City Council Special and Regular Meetings - 2:00 PM & 6:00 PM Tuesday, August 2, 2022
CITY HALL
1666 N. MAIN STREET, WALNUT CREEK
CouncilMembers:
DARLING
HASKEW
WILK
mAYOR pRO tEM SILVA
mayor FRANCOIS
Meeting minutes were approved by the City Council on September 6, 2022.
CITY COUNCIL SPECIAL MEETING - STUDY SESSION AT 2:00 PM
1. OPENING AND PUBLIC COMMUNICATIONS
Mayor Francois reported that under California law, public comments at special meetings are limited to subjects on the agenda only. Therefore, public comment would be received during the City Council consideration of the item.
2. STUDY SESSION
a.
SUSTAINABILITY ACTION PLAN 2030: PHASE 2 REPORT ON STRATEGIES FOR ACHIEVING GREENHOUSE GAS REDUCTIONS AND IMPROVING CLIMATE RESILIENCE AND SUSTAINABILITY City Manager Dan Buckshi introduced the item. Deputy City Manager Carla Hansen and Administrative Analyst II Emlyn Struthers provided the agenda report. It was stated that the City is in the process of updating its 2030 Sustainability Action Plan. The Sustainability Action Plan (SAP) is a broad and comprehensive approach to achieving greenhouse gas emission reductions goals, adapting to climate change and enhancing the City’s climate resiliency. City Manager Buckshi reported that the City is currently in Phase 2 of development of the plan and the focus of the study session is to review proposed draft strategies in the context of the available quantitative and qualitative information, and provide input on how to incorporate the strategies into the draft Sustainability Action Plan for further iterative discussions and public input.
Eli Krispi, Placeworks, discussed the draft strategies.
Mayor Francois opened the item for public comment. Oral in-person public comments were received from: Sameer Advani; and Robert Thomas. Remote public comments were received from: Leela McCullough; Radhika; Yunfan Li; Carol Weed; Lisa Jackson, 350 Contra Costa Action; Lynda Deschambault; and Jan Warren. Written public comments were received and provided to the City Council, and posted online as part of the meeting record.
The City Council provided input on the proposed strategies (buildings and energy supply; transportation and land use; water and wastewater; waste; and off-road equipment and community health and resilience); no formal action was taken.
Agenda Report
Attachment 1 - Draft Results
Attachment 2 - Outreach Summary
Public Comment Received BEFORE Meeting
3. ADJOURNMENT OF THE CITY COUNCIL SPECIAL MEETING - STUDY SESSION at 3:57 p.m. ________________________________________________________________________________ CITY COUNCIL REGULAR MEETING AT 6:00 PM
Council Chamber - 1st Floor
1. OPENING
a.
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
b.
ROLL CALL - all Councilmembers were in attendance.
c.
PROCLAMATION: Parkinson’s Awareness Day
2. CONSENT CALENDAR
Mayor Francois opened the Consent Calendar for public comment. No public comments were received for items on the Consent Calendar.
Motion by Wilk, second by Mayor Pro Tem Silva,
carried unanimously
, to APPROVE CONSENT CALENDAR ITEMS 2a-b and 2d-g as follows:
YEAS:
Darling, Haskew, Wilk, Mayor Pro Tem Silva, Mayor Francois. a.
APPROVED CITY COUNCIL MINUTES of July 19, 2022.
07.19.22 Draft Minutes
b.
ACCEPTED WARRANT REGISTERS dated July 15, 2022 and DIRECT PAYROLL TRANSFERS dated July 15, 2022.
Warrants
d.
ACCEPTED final description to the Dedication of Easement at the Shadelands Art Center for installation of EV Chargers Infrastructure under PG&E's EV Charge Network Program; ACCEPTED final description to the Dedication of Easement at the Broadway Garage for installation of EV Chargers Infrastructure under PG&E's EV Charge Network Program; ACCEPTED EV Charger Purchase Rebates from PG&E and MCE into the EV Charger Project CP009978; and TRANSFERED remaining fund balance from the EV Charger Project CP009978 back to the Parking and Downtown Enhancement Fund.
