TRACY CITY COUNCIL - SPECIAL MEETING MINUTES
December 21, 2022, 6:30 p.m.
Tracy City Hall, 333 Civic Center Plaza, Tracy, CA.
Mayor Young called the meeting to order at 7:28 p.m.
Roll Call found Council Members Arriola, Bedolla, Evans, Mayor Pro Tem Davis and Mayor Young present.
1. ITEMS FROM THE AUDIENCE – Charles Jones shared excitement regarding the success of the homeless shelter and the decrease of individuals staying in the park. Mr.
Jones expressed concerns with the rough start with the controversy regarding Mayor Pro Tem selection and shared that Mayor Pro Tem Davis should not have allowed negative messaging regarding the only gay elected in the County knowing the potential danger that members of the LGBTQ+ community face. Would like to see everyone work together because Tracy is better when you do.
Karen Moore shared concerns about the decisions that will be made as a new Council regarding the City’s constitution for land use and land development. Ms. Moore spoke about the apartment complex on Valpico, Eleassia Davis and Alice English were against it and Rickman voted against it in 2019 and now because it is low to moderate income Council is overriding Planning Commission since these things are not in the General Plan and urged Council to read the General Plan.
Vannie Dart congratulated Council on their elections, welcomed Council Member Evans and congratulated Mayor Pro Tem Davis. Ms. Dart stated that 32% of voters voted for Eleassia Davis to be Mayor second to Mayor Young and hoped that Council can work together to serve the City of Tracy and the people to the best of their ability.
Raymond Dart congratulated all on their elections and new Council Member Dan Evans and congratulated Mayor Pro Tem Davis. Mr. Dart hoped Council works together to bring improvements to the City especially to the infrastructure and roads and wished Council good luck.
Dotty Nygard wanted to remind everyone that the dais represents the whole community and that residents of Tracy voted for Council and that Council vote on the community’s behalf and best interest and continue the mission to be a robust, healthy, and thriving City by respectfully upholding the General Plan, Transportation Plan, Parks and Recreation Plan and Sustainability Action Plan. These plans will guide and assist in the vision of the community and will grow reflecting community values and shape the future.
Heather Smiddy shared that during the pandemic the downtown community came together, business owners and community saw a problem, faced it and fixed it together without Council support. Ms. Smiddy expressed her disappointment with Council conduct and encouraged Council to take a note from your downtown community and stand up for each other and have each other’s backs. It would benefit the City that this start tonight and carry through to the end of your term.
Tim Silva expressed his frustration that the meeting started late and shared his concerns regarding the Mayor’s conduct during the agenda item nominating Mayor Pro Tem at the Special Meeting Minutes 2 December 21, 2022
December 13, 2022 meeting. Mr. Silva reminded Council that they work for the people and not the other way around and the selection of the Mayor Pro Tem position should have been accepted with dignity and shared his opinion that the person most qualified is the veteran that sits on Council.
2. DISCUSSION ITEMS
2.A CITY COUNCIL DISCUSS A REQUEST FOR OUT-OF-STATE TRAVEL AND IF
SUPPORTED, APPROVE BY MOTION, THE UPCOMING OUT-OF-STATE
TRAVEL FOR CITY COUNCIL MEMBER(S) TO TRAVEL TO WASHINGTON DC FOR THE UNITED STATES CONFERENCE OF MAYORS 2023.
Midori Lichtwardt, Assistant City Manager provided the staff report.
Alice English asked if this travel would interfere with the next City Council Meeting in January.
Tim Silva expressed his support for the Mayor to travel to do outreach at the federal level and thanked the new council and looks forward to council doing good things.
ACTION: Motion was made by Mayor Pro Tem Davis and seconded by Council Member Evans to approve the upcoming out-of-state travel for City Council Member(s) to travel to Washington DC for the United States Conference of Mayors 2023. Roll call found all in favor; passed and so ordered.
3. STAFF ITEMS – Michael Rogers shared that there is no warming center but there is an administrative building at the homeless shelter that can be used if anyone would like a place to warm up at.
