Regular City Council Meeting Minutes
January 11, 2022
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VALLEJO CITY COUNCIL
REGULAR MEETING MINUTES
JANUARY 11, 2022
COUNCIL CHAMBERS
555 Santa Clara Street, Vallejo, California
1. CALL TO ORDER
The meeting was called to order at 7:00 p.m.
2. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
3. ROLL CALL
Present: Mayor McConnell, Vice Mayor Verder-Aliga, Councilmembers Arriola, Brown, Dew, and Miessner
Absent: Councilmember Loera-Diaz
Staff present: Interim City Manager Malone, City Attorney Nebb and City Clerk Abrahamson
4. REPORT OUT OF CLOSED SESSION
City Attorney Nebb reported Council provided direction to the City Attorney and outside legal counsel with respect to Closed Session Items 3A, 3B and 3C and provided direction to its property negotiators with respect to Closed Session Item 3D.
5. SELECTION OF VICE MAYOR
A. ADOPTION OF A RESOLUTION ELECTING A VICE MAYOR
Recommendation: Adopt a Resolution electing a member of the City Council to serve as Vice Mayor from January 11, 2022 to January 3, 2023 Contact: Dawn G. Abrahamson, City Clerk, (707) 648-4528 [email protected]
Mayor McConnell requested nominations from councilmembers.
Mayor McConnell and Councilmember Arriola nominated Councilmember Loera- Diaz.
Councilmembers Brown, Dew, Miessner and Verder-Aliga nominated Councilmember Verder-Aliga.
Action: Moved by Mayor McConnell and carried unanimously by DocuSign Envelope ID: 7FB9CB06-7097-4F0F-83FB-AA5F6DFEFB3E Regular City Council Meeting Minutes
January 11, 2022
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Councilmembers present to adopt Resolution No. 22-001 N.C. electing Councilmember Verder-Aliga to serve as Vice Mayor January 2022 to January 2023 (Absent: Loera-Diaz).
6. SELECTION OF COUNCIL SEATING
Councilmembers elected to retain their current seats at the dais.
7. PRESENTATIONS AND COMMENDATIONS
Action: Presentation for Item 7A was made by Councilmember Miessner. The presentation for Item 7B will be rescheduled.
A. PRESENTATION OF A PROCLAMATION HONORING JEREMY SNYDER AS
POET LAUREATE FOR THE CITY OF VALLEJO
B. PRESENTATION OF CHECKS FOR 2021 WATERFRONT WEEKEND
8. FIRST COMMUNITY FORUM
Speakers: Garrett Toles, David Marsteller, Richard Hybels, Juhee Krishan, Carly Goebel, Andrea Source, and Andra Davis.
9. PUBLIC COMMENT REGARDING CONSENT CALENDAR ITEMS
Speakers: Ken Szutu (Item 9D).
10. CONSENT CALENDAR AND APPROVAL OF AGENDA
Action: Moved by Vice Mayor Vice Mayor Verder-Aliga and carried unanimously by Councilmembers present, unless otherwise noted, approval of the Agenda and the Consent Calendar (Absent: Loera-Diaz).
A. APPROVAL OF MINUTES
Recommendation: Approve minutes for the special and regular meetings of December 7 and 14, 2021.
Contact: Dawn G. Abrahamson, City Clerk (707) 648-4527
[email protected]
Action: Approved minutes.
B. WAIVE READING AND AUTHORIZE INTRODUCTIONS AND/OR ADOPTION
OF ORDINANCES BY TITLE ONLY
Recommendation: Waive reading and authorize introductions and/or adoption of any and all ordinances on this Agenda, if any, by title only. This is a standard procedural action so the City Council does not have to read an ordinance in its entirety.
Contact: Dawn G. Abrahamson, City Clerk (707) 648-4527
[email protected]
Action: Waived reading and authorized introductions and/or adoption of any DocuSign Envelope ID: 7FB9CB06-7097-4F0F-83FB-AA5F6DFEFB3E Regular City Council Meeting Minutes
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and all ordinances on this Agenda, if any, by title only. This is a standard procedural action so the City Council does not have to read an ordinance in its entirety.
C. EQUIPMENT PURCHASE AGREEMENT - WESTNET INC.
Recommendation: Authorize the City Manager to execute the attached Equipment Purchase Agreement with WestNet Inc. for an amount not to exceed $1,331,000 and to purchase various Motorola equipment and programming support from current vendors for a total project amount not to exceed $2,000,000.
Contact: Naveed Ashraf, Chief Innovation Officer
[email protected]
Action: Authorized the City Manager to execute the attached Equipment Purchase Agreement with WestNet Inc. for an amount not to exceed $1,331,000 and to purchase various Motorola equipment and programming support from current vendors for a total project amount not to exceed $2,000,000.
D. ADOPT A RESOLUTION AMENDING THE FISCAL YEAR 2021-22
COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT PROGRAM BUDGET TO
INCREASE EXPENDITURES BY $753,488 AND RE-AUTHORIZING FUNDING Recommendation: Adopt a Resolution to Amend the Fiscal Year (FY) 2021-22 Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Program Budget to increase the expenditure budget by $753,488 and reauthorize funding for projects and activities in progress.
Contact: Gillian Hayes, Interim Assistant City Manager (707) 648-4163 [email protected]
Action: Adopted Resolution No. 22-002 N.C.
E. ADOPT RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO SUBMIT A NOTICE OF INTENT TO COMPLY WITH SB 1383 (ORGANIC WASTE
RECYCLING REQUIREMENTS)
Recommendation: Adopt a Resolution authorizing the City Manager to submit a Notice of Intent to Comply with SB 1383 to the California Department of Resources, Recycling and Recovery (CalRecycle).
Contact: Melissa Tigbao, Acting Public Works Director (707) 648-4301 [email protected]
Derek Crutchfield, Recycling Coordinator (707) 648-5346 [email protected]
Action: Adopted Resolution No. 22-003 N.C.
F. ADOPT RESOLUTION AWARDING A CONSTRUCTION CONTRACT TO COBABE BROTHERS PLUMBING IN THE AMOUNT OF $1,627,175.00 FOR WATER MAINS CIP FY20-21 PROJECT AND AUTHORIZE THE CITY
MANAGER TO EXECUTE SAME
Recommendation: Adopt a Resolution approving the plans and specifications for the Water Mains Capital Improvements Project and authorize the City Manager DocuSign Envelope ID: 7FB9CB06-7097-4F0F-83FB-AA5F6DFEFB3E Regular City Council Meeting Minutes
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to execute a construction contract in the amount of $1,627,175.00 to Cobabe Brothers Plumbing, in accordance with the approved plans and specifications.
Contact: Beth Schoenberger, Acting Water Director (707) 648-5439 [email protected]
Action: Adopted Resolution No. 22-004 N.C.
11. ACTION CALENDAR
The Public Hearing for Action Calendar Item 11A begin at 8 p.m. Following the conclusion of this public hearing, Council returned to Action Calendar Item 11B.
A. CONDUCT A PUBLIC HEARING TO RECEIVE AND CONSIDER FINAL
CENSUS DATA FROM THE CONSULTANT AND OBTAIN INPUT FROM THE
COMMUNITY REGARDING THE REDRAWING OF ELECTION DISTRICT
BOUNDARIES -THIS PUBLIC HEARING WILL BEGIN PROMPTLY AT 8:00 P.M.
Recommendation:
1. Receive and file final Census data report;
2. Provide direction to staff and consultants relative to the drawing of final district maps; or
3. Open the public hearing to receive input from the community regarding the redrawing of election district boundaries; and
4. Alternatively, discuss and take other action related to this item.
Contact: Dawn G. Abrahamson, City Clerk (707) 648-4528
[email protected]
Mayor McConnell opened the public hearing.
Following announcement of the agenda item and recommendation, City Clerk Abrahamson provided introductory instructions for how to access Spanish and Filipino translation services through the Zoom meeting.
City Clerk Abrahamson introduced the item, provided the purpose of tonight’s public hearing and introduce the City’s consultants Ms. Nentwig (Tripepi Smith) and Mr. Chawkins (NDC, City’s demographer).
Ms. Nentwig provided an overview of the outreach and public engagement efforts to date.
Mr. Chawkins reviewed the redistricting process, rules and goals, provided a demographic summary of existing districts using 2020 Census total population counts, reviewed the definition of neighborhoods, communities of interest, public mapping and map review tools available to the public, shared a draft map for Council’s consideration that remedies the contiguity problem for District 6 and concluded the presentation requesting Council direction on the maps and DocuSign Envelope ID: 7FB9CB06-7097-4F0F-83FB-AA5F6DFEFB3E Regular City Council Meeting Minutes
January 11, 2022
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adjustment requested.
