March 28, 2024 | 7:00 PM Page 1 of 3 City Council
Special Meeting Minutes
MINUTES
CITY OF UNION CITY
CITY COUNCIL SPECIAL MEETING
CAROL DUTRA-VERNACI, Mayor
JEFF WANG, Vice Mayor (District 3)
GARY SINGH, Councilmember (District 1)
JAMIE PATIÑO Councilmember (District 2)
SCOTT SAKAKIHARA, Councilmember (District 4)
Thursday, March 28, 2024
7:00 PM
City Council Chambers
34009 Alvarado-Niles Road
Union City, CA 94587
1. CALL TO ORDER
Mayor Dutra-Vernaci called the meeting to order at 7:03 PM.
2. ROLL CALL
Attendance Attendee Name
Present Councilmember Patiño
Councilmember Sakakihara
Councilmember Singh
Vice Mayor Wang
Mayor Dutra-Vernaci
Absent None
3. ORAL COMMUNICATIONS - Comments limited to items on the Special Meeting Agenda
Mayor Dutra-Vernaci opened Oral Communications. There being no speakers, Mayor Dutra-Vernaci closed Oral Communications.
March 28, 2024 | 7:00 PM Page 2 of 3 City Council
Special Meeting Minutes
4. CITY MANAGER REPORTS
4.a. Accept The Business Tax Analysis Report Prepared By HdL Companies And Provide Broad-Based Policy Direction On Next Steps To Inform The Placement Of Potential Revenue Measures On The November 2024 Ballot
City Manager Joan Malloy and Operations Director Eric Myers from HdL Companies delivered a presentation to the Council. President Bryan Godbe from Godbe Research was also in attendance. The Council discussed the results of the Business Tax Analysis Report and staff recommendations. Staff, Mr. Myers, and Mr. Godbe responded to councilmember questions.
Council accepted the business tax analysis report and agreed upon the following staff recommendations and provided direction:
• Shift all classifications to a gross receipts tax structure; • Simplify and consolidate to nine categories;
• Advancement of a differential rate model across these categories, with a commitment to seeking further data;
• Maintain the existing minimum tax rates with annual CPI adjustments, though with further Council discussion, some flexibility should be considered for possible adjustments to the minimum tax; and
• Request additional analysis and suggestions regarding the staff’s advice to phase in the new tax rates.
Additionally, the Council instructed staff to engage in a second phase of community surveying, focusing on utility users and business license taxes.
City Manager Malloy indicated to the City Council that staff would proceed with developing additional rate structures for the business license tax for the Council to consider.
4.b. Adopt A Resolution Approving The Formation Of, And The Mayor’s Appointment Of Two Councilmembers To, An Ad Hoc Subcommittee To Evaluate And Provide Recommendations On The Second Phase Community Survey To Inform The Placement Of Potential Revenue Measures On The November 2024 Ballot
Council waived staff presentation.
March 28, 2024 | 7:00 PM Page 3 of 3 City Council
Special Meeting Minutes
Motion: Adopt a resolution approving the formation of an Ad Hoc Subcommittee to evaluate and provide recommendations on the second phase community survey to inform the placement of potential revenue measures on the November 2024 ballot and appointing Councilmembers Patiño and Sakakihara to the
Subcommittee.
RESULT: Pass
MOVER: Mayor Dutra-Vernaci
SECONDER: Vice Mayor Wang
AYES: Councilmembers Patiño, Sakakihara, Singh, Vice Mayor Wang, and Mayor Dutra-Vernaci
NOES: None
ABSENT: None
Enactment No.: Resolution No. 6272-24
5. ADJOURNMENT
Mayor Dutra-Vernaci adjourned the meeting at 9:04 PM.
I HEREBY CERTIFY that the foregoing minutes were duly and regularly adopted at a regular meeting of the City Council of the City of Union City on April 9, 2024.
Thai Nam Pham, MMC, CPMC
City Clerk