4. COUNCIL ITEMS AND COMMENTS – Council Member Bedolla moved that staff bring a resolution on or before the February 7th meeting to accept the Irrevocable Offer of Dedication of Fee Interest for 16-acres of community park land for an aquatics park from Ellis Village LLC. to City of Tracy so that the land can be accepted, and project can be done. Mayor Pro Tem Davis seconded the request.
Council Member Bedolla asked about the Brichetto site and wanted to clarify a rumor that the site had been taken off the table and requested the capacity of the temporary housing shelter. Midori Lichtwardt shared that the Brichetto site was at one point considered as a potential overflow site but ended up being able to fit more units on to the existing Arbor Road site so there was no need to use the Brichetto site and she shared the number of units at the Arbor Road site and that at this time it is close to capacity and that by January the estimate is about 89 beds.
Council Member Bedolla moved that staff under the shelter emergency immediately follow up on helping our City’s displaced residents at Arnulfo Plascencia Fields and any other hotspot site where encampments are located or growing due to the changes at El Pescadero Park. If it’s a capacity issue find more. Mayor Pro Tem Davis seconded the request.
Mayor Young clarified the process and procedure of making requests during Council Items.
Council Member Bedolla shared that he is proud of his nomination of Council Member Davis as Mayor Pro Tempore and his record on Council and working with all his Special Meeting Minutes 3 December 21, 2022
colleagues putting aside and refraining from alliances. As elected officials work for the residents of Tracy and not the insiders, keeping this in mind is how Tracy moves forward. Council Member Bedolla was pleased with the overwhelming support that his nomination was met with, proving that Mayor Pro Tem Davis, her availability, and community engagement makes her the right one for the role and it does not have any effect on voting. Council Member Bedolla expressed that he is always in support of upsetting the status quo even if it means standing alone if it is the best decision for the community. Council Member Bedolla wished everyone a Happy New Year and Merry Christmas.
Mayor Pro Tem Davis thanked Council Members Bedolla and Evans for their confidence and support and shared that she asked community members to attend this Council meeting to express their support on her behalf. Mayor Pro Tem Davis expressed that it was an honor and privilege to be a keynote speaker at the Fire pinning ceremony.
Mayor Pro Tem Davis requested for the third time, a memo about Prologis’ responsibility to do the roadway and overpass repairs. Seconded by Council Member Bedolla.
Mayor Pro Tem Davis reiterated that she is looking forward to working alongside the Mayor and Council colleagues and looking forward in a positive manner and wished everyone a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.
Council Member Arriola congratulated the new and promoted firefighters and is looking forward to working with the City Council for the betterment of the community in 2023 and beyond.
Council Member Evans shared that he saw Council come together and that in the past he was a vocal community advocate. He stated that there will be times where not all Council will agree all the time and that part of democracy requires spirited debates to get ideas going and that he is there to continue the hard work for the citizens of Tracy.
Mayor Young congratulated the newly pinned and promoted firefighters, requested that Resolution 2021-131 regarding commission and eligibility lists be reviewed and would like clarification on the eligibility list and criteria. Mayor Young shared community concerns about cannabis business going bankrupt due to delays, shared that she will write a note and send to staff. Mayor Young stated she was glad that there is a warming opportunity and that it had been mentioned to her that a church on Eden was possibly having a warming center and asked how the City is passing along the information. Midori Lichtwardt, Assistant City Manager shared that information regarding homelessness can be found on the City website. Mayor Young wished a Merry Christmas, Happy Kwanza, Happy New Year to everyone.
5. ADJOURNMENT – Time: 8:13 p.m.
ACTION: Motion was made by Council Member Arriola and seconded by Council Member Bedolla to adjourn. Roll call found all in favor; passed and so ordered.
Special Meeting Minutes 4 December 21, 2022
The above agenda was posted at the Tracy City Hall on December 20, 2022. The above are action minutes. A recording is available at the office of the City Clerk.
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Mayor
ATTEST:
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City Clerk