2020-04-21 Regular CC MinutesRegular Meeting
Alameda City Council
April 21, 2020 1
MINUTES OF THE REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING
TUESDAY- - APRIL 21, 2020- -7:00 P.M.
Mayor Ezzy Ashcraft convened the meeting at 7:01 p.m., led the Pledge of Allegiance
and made brief comments.
ROLL CALL - Present: Councilmembers Daysog, Knox White, Oddie, Vella,
and Mayor Ezzy Ashcraft – 5. [Note: The meeting
was conducted via WebEx]
Absent: None.
AGENDA CHANGES
Vice Mayor Knox White moved approval of calling a recess to convene the 7:01 p.m.
meeting and consider the urgency items first.
Mayor Ezzy Ashcraft seconded the motion, which carried by the following roll call vote:
Councilmembers Daysog: Aye; Knox White: Aye; Oddie: Aye; Vella: Aye; and Mayor
Ezzy Ashcraft: Aye. Ayes: 5.
***
The meeting was recessed at 7:08 p.m. and reconvened at 10:10 p.m.
***
Councilmember Oddie moved approval of delaying the Charter amendment [paragraph
no 20-234] per the suggestion of the League of Women Voters and others; proposed
the item be delayed until 2 weeks after the shelter in place orders have been lifted and
be presented at a special meeting.
Mayor Ezzy Ashcraft stated that she agrees in part to Councilmember Oddie’s proposal
to move the item; discussed the background for selecting the Charter Subcommittee;
noted the Subcommittee has been tasked with looking over the entire Charter,
especially the items raised by the Grand Jury report; stated public trust in elected
officials is important; expressed support for continuing the item to the next meeting;
stated the item is simpler than others; Council is not voting to raise pay, the vote will
allow the possibility of placing separate ballot initiatives on the November election; the
next meeting has a light agenda; noted Measure 2 language allows the City to add a
prosecutor, which is important to consider; stated correspondence received has
requested a full and robust discussion with full participation from the public; that she
agrees in part and disagrees in part; expressed support for a full and robust discussion
with public participation; speaking to Council in person is a kind of luxury; outlined
difficulties with childcare or access to meetings in general; stated there will be
limitations to meeting in groups all through summer and into the fall; expressed support
for continuing the item to the next Council meeting and for scheduling two special
meetings to address the meatier items; stated each item deserves its own separate
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Alameda City Council
April 21, 2020 2
hearing; expressed support for a Zoom meeting, which allows speakers to be heard
rather than having comments read, and for having the meetings well publicized ahead
of time for as full and robust of a discussion as possible; stated packing the Council
Chambers with people will not happen for a while.
Councilmember Vella seconded the motion.
Under discussion, Council member stated these are uncertain times; expressed support
for tabling the item at least until the shelter in place order has been lifted; stated the
primary focus of most people are on day-to-day items, not Council discussions related
to initiatives; the November election is still unclear; expressed concern for bringing
certain Charter changes to the election in November based on current voting access
conditions; stated a number of bills and legislation being worked on; decisions should
not be made in the middle of the night; expressed concern that essential workers will
not being able to comment or participate at a special or regular meeting and about staff
bandwidth and workload; expressