE I KNOW IT
IS A HERCULEAN EFFORT TO TRY TO COORDINATE ALL OF OUR SCHEDULES, MARY, SO THAT IS WHY I WAS CURIOUS ABOUT THE 60 DAYS, BECAUSE I KNOW THINGS HAPPEN
AND EVERYTHING BUT WE TRULY THANK YOU FOR THE EFFORT IT TAKES TO COORDINATE ALL OF US HERE. IT IS A LOT. FOR ALL OF US TO BE ABLE TO ATTEND THESE MEETINGS WHEN WE NEED TO FOR THE BUDGET, SO.
AGREED. ANY COMMENTS ? IF NOT, I'M LOOKING FOR A MOTION ON THIS ITEM.
ANYONE WANT TO TAKE THE INITIATIVE HERE? AND THANK YOU ALSO TO THE BUDGET COMMITTEE FOR THE HARD WORK. IT IS REALLY REASSURING.
I WILL MAKE A MOTION.
WOULD YOU WANT MARY TO STATE IT?
THE MOTION WOULD BE TO ADOPT A RESOLUTION CONTINUING THE APPROPRIATIONS THAT PROVIDES AUTHORITY FOR THE FISCAL YEAR BEGINNING JULY 1st, 2024 AND ENDING JUNE 30th, 2025 AT THE SAME LEVEL AND AMOUNTS FOR ALL FUNDS AS APPROVED IN THE ADOPTED FISCAL YEAR BUDGET 2023-2024 FOR 60 DAYS WITH AN Agenda Item Number: 3
Agenda Item Number 3/City Council Meeting Packet for Meeting of: July 2, 2024 / Page 57 of 78 ADDITIONAL $1500 PER NEIGHBORHOOD FOR TOTAL APPROPRIATIONS OF $4,106,500
TO ENSURE THE UNINTERRUPTED CONTINUATION OF MUNICIPAL SERVICES , IMPROVING
EXTENSIONS AND DIRECTING STAFF NOT TO TRANSFER THE HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLAR ALLOCATION OF FUNDS AT THIS TIME. >> WITH THE ADDITION OF CONTRACT THAT WOULD BE TO KW CLEANING. IS THAT CORRECT? DO WE NEED TO HAVE OUT THAT SPECIFICALLY TO THE MOTION?
THE RESOLUTION, I BELIEVE, IS FOR THE EXPIRING CONTRACT, SO I BELIEVE THAT COVERS -- I THINK ACTUALLY, LET'S ADD THAT . IF WE COULD TAKE THAT MODIFICATION TO ADD PUBLIC POLICE DEPARTMENT CONTRACT, AS WELL.
THE POLICE DEPARTMENT KW CLEANING CONTRACT? I GUESS THAT IS A MODIFICATION TO THE MOTION. IS THE MOVER ACCEPTING OF THAT?
I WILL SECOND THAT.
GOOD. GOT THE SECOND. READY FOR THE ROLLCALL VOTE.
THANK YOU. SOME OF MY COUNCIL MEMBER McLEWIS AND SECONDED BY COUNCIL
MEMBER MAURER TO APPROVE THE CONTINUATION OF THE BUDGET AS I JUST STATED IN THE MOTION.
COUNCIL MEMBER HINTON
YES
COUNCIL MEMBER MAURER >> YES
COUNCIL MEMBER McLEWIS >> YES
VICE MAYOR ZOLLMAN
YES
MAYOR RICH
YES. ALL RIGHT, THE CITY WILL CONTINUE TO OPERATE. THAT IS FABULOUS. OUR NEXT ITEM IS ITEM NUMBER 12. THIS IS THE RECONSIDERATION OF THE APPROVAL OF THE RESOLUTION AND CONTRACT WITH ST. VINCENT DePAUL REGARDING CONSTRUCTION AND OPERATION OF GRAVENSTEIN COMMONS.
THERE IS NOT MUCH TO THE PRESENTATION THAT IS A RECONSIDERATION REQUEST OF TWO COUNCIL MEMBERS. THE RECONSIDERATION AND REPORT PROVIDES UPDATED POINTS FOR THINGS HAVE CHANGED SINCE SPRING. THE ONE POINT THAT I DID NOT KNOW IF IT WOULD BE RELEVANT OR NOT, WE HAVE FOUND OUT THAT THE COUNTY $3 MILLION OFFER TO BACKUP THE 2.2 MILLION OF THAT IS AVAILABLE THROUGH THE END --I'M SORRY, THROUGH JUNE OF 2026 AND THE 800,000 FOR AN ADDITIONAL YEAR BEYOND THAT. MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT SHOULD COVER THE CONSTRUCTION
PERIOD FOR THE PROJECT AND THAT THE DOLLARS, IF NECESSARY , CAN BE ALIGNED
WITH THE CONSTRUCTION TIMELINE SO WHILE THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS HAS NOT
ACTED, THEY GENERALLY DO APPROVE RECOMMENDATIONS FROM STAFF ALONG WITH SLIDES. THAT IS THE ONLY THING I HAVE TO ADD TO WHAT IS IN THE REPORT.
Agenda Item Number: 3
Agenda Item Number 3/City Council Meeting Packet for Meeting of: July 2, 2024 / Page 58 of 78 THANK YOU VERY MUCH. QUESTIONS . I'M LOOKING FOR QUESTIONS UP HERE AND THEN WE WILL GO OUT TO PUBLIC COMMENT. GO AHEAD, COUNCIL MEMBER HINTON.
I JUST HAVE A QUESTION ABOUT RECONSIDERATION. THIS WAS BROUGHT BY SOMEBODY WHO VOTED ONE WAY. IS THAT THE RULE AS LIKE A POINT OF ORDER OF
RECONSIDERATION THAT HAS TO BE BROUGHT BY SOMEBODY WHO DID NOT , OR VOTED
DIFFERENTLY ON THE INITIAL OR CAN IT BE BROUGHT BACK BY ANYBODY FOR FUTURE KNOWLEDGE?
THIS IS NOT A ROBERTS RULE TYPE OF RECONSIDERATION THAT WOULD BE TO RECONSIDER THE EXACT SAME AGENDA ITEM YOU HAD BEFORE. THIS IS A DIFFERENT AGENDA ITEM. THIS ITEM IS TO GENERALLY SPEAKING RECONSIDER THE TOPIC IN
VIEW OF CHANGED CIRCUMSTANCES , SO IT IS A DIFFERENT AGENDA ITEM THAN WHAT
YOU LOOKED AT LAST TIME EVEN THOUGH THE BASICS MAY BE IN PARALLEL , YOU'RE
LOOKING AT FOR DIFFERENT REASONS SO IT IS NOT A TRUE QUOTE UNQUOTE RECONSIDERATION ON THE ROBERTS RULES ARE SIMILAR. >> AND, ROBERTS RULES ARE STILL WITHIN 24 HOURS, RIGHT?
THAT'S RIGHT. THAT STILL MAKES IT VERY DIFFICULT TO DO THAT SO YES, THAT'S THE RULE. >> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS?
I'M JUST WONDERING IF THE CITY ATTORNEY COULD EXPOUND MORE ON THAT
QUESTION WE RECEIVED REGARDING THE CONFLICT OF INTEREST YOU HAD MENTIONED
EARLIER YOU WOULD ADDRESS WHEN WE CAME TO THIS ITEM VERSUS THE GENERAL PUBLIC COMMENT AT THE BEGINNING.
SOME OF THAT IS SORT OF A HYPOTHETICAL AND IS NOT 100% CLEAR FOR WHAT IT
REFERS TO BUT IF I WOULD STATE MY ASSUMPTION THEN I WOULD ANSWER THE QUESTION.
WE RECEIVED A PUBLIC COMMENT ASKING THAT AS WELL SO SPECIFICALLY FOR THIS ITEM COULD YOU ADDRESS THAT?
ALL COUNCILMEMBERS GENERALLY SPEAKING WITH REGARD TO THE ITEM OF THE
PROJECT CHUNKY PROJECT AND THE STATE CALIFORNIA IS A WORD ET CETERA, THAT
ITEM HAS BEEN SEEN BY ALL FIVE COUNCILMEMBERS PREVIOUSLY IN ALL FIVE
COUNCILMEMBERS HAVE A POSITION ON THAT ITEM BECAUSE YOU VOTED ON IT IN THE
PRIOR COUNCIL MEETING, SO IN THAT SENSE, ALL FIVE COUNCILMEMBERS HAVE HAD A POSITION ON THIS ITEM IN THE PAST. THE CHANGED CIRCUMSTANCES GENERALLY
SPEAKING , THREATENED LITIGATION SO AS WE RETURN THE ITEM TO YOU DONE BY
TWO COUNCILMEMBERS WHO HAVE REQUESTED IT SO I DON'T SEE ANYTHING THERE
THAT WOULD LEAD TO A CONCERN THAT COUNCILMEMBERS HAVE PREJUDGE THE ITEM OR
ARE NOT TREATING THE ITEM THIS EVENING WITH AN OPEN MIND TO MAKE A DECISION ON WHAT THEY HEAR THIS EVENING. I SEE NO EVIDENCE THAT IS NOT THE CASE. I THINK THESE COUNCILMEMBERS ARE GOING TO BE LOOKING AT THIS A NEW BASED ON THE PRESENT CIRCUMSTANCES . IN THAT SENSE, THERE IS NO PREJUDGMENT. THERE IS ALSO NO CONFLICT OF INTEREST. CONFLICTS OF INTEREST,
GENERALLY SPEAKING, HAVE SOME FINANCIAL ASPECT TO THEM, SOME FINANCIAL
GAIN IS AT STAKE HERE AND ALSO THE PUBLIC OFTEN USES THE TERMS CONFLICT OF
INTEREST LOOSELY, THEY SOMETIMES MEAN SOMETHING ELSE LIKE THE
COUNCILMEMBER ALLEGEDLY PREJUDGE THE ITEM, THAT KIND OF THING, BUT I SEE
NO EVIDENCE OF ANY CONFLICTS OF ENTRANCE HERE IN TERMS OF FINANCIAL INTEREST. >> YEAH, BECAUSE THE QUESTION WAS, CAN THEY ADVOCATE ON BEHALF Agenda Item Number: 3
Agenda Item Number 3/City Council Meeting Packet for Meeting of: July 2, 2024 / Page 59 of 78
OF AN ORGANIZATION ATTEMPTING TO INTIMIDATE THE CITY BY PUBLICLY THREATENING LITIGATION?
I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE SPEAKER IS REFERRING TO.
NO, YOU RECEIVED A QUESTION, TOO.
I DID, YES BUT I DON'T KNOW WHAT ADVOCACY THEY'RE TALKING ABOUT WHEN THAT ALLEGEDLY OCCURRED THAT WOULD BE A QUESTION OF PREJUDGING THE ITEM.
ESSENTIALLY IF SOMEONE HAS AN ITEM COMING BEFORE THE COUNCIL, THE
COUNCILMEMBER AHEAD OF TIME SAYS I'M GOING TO SUPPORT THAT, THAT A SIMILAR
TO THE COMEDY SOMEBODY ADVOCATED FOR THAT, THEY MIGHT BE ACCUSED OF HAVING ALREADY MADE UP THEIR MIND . WHEN THE COUNCILMEMBER COMES TO THE MEETING
TONIGHT AND SAYS THEY'RE GOING TO BE MAKING A DECISION BASED ON WHAT THEY
SEE AND HEAR THIS EVENING BASED ON ALL THE EVIDENCE AND IF THEY HAVE AN OPEN MIND, THAT SETTLES THE QUESTION ACCORDING TO LEGAL AUTHORITIES. YOU ARE FREE TO GO AND MAKE YOUR DECISION. >> OKAY, SO I'M GOING TO ASK THE QUESTION BECAUSE I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT. ALL OF US ARE SITTING HERE, ALL FIVE OF US. I WANT TO CONFIRM THAT ALL FIVE OF US ENTERING INTO THIS ITEM,
THAT WE ARE DISCUSSING TONIGHT ARE APPROACHING IT WITH AN OPEN MIND,
LISTENING TO ALL THIS DISCUSSION AND TAKING A DECISION TONIGHT ON THIS ITEM. DOES ANYONE HAVE ANY HESITATION ABOUT CONFIRMING THAT IS THEIR POSITION? OKAY, THANK YOU VERY MUCH AND I WOULD HOPE -- DO WE NEED TO DISCLOSE IF WE HAVE HAD A CONVERSATION AT ST. VINCENT DE PAUL ?
I DON'T THINK SO.
TYPICALLY COUNCILMEMBERS DO DISCLOSE IF THEY MET WITH AN APPLICANT AHEAD OF TIME.
YEAH, I HAVE MET WITH JACK [ INAUDIBLE ]
YES, TO THE EXTENT THAT IS NECESSARY I HAD CONVERSATIONS WITH JACK TIBBETTS. I THINK THAT IS ACTUALLY CLEAR IN THE DOCUMENTATION AND EMAILS THAT HAVE BEEN SHARED WITH THE CITY COUNCIL , SO YES. DEFINITELY AND
INQUIRING INTO THE FACTS UNDERLYING THIS ITEM THAT WAS BROUGHT TO THE CITY
COUNCIL I HAD CONVERSATIONS WITH AND COLLECTED INFORMATION FROM JACK TIBBETTS AS I DID FROM LINDA HOPKINS AND TINA RIVERA. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? COUNCIL MEMBER McLEWIS.
I'M JUST WONDERING FROM JUST A PROFESSIONAL ATTORNEY'S OPINION , IS IT GOOD TO HITCH YOUR WAGON TO SOMEONE WHO IS ALREADY THREATENING TO SUE YOU? I MEAN, IT JUST SEEMS LIKE REALLY POOR FORM IN GENERAL. I'M JUST SAYING LIKE IN LIFE, THAT'S A GENERAL RULE FOR ME. IF SOMEONE IS THREATENING ME
FOR WANTING TO SUE ME, I DON'T HITCH MY WAGON TO THEM SO I'M JUST ASKING YOUR PROFESSIONAL OPINION. AS AN ATTORNEY.
WE'VE HAD A LONG-STANDING PRIVATE LAW PRACTICE OVER THE YEARS AND EVERY CASE IS DIFFERENT. MOST OF MY CLIENTS WHO WERE SUED CAME TO ME WHEN
SOMEONE WAS THREATENING TO SUE THEM OR SOMEBODY HAD SUED THEM SO ALL THE CIRCUMSTANCES ARE DIFFERENT. I HAVE HAD CLIENTS TALK ABOUT RESOLVING THE
ISSUES BETWEEN THEM WHEN THE THREAT HAD BEEN OUT THERE AND HAVE HAD OTHER Agenda Item Number: 3
Agenda Item Number 3/City Council Meeting Packet for Meeting of: July 2, 2024 / Page 60 of 78 CLIENTS IS THAT IF THEY'RE GOING TO THREATEN ME I WILL GO RIGHT TO COURT.
EVERYTHING IS DIFFERENT.
THAT WAS A LAWYER ANSWER. SORRY. IT WAS.
I WILL OFFER ON MY OWN BEHALF, AND BEHALF OF COUNCIL MEMBER MAURER, THAT I
DID CHECK IN WITH OUR CITY ATTORNEY TO DETERMINE WHETHER IT WAS ACCEPTABLE FOR ME AS A CITY COUNCILMEMBER TO REACH OUT TO JACK TIBBETTS OF ST.
VINCENT DE PAUL IN ORDER TO COLLECT INFORMATION AND WHETHER THERE WAS A
CONFLICT OF INTEREST INVOLVED THERE AND I WAS ASSURED THAT THERE WAS NOT,
SO I DID MY DUE DILIGENCE AND MET MY OBLIGATIONS AS A COUNCILMEMBER, SO ARE THERE ANY OTHER QUESTIONS REGARDING THIS ITEM? GO AHEAD.
SINCE WE ARE ALL OFFERING, I JUST THOUGHT I WOULD OFFER THAT I HAVE SPOKEN
WITH JACK TIBBETTS ABOUT THIS PROJECT MANY TIMES, INCLUDING WHEN THEY
BOUGHT THE PROPERTY, BUT I HAVE NOT SPOKEN WITH HIM SINCE THE CITY
RECEIVED THEIR LETTER AND THREAT, SO JUST COMING WITH AN OPEN MIND HERE, RECONSIDERATION OF THE ITEM.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH. ANY OTHER --WE WILL GET BACK TO YOU BUT ANY -- COUNCIL MEMBER McLEWIS, GO AHEAD. >> IT IS VERY UNCLEAR TO ME WHAT THE
DEADLINE -- THEY SEEM TO HAVE SHIFTED AROUND A LOT AND PRIOR TO THE LAST
COUNCIL MEETING, I DID MEET WITH JACK TIBBETTS BUT I DID NOT --THAT WAS
THE FIRST TIME I HAVE EVER MET HIM AND HAVE NOT SPOKEN TO HIM SINCE BUT
EVEN WHEN I TALKED TO HIM, IT SOUNDED WAY BACK THEN THAT THE DEADLINES
WERE NOT CLEAR AND I ASK FOR THE APPLICATION AND ASKED FOR INFORMATION TO
HELP DEFINE WHAT THOSE ARE BUT I STILL HAVE NOT RECEIVED ANYTHING, AND I HAVE CHECKED MY EMAIL, SO DOES ANYONE KNOW WHAT THE ACTUAL DEADLINES ARE?
I WILL JUST SAY I AM ASKING THIS QUESTION BECAUSE IT IS VERY CONCERNING TO
ME ABOUT STAFF TIME AND I ALLUDED TO NEEDING A CONSULTANT IN THERE AND
WHAT IF THAT DEADLINE IS IN A WEEK OR TWO AND WE ARE ALREADY IN BUDGET CRUNCH AND EVERYTHING ELSE SO WE HAVE NO IDEA WHAT DEADLINES ARE. WE ARE
VOTING ON SOMETHING YET AGAIN WE ARE BRINGING UP TO VOTE WE DON'T KNOW
WHAT THE ACTUAL IMPLICATIONS WOULD BE OR THE UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCES OF
VOTING FOR SOMETHING THAT WE DON'T KNOW HOW IT WILL IMPACT US AS FAR AS THE STAFFING.
I WILL , THROUGH THE MAYOR, TAKE THAT AS A QUESTION.
YES BUT I WANTED TO OFFER THAT I DID RECEIVE SOME INFORMATION FROM HCD
REGARDING THE GRANT FUNDS SAYING THAT THEY WERE STILL AVAILABLE AND THAT THERE ARE NO HARD DEADLINES IN TERMS OF SIGNING THE STANDARD AGREEMENT .
EYE IS THAT SOMETHING WE CAN ALL SEE AND NOT JUST HAVE ONE COUNSEL -- YES, I JUST RECEIVED IT AND I'M HAPPY TO FORWARD IT. ANYWAY, CITY MANAGER, DID YOU HAVE A RESPONSE?
AS BEST AS I CAN. I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE TIMELINES ARE. I HAVE NOT LOOKED AT THE APPLICATION IN ANY DETAIL. THE ORIGINAL HUNKY APPLICATION --IT'S
BEEN MONTHS SINCE I'VE BEEN ON EMAILS WITH THE STATE AND THEIR REQUEST TO
GET US DOCUMENTS, INCLUDING THE RESOLUTION THAT IS BEFORE YOU TONIGHT AND
IN THE SPRING, WE WERE TALKING ABOUT THIS , IT GAVE ME DEADLINES THAT
MOVED, IF YOU WILL SO WE NEEDED TO GET THIS DONE BY THE STATE AND WOULD PUSH REALLY HARD TO GET IT DONE BY THAT DATE AND THEN THE DATE MOVED. I Agenda Item Number: 3
Agenda Item Number 3/City Council Meeting Packet for Meeting of: July 2, 2024 / Page 61 of 78
DON'T HAVE A DEFINITIVE SET OF DEADLINES AND I'M NOT SURE THERE IS A DEFINITIVE SET OF DEADLINES THAT THE STATE REQUIRES.
SO, WHAT IMPACT WOULD THAT HAVE ON US SAYING HYPOTHETICALLY, IF IT NEEDED
TO BE DONE IN THE NEXT TWO WEEKS, THE NEXT MONTH, BECAUSE I KNOW HOW BUSY YOU ARE AND EVERYONE ELSE IS RIGHT NOW WITH THE DEADLINES. WE JUST EXTENDED THE BUDGET. WHAT TYPE OF ISSUES MIGHT WE RUN INTO?
THE GOAL HERE OR THE PLAN, IF YOU WILL, IS TO BRING ON AN EXPERT TO BE PAID FOR BY ST. VINCENT DE PAUL AND ALSO, WE WILL NEED TO ENGAGE CITY
ATTORNEY TIME AS WELL TO ESSENTIALLY PERFORM ALL OF THE STAFF FUNCTIONS,
TO BE OUR EXPERT AND TO BE OUR HANDS ON WHO WILL UNDERSTAND DEADLINES AND REQUIREMENTS WITH THE STATE. THERE ARE AT LEAST TWO MAJOR LEGAL DOCUMENTS THE COUNCIL WILL NEED TO APPROVE. ONE IS A REGULATORY AGREEMENT , AND I DON'T HAVE THE DETAILS ON THESE THINGS. ANOTHER IS THE STANDARD AGREEMENT WITH THE STATE . IN MY MIND, THE ACCOUNTS OF THE SAME. FIND AN EXPERT TO REPRESENT US, BE OUR EYES AND EARS ON THE HANDS-ON PROJECT. WE DON'T KNOW HOW LONG IT WILL TAKE. I HAVE A COUPLE OF NAMES I'VE REACHED OUT TO AND
WAS ABLE TO TALK TO ONE OF THEM TODAY WHO IS INTERESTED IN SEEMS TO HAVE SOME EXPERTISE. MAYBE SUFFICIENT TO ASK FOR MORE INFORMATION SO I DON'T KNOW HOW LONG THIS IS GOING TO TAKE. I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE DEADLINES ARE .
IT IS STEPPING INTO A BIT OF AN UNKNOWN. >> I THINK WE HAVE A QUESTION FROM VICE MAYOR ZOLLMAN.
I HAVE SEVERAL QUESTIONS I WANT TO ADDRESS TWO SPECIFIC PEOPLE BUT I DON'T SEE ANYONE HERE FROM ST. VINCENT DE PAUL.
I BELIEVE JACK TIBBETTS IS ONLINE. JACK, CAN YOU HEAR US AND CAN WE UNMUTE HIM PLEASE?
I CAN HEAR YOU.
SO, JACK, I HAVE ALWAYS BEEN FASCINATED BY THIS PROCESS AND THE FACT THAT
IT SEEMS THAT FROM ALL OF THE INFORMATION YOU PRESENTED THAT YOU ARE
PRETTY FINANCIALLY WELL-OFF, SO I GUESS THE BASIC QUESTION IS , WHY WOULD
YOU BE ASKING TO PAIR WITH ANYONE IN ORDER TO DRAW DOWN MONEY IN ORDER TO CONTINUE THIS PROJECT? WHY COULDN'T YOU HAVE JUST SELF -FUNDED THIS PROJECT IF YOU WANTED TO?
HCD REQUIRES THAT APPLICANTS NOT BACK FUNDS IS A JOINT APPLICANT THAT IS A
JURISDICTIONAL ENTITY WITH ENTITLEMENT POWERS, SO SINCE OUR PROJECT IS IN
THE CITY OF SEBASTOPOL , WHICH I NEED TO STATE IS A PROJECT THAT THE CITY
OF SEBASTOPOL PREVIOUS COUNCIL AND CITY MANAGER ENCOURAGED US TO BUY TO
HELP ADDRESS THE MORRIS STREET PROCESS, WE AGREED BY RESOLUTION ON MAY 23rd, 2023 TO MOVE FORWARD AS JOINT APPLICANTS, SO WE CANNOT PROCEED TO
RECEIVE THIS MONEY WITHOUT YOUR PARTICIPATION AND SIMILARLY, EVEN THOUGH
WE HAVE ACCESS TO A LOT OF ASSET WEALTH THAT WE HAVE IN REAL ESTATE THAT
WE OWN, IT WOULD NOT BE THE BEST STRATEGY TO ESSENTIALLY GO OUT AND BORROW MONEY AGAINST OURSELVES FOR 6 MILLION, $38,000, WHICH IS THE CONSTRUCTION
COST THAT WE BUDGETED FROM A CONTRACTOR FOR THIS PARTICULAR PROJECT WHEN WE HAVE AN OFFER FROM THE STATE TO GIVE US FIVE GRAND --BY GRANT, 6.5 MILLION. >> SO, THE OTHER QUESTION IS, WHY DID YOU NOT APPROACH THE COUNTY ON THIS? I MEAN, THE BASIC PRINCIPLE OF ALL OF THIS IS THAT
HOMELESSNESS, LIKE CLIMATE CHANGE, IS ORIGINAL THING SO WHY DID YOU NOT Agenda Item Number: 3
Agenda Item Number 3/City Council Meeting Packet for Meeting of: July 2, 2024 / Page 62 of 78
JUST GO TO THE COUNTY AND TRY TO PAIR UP AND AUDIT IN ORDER TO DRAW DOWN THIS MONEY?
BECAUSE THE COUNTY OF SONOMA DOES NOT HAVE ENTITLEMENT JURISDICTION WITHIN THE CITY OF SEBASTOPOL.
OKAY, SO THAT IS IT, TOO. IF THERE IS SOMEBODY FROM THE COUNTY I HAVE A QUESTION FOR THEM, THEN DONE THEN MARY.
I DON'T KNOW IF THERE IS ANYONE FROM THE COUNTY ON THE LINE. THEY WERE NOT ASKED TO BE HERE. GO AHEAD.
I WILL JUST GO AHEAD AND IF I DON'T -- SEEMS LIKE AND I CAN GET AN ANSWER TO THE QUESTION.
CAN I ADDRESS THAT ON THE ROLE OF THE COUNTY IN THIS?
FOR JUST A MINUTE BUT VICE MAYOR, I THINK YOU SHOULD GO AHEAD AND ASK YOUR QUESTION BECAUSE THERE MIGHT BE SOMEONE WHO COULD ANSWER IT.
YES. BASICALLY, WHAT I HAVE HEARD IS THE FACT THAT WE TURNED DOWN THIS PROJECT BECAUSE WE DIDN'T WANT TO TAKE THE RISK . THEN, I HEAR THE FACT THAT THE COUNTY IS LIKE WOW, YOU TURN THIS DOWN? WELL THEN, WE WILL COME
TO THE RESCUE OF THIS PROJECT BUT THEN DIGGING DEEPER , THEY ARE LIKE
WELL, YOU KNOW, MAYBE THAT MONEY IS NOT REALLY THERE SO I REALLY WANT TO
KNOW, AND IF I DON'T HEAR, THEN I WILL JUST MAKE IT IN MY ARGUMENTS AND THE FACT THAT WHY WOULD THE COUNTY OFFER MONEY TO SAVE THIS PROJECT ? WERE THEY JUST WAITING FOR US TO SEE IF WE WOULD TAKE THE RISK IN DOING IT? I DON'T KNOW. THAT IS A HUGE QUESTION THAT I HAVE, SO THEN I'M GOING TO
BRING IT BACK IN WHEN I GET AN OPPORTUNITY AGAIN LIKE I SAID , I HAVE QUESTIONS OF DON AND LARRY. >> OKAY, AND DON, YOU WANTED TO RESPOND TO A QUESTION.
IF I MAY. ON THE COUNTY ROLE, I WILL TELL YOU WHAT MY EXPERIENCE AND UNDERSTANDING IS. BACK IN THE SPRING WHEN WE WERE EXPLORING THIS, I DID
ASK THE SENIOR COUNTY MANAGER ABOUT THE POSSIBILITY OF THEM BEING THE SPONSOR FOR THE PROJECT. THEY HAVE THE OTHER HOME KEY PROJECT IN
SEBASTOPOL , SO I DON'T BELIEVE THAT THE ENTITLEMENT RESPONSIBILITY IS A BARRIER TO THEM RUNNING THE PROJECT. I BELIEVE THERE ALSO RUNNING HOME KEY PROJECTS IN SANTA ROSA. BUT, HE SAID NO . I DIDN'T THINK THE COUNTY WOULD
BE INTERESTED AND I BELIEVE THE RATIONALE IS ESSENTIALLY THERE HAD THEIR
HANDS FULL WITH THEIR OWN HOME KEY PROJECTS AND OTHER RESPONSIBILITIES AND
I UNDERSTAND FROM AT LEAST ONE COUNTY MANAGER THAT AFTER THIS COUNSEL MADE
OUR DECISION BACK IN APRIL THAT THERE WERE CONVERSATIONS WITHIN THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATION , BROADLY DEFINED . I DON'T KNOW ANY DETAILS ABOUT THAT OTHER THAN I HAD HEARD THAT THERE WERE SOME CONVERSATIONS.
OKAY, OTHER QUESTIONS? VICE MAYOR ZOLLMAN, I THINK YOU HAD SOME OTHER QUESTIONS? OKAY, SOUNDS GOOD.
[ INAUDIBLE ] OF SOMEONE CLEARLY HAS A VESTED INTEREST, LIKE ST. VINCENT
DE PAUL OFFERING TO PAY MONEY FOR SOMEBODY THAT WOULD BASICALLY INTERFACE
AND DO THE JOB THAT WE WOULD DO IF WE HAD THE STAFF TO DO IT , DOES THAT MAKE ANY SENSE? BECAUSE BASICALLY WE DON'T HAVE THE EXPERTISE. WE DON'T Agenda Item Number: 3
Agenda Item Number 3/City Council Meeting Packet for Meeting of: July 2, 2024 / Page 63 of 78
HAVE THE BANDWIDTH , AND DON HAS ALREADY ADMITTED BEFORE WE DON'T HAVE THE
EXPERTISE TO DEAL WITH THE CONFLICTS ON THE CONTRACTS AND THE REPORTING AND ALL THIS TYPE OF STUFF, SO ST. VINCENT DE PAUL IS OFFERING TO PROVIDE THIS SORT OF CONSULTANT SERVICE, RIGHT, TO DO THAT FOR US . WHERE IS THAT?
I MEAN, BECAUSE THEY OBVIOUSLY HAVE A VESTED INTEREST FINANCIALLY TO TAKE
SURE THIS GOES RIGHT, SO ARE WE GOING TO HAVE PROPER ADVOCACY ON BEHALF OF THE CITY BY GOING THROUGH THERE. CONSULTANT?
I HAVE LOOKED AT THAT IN THE SAME WAY THAT I LOOK AT A PROJECT THAT IS
BEFORE THE CITY AND WE HAVE ENVIRONMENTAL CONCERNS AND WE WANT TO DO AN EIR , BUT WE ARE NOT GOING TO PAY FOR THE EIR WITH PUBLIC FUNDS. WE EXPECT
THE PROJECT APPLICANT TO PAY FOR THE EIR SO THE WAY THAT GENERALLY WORKS
OUT IS WITH AN AGREEMENT SIMILAR TO THE ONE YOU ARE LOOKING AT SIMILAR TONIGHT IS FORMED. THE APPLICANT FOR THE PROJECT SAYS WE ARE GOING TO PAY FOR THE EXPERT HE DOES THE EIR. THAT EIR, HOWEVER, IS MORE THE CITIES USE, IT IS UNDER THE CONTROL OF THE CITY. IT IS THE CITY'S EIR, SO WE DON'T PAY ANY MONEY FOR THAT. IT IS PAID FOR PURELY BY THE APPLICANT, BUT IS SEEN AS
AN UNBIASED DOCUMENT FOR THE USE PRIMARILY OF THE CITY COUNCIL OR WHOEVER MAKING THAT DECISION. I SEE THIS IN THE SAME WAY. I SEE THIS ALSO IS
POPPING UP BASICALLY IN MY VIEW BECAUSE WE ARE IN A FINANCIAL DEFICIT SITUATION, AND THAT IS ONE OF THE REASONS WE HAD A CONCERN. WE DON'T HAVE
ENOUGH PEOPLE ON STAFF WITH THE EXPERTISE TO DO THIS AND WE DON'T HAVE THE FUNDING RIGHT NOW TO PAY TO ADD STAFF TO DO THIS. SIMILAR AGAIN IN MY VIEW TO THE EIR SITUATION WE DON'T HAVE SOMEBODY WHO CAN DO THE EIR. THEREFORE,
WE BRING IN A CONSULTANT WHO DOES THE EIR BUT WE EXPECT THE OTHER PEOPLE TO PAY FOR IT.
THANK YOU. I DON'T WANT TO HUG UP A WHOLE BUNCH OF TIME BUT THEN YOU WOULD
BE FINE WITH THE SITUATION THAT IS PROPOSED OF HAVING OUR GENERAL MANAGER NOT HAVE ANYTHING TO DO WITH THIS AT ALL AND BASICALLY RELY SOLELY ON ST.
VINCENT DE PAUL'S HIGHER PERSON TO MANAGE A CONTRACT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE DON'T FALL IN JEOPARDY OF MISSING SOMETHING THROUGH THE STATE?
I WOULD NOT AGREE WITH YOUR STATEMENT GENERALLY SPEAKING, BECAUSE I WOULD NOT WANT A SITUATION WHERE THE CITY MANAGER HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH IT. IN
FACT, I WOULD WANT THE CITY MANAGER TO HAVE THE LARGEST VOICE IN CHOOSING
HER THAT WOULD BE, HAVING CONFIDENCE IN THE ONE WHO IS DOING IT , CONSULT
WITH THE ONE WHO IS DOING IT, HAVE ANY QUESTIONS THAT HE HAS ANSWERED BY THE ONE DOING IT. IN OTHER WORDS, TREATED ALMOST LIKE A STAFF SITUATION AND ONCE AGAIN, MY EXAMPLE OF THE EIR IS THE SAME WAY. WE EXPECT THE
PLANNING DIRECTOR TO TALK TO WHOEVER IS DOING THE EIR AND ASK THE TOUGH
ENVIRONMENTAL QUESTIONS OF THAT EXPERT, MAKE SURE THEY'RE DOING IT RIGHT AND THAT IS WHAT I WOULD EXPECT FROM THE CITY MANAGER.
I HAVE ONE OTHER QUESTION. SO, DON, GIVEN EVERYTHING LARRY HAS JUST SAID, I WANT TO ASK YOU BECAUSE YOU ARE OUR GENERAL MANAGER. YOU ARE SUPPOSED TO
HELP US THROUGH ALL OF THIS, PROVIDE ADVICE, MINIMIZE OUR RISKS, LIKE WHAT
I HAVE HEARD FROM YOU SAY IN THE PAST, THAT THIS IS NOT YOUR EXPERTISE AT
ALL , SO IF THIS IS NOT YOUR EXPERTISE, HOW COMFORTABLE DO YOU FEEL LIKE GOING THROUGH A LIST OF POTENTIAL CONSULTANTS THAT ST. VINCENT'S DePAUL IS
GOING TO OFFER UP IN ORDER TO PAY, HOW DO YOU FEEL LIKE YOU WOULD MANAGE SOMETHING THAT IS NOT IN YOUR AREA OF EXPERTISE? I'M VERY INTERESTED IN HEARING HOW YOU FEEL, HOW YOU THINK, WHETHER IT IS SOMETHING YOU CAN DO. I DON'T KNOW.
Agenda Item Number: 3
Agenda Item Number 3/City Council Meeting Packet for Meeting of: July 2, 2024 / Page 64 of 78
I'LL TELL YOU ONE THOUGHT THAT COMES TO MIND AS I DON'T KNOW VERY MUCH ABOUT WATER AND SEWER SYSTEMS AND YET THERE UNDER MY JURISDICTION. I HAVE
NEVER RUN A POLICE DEPARTMENT AND I'VE NEVER HAD A HOSE OFF A FIRE ENGINE
BUT THOSE ARE ALL RESPONSIBILITIES THAT FALL UNDER ME AS CITY MANAGER SO
WHAT I TRY TO BE GOOD AT IS FINDING THE SMARTEST, BEST PEOPLE THAT ARE AVAILABLE AND THEN TAP INTO THEIR EXPERTISE. AND THEN BUILD IN SYSTEMS OF ACCOUNTABILITY, FOR EXAMPLE WITH REPORTING AND IT'S ALL PART OF THAT.
ANOTHER HUGE PART OF THAT , I'VE MENTIONED THIS IN THE CITY ATTORNEY
INTERVIEW PROCESS, THE MOST IMPORTANT DECISIONS YOU MAKE ARE WHO YOU HIRE
AND FINDING SOMEBODY THAN TALKING TO SOME OTHER CITIES BACK IN THE SPRING,
THE MESSAGE THAT BOILS DOWN TO IS DON'T TRY THIS AT HOME IF YOU IS NOT
DONE THIS BEFORE AND YOU SHOULD NOT DO THIS IF YOU DON'T HAVE SOMEBODY WHO
HAS CONSIDERABLE EXPERIENCE WORKING WITH THE STATE AND SEEING THEIR LEVEL
OF MINUTE DETAIL, EVEN ON THE RESOLUTION, THE LETTER --ERRORS THAT THEY
FOUND WERE VERY DETAILED AND THEY DO LOOK AT THOSE REPORTS WE WILL BE
GENERATING, FOR EXAMPLE, SO WE NEED TO FIND AND I DON'T KNOW THAT WE WILL FIND SOMEBODY WHO IS GOOD ENOUGH AND THAT, TO ME, ST. VINCENT DE PAUL
SHOULD BE HELPFUL IN THAT BUT I HAVE TO BE COMFORTABLE WITH WHO WE ARE
GETTING AND THEN THERE IS THE ISSUE OF WORKING OUT CONTRACTUAL ARRANGEMENTS WITH THEM, AS WELL. IN GENERAL, I THINK THAT IS THE ISSUE.
FIND SOMEBODY REALLY GOOD WHO I WOULD HAVE CONFIDENCE IN , AND THE
CONFIDENCE LEVEL WILL BE DRIVEN A LOT BY THEIR EXPERIENCE WITH STATE
REGULATORY REQUIREMENTS AROUND HOUSING AND HOPEFULLY PROJECT HUNKY EXPERIENCE IN PARTICULAR.
OKAY, LET'S GET OUR REMAINING QUESTIONS ANSWERED BUT WE WANT TO MAKE SURE WE GET OUT TO THE PUBLIC. GO AHEAD, COUNCIL MEMBER McLEWIS.
I JUST WANT TO SAY I APPRECIATE YOUR ANSWER ABOUT THE CONFLICT OF
INTEREST, BUT MOST PEOPLE DON'T HAVE AN AXE TO GRIND AND NOT TRYING TO SUE US SO THAT SEGUES TO MY QUESTION FOR JACK TIBBETTS. THE REASON THIS CAME
BACK IS BECAUSE IT SAYS THERE WAS A CHANGE IN STATUS AND THE THREAT OF
LITIGATION SO I'M JUST ASKING YOU PUBLICLY, DOES THIS MEAN IF IT GETS PAST
BY HER COUNSEL THAT YOU'RE GOING TO STOP THREATENING LAWSUITS AND ALSO ARE
YOU GOING TO STOP THE PRA REQUEST THAT YOU HAVE ABOUT THE TAKES UP HOURS OF OUR CITY TIME AND ATTORNEYS? CAN YOU PUBLICLY STATE THAT IS GOING TO STOP?
ABSOLUTELY. IF YOU PASS THE RESOLUTION TONIGHT AND WE CAN PROCEED AS ORIGINALLY PLANNED AND AGREED TO ON MAY 23rd WE WILL ABSOLUTELY DROP ANY
FOR YOUR REQUEST AND INTENTION OF A LAWSUIT AND I JUST WANT TO SAY, COUNCIL MEMBER McLEWIS, WE ARE NOT DOING THIS TO PUNISH ANYONE. WE'RE NOT DOING THIS TO BE VINDICTIVE. WE HAVE AN OBLIGATION TO LOOK OUT FOR THE
INTEREST OF PEOPLE WHO DO NOT HAVE A VOICE FOR THEMSELVES AND THAT IS WHY WE ARE DOING THIS. IT IS AN ABSOLUTE TRAVESTY TO LAY $5 MILLION OF STATE MONEY ON THE TABLE THAT COULD OTHERWISE PROVIDE HOUSING PERMANENTLY FOR 30 PEOPLE. THAT IS OUR CAUSE. THAT IS THE ONLY REASON WHY WE ARE HERE TONIGHT SO I JUST HAVE ANOTHER QUESTION. DID ANY COUNCILMEMBER HERE ASK YOU AT ANY
TIME IF THEY BROUGHT THIS FORWARD AGAIN TO US TO CANCEL , TO STOP THIS LITIGATION? I JUST WANT TO UNDERSTAND WHERE THE INTEGRITY IS HERE WITH ALL OF THIS. I THINK BEING IN THE NONPROFIT WORLD MYSELF, SAYING A NONPROFIT,
AFTER A DECISION HAS BEEN MADE AND WITH AN AXE TO GRIND, I CAN GO ON AND Agenda Item Number: 3
Agenda Item Number 3/City Council Meeting Packet for Meeting of: July 2, 2024 / Page 65 of 78 ON. I THINK IT LACKS INTEGRITY SO I WANT TO KNOW, HAS ANYONE HERE SAID I WILL BRING IT FORTH IF YOU CANCEL THE LAWSUIT THREATS AND EVERYTHING ELSE?
NO, THERE HAS BEEN NO QUID PRO QUO AND ANY OF YOUR COUNCILMEMBERS I'VE SPOKEN WITH THROUGHOUT THIS WHOLE PROCESS HAVE ACTED WITH INTEGRITY. >> ANY OTHER QUESTIONS HERE BEFORE WE GO TO PUBLIC COMMENT? ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU, MARY, LET'S MAKE SURE WE GET PUBLIC COMMENT.
THANK YOU, MAYOR. THIS IS PUBLIC COMMENT ON THE ST. VINCENT DE PAUL
RECONSIDERATION IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A PUBLIC, AGAIN I GO TO CHAMBERS FIRST AND THEN SOME. OVER.
THIS IS LIKE A HAT TRICK NOW WHAT IF WE HAD [ INAUDIBLE ] WE'VE HAD SELVES THAT HAVE BEEN A DISASTER NOW WE HAVE GOT THIS WITH JACK TIBBETTS. I THINK
THE BIG QUESTION IS WHAT CONVERSATIONS HAPPENED AFTER THE DECISION BY THE CITY MANAGER TO NOT GO FORWARD WITH THIS? WHAT WERE THE BACK CHANNELS? I
THINK WE NEED TO HEAR ALL OF THE IDENTIFICATION AGREEMENTS AND ALL OF THE DOCUMENTS SO MAYBE WE NEED TO BE SENDING PRA REQUEST TO ST. VINCENT DE
PAUL TO FIND OUT BECAUSE FROM WHAT I CAN SEE, THE IDENTIFICATION
AGREEMENTS ARE AT THE SAME PLACE FROM WHEN THIS WAS DISCUSSED THE FIRST
TIME AROUND BUT SERIOUSLY, I'M FED UP WITH BEING BULLIED BY THESE SUPPOSEDLY NONPROFITS WHO ARE SWIMMING IN MONEY. WE HAVE NO MONEY AT ALL
AND WE KEEP SWIMMING INTO THIS UNCHARTED TERRITORY OF THESE IDIOTIC AGREEMENTS WITH PEOPLE YOU JUST CAN'T TRUST. SO JACK, I THINK YOU ARE AN ABSOLUTE DISGRACE.
THANK YOU, OLIVER, FOR YOUR PUBLIC COMMENT. SUE, CAN YOU UNMUTE YOURSELF PLEASE?
YES, CAN YOU HEAR ME?
I CAN. >> CAN YOU SEE THE TIMER?
NO, I CANNOT.
I WILL JUMP IN WHEN YOU HAVE 30 SECONDS LEFT.
I'M CONCERNED ABOUT THE MEETING THAT HAPPENED BETWEEN MAYOR RICH, COUNCIL MEMBER MAURER AND JACK TIBBETTS THAT WAS RECORDED IN THE PRESS DEMOCRAT. I
WORK FOR A PUBLIC AGENCY ON THIS SMACKS OF FAILURE TO DISCLOSE X PARTAKE
COMMUNICATION, WHICH IS COMMUNICATION DONE WITH RESPECT TO HER IN THE
INTEREST OF ONE SIDE ONLY OR UNINTERESTED OUTSIDE PARTY, WHICH THIS
CLEARLY APPEARS TO BE SINCE IT IS COMING BACK TO OUR COUNSEL AFTER THE
COUNCIL MADE A VERY WELL-INFORMED DECISION TO PULL OUT OF THE DEAL WITH ST. VINCENT DE PAUL AFTER IT LEARNED THAT IT COULD BE ON THE HOOK FOR LONG-TERM MANAGEMENT COSTS , SHOULD WHOEVER ST. VINCENT DE PAUL CHOOSES TO MANAGE THE SITE PROJECT FAILS TO DO SO. THAT IS UNFORESEEN, UNBUDGETED EXPENSES THAT I DON'T THINK THE CITY SHOULD EVEN BE CONSIDERING REENTERING IN AGREEMENT WITH. I DON'T BELIEVE THEY HAVE A BASIS FOR SUIT,
AND I THINK THAT THE COUNCIL SHOULD HAVE THE COURAGE AND THE CONFIDENCE TO
STICK WITH ITS DECISION IT MADE BACK IN APRIL TO PROTECT ITSELF, PROTECT
ITS TAXPAYERS, PROTECT ITS BUDGET, ITS FUTURE FINANCIAL STATUS AND NOT MOVE FORWARD WITH THIS AGREEMENT WITH ST. VINCENT DE PAUL. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU, SUE, FOR A PUBLIC COMMENT. NEXT I WILL COME TO CHAMBERS.
Agenda Item Number: 3
Agenda Item Number 3/City Council Meeting Packet for Meeting of: July 2, 2024 / Page 66 of 78 GOOD EVENING , MAYOR RICH, COUNSEL AND STAFF. I WANT TO BEGIN BY LETTING ALL OF YOU KNOW THAT WE DID ENDORSE THIS PROJECT. HE CAME FORWARD TO US.
WE REVIEWED IT OBJECTIVELY THROUGH CRITERIA POSTED ON OUR WEBSITE. YOU'RE
WELCOME TO CHECK IT OUT IF YOU WANT TO LOOK MORE INTO IT AND LEARN MORE ABOUT IT. I'M HAPPY TO CHAT WITH YOU ABOUT IT. I CAN CHAT WITH YOU AFTER BUT OH, MY APOLOGIES. IT IS LATE. MY NAME IS [ INAUDIBLE ] DIRECTOR OF GENERATION HOUSING. THANK YOU, AND YOU, I PROBABLY SHOULD HAVE LED WITH THAT. THAT IS MY BAD. I WOULD LIKE TO NOTE THAT I RESPECT AND APPRECIATE - -WE RESPECT AND APPRECIATE THE LEVEL OF AUSTERITY HERE. OBVIOUSLY
SEBASTOPOL IS FACING A FEW CHALLENGES AND I KNOW THE FINANCE COMMITTEE,
THE BUDGET COMMITTEE HAS BEEN WORKING DILIGENTLY AND LONG HOURS AND I
REALLY WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE AND APPRECIATE THE HARD WORK YOU GUYS ARE PUTTING IN. AT THE END OF THE DAY THIS IS ABOUT HOUSING AND PUTTING RIBS
OVER UNHOUSED INDIVIDUALS' HEADS AND ENSURING THAT THEY HAVE A SAFE,
STABLE PLACE THAT THEY CAN LIVE AND THRIVE IN RIGHT NOW WE HAVE A LOT MORE
PEOPLE THAT ARE NOW EITHER IN CARS OR ON THE STREETS AND THAT COULD BE
FROM A VARIETY OF THINGS, COVID FUNDING DRYING UP, OR POTENTIALLY BASED ON
SOME OF THE REPORTS WE'VE DONE INTERNALLY , FOLKS ARE ON THE PRECIPICE OF HOMELESSNESS ALL THE TIME . THERE BARELY SCRAPING BY, SO WE HAVE MONEY ON
THE TABLE BACKING FROM THE COUNTY, BACKING FROM AT THE END OF THE DAY THIS IS ABOUT HOUSING FOR UNHOUSED INDIVIDUALS. THANK YOU.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR PUBLIC COMMENT. ROBERT, CAN YOU UNMUTE YOURSELF PLEASE.
THIS PROPOSAL HAS NEVER BEEN PRESENTED IN ANY PERMANENT WAY TO THE CITY OR CITY COUNCIL OR ANY OF US IN THE PUBLIC. THERE IS A LOT OF MISUNDERSTANDINGS AND A LOT OF UNANSWERED QUESTIONS. I THINK YOU NEED TO
TAKE MORE TIME ON THIS IN PUBLIC MEETINGS TO MAKE SURE YOU KNOW WHAT YOUR RESPONSIBILITIES ARE GOING TO BE. I'VE ACTUALLY GONE OUT AND READ THE NOTICE OF FUNDING. I DON'T KNOW IF ANY OF YOU HAVE BUT IT IS VERY CLEAR
ELIGIBLE ENTITIES ARE GOVERNMENT ENTITIES --CITIES, COUNTIES, CITIES AND
COUNTIES, HINT HINT, CANNOT DO THIS, SO THIS IDEA OF A JURISDICTIONAL
ELEMENT IS NOT IN WRITING ANYWHERE THAT I READ AND I'M NOT AN ATTORNEY SO
MAYBE I MISSED IT BUT IT'S NOT THERE, THE IDEA THAT CITY AND COUNTY COULD
DO THIS SEEMS TO ME LIKE A REALLY INTERESTING ONE BECAUSE THEY HAVE STAFF, THEY HAVE EXPERTS. THEY HAVE THE ABILITY TO DO THIS. MY READING OF THIS IS WE ARE APPLYING TO THIS GRANT, THE GRANT WILL BE MADE TO US. THIS IS OUR HOME KEY PROJECT. I DON'T KNOW IF YOU'VE THOUGHT ABOUT THIS POLITICALLY
BUT IN THE PAST HE SAID WELL, HORIZON SHINE WE HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH THAT BUT WE DIDN'T GIVE THEM ANY MONEY. BUILD-A-BEAR COMMONS, THAT WASN'T OUR THING. POLITICALLY, THIS IS GOING TO BE YOUR THING SO COUNSEL IS TAKING
THE SAND AND PUTTING A HOME KEY PROJECT IN A SQUARE MILE TOWN OF SEBASTOPOL. LASTLY, THIS IS A SIMILAR PROJECT TO THE SIDE -- SIZE OF ELDERBERRY COMMONS. THEY HAD PEOPLE THAT KNEW WHAT THEY WERE DOING AND I
THINK WE'VE ALL READ OVER AND OVER AGAIN ABOUT WHAT HAS HAPPENED IN THE
COUNTY HOW EVEN WITH PROFESSIONALS OVERSEEING A PROJECT LIKE THIS, THEY GOT INTO A LOT OF DIFFICULTY AND HAD A LOT OF ISSUES. I CAN'T EVEN IMAGINE
HOW WE WOULD HANDLE ALL THOSE KINDS OF ISSUES IS A LITTLE TINY TOWN AND I
AM UNCOMFORTABLE WITH THE IDEA THAT WE ARE GOING TO DELEGATE ALL OF THAT
TO SOME CONSULTANT, SO I DON'T KNOW HOW YOU GUYS CAN BE COMFORTABLE WITH THAT. I DON'T KNOW IF ANY OF YOU HAVE DONE ANY RESEARCH ON THIS. SANTA ROSA IS DOING THIS FOR SAINT VINCENT DE PAUL. HOW DID IT GO? Agenda Item Number: 3
Agenda Item Number 3/City Council Meeting Packet for Meeting of: July 2, 2024 / Page 67 of 78 ROBERT, THAT'S TWO MINUTES.
YEAH, ANYBODY CHECKING ANY OF THE STUFF WE NEED TO DO THAT. THANK YOU.
NEXT, I WILL COME BACK IN CHAMBERS IF THERE'S ANYONE IN CHAMBERS. [ CAPTIONERS TRANSITIONING ]
THERE MIGHT NOT EVEN BE A COUNCIL IN 2025. THIS WILL NOT BE COMPLETED FROM 12/20/2026 FOR THE LONGTIME CONSEQUENCES OF STAFF AND BUSINESS OWNERS.
COUNCILMEMBER -- AND RICH, PLEASE DO NOT BURDEN YOUR CITY STAFF WITH THIS PROJECT. THIS PROJECT HAS ABSOLUTELY ZERO BENEFIT FOR THE RESIDENTS OF SEBASTOPOL AND SMALL BUSINESS COMMITTEE. CITIZENS ARE BEING TOLD THEY WILL BE FACING SERVICE COSTS. THE CITY DOES NOT EVEN HAVE THE MONEY TO MANAGE THIS PROJECT. ST. VINCENT DE PAUL SAID THEY WILL HIRE A PERSON TO MANAGE THIS PROJECT. THEY'VE ALREADY PROVEN THEIR COMPETENCY SINCE THEY WERE NOT ABLE TO FULLY DISCLOSE THE CITY'S FULL LIABILITY IN THEIR MAY 2023 PRESENTATION. ST. VINCENT IS UNRELIABLE AND ALSO SEEMINGLY DISHONEST. THEY ARE ALSO UNKNOWN SLUMLORD AS REPORTED WITH THE GOLD COIN MOTEL. THIS IS AN
IMPROVEMENT FOR THE ENTIRE CITY, THE CITIZENS WHO PAY TAXES, FROM PLANNING TO BUILDING AND OVERSIGHT. IT WILL NOT SOLVE THE -- ISSUES. --AUTHORITY REFERS TO SERVICES FOR THE PROJECT WILL NOT BE COMPLETE FOR AT LEAST 18 MONTHS. ARE WE GOING TO HAVE THE --FOR 18 MONTHS MORE TO MARK THERE IS NO WAY THE COUNTY CAN PRIORITIZE THAT IN SEBASTOPOL. IT IS A LEGAL . AND THE SAME AS SEBASTOPOL'S OTHER HOME KEY PROJECT. THAT DID NOT HOUSE A SINGLE UNHOUSED PERSON FROM SEBASTOPOL. THANK YOU.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR PUBLIC COMMENT, KATE. NEXT, I WILL GO BACK IN CHAMBERS.
NEXT, I WILL GO OUT TO ZOOM. CAN YOU UNMUTE YOURSELF, PLEASE? >> I AM UNMUTE IT AGAIN.
THANK YOU. CAN YOU SEE THE TIMER AGAIN?
I CAN. THANK YOU.
GO AHEAD .
WELL, BILLY JACK SAYS THE COUNTY DOES NOT HAVE JURISDICTION FOR FUNDING IN SEBASTOPOL. BUT I WOULD LIKE TO TAKE A MOMENT TO POINT OUT THAT THE COUNTY FUNDED OURS. SO HONESTLY, THE -- AND I ALSO FOUND THE PURCHASE OF ELDERBERRY COMMENTS. I'M SO ANOTHER POINT I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE IS THAT
THERE , THE CITY STAFF IS ALREADY STATED THERE IS NO LIABILITY RISK IN DECIDING NOT TO PROCEED WITH THE PROJECT. THAT IS BECAUSE FULL DISCLOSURE
WAS NOT MADE WHEN THE CITY COUNCIL APPROVED THE INITIAL APPROVAL BACK IN 2023. FINALLY, JACK HAS SUGGESTED THAT HIS THREAT OF LITIGATION DOES NOT REPRESENT PUNISHMENT OR VINDICTIVENESS . BUT I WOULD SAY IT DOES REPRESENT INTIMIDATION OF THE CITY. I WOULD REALLY LIKE IT IF THE CITY COUNCIL DID NOT RESPOND TO THAT. THAT IS THE END OF MY COMMENTS. THANK YOU PRESENT THANK YOU FOR YOUR PUBLIC COMMENT. NEXT, I WILL GO BACK IN CHAMBERS.
SEEING NONE, I WILL GO BACK OUT. MICHAEL, CAN YOU UNMUTE YOURSELF, PLEASE? I CAN.
Agenda Item Number: 3
Agenda Item Number 3/City Council Meeting Packet for Meeting of: July 2, 2024 / Page 68 of 78 CAN YOU SEE THE TIMER, MICHAEL? >> I CAN ABOUT GO AHEAD. MY NAME IS MICHAEL CARNACCHI. I SERVED THE FULL TERM ON THE COUNCIL. I WANT TO REMIND THE COUNCIL THAT WHEN JACK TIBBITS SERVED, ON DECEMBER 14, 2021, HE LET
HIS FELLOW COUNCIL MEMBERS KNOW HE WAS RESIGNING WITH SEVEN DAYS NOTICE THAT HE WALKED AWAY FROM THE COUNCIL. HE WALKED AWAY FROM THE VOTERS WHO ELECTED HIM. I HEAR HIM SAY HE HAS AN OBLIGATION TO HOMELESS PEOPLE. OH.
NO OBLIGATION TO THE HOMELESS PEOPLE WHEN THEIR CURRENT FELLOW COUNCIL MEMBERS AND TO THE VOTERS WHO ELECTED YOU. SO IF HE DID THAT , IF HE WAS
ABLE TO WALK AWAY FROM HIS FELLOW COUNCIL MEMBERS, WHAT MAKES YOU THINK THAT HE WILL NOT DO THE SAME TO SEBASTOPOL? AND THEN SETTLE THE CITY WITH THE LIABILITY. SO I DO NOT THINK JACK AND BEAT TRUSTED ANYMORE THAN THE COUNCILMEMBERS CAN BE TRUSTED. YOU KNOW, THEY PUT THEIR TRUST IN HIM. THE VOTERS PUT THEIR TRUST IN HIM. YOU KNOW, IT IS CLEAR THAT YOU FAILED THEM.
I JUST WANTED TO KEEP THAT IN MIND. I THINK THIS PROJECT IS A FAILURE FROM THE START. HOPEFULLY YOU WILL THINK HARD ON THIS AND TAKE INTO CONSIDERATION. JACK'S PAST ACTIONS. WHEN TRYING TO DETERMINE WHETHER HE IS A TRUSTWORTHY PERSON TO DO BUSINESS WITH. THANK YOU.
THANK YOU, MICHAEL, FOR YOUR PUBLIC COMMENTS. NEXT, I WILL GO BACK IN CHAMBERS. SEEING NONE, I WILL GO OUT. ADRIENNE, CAN YOU UNMUTE YOURSELF, PLEASE?
YES, I CAN. YOU HEAR ME NOW?
I CAN. CAN YOU SEE THE TIMER?
NO, I AM CAN'T. SORRY. OH, I GOT IT HERE. SO I AM ADRIENNE LOBBY AND WITH THE BOARD OF THIEVES. WE'VE BEEN WORKING WITH JACK FOR A WHILE WHO WAS OUR LANDLORD AT THE VERIZON SHINE VILLAGE. AND I HAVE GOT TO START BY SAYING I CANNOT BELIEVE THIS KIND OF CHARACTER ASSASSINATION. NOBODY HERE IN THIS ROOM, NOBODY OUTSIDE THIS ROOM IS PERFECT. I'M SURE JACK IS MADE MISTAKES IN HIS LIFE. BUT TO THINK THAT HE IS , THAT HE DOES NOT HAVE INTEGRITY THAT HE IS NOT HARD-WORKING OUT TO BE TRUSTED, IT IS A RIDICULOUS THING.
HE HAS SPENT HIS LIFE TRYING TO HELP PEOPLE WHO ARE ARGUABLY THE POOREST OF THE POOR AND THE MOST HONORABLE IN OUR COUNTY. HE IS EXTREMELY DEDICATED BUT I WATCHES WORK AT THE GOLD COIN. AND SEEING WHAT IS BEEN ABLE TO ACCOMPLISH THERE. HAS A VERY BIG TEAM. SO I THINK HIS CAPACITY TO DO THIS PROJECT IS VERY, VERY HIGH. AND ON A PERSONAL NOTE, HE WAS OUR LANDLORD. WE WORK TOGETHER -- WORKED TOGETHER WITH NO PROBLEMS FOR TWO YEARS. ALL OF THE THINGS THAT COME UPDATED A BIT WITH ONE OF YOUR RESPONSIVE AND VERY RESPONSIBLE. FOR MY PART, AT THE CITY WOULD TURN DOWN $95 MILLION IN A STATE GRANT, THESE GRANTS ARE NOT EASY TO GET. THEY ARE VERY, VERY HARD TO GET. IT IS THE GIFT TO SEBASTOPOL AND TO THE HOMELESS
PEOPLE OF SEBASTOPOL AND TO THE POOR PEOPLE OF SEBASTOPOL THAT YOU COULD HAVE THIS 30 UNIT BUILDING.
YOU HAVE ABOUT 25 SECONDS.
THANK YOU. AND TO BE WILLING TO DO THAT. GOSH , I JUST LOST MY TRAIN OF THOUGHT. I GUESS WHAT I'M HEARING IS FEARFULNESS IS EXTREME IN THE COMMENTS HERE. YOU KNOW? OH, IT WILL BRING EVERYTHING DOWN AND EVERYTHING BAD . IT WILL BE TERRIBLE. THAT IS NOT WHAT HAPPENS WHEN PEOPLE HAVE HOMES. THEY HAVE HOMES.
Agenda Item Number: 3
Agenda Item Number 3/City Council Meeting Packet for Meeting of: July 2, 2024 / Page 69 of 78 THAT IS TWO MINUTES.
GREAT!
THANK YOU FOR YOUR PUBLIC COMMENTS. NEXT, I WILL GO BACK IN CHAMBERS .
MY NAME IS KATHLEEN -- I AM NOT HERE AS A REPRESENTATIVE OF ST. VINCENT DePAUL, BUT I DO VOLUNTEER WITH THEM AT THE --I LIVE HERE IN SEBASTOPOL. I THINK IT IS IMPORTANT THAT WE UNDERSTAND WHAT A HOUSING FIRST MODEL YS.
AND THAT GOING INTO THE PROJECT, WE UNDERSTAND DOING HOUSING FIRST MEANS THAT PEOPLE GET HOUSING BEFORE THEY NECESSARILY QUIT USING SUBSTANCES.
COMMIT TO MENTAL HEALTH. ONGOING TREATMENT AND THAT KIND OF THING. SO OUR MODEL IS A HOUSING FIRST MODEL. SO WITH THAT COMES CHALLENGES. AND I THINK
THAT JACK KNOWS I HAVE NUDGED HIM SEVERAL TIMES ABOUT SECURITY AND WE HAVE
GOTTEN SECURITY ON SITE NOW BUT I THINK THAT IS SOMETHING I WOULD SAY IT'S IMPORTANT TO HAVE IN PLACE BEFORE RESIDENTS GO ONTO THE SITE. ANOTHER
THING FROM THE ETHICAL POINT OF VIEW, THERE IS ONGOING MEDICAL PROBLEMS AND MENTAL HEALTH PROBLEMS THAT OCCUR. SO HAVING A GOOD COMMUNICATION AND
PARTNERSHIP WITH THE LOCAL , THE WEST COUNTY HEALTH SERVICES, COULD BE VERY HELP FULL. HAVING SOME BACKUP EXTRA CONSTRUCTION . WE ARE FINDING
SURPRISES EVERY SO OFTEN BUT EVERYBODY KNOW THAT HAPPENS WITH CONSTRUCTION. I THINK, I WAS LOOKING AT THIS BEFORE I CAME TO THIS MEETING. I WAS NOT SURE IF I WAS GOING TO COME OR NOT. BUT I THINK THE PROBLEM IS PEOPLE DO NEED HOUSING. I THOUGHT WITH THE GUY TODAY OUTSIDE THE POST OFFICE WHO HAS SCHIZOPHRENIA.
YOU HAVE ABOUT 30 SECONDS . >> THE DIFFICULTY OF LIVING WITH EPIDERMIS 79-YEAR-OLD MAN WAS LIVING IN A CAR SOMEWHERE IN THE COMMUNITY NOW NEEDS HOUSING. THIS IS ONGOING. I KNOW THIS WOULD BE VERY HARD FOR OUR COMMUNITY. I THINK IT IS REALLY IMPORTANT PROJECT. THANK YOU BRITT THANK YOU FOR YOUR PUBLIC COMMENT. NEXT, I WILL GO OUT TO ZOOM. KYLE, CAN YOU YOURSELF, PLEASE? THANK YOU. CAN YOU SEE THE TIMER? >> I CAN. I THINK
THERE ARE ENOUGH COUNCILMEMBERS WHO CAN FOLLOW ALONG WITH THIS VENTURE WE HAVE ALL BEEN ON FOR QUITE SOME TIME. I THINK ONE OF THE CONCERNS IS ABOUT THE DEALMAKING. AND RISK ASSESSMENT. SPECIFICALLY AROUND LITIGATION RISKS, RIGHT? WHEN COUNCIL MADE A DECISION TO PASS THE RV BEEN , WHERE THEY WELL INFORMED OF THE POSSIBLE RISK OF LITIGATION? WHEN THE CITY DECIDED TO
PARTNER WITH THIS PARTICULAR ORGANIZATION AS PART OF A PROJECT, WERE THEY WELL INFORMED BY CITY LEGAL ABOUT POSSIBLE LITIGATION? IN THE CITY
DECIDED, WHEN THE COUNCIL DECIDED TO BACK OUT OF THAT DEAL, TALKING ABOUT INTEGRITY, BY THE WAY. SUGGESTING OTHERS DO NOT HAVE INTEGRITY. WHEN THE
CITY DECIDED TO BACK OUT OF THE AGREEMENT THEY MADE THIS PARTICULAR
INDIVIDUAL, DO THEY RECEIVE GOOD, LEGAL ADVICE ABOUT RISK, LEGAL RISK AND LITIGATION RISK? BECAUSE WHAT I KEEP SEEING AS US GOING INTO LITIGATION.