Agenda Report
Attachment 1 - Easement for Shadelands
Attachment 2 - Easement for Broadway Parking Garage
e.
AUTHORIZED THE CITY MANAGER to execute an agreement with Granicus, LLC, for annual subscription services in the amount of $129,319.65.
Agenda Report
f.
AUTHORIZED THE CITY MANAGER to execute an amendment to the consultant services agreement for accounting support with Eide Bailey, LLP, to increase the contract amount by $120,000, for a total amount not to exceed $280,560.
Agenda Report
g.
APPOINTED Councilmember Cindy Darling as the Voting Delegate; and Councilmember Loella Haskew as the Alternate Voting Delegate to the League of California Cities Annual Conference to be held September 7-9, 2022.
Agenda Report
Attachment - Voting Delegate Form
c.
APPROVAL AND AUTHORIZATION of the City Manager to execute the Memorandum of Understanding between the City Diablo Regional Arts Association (DRAA); and ADOPTION OF RESOLUTION increasing the expenditure appropriation in the FY 23 General Fund budget for the Lesher Center for the Arts and Center Repertory budgets by $280,977 to support upgrading a position and adding a Program Manager position; and b) increasing the revenues for the Lesher Center for the Arts, Center Repertory and Bedford Gallery by $102,830 for the commitment from the DRAA to fund 20% of the three artistic leadership positions.
Councilmember Haskew pulled Consent Calendar Item 2c to provide comments.
Motion by Mayor Pro Tem Silva, second by Haskew,
carried unanimously
, to APPROVE AND AUTHORIZE the City Manager to execute the Memorandum of Understanding between the City Diablo Regional Arts Association (DRAA); and ADOPT RESOLUTION NO. 22-41 increasing the expenditure appropriation in the FY 23 General Fund budget for the Lesher Center for the Arts and Center Repertory budgets by $280,977 to support upgrading a position and adding a Program Manager position; and b) increasing the revenues for the Lesher Center for the Arts, Center Repertory and Bedford Gallery by $102,830 for the commitment from the DRAA to fund 20% of the three artistic leadership positions.
YEAS:
Darling, Haskew, Wilk, Mayor Pro Tem Silva, Mayor Francois.
Agenda Report
Attachment 1 - MOU
Appendix A to Attachment 1, MOU
Appendix B to Attachment 1, MOU
Attachment 2 - Resolution
3. PUBLIC COMMUNICATIONS
Remote public comments were received from Barbara G.
4. COUNCILMEMBER AND STAFF ANNOUNCEMENTS, REPORTS ON ACTIVITIES OR REQUESTS a.
Closed Session announcements - none.
b.
City Manager reports - City Manager Buckshi reported that staff training recently took place on emergency preparedness and response. c.
City Councilmember reports on AB1234 Activities, Councilmember assignments and various activities and upcoming events Councilmembers announced upcoming events, reported on meetings and other local events attended since the last meeting.
5. PUBLIC HEARING
a.
WALDEN GARDEN TOWNHOMES – EIGHT UNIT (FOR SALE) DEVELOPMENT AT 1394 WALDEN ROAD There were no ex parte communications to disclose.
Associate Planner Simar Gill presented the agenda report. She reported that the applicant is requesting City Council approval on the site layout and design of a proposed eight-unit density bonus townhome development at 1394 Walden Road. The proposed project includes seven market rate units and one affordable unit for a moderate-income household. A project with one affordable unit is eligible for one concession and unlimited waivers from the City's development standards pursuant to State Density Bonus Law. The project is seeking three waivers from the City's development standards. In addition, the Project is also subject to the provisions of the Housing Accountability Act/Senate Bill (SB) 330 which limit local review authority if the project complies with applicable objective standards. The project also includes tree removals and a tree dripline encroachment permit.
The project site is located in Overlay Zone 12 (O-12) that requires City Council approval of the Design Review, Tree Removals, Dripline Encroachment Permit and the requested waivers pursuant to City's Density Bonus Ordinance and State Density Bonus Law.
