City Council Special Meeting, Study Session - 4:00 PM & Regular Meeting - 6:00 PM Tuesday, July 18, 2023
CITY HALL
1666 N. MAIN STREET, WALNUT CREEK
CouncilMembers:
DARLING
FRANCOIS
WILK
mAYOR pRO tEM HASKEW
mayor SILVA
Meeting minutes were approved by the City Council on August 1, 2023.
CITY COUNCIL SPECIAL MEETING AT 4:00 PM
3rd Floor Conference Room
1. OPENING AND PUBLIC COMMUNICATION
a.
NOTICE FROM COUNCILMEMBER WILK of remote meeting attendance due to a just cause circumstance pursuant to Government Code Section 54953(f)(1) Mayor Silva noted for the record that Councilmember Wilk is attending the meeting remotely. Councilmember Wilk reported that he is traveling while on Central Contra Costa Transit Authority (CCCTA)
business and will be participating remotely per AB 2449 (just cause circumstance pursuant to Government Code Section 54953(f)(1)).
Mayor Silva reported that under California law, public comments at special meetings are limited to subjects on the agenda only and therefore, public comment would be received during the City Council consideration of the item.
2. STUDY SESSION
a.
DRAFT LOCAL ROADWAY SAFETY PLAN
Traffic Engineer Smadar Boardman reported that the City is preparing a Local Roadway Safety Plan (LRSP) which is a way to approach, organize and address traffic safety citywide. She presented a high-level overview of the draft LRSP to the City Council, including other feedback received and proposed next steps for the Plan.
In-person oral public comments were received from Kevin Burke and Kathy Hemmenway, Walnut Creek Downtown. Written public comments were also received, provided to the City Council and posted online as part of the meeting record.
The City Council provided feedback on the Local Roadway Safety Plan. The Plan will return to the City Council for final review and adoption at a future City Council meeting; no formal action was taken.
Agenda Report
ATTACHMENT - DRAFT LOCAL ROADWAY SAFETY PLAN
Addendum - Public Comment Received
3. ADJOURNMENT OF THE CITY COUNCIL SPECIAL MEETING - STUDY SESSION at 5:28 p.m. ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ CITY COUNCIL REGULAR MEETING AT 6:00 PM
Council Chamber, 1st Floor
1. OPENING
a.
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
b.
NOTICE FROM COUNCILMEMBER WILK of remote meeting attendance due to a just cause circumstance pursuant to Government Code Section 54953(f)(1).
Councilmember Wilk reported that he is traveling on
CCCTA
business and will be participating remotely per AB 2449. Mayor Silva noted that Councilmember Wilk is participating remotely due to a "just cause" circumstance pursuant to Government Code Section 54953(f)(1). c.
ROLL CALL - all Councilmembers were in attendance (Councilmember Wilk attended via teleconference due to a just cause circumstance).
2. CONSENT CALENDAR
Mayor Silva pulled Consent Calendar Items 2e-2g to ask clarifying questions of staff.
Motion by Mayor Pro Tem Haskew, second by Francois,
carried unanimously
, to APPROVE CONSENT CALENDAR ITEMS 2a-2d and 2h as follows:
YEAS:
Darling, Francois, Wilk, Mayor Pro Tem Haskew, Mayor Silva. a.
APPROVED CITY COUNCIL MINUTES of June 20, 2023.
JUN 20 2023 DRAFT Meeting Minutes
b.
ACCEPTED WARRANT REGISTERS dated June 16, 2023, June 23, 2023, June 30, 2023 and July 7, 2023; and DIRECT PAYROLL TRANSFERS dated June 16, 2023 and June 30, 2023.
Warrant Registers
c.
ADOPTED RESOLUTION NO. 23-48 approving the Salary and Wage Plan dated and effective as of July 23, 2023.
Agenda Report
ATTACHMENT - DRAFT RESOLUTION
EXHIBIT A - SALARY AND WAGE PLAN DATED AND EFFECTIVE AS OF JULY 23, 2023 d.
AUTHORIZED THE CITY MANAGER to execute a contract amendment with All-City Management Services to effectuate a two-year contract extension for crossing guard services in an amount not to exceed $500,034.
Agenda Report
ATTACHMENT 1 - 2ND AMENDMENT TO AGREEMENT
ATTACHMENT 2 - CURRENT AGREEMENT
h.
AUTHORIZED PURCHASE of one Toro Groundmaster 4000-D mower in the amount of $98,443.31.
Agenda Report
ATTACHMENT 1 - EQUIPMENT QUOTE
ATTACHMENT 2 - SOURCEWELL CONTRACT
Mayor Silva pulled Consent Calendar Items 2e-2g to ask clarifying questions of staff.
Motion by Mayor Silva, second by Mayor Pro Tem Haskew,
carried unanimously
, to APPROVE CONSENT CALENDAR ITEMS 2e-2g as follows:
YEAS:
Darling, Francois, Wilk, Mayor Pro Tem Haskew, Mayor Silva. e.
AUTHORIZED THE CITY MANAGER to execute a sixth amendment to the Consultant Services Agreement with Consor North America, Inc. in the amount of $1,220,000 to provide additional consultant services to complete Phase 2 of the Preliminary Engineering and Right of Way Phases for the South Main Street bridge over Las Trampas Creek replacement project.
Agenda Report
ATTACHMENT - 6TH AMENDMENT TO CONSULTANT SERVICES AGREEMENT f.
AUTHORIZED THE CITY MANAGER to execute Amendment No. 1 to Task Order No. 2 of the Master Consultant Services Agreement with Harrison Engineering, Inc., in the amount of $92,000 to provide additional services for the Walnut Boulevard Safe Routes to School project; and TRANSFER OF FUNDS in the amount of $100,000 from CP010161 to CP010083 to complete Addendum No. 1 to Task Order 2.
Agenda Report
ATTACHMENT - AMENDMENT 1 TO TASK ORDER 2 - SAFE ROUTES TO SCHOOL g.
AUTHORIZED THE CONTINUTATION of the emergency procurement actions undertaken pursuant to Public Contract Code Section 22050 for the storm drain repair work at 525 Lakewood Circle and Roadway Repairs at Ygnacio Valley Road (East of Oak Grove Rd).
Agenda Report
ATTACHMENT - RESOLUTION NO. 23-09
3. PUBLIC COMMUNICATIONS
In-person public comments were received from: Scott Burrell; Maggie Hochfelder; Kim Bouffard; Nate Landau; Carrubi; Phil Winslow; Falguni Dave; Danny Wong; Karen Means; Luis Mora; and Jan Warren. Remote public comments were received from: Alexander Solzheinitsyn; Barbara G.; and Michael Treoe. Written public comments were also received, provided to the City Council and posted online as part of the meeting record. The public comment period was continued to the end of the regular meeting.
Addendum - General Public Comment
Addendum - Handout Received at Dais
4. COUNCILMEMBER AND STAFF ANNOUNCEMENTS, REPORTS ON ACTIVITIES OR REQUESTS a.
Closed Session announcements - none.
b.
City Manager reports - City Manager Dan Buckshi reported he had attended a League of California Cities meeting in which an extensive update related to the California Public Employees Retirement System was shared. 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; and made comments on issues of concern.
5. PUBLIC HEARING
a.
CONSIDERATION OF A RESOLUTION APPROVING THE SUSTAINABILITY ACTION PLAN AND ASSOCIATED ADDENDUM TO THE GENERAL PLAN ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT REPORT AND ADOPTION OF A CLIMATE EMERGENCY RESOLUTION Deputy City Manager Carla Hansen, Administrative Analyst II Emlyn Struthers and Climate Corps AmeriCorps Fellow Kathryn Walsh, provided the staff presentation. Deputy City Manager Hansen reported that the Sustainability Action Plan (Plan) is the City’s plan to achieve a sustainable vision for the future, adapt to changing climate conditions, and rapidly reduce greenhouse gas emissions to support a pathway to net zero emissions by 2045. The City released the draft Plan in April 2023 to the public for review and feedback. Staff presented the draft Plan and community feedback on June 20, 2023, and changes directed by the City Council have been incorporated. Council was asked to adopt resolutions approving the Sustainability Action Plan and associated Addendum to the General Plan Environmental Impact Report, and to adopt a resolution endorsing the declaration of a climate emergency.
In-person oral public comments were received from: Jan Warren; Bridget Cox; and Melina Rafferty. Remote public comments were received from Jeffrey Perrine and Katherine Walley. Written public comments were also received, provided to the City Council and posted online as part of the meeting record.