ALTHOUGH YOU CANNOT TALK ABOUT ONGOING LITIGATION, THE AMOUNT OF MONEY
THAT WE ARE JUST HEMORRHAGING AND LITIGATION , THAT WE ARE NOT EVEN
WILLING TO DISCUSS AND PUT OUT PUBLICLY TO THE ONE THAT DOLLAR AMOUNT IS, IS ATROCIOUS. IT IS MY CONCERN, ESPECIALLY IF YOU GO INTO NEGOTIATIONS,
ABOUT HIRING AN ATTORNEY, YOU BRING UP LITIGATION RISKS AND THAT TYPE OF
COUNCIL YOU WILL BE RECEIVING BY A CITY ATTORNEY WHEN YOU ARE MAKING THESE DECISIONS. THAT MIGHT PUT YOU IN A SITUATION WHERE YOU ARE AT RISK FOR LITIGATION. IT IS NOT CLEAR TO ME THAT THAT IS BEEN HAPPENING. IT WOULD BE Agenda Item Number: 3
Agenda Item Number 3/City Council Meeting Packet for Meeting of: July 2, 2024 / Page 70 of 78
MY HOPE MOVING FORWARD THAT THE PUBLIC IS WELL AWARE THAT YOU ARE
RECEIVING THE LEGAL ASSISTANCE YOU NEED IN ORDER TO MAKE DECISIONS WITHOUT FACING LITIGATION. >> THANK YOU FOR YOUR PUBLIC COMMENT. NEXT, I WILL GO BACK IN CHAMBERS . SEEING NONE, NEXT, I WILL GO OUT TO ZOOM. LINDA , CAN YOU UNMUTE YOURSELF, PLEASE ? THANK YOU, LINDA. GO AHEAD WITH YOUR PUBLIC COMMENT, PLEASE. >> [ INAUDIBLE ] WE OUGHT TO BE SUING JACK TIBBITS . WE
OUGHT TO BE SUING HIM FOR ALL THE HARM AND DAMAGE AND FAILING TO DISCLOSE RIGHT UP FRONT WHEN SEBASTOPOL AGREED TO COSIGN. WE OUGHT TO BE SUING HIM
FOR ALL THE SERVICES , THE HOURS AND HOURS OF -- THAT OUR FIREFIGHTERS AND EMTs HAVE PROVIDED. YOU KNOW, BECAUSE OF HIS MISMANAGEMENT, THE THING IS NOT ONLY A FAILURE , BUT IT IS A DISASTER. WE HAVE FIVE VACANT COMMERCIAL SPACES ACROSS THE STREET. THERE ARE NONE OF THOSE BUSINESSES THAT WANT TO BE NEAR THIS POPULATION. THIS POPULATION , THE HOUSING. I KNOW THEM. THEY DO NOT WANT TO CHANGE THE BEHAVIOR. JACK , YOU OUGHT TO GO SEE WHAT THEY DID TO YOUR SITE ABOUT THE MEETING. THEN IT ONLY TORE IT DOWN, BUT THEY SLASHED IT. THEY SLASHED IT TO RIBBONS. ANYWAY, YOU HAVE GOT TO KNOW WHAT POPULATION , THERE IS ONE GUY WHO HAS BEEN ARRESTED 15 TIMES AND HE HAS
ARSON TO THAT TRAILER THAT WORKED UP
LINDA, YOU HAVE ABOUT 25 SECONDS .
THESE PEOPLE DO NOT WANT TO CHANGE THE BEHAVIORS. I THINK THE MAJORITY OF THEM DO NOT WANT SERVICES . THE ALREADY HAVE SERVICES. THEY HAVE FOOD .
THEY HAD EVERYTHING . THEY DID NOT TAKE ADVANTAGE OF ALL THE GENEROSITY THAT THEY WERE GIVEN. AND SO THEY ARE --AN LINDA, THAT IS TWO AND ITS. >> AND W
I AM SORRY, WE WILL HAVE TO STOP. THANK YOU. >> LINDA, THANK YOU FOR YOUR PUBLIC COMMENT. NEXT, I WILL GO BACK IN CHAMBERS . SEEING NONE, NEXT, I WILL GO OUT TO ZOOM. JIM, CAN YOU UNMUTE YOURSELF, PLEASE ? >> YES, THANK YOU.
CAN YOU SEE THE TIMER?
I CAN. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. MY NAME IS JIM AND I WAS THE IS RUN THE LETTER THAT WAS SENT TO THE CITY COUNCIL. THE PRESIDENT OF THE BOARD FOR ST.
VINCENT DePAUL. I WANT TO POINT OUT THAT PARTICULARLY THE COUNCILMEMBERS ARE CONCERNED ABOUT, ARE WE A TRUSTWORTHY PARTNER? WE GOT INVOLVED AND
TOOK ON A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF DEBT AT THE REQUEST OF THE CITY COUNCIL , DEALING WITH THE VERY DIFFICULT POPULATION. I DO NOT DISAGREE WITH THE PREVIOUS SPEAKER. THE POPULATION THAT WAS ON THE STREETS OF OTHER PARTS OF SEBASTOPOL , AS A FORMER CITY MANAGER, I KNOW THIS. I KNOW IT CAN BE IN
ONE NEIGHBORHOOD AND NOT ANOTHER NEIGHBORHOOD BE PEOPLE WANT IT BACK FOR IT USED TO BE. SO WE GOT INVOLVED WITH SEBASTOPOL BY A COUNCIL TAKING ACTION. TO COMMIT AND BE OUR PARTNER WITH SOME RISK SHOULD BE GO BELLY UP.
AS FOR MY LECTURE, I AM DISAPPOINTED THAT THE CITY MANAGER NEVER INCLUDED ANYTHING OF REPORT TO YOU OF THE RISKS. OF COURSE, IF YOU ARE GOING TO
WALK AWAY FROM A PARTNER YOU COMMITTED TO, THE PARTNER HAS CONSEQUENCES THAT THEY WERE RESPONSIBLE FOR. AND A SIGNIFICANT COST TO US. WE HAVE
EVERY RIGHT TO GO BACK TO OUR PARTNER AND SAY, OKAY, YOU ARE RENEGING ON A COMMITMENT YOU MADE. WANT TO TALK TO YOU TO HELP US OUT IN TERMS OF THE MONEY WE INVESTED. NOW THAT WE HAVE LOST, BECAUSE THE CITY MANAGER HAS DECIDED THERE IS SOME RISK, THERE IS ALWAYS A RISK. I WAS A CITY MANAGER FOR 30 YEARS BUT I CAN TELL YOU, THIS KIND OF RISK WE DEAL WITH ALL THE Agenda Item Number: 3
Agenda Item Number 3/City Council Meeting Packet for Meeting of: July 2, 2024 / Page 71 of 78
TYPING I THINK THE CITY MANAGER HAS OVERSTATED THE RISK THAT I DO NOT
THINK WE HAVE A BIG RISK, BUT YOU HAD A VERY CLEAR RISK THAT WAS NOT STATED IN YOUR STAFF REPORT. THAT YOUR PARTNER WOULD COME BACK TO YOU. >> JIM, THANK YOU FOR YOUR PUBLIC COMMENT. NEXT, I WILL GO BACK IN CHAMBERS .
SEEING NONE, NEXT, I WILL GO OUT TO ZOOM. VANESSA , CAN YOU UNMUTE YOURSELF, PLEASE ?
CAN YOU HEAR ME?
I CAN.
HELLO, MY NAME IS VANESSA. I'M A NEIGHBOR TO THE SITE . I LIVE CLOSE BUT I
HAVE RESIDENCE REGARDING THE ENCAMPMENTS THAT OF BEEN FORMING SINCE THE CLOSURE OF RISE AND SHINE. AND THE SEVERAL TRAILERS THAT DO NOT TRANSITION INTO SAFE, PERMANENT HOUSING. THEY ARE NOW JUST WAIT ON THE STREET DIRECTLY OUT LIGHT OF WHAT WAS THE VILLAGE. I SENT EMAILS AND NO RESPONSE.
JUST CRICKETS. WHAT IS THE PLAN? SO IF THIS GETS APPROVED AND THERE IS THE HOME KEY ON THE SITE. AND THEN ARE WE SURROUNDED BY CAMPERS THAT DID NOT TRANSITION TO SAFE HOUSING? ARE THEY GUARANTEED A SPOT IN THE PROJECT? WITH SAFE HOUSING? ARE THEY GUARANTEED A PARKING SPOT? I READ SOMEWHERE
THAT INITIALLY THEY WERE NOT BUT NOW THE PARKING SPOTS ARE NOT GOING TO BE AVAILABLE TO THEM. SO I JUST SAY THIS NEIGHBORHOOD IS A HOT MESS RIGHT NOW. IT IS REALLY BAD. I WOULD LOVE DIRECT CONVERSATION AROUND WHAT IS THE
PLAN TO HELP THE STREETS ALL OF THE CAMPERS THAT WERE PART OF RISE AND
SHINE THAT DID NOT TRANSITION TO SAFE HOUSING AND ARE NOW PARKED IN CAMPING DIRECTLY IN FRONT OF THE VILLAGE. THANK YOU.
VANESSA, THANK YOU FOR YOUR PUBLIC COMMENT. NEXT, I WILL GO BACK IN CHAMBERS. SEEING NONE, I WILL GO OUT TO ZOOM. MAYOR, CAN YOU UNMUTE YOURSELF, PLEASE?
HELLO.
CAN YOU SEE THE TIMER?
I CAN.
GO AHEAD, PLEASE.
I'VE BEEN WORKING WITH VIEWS KIDS IN SONOMA COUNTY FOR 20 YEARS. SOME OF
MY KIDS I HAVE DEALT WITH MIGHT BE SOME OF THE PEOPLE WHO ARE ON THE STREET, ACTUALLY. AT THE END OF THE DAY, WHAT THIS IS ABOUT IS THE PEOPLE IN SEBASTOPOL WHO MAY BE HOLDING THE BAG SKI FOR MILLIONS. IF THIS FALLS APART. I HAVE KNOWN MANY LAWYERS IN THE 35 YEARS --I WAS MARRIED TO ONE.
NOT ONE OF THEM WOULD ENCOURAGE YOUR CLIENT TO ENTER INTO ANY KIND OF
LEGAL AGREEMENT WITH AN ENTITY WHO HAS WITHHELD INFORMATION , SUED ,
BULLIED, AND PLAYED ON THE SYMPATHIES BY SAYING HE WOULD LOSE HIS JOB IF THIS DOES NOT GO THROUGH. I REALLY THINK THAT COUNCILMEMBERS HAVE NO
CHOICE BUT TO VOTE NO ON THIS BECAUSE THEY ARE SHARING RESPONSIBILITY TO THE CITIZENS OF SEBASTOPOL. THANK YOU.
MAYOR, THANK YOU FOR YOUR PUBLIC COMMENT. AGAIN, NEXT, I WILL GO BACK IN CHAMBERS. SEEING NONE, I WILL GO OUT TO ZOOM. SEEING NONE, PUBLIC COMMENT IS CLOSED.
Agenda Item Number: 3
Agenda Item Number 3/City Council Meeting Packet for Meeting of: July 2, 2024 / Page 72 of 78 WE ARE BACK TO WHAT THE COUNCIL TABLE. WE HAVE APPROXIMATELY 10 MINUTES LEFT. THAT'S UNTIL THIS COUNCIL MEETING COULD BE ENDED. SO I THINK WE UNDERSTAND WHAT OUR VARIOUS POSITIONS ARE HERE. EACH ONE OF US COULD
EXPRESS CONCERNS BUT I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE SURE WE GET A VOTE ON THIS ITEM BEFORE WE CLOSE OUT THIS MEETING. WHY DON'T WE JUST TAKE A MINUTE FOR EACH COUNCIL MEMBER. PLEASE, LET'S TRY TO LIMIT IT. I COULD GO AHEAD AND MAKE A
MOTION RIGHT NOW THAT I WOULD RATHER GIVE EACH COUNCIL MEMBER AN
OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK I WOULD APPRECIATE IF EVERYONE UNDERSTANDS WE ARE TRYING TO GET DONE BY 10:30. SO DOES ANYONE WANT TO SAY ANYTHING, OTHER THAN WHAT THEY ALREADY SAID? COUNCILMEMBER McLEWIS?