Staff and the consultants responded to questions from Councilmembers.
Speakers: Anne Carr.
There being no other speakers, the public hearing was closed.
Another question and answer period followed. Councilmembers provided comment.
Mayor McConnell and Councilmember Arriola expressed concern about disenfranchising voters that are displaced by the remedy who were not allowed to vote in the November 2020 election and would then have to wait 6 more years to vote. The Mayor requested staff and the demographer to keep this principle in mind in redrawing Districts 5 and 6 particularly, but apply it to all districts.
B. INTRODUCTION OF AN ORDINANCE FOR PROHIBITION OF POSSESSION
OR SALE OF NON-SERIALIZED, UNFINISHED FIREARMS OR RECEIVERS
AND NON-SERIALIZED FIREARMS
Recommendation: Introduce an ordinance adding Chapter 7.90 to the City of Vallejo Municipal Code, "Non-serialized, unfinished firearm frames or receivers, and non-serialized firearms."
Contact: Jason Potts, Captain of Police (707) 651-7105
[email protected]
Action Item 11B was taken up before Action Item 11A since it was before 8 p.m.
Police Chief Williams provided introductory comments. Captain Potts defined privately and personally manufactured firearm (Ghost Guns), reviewed the ease of construction, cost and profit, outlined the impacts on the community, existing laws, provided violent crime percentage and the magnitude of the problem, reviewed shooting incidents in 2021 and firearm and Ghost Fun recovery efforts by law enforcement, discussed Operation P.E.A.C.E. and the composition of the Peace Team and 2021 numbers, and concluded the presentation by identifying possible solutions moving forward.
Following staff’s presentation and due to the hour of 8 p.m., Action Item 11A was heard. At the conclusion of that item, Council returned to Action Item 11B.
Staff responded to questions from Councilmembers. Councilmembers provided comment.
Action: Moved by Vice Mayor Verder-Aliga and carried unanimously by Councilmembers present to introduce an ordinance adding Chapter 7.90 to the City of Vallejo Municipal Code, "Non-serialized, unfinished firearm frames or receivers, and non-serialized firearms” as amended to include Section 7.90.040 DocuSign Envelope ID: 7FB9CB06-7097-4F0F-83FB-AA5F6DFEFB3E Regular City Council Meeting Minutes
January 11, 2022
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– Violations/Penalty. Violations of any provisions of this chapter shall constitute a misdemeanor (Absent: Loera-Diaz).
The meeting recessed at 8:45 p.m. and reconvened at 8:55 p.m.
C. PRESENTATION OF THE ANNUAL COMPREHENSIVE FINANCIAL REPORT (ACFR) FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDED JUNE 30, 2021
Recommendation: Receive the presentation of the City's Annual Comprehensive Financial Report (ACFR) for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2021.
Contact: Rekha Nayar, Finance Director (707-648-4592)
[email protected]
Finance Director Nayar provided background information, defined the acronym ACFR and reviewed the financial highlights of General Fund and Water Fund.
Jocelyn Potter (LSL Audit Firm) provided an overview of their audit, what is audited and reviewed the results of the audit.
Speakers: Anne Carr.
Staff responded to questions from Councilmembers. Councilmembers provided comment.
D. CONSIDER AND REALLOCATE AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN ACT (ARPA)
FUNDS OF FOUR HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS FROM THE
DOWNTOWN STREETS TEAM TO HOMELESS RESPONSE EFFORTS AND
ADOPT A RESOLUTION APPROVING A GRANT AGREEMENT WITH
FIGHTING BACK PARTNERSHIP TO FUND HOUSING VOUCHERS FOR
TEMPORARY SHELTER FOR THE UNHOUSED IN AN AMOUNT NOT TO
EXCEED TWO HUNDRED NINETY THOUSAND DOLLARS AND AUTHORIZE
THE CITY MANAGER TO EXECUTE SAME
Recommendation: Consider and reallocate American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds of four hundred thousand dollars from the Downtown Streets Team to Homeless Response Efforts and adopt a resolution approving a grant agreement with Fighting Back Partnership to fund housing vouchers for temporary shelter for the unhoused in an amount not to exceed two hundred ninety thousand dollars and authorize the City Manager to execute same.