Associate Planner Gill reported that after City Council action on the Design Review, the Planning Commission will consider a tentative subdivision map for the proposed eight "airspace" condominiums. If approved, the project will then return to City Council for the Final Subdivision Map.
Ed Novak, project architect representing the applicant, discussed the project further.
In-person oral comments were received from: Donna Whitt; Kent Yoshiwara; Robert Mes; Mary Vanderpan; Joe Pellissler; and Douglas Whitt. Remote public comments were received from Pete Bennett. Written public comments were received and provided to the City Council, and posted online as part of the meeting record.
Mayor Francois invited the applicant to provide a rebuttal.
City Attorney Steve Mattas summarized for the record the two conditions to be added to the resolution in response to concerns raised: (1) An added Design Review Condition 13.1: The developer shall install 2-foot square windows on the street-facing frontage of Unit No. 1, where such windows shall be architecturally compatible with windows on the building located on the opposite side of the driveway; and (2) An added Standard Engineering Condition 63.1: Developer or the Homeowner’s Association shall record a Declaration of Covenants, Conditions and Restrictions (CC&Rs) to include a condition, subject to approval as to form by the Walnut Creek City Attorney’s Office, that homeowners shall park in their respective assigned garages and shall use such garages solely for parking and not for other purposes including storage, and the guest parking space on site shall be reserved exclusively for guests.
The applicant stated their agreement with the two added conditions.
Motion by Darling, second by Mayor Pro Tem Silva,
carried unanimously
, to ADOPT RESOLUTION NO. 22-42 for approval of design review, density bonus waivers, tree removal permit and tree dripline encroachment permit for an 8-unit townhome development at 1394 Walden Road, as amended at the dais adding in two additional conditions.
YEAS:
Darling, Haskew, Wilk, Mayor Pro Tem Silva, Mayor Francois.
Agenda Report
Attachment 1 - Proposed Resolution
Attachment 2 - Vicinity Map
Attachment 3 - Project Plans
Attachment 4 - ODS Checklist
Attachment 5 - Waiver Request
Attachment 6 - Overlay Zone
Attachment 7 - Arborist Report
Attachment 8 - DRC Staff Report
Public Comment Received BEFORE Meeting
6. CONSIDERATION
a.
YOUTH LEADERSHIP COMMISSION PROPOSAL "A SEAT AT THE TABLE" Deputy City Manager Carla Hansen introduced the item and members of the Youth Leadership Commission provided the presentation regarding the project proposal. Deputy City Manager Hansen reported that the Youth Leadership Commission completes one or more policy/service projects per year. One of the projects they initiated in 2021 was "A Seat at the Table," focused on researching opportunities for expanded youth engagement in local government and adding a youth member to each of the City’s Commissions. The Commission met with the Public Education Committee in August 2021 and in May 2022 to present their proposal and obtain input and feedback. Based on the feedback, the Public Education Committee recommended that the City Council consider the Youth Leadership Commission’s proposal to begin a one-year pilot program to add a preferential voting youth member to the Transportation, Arts, and Parks, Recreation and Open Space (PROS) Commissions.
Oral in-person public comments were received from: Michelle Alas; Collin Bausley; and Hadil Djadri. Written public comments were received and provided to the City Council, and posted online as part of the meeting record.
Motion by Darling, second by Wilk,
carried unanimously
, to APPROVE a one-year pilot program adding
a preferential voting youth member
to the Arts, Transportation and Parks, Recreation and Open Space Commissions.
YEAS:
Darling, Haskew, Wilk, Mayor Pro Tem Silva, Mayor Francois.
Agenda Report
Attachment
Public Comment Received BEFORE Meeting
7. ADJOURNMENT OF THE CITY COUNCIL REGULAR MEETING at 9:22 p.m. ________________________________________
Suzie Martinez, MMC
City Clerk of the City of Walnut Creek
Approved:
_______________________________________
Matt Francois
2021-22 Mayor of the City of Walnut Creek