YES. I GUESS TO THE BOARD MEMBER FROM ST. VINCENT DePAUL. IN MY MIND , LISTEN TO THIS, THEIR PROPRIETIES WERE SUGGESTED THERE. AND I THINK THEY PUBLICLY OUGHT TO SAY THAT. HE SAID, WE CAN LISTEN TO THE RECORDING TO CLARIFY LATER. HE SAID FIRST, THE COUNCIL PROMISED, AND THEN HE SAID A COUNCIL MEMBER PROMISED. AND TO ME, A COUNCIL MEMBER DOES NOT HAVE THE ABILITY TO PROMISE ANYTHING ON THEIR OWN. SO I WOULD LIKE TO FIND MORE CLARIFICATION ON THAT AFTER THIS MEETING. I MEAN, THAT IS NOT ACCEPTABLE IF THERE WERE PROMISES MADE. THAT IS WHY I ASKED THE QUESTIONS I ASKED EARLIER. NO COUNCILMEMBER HERE IS THE ABILITY TO MAKE THOMASES BUT HE STATED THAT. THIS IS WHERE MY DISTRUST COMES FROM. BECAUSE I JUST, AND MY INTUITION AND MY GOD, THIS IS NOT RIGHT FOR SEBASTOPOL. AND PLAINLY, I WANT TO SAY I WAS ELECTED TO REPRESENT CITIZENS WHO ARE IN SEBASTOPOL.
SEBASTOPOL IS ALREADY DOING A FABULOUS JOB OF PROVIDING COUNSEL FOR HOUSING AND LOW INCOME HOUSING. I GET TO SAY WHAT I WANT TO SAY.
IS COMING YOU DO. [ INAUDIBLE ]
I HAVE TIME AND I WILL NOT BE INTERRUPTED. WE ARE ALREADY DOING A GOOD JOB WITH HOUSING. I AM FAMILIAR WITH ALL OF THIS HERE. WE HAVE ABOUT 125 SPACES RIGHT NOW WE PROVIDE FOR THE SUPPORTIVE HOUSING. I DO NOT THINK IT
IS GOOD, BASED ON EVEN A CITIZEN THAT JUST COMMENTED AND EMAILS WERE RECEIVING. I DO NOT THINK WE NEED TO BOOK AND OUR CITY , ANOTHER SITE , TWO SITES IN A SMALL CITY OF 7500 PEOPLE. THIS IS UNHEARD OF FOR THEM TO
PARTNER WITH SOMEONE WHO IS STRONG-ARMING US AND TWISTING OUR ARMS TO MAKE US DO THIS , THIS LITIGATION. I THINK IT IS UNCONSCIONABLE THAT ANYONE
HERE, ESPECIALLY ANYONE RUNNING FOR ELECTION THIS FALL, WOULD CAVE TO THAT. I DO NOT SUPPORT THIS. DO NOT INTERRUPT ME
PLEASE , COUNCILMEMBER McLEWIS. I WILL ASK --AN WE ALL HAVE EQUAL TIME. >> YES. I AM MANAGING THE MEETING THAT I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHETHER YOU ARE WILLING TO STAY BEYOND 10:30 TO CLOSE OUT THIS MEETING? THANK YOU. IS ANYONE ELSE CONCERNED ABOUT STAYING BEYOND 10:30? WE DO HAVE A TIMELY MEETING TO END AT 10:30. MEMBER?
I THINK IT IS IMPORTANT THAT WE ARE WILLING TO STAY BEYOND. >> I WILL SAY THIS.
I UNDERSTAND. VICE MAYOR ZOLLMAN? >> I WANT TO GET THIS WRAPPED UP AND I AM NOT STAYING.
THAT'S FINE AND I'M SORRY FOR INTERRUPTING YOU. I DO APPRECIATE EVERYONE STAYING AROUND TO CLOSE UP THIS ITEM. PLEASE. I'M SORRY. >> I JUST DO NOT Agenda Item Number: 3
Agenda Item Number 3/City Council Meeting Packet for Meeting of: July 2, 2024 / Page 73 of 78 THINK THIS IS RIGHT FOR SEBASTOPOL. ON THE FACT THAT THE PEOPLE TALKING ABOUT WE HAVE A RIGHT TO COME BACK BECAUSE YOU AGREED TO IT. WELL, WE HAVE A RIGHT TO SAY NO WHEN WE WERE NOT INFORMED PROPERLY IN THE FIRST PLACE. I WATCHED THE MEETING AGAIN AND I NUMBER ASKING OVER AND OVER AGAIN. IS THERE ANY LIABILITY TO THE CITY? AND JACK TIBBITS SAID THERE IS NOT BUT WE HAVE TO PUT $100,000 ASIDE TO PAY FOR BLAH, BLAH. WE WERE NOT PROPERLY
INFORMED HER TO COME BACK WITH LITIGATION AND TO GO TO THE PUBLIC AND MEDIA, ALL OF THAT, SIMPLY BECAUSE WE WERE WRITING WHAT WAS WRONG. WE AS A COUNCIL DESERVE TO BE INFORMED WHEN THEY MAKE A DECISION. AND TO SAY THEY
HAVE THE RIGHT TO COME AFTER US BECAUSE --THEY SHOULD HAVE GIVEN US ALL
THE INFORMATION IN THE FIRST PLACE BUT THE QUESTION I HAVE IS, DO THEY NOT KNOW WHAT THEY WERE TALKING ABOUT? OR DID THEY WILLINGLY REPORT INFORMATION TO FORCE OUR HAND? AND HERE THEY ARE, FORCING THEIR --OUR HAND
AGAIN WITH ATTORNEYS BID KNOWING THAT SEBASTOPOL IS BEING SUED AND HAS
FINANCIAL PROBLEMS, THAT IS A -- THEY WILL COME IN AND THREATEN A LAWSUIT
AND NOTED SOME COUNCILMEMBER WILL OKAY BECAUSE WE HAVE FINANCIAL PROBLEMS BUT I THINK IT IS WRONG AND IT LACKS INTEGRITY. I WILL NEVER TRUST ST.
VINCENT DePAUL. THANK YOU, 20 FEET WHO WOULD LIKE TO WEIGH IN NOW? VICE MAYOR ZOLLMAN.
I'M SORRY, I'M SORRY. COUNCILMEMBER HINTON, GO AHEAD. >> YEAH. I DO NOT WANT TO OVERSTEP. I HAVE TO SAY TO MY COLLEAGUE, I AM RUNNING FOR OFFICE AGAIN. I FEEL VERY INSULTED BY THAT COMMENT. I HAVE RAISED MY KIDS HERE. I AM FROM HERE. FOURTH GENERATION. WHETHER I'M ELECTED OR NOT, I AM GOING TO BE HERE. I DO NOT MAKE DECISIONS TASTE ON TODAY. I MAKE DECISIONS FOR THIS COMMUNITY BASED ON THE PEOPLE THAT ELECTED ME IN THE FUTURE. SO LET'S BE CLEAR ABOUT THAT. I ALSO DO NOT MAKE DECISIONS BASED ON LITIGATION THREATS AND I SUPPORTED THIS ISSUE BEFORE AND MY POSITION HAS NOT CHANGED. LET ME TALK ABOUT THIS A LITTLE BIT FOR ST. VINCENT DePAUL. THANK YOU FOR THE EXTRA TIME FROM OUR COLLEAGUES. THIS IS REALLY IMPORTANT. I BELIEVE, NOT IN A HANDOUT . THE SUPPORT OF HOUSING IS WHAT WE ARE ABOUT. I'M GOING TO GO BACK TO APRIL 28, 2018. WE LET A CITYWALK OF SEBASTOPOL'S AFFORDABLE HOUSING ACTIONS. CAN SEBASTOPOL BE AFFORDABLE ? ST. VINCENT DePAUL, FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO. NO, STARTED ON A PROJECT IN OUR COMMUNITY THAT WAS VERY THOUGHTFUL, RIGHT NEXT TO SAINT SEBASTIAN CHURCH. ANY OF THOSE DEEDS ARE RESTRICTED FOR LOWER INCOME. I HAVE A LOT OF CONFIDENCE IN THE ORGANIZATION. ARE THEY PERFECT? NO. BUT I DID VOTE FOR THIS PROJECT BEFORE WE PICKED THE -- OUT THERE. WITH A LONG-TERM VIEW. AND WE HAVE GOT OVER $5 MILLION TO HELP BUILD THIS HOUSING. SO I AM SUPPORTING IT AGAIN. SECOND ROUND. AND I APPRECIATE YOUR RECONSIDERATION. LET ME JUST SAY, EARLIER TONIGHT, THOUGH WATER RATES CAME BACK UNDER RECONSIDERATION. IT IS NOT THAT THIS IS A ONE TIME THING. WE CAME BACK WITH THE WATER RATES WHEN WE
CHANGED OUR MIND AND WENT FIVE MEETINGS DEEP TO LOOK AT THAT ISSUE IN DEPTH. SO I KNOW THIS IS A HOT TOPIC. BUT SO ARE MODERATES. WE ARE TRYING TO TAKE THAT FULL-TIME TO CONSIDER OUR ACTIONS. THANK YOU.
THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER HINTON. VICE MAYOR ZOLLMAN . SHE MET THANK YOU , VLADIMIR. I WILL RESTATE WHAT I SAID BEFORE. NOTHING HAS CHANGED FROM MY VIEWPOINT BUT TO BE VERY CLEAR. I'M VERY CLEAR ABOUT HOUSING FIRST. WERE TALKING ABOUT SOMEBODY WHO DEDICATED 12 YEARS OF THEIR LIFE AS A PUBLIC DEFENDER IN SAN FRANCISCO. SO HONESTLY, IT WAS A WELL-INTENTIONED COMMENT,
BUT NO ONE --ON THE NEED OF HOUSING FIRST IN ORDER TO KEEP PEOPLE FROM BEING INCARCERATED AND ON THE STREETS. I WANT TO BE PERFECTLY CLEAR ABOUT THAT. I DO NOT HAVE A LOT OF EMPATHY FOR PEOPLE IN THAT SPOT. THIS IS A Agenda Item Number: 3 Agenda Item Number 3/City Council Meeting Packet for Meeting of: July 2, 2024 / Page 74 of 78 VERY HARD DECISION. HOWEVER, WHAT MAKES IT EASIER FOR ME IS THE FACT THAT I NEED TO SET THAT ASIDE, THAT PERSONAL EXPERIENCE IN MY LIFE ASIDE. I
NEED TO EXERCISE MY FIDUCIARY DUTY TO THE CITY BEEPING A LICENSE LAWYER, IT IS MORE THAN THAT. SO I WANT TO MAKE IT CLEAR FROM WHAT I SAID BEFORE,
THIS IS ABOUT MY FIDUCIARY DUTY TO THE CITY TO MAKE SURE IT DOES NOT GO CORRUPT. I SET UP BEFORE AND I STILL MAINTAIN THERE ARE RISKS TO BE HEARD.
DEFINITELY MY QUESTION TO THE GENERAL MANAGER AND TO THE CITY ATTORNEY,
WITH THE FACT THAT ANY TIME WE ENGAGE WITH PAID CONSULTANTS FROM AN ENTITY
TO DO THE WORK THAT YOU WOULD NORMALLY DO ASK STAFF, YOU'RE ENTRUSTING
ANOTHER ENTITY TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU GET EVERY DUTY TO THE STATE WITH REALLY STRICT REQUIREMENTS . TO ME, THAT IS A RISK AND I'M NOT WILLING TO TAKE IT. GIVEN WHERE WE ARE FINANCIALLY WITH THE CITY. SO FOR THAT REASON,
ABOUT NOT NEEDING TO INCUR MORE FINANCIAL RISK WITH THE CITY, I AM
DEFINITELY VOTING NO FOR THIS PROJECT BUT I WANT TO MAKE IT CLEAR, THE
FACT THAT I AM NOT DOING THIS BECAUSE I HATE THE HOMELESS I DO NOT HAVE EMPATHY. THAT IS THE FIRST OF --FURTHEST THING FROM THE TRUTH. I WANT THAT TO BE RECORDED.
THANK YOU, VICE MAYOR ZOLLMAN. COUNCILMEMBER MAURER.
I HAVE A LOT OF THOUGHTS. I MADE THE DECISION , I THINK IT WAS BACK IN APRIL. IT WAS A REALLY HARD DECISION. I VOTED AGAINST IT. AT THE TIME, I FEEL LIKE THAT WAS THE BEST DECISION I HAD MADE AT THE TIME. TO ME, THE INFORMATION HAS CHANGED. AND THERE ARE , IN MY VIEW, THERE ARE A LOT OF MERITS TO THIS PROJECT. RIGHT NOW, WE HAVE AN EMPTY LOT. TRAILERS PARKED IN FRONT. WE HAVE MORE TRAILERS PARKING AROUND THE CITY. I AM WONDERING IF PEOPLE NOTED THAT THE --LET'S SEE. SORRY. THAT THE COC CONTINUUM OF CARE
HAS AMENDED THEIR POLICIES REGARDING THE PLACEMENT OF HIGH NEED
INDIVIDUALS SO THAT THEY COULD POSSIBLY BE PLACED MORE FOR PEOPLE IN SEBASTOPOL. SO I REMEMBER WHEN I VOTED FOR THIS , AGAINST IT THE LAST TIME. I THOUGHT THEY JUST REDUCTIVE A 6 1/2 MILLION DOLLAR ESTATE GRANTS.