Contact: Gillian Hayes, Interim Assistant City Manager
[email protected]; (707) 648-4163
Natalie Peterson, Administrative Analyst
[email protected], (707) 649-3415
Interim Assistant City Manager Hayes provided introductory comments.
Administrative Analyst Peterson provided background information, overview of the Agreement and Resolution, and outlined the recommendation.
DocuSign Envelope ID: 7FB9CB06-7097-4F0F-83FB-AA5F6DFEFB3E Regular City Council Meeting Minutes
January 11, 2022
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Richard Fisher (Applicant) addressed the Council on the proposed recommendation.
Speakers: Andrea Source, Gaul Culley, Melisa Swift, Anne Carr, Eunice Malley, Chris Platzer, Ken Szutu, and an unidentified member of the public.
Staff and Mr. Fisher responded to questions from Councilmembers and the speakers. Councilmembers provided comment.
Action: Moved by Vice Mayor Verder-Aliga and carried unanimously by Councilmembers present to reallocate American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds of four hundred thousand dollars from the Downtown Streets Team to Homeless Response Efforts and adopt Resolution No. 22-005 N.C., a resolution approving a grant agreement with Fighting Back Partnership to fund housing vouchers for temporary shelter for the unhoused in an amount not to exceed two hundred ninety thousand dollars and authorize the City Manager to execute same with the addition that vouchers may also be used to pay for mobile home housing (Absent: Loera-Diaz).
E. DISCUSSION TO EITHER CONTINUE ALLOWING MEETINGS OF
LEGISLATIVE BODIES TO BE HELD IN PERSON IN COMPLIANCE WITH
ANY FACE-MASK REQUIREMENTS IN PLACE AT THE TIME OF THE
MEETING OR ADOPT A RESOLUTION TO RETURN TO REMOTE
TELECONFERENCE MEETINGS OF LEGISLATIVE BODIES OF THE CITY OF VALLEJO IN LIGHT OF THE COVID-19 OMICRON SURGE
Recommendation: Following discussion, either continue to allow meetings of legislative bodies to be held in person in compliance with any face-mask requirements in place at the time of the meeting or adopt a resolution to return to remote teleconference meetings of legislative bodies of the City of Vallejo in light of the COVID-19 Omicron surge and the number of positive cases.
Contact: Mike Malone, Interim City Manager
[email protected]
Dawn G. Abrahamson, City Clerk
[email protected]
City Manager Malone provided an overview of the staff report and outlined the two options before Council this evening.
Speakers: Chris Platzer and an unidentified member of the public.
Staff responded to questions from Councilmembers.
Action: Moved by Vice Mayor Verder-Aliga and carried unanimously by Councilmembers present to adopt Resolution No. 21-006 N.C., a resolution returning to remote teleconference meetings of legislative bodies of the City of Vallejo in light of the COVID-19 Omicron surge and the number of positive cases (Absent: Loera-Diaz).
DocuSign Envelope ID: 7FB9CB06-7097-4F0F-83FB-AA5F6DFEFB3E Regular City Council Meeting Minutes
January 11, 2022
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12. INFORMATION CALENDAR
A. UPDATE ON HOMELESS NAVIGATION CENTER
Recommendation: This item is for informational purposes only. There is no action or staff report associated with this item.
Contact: Terrance Davis, Interim Assistant City Manager [email protected]
Interim Assistant City Manager Davis provided a recap of the timeline, discussed ongoing planning efforts, summarized cost estimates and budget status and concluded with next steps.
Staff responded to questions from Councilmembers.
Speakers: Bernard Norman and Anne Carr.
13. CITY MANAGER’S REPORT – None.
14. CITY ATTORNEY’S REPORT – None.
15. COMMUNITY FORUM
Speakers: Anne Carr, Ken Szutu and Don Jordan.
16. REPORT OF THE PRESIDING OFFICER AND MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL
Councilmembers reported on various community events and meetings attended.
17. ADJOURNMENT
The meeting adjourned at 11:50 p.m.
_________________________________
ROBERT H. MCCONNELL, MAYOR
ATTEST:
________________________________
DAWN G. ABRAHAMSON
CITY CLERK
DocuSign Envelope ID: 7FB9CB06-7097-4F0F-83FB-AA5F6DFEFB3E