Motion by Wilk, second by Darling,
carried unanimously
, to ADOPT RESOLUTION NO. 23-49 approving the Sustainability Action Plan and associated Addendum to the General Plan Environmental Impact Report; and to ADOPT RESOLUTION NO. 23-50 endorsing the declaration of a Climate Emergency that demands action on the climate crisis, with the chagnes made at the meeting to the Resolution (updates to the 5th "whereas" clause and to Section 4).
YEAS:
Darling, Francois, Wilk, Mayor Pro Tem Haskew, Mayor Silva.
Agenda Report
ATTACHMENT 1 - SUSTAINABILITY ACTION PLAN FINAL DRAFT
ATTACHMENT 2 - EDITS TO DRAFT SUSTAINABILITY ACTION PLAN, FOLLOWING THE JUNE 20, 2023 COUNCIL MEETING ATTACHMENT 3 - ADDENDUM TO THE EIR OF THE GENERAL PLAN
ATTACHMENT 4 - RESOLUTION ADOPTING THE SUSTAINABILITY ACTION PLAN AND ASSOCIATED ADDENDUM TO THE GENERAL PLAN EIR ATTACHMENT 5 - CLIMATE EMERGENCY RESOLUTION
Addendum - Public Comment Received
The meeting was recessed from 8:02 p.m. to 8:14 p.m.
6. CONSIDERATION
a.
COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT FOR DESIGN OF THE FUTURE HEATHER FARM AQUATIC AND COMMUNITY CENTER Senior Planner Jeanine Cavalli provided the staff presentation. She reported that one of the City Council’s 2023-2024 priorities is Parks, Facilities and Other Infrastructure, with a focus on the future combined swim center and community center facility at Heather Farm Park. An architect was selected to lead the design and construction of the Heather Farm Aquatic and Community Center project. Senior Planner Cavalli reported that staff seeks input on the desired level of community engagement to support the design phase of the project.
Mayor Silva opened the item for public comment. No public comments were received.
The City Council provided input on the desired level of community engagement to support the Heather Farm Aquatic and Community Center project; no formal action was taken.
Agenda Report
ATTACHMENT 1 - CONCEPTUAL SITE PLAN
ATTACHMENT 2 - LEVEL OF COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT
ATTACHMENT 3 - LEVELS OF ENGAGEMENT WITH ASSOCIATED COST AND TIME b.
POLICY DIRECTION ON REFINEMENTS TO THE DESIGN REVIEW PROCESS Community Development Director Erika Vandenbrande provided the staff presentation. She reported that changes to California’s housing laws that require adoption of objective design standards for housing projects, and customer feedback about streamlining the City’s development and design review processes, have created an opportunity to examine the design review process to achieve greater efficiency.
In-person oral public comments were received from Bob Linscheid, Walnut Creek Chamber of Commerce and Visitor Bureau. Written public comments were also received, provided to the City Council and posted online as part of the meeting record.
The City Council considered the questions posed: Does Council wish to consider changes to the Design Process for SB 330 and similar residential projects mandated by the State to use objective design standards? If yes, which body should review and make decisions about design? Discussion ensued. Does Council wish to consider chagnes to the Design Process for other residential development projects that are not subject to State law objective design requirements? If yes, which body should reveiw and make decisions about design? The City Council provided input and policy direction on the design review process options discussed in the staff report. The agenda item is to be further defined by staff and return to a future City Council meeting; no formal action was taken at this meeting.
Agenda Report
ATTACHMENT 1 - LEGISLATION REFERENCING OBJECTIVE DESIGN STANDARDS ATTACHMENT 2 - DESIGN REVIEW EXAMPLES FROM OTHER BAY AREA JURISDICTIONS Addendum - Public Comment Received
The City Council re-opened the public comment period. In-person oral public comments were received from: Bridget Cox; Chris Palomo; Derric Haynie; and Wendy Richardson. Remote public comments were received from Steve Elster.
7. ADJOURNMENT OF THE REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING at 10:29 p.m. in memorial of Sally B. Ingraham. ________________________________________
Suzie Martinez, MMC
City Clerk of the City of Walnut Creek
Approved:
_______________________________________
Cindy Silva
2022-23 Mayor of the City of Walnut Creek