YOU KNOW? AND I DID NOT FEEL GOOD ABOUT THAT. I HAVE SEEN THE PLANS.
ACTUALLY, ST. VINCENT DePAUL HAS WALKED THE PLANS THROUGH DESIGNING A NEW PROCESS . THIS IS A REALLY GOOD-LOOKING PROJECT. 22 UNITS . THEY ARE EXTREMELY LOW, AFFORDABLE HOUSING UNITS. IT WILL HELP OUR MEMBERS TO HAVE THESE BUILDS. IT IS A GOOD PROJECT. SO I AM ACTUALLY GRATEFUL TO BRING IT BACK. I AM REALLY SAD ABOUT ALL THE NEGATIVITY TOWARD THIS PROJECT. I THINK IT IS GOING TO BE A GREAT PROJECT AND A GOOD-LOOKING ONE AS WELL.
NOT ONLY BUILDINGS, BUT TREES. SO I AM GRATEFUL TO BRING IT BACK. I WANT
TO SAY THANK YOU TO OUR MAYOR WHO DID A LOT OF GREAT WORK ON BRINGING THIS BACK. SO I WILL BE SUPPORTING THIS. THANK YOU.
THANK YOU. AND THE LAST ONE HERE. THAT IS ONE OF THE DOWNSIDES OF BEING THE MAYOR. I HAVE ALWAYS THOUGHT THIS WAS A FABULOUS PROJECT FROM THE GETGO. I THOUGHT IT HAD GREAT MERIT TO OFFER THE COMMUNITY. I THOUGHT IT SERVED INDIVIDUALS IN THE COMMUNITY. I CONTINUE TO FEEL THAT WAY. I HAVE GREAT RESPECT FOR ST. VINCENT DePAUL. I HAVE FOUND THEM TO BE COMPETENT , TO BE TRUSTWORTHY, TO BE ETHICAL. CERTAINLY NOT SLUMLORDS. AND IN TERMS OF WHO WE ARE SERVING WITH THIS PROJECT, IT IS OUR COMMUNITY. THEY ACTUALLY
HAVE THE RIGHT, THERE IS THE RIGHT WITHIN THIS PROJECT TO OFFER EIGHT OF THE UNITS OF THOSE WHO ARE DISPLACED BY THE PROJECT. IN FACT, EIGHT OF THOSE UNITS WILL BE OFFERED TO THE FORMER RISE AND SHINE RESIDENTS. AND UNDER THE NEW COORDINATOR ENTRY RULES, THOSE NUMBERS MIGHT BE GREATER. SO BENEFITS. THIS IS A LOCAL PROJECT THAT BENEFITS LOCAL PEOPLE. I WOULD LIKE Agenda Item Number: 3 Agenda Item Number 3/City Council Meeting Packet for Meeting of: July 2, 2024 / Page 75 of 78 TO ALSO RECOGNIZE THERE WERE MANY, MANY PEOPLE. WE HEARD A LOT OF CRITICAL COMMENTS TONIGHT. A LOT OF CONCERNS ABOUT THE PROJECT. I WOULD LIKE TO
REMIND MY COLLEAGUES HERE THAT WE GET EMAILS FROM MANY PEOPLE WERE VERY MUCH IN SUPPORT OF THIS PROJECT. WE NEED TO PLEASE NOT FORGET THEIR OPINIONS TOO. I THINK IT IS A GREAT PROJECT. I HAVE NO APOLOGIES IN TERMS OF MY CONDUCT ON THIS PROJECT. THIS PROJECT WAS DENIED BY THE CITY COUNCIL. THERE WERE CHANGED CIRCUMSTANCES. I'VE ALWAYS BELIEVED IN THIS PROJECT. I APPROACHED IT IN GOOD FAITH AND ETHICAL MANNER AFTER CONSULTING WITH OUR CITY ATTORNEY. ST. VINCENT DePAUL AND --JOINED US IN THAT EFFORT.
THERE ARE NO PROMISES MADE. ANYONE WHO KNOWS ME KNOWS I ALWAYS SAY, I AM ONE INDIVIDUAL CITY COUNCIL MATTER. NO DECISIONS ARE MADE UNTIL IT COMES TO THE FULL CITY COUNCIL. I DO NOT MAKE THOMASES AND I DO NOT REPRESENT THIS CITY COUNCIL INDIVIDUALLY AND NEVER HAVE. SO THIS IS A PROJECT I SUPPORT WHOLEHEARTEDLY. I AM HOPEFUL THAT AS MANY PROJECTS IN THIS TOWN, AS I HAVE SEEN THEM , THAT THIS WILL BE A VERY SUCCESSFUL PROJECT. SO I AM LOOKING FOR A MOTION. >> I JUST HAD ANOTHER COMMENT. AND IN TERMS OF MY THINKING ABOUT WANTING TO BRING THIS BACK. THIS YEAR, THE CITY OF SEBASTOPOL SPENT AN ESTIMATED , OR OVER $600,000 ON ATTORNEY FEES. AND SO TO DEFEND ANOTHER LAWSUIT WOULD HAVE BEEN ANOTHER 100 OR $200,000 TO DEFEND A LAWSUIT . TO COMPARE THE, SPEND 100 OR $200,000 MORE COMPARED TO HAVING A GOOD PROJECT. A GOOD HOUSING PROJECT. IT IS , IN A WAY, THE
PROJECT HAS MORE MERITS THEN IT WOULD BE TO SPEND MONEY ON ANOTHER LAWSUIT. I WILL MAKE A MOTION --MAYBE YOU CAN MAKE THE MOTION? NO, YOU GO.
[ LAUGHTER ] OKAY. WOULD YOU LIKE ME TO FORMULATE THE MOTION? PLEASE. >> CITY ATTORNEY? >> THE CITY MANAGER, WE WOULD LIKE A MOTION TO VERIFY YOUR AGREEMENT WITH ST. VINCENT DePAUL, SECTION 6D WHERE THEY FUND STAFF SUPPORT . OF THAT WOULD BE CLEAR THAT THE CITY WOULD CONTRACT WITH WHATEVER EXPERT IS RETAINED . THEY WOULD REIMBURSE THE CITY OR WOULD FUND THAT EXPENSE. BUT THAT WE WOULD CHOOSE AN CONTRACT.
I AM SORRY. SO YOU'RE SUGGESTING THAT VERIFICATION NEEDS TO BE ADDED? OKAY. SO IN THE MOTION, WE SHOULD MOVE THAT THE CITY, WHAT COUNCIL IS
APPROVING, THERE IS A CONSULTANT SELECTED AT THE DISCRETION OF THE CITY MANAGER. >> FOOD FOR THOUGHT. IT IS ARE A CONSISTENT WITH 6E. MAKING DOUBLY SURE IT IS CLEAR GOING IN.
OKAY. AND JACK TIBBITS, JUST TO CONFIRM . THE UNDERSTANDING. THAT THE CITY MANAGER WOULD BE SELECTING THE CONSULTANT THAT ST. VINCENT DePAUL WOULD REIMBURSE THE CITY. IS THAT CORRECT?
THAT IS RIGHT . WE WHOLEHEARTEDLY SUPPORT THAT.
OKAY. >> APPLICATION. THIS IS BASED ON THE COMMENTS AROUND THE COMPARISON ABOUT THE EIR. THE APPLICANT PAYS THE FULL COST . AND SO IT ACTUALLY WORKS FOR THE CITY. DEPENDING ON WHAT THE CITY AND CHECKING WITH OUR CITY ATTORNEY PADILLA PROBABLY RECOMMENDS WE STRUCTURE IT THE SAME WAY. IT IS A BIT OF A MORE MINISTRY TO CHALLENGE THAT WILL TAKE MORE TIME. I JUST WANT
TO MAKE IT CLEAR FROM THE COUNCIL AND WHAT YOUR EXPECTATIONS ARE ON THIS POINT. BEFORE WE LEAVE.
Agenda Item Number: 3
Agenda Item Number 3/City Council Meeting Packet for Meeting of: July 2, 2024 / Page 76 of 78 I THINK WE NEED TO UNDERSTAND. I THINK THE PREFERENCE I AM HEARING IS THAT
THERE BE A CONTRACT BETWEEN THE CITY AND THE CONSULTANT , THAT THE CONSULTANT IS SELECTED BY THE CITY MANAGER. AND I ALSO ADDING ON YOU WOULD PREFER REIMBURSEMENT TO THE CITY AS OPPOSED TO --AN NOT SO MUCH THAT.
THERE WILL BE A CONTRACT BETWEEN THE CITY AND THE EXPERT.
OKAY. AND JACK TIBBITS, DO YOU HAVE ANY OBJECTION TO THAT? I CANNOT IMAGINE. JACK?
NO, HOWEVER YOU CHOOSE TO DO IT. WHETHER IT IS REDIRECT PAY OR REIMBURSE PAY. THAT IS FINE BY US.
AND THE CONTRACT WOULD BE BETWEEN THE CONSULTANT AND THE CITY OF SEBASTOPOL?
THAT WOULD BE FINE. WANT TO MAKE SURE THE CONTRACT HAS A LIMITED SCOPE TO THIS PROJECT.
GOT IT. THE LANGUAGES IN THE AGREEMENT. >> CORRECT.
OKAY. SO YES. I SEE NO PROBLEM WITH THAT. SO DO WE NEED A MODIFICATION ON THE MOTION? IS THERE SOME SPECIFIC PROVISION WE NEED TO INCLUDE IN THE MOTION? I'M LOOKING AT THE CITY ATTORNEY. CITY MANAGER. >> MAKING A STATEMENT THAT THE CITY WILL CONTRACT PURSUANT TO SECTION 6E OF THE AGREEMENT WHICH YOU ARE ABOUT TO APPROVE. THE CITY WILL CONTRACT WITH THE CONSULTANT OF ITS OWN CHOOSING. AND THEY WILL MAKE REIMBURSEMENT ARRANGEMENTS WITH THE CITY OF SEBASTOPOL.
YOU WANT TO BE THAT SPECIFIC ABOUT REIMBURSEMENT ARRANGEMENTS ? PAYMENT ARRANGEMENTS.
OKAY, PAYMENT ARRANGEMENTS. I COULD SEE THE CITY DECIDING THE MONEY SHOULD JUST BE PAID DIRECTLY TO THE CONSULTANT . >> IT COULD BE THAT. OR IF THEY GAVE US MONEY -- I DO NOT -- JUST PAID BY THEM BUT I'M GOOD WITH IT. >> MARY GOURLEY, DID YOU CATCH ALL OF THAT? OKAY. YOU WANT TO TELL US WHAT
THE MOTION IS BEING MODIFIED TO SO THAT COUNCILMEMBER MAURER CAN SAY, YES, I MOVE THAT?
[ INAUDIBLE ] GO AHEAD, MARY GOURLEY.
MARY GOURLEY -- >> IT IS LATE. SORRY. WITH THE OPERATION --LOCATED AT 850 -- HIGHWAY, BETWEEN THE CITY OF SEBASTOPOL AND THE SOCIETY OF ST. VINCENT DE PAUL DISTRICT --WITH SECTION 6E PENDING A STAFF REPORT TO BE CLARIFIED
WITH THE CITY MANAGER OF THE CITY OF SEBASTOPOL WOULD BE SELECTING THE CONSULTANT AND CHOOSING EVER MAKE PAYMENT ARRANGEMENTS WITH ST. VINCENT DePAUL AND THAT THE CONTRACT WOULD BE BETWEEN THE CITY OF SEBASTOPOL AND THE CONSULTANTS/EXPERT .
SO MOVED.
OKAY. I WILL SECOND IT. ROLL CALL VOTE, PLEASE ? MARY GOURLEY? Agenda Item Number: 3
Agenda Item Number 3/City Council Meeting Packet for Meeting of: July 2, 2024 / Page 77 of 78 OKAY. SO MOVED BY COUNCILMEMBER MAURER AND SECONDED BY MADAME MAYOR TO APPROVE THE DESIGNATION AS I JUST STATED. COUNCILMEMBER HINTON. AYE.
COUNCILMEMBER MAURER. YES. TRIED IT. NO. VICE MAYOR ZOLLMAN. NO. MAYOR RICH. YES. THE MOTION PASSES 3-2. COUNCILMEMBER McLEWIS AND VICE MAYOR ZOLLMAN IN OPPOSITION.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH BUT GIVEN THE TIME, I THINK WE WILL NOW JUST CLOSE THE MEETING. OKAY. THANK YOU VERY MUCH, EVERYONE, FOR HANGING IN THERE. IT WAS A PLEASURE. YES, THANK YOU.
RECORDING STOPPED. >>
Agenda Item Number: 3 Agenda Item Number 3/City Council Meeting Packet for Meeting of: July 2, 2024 / Page 78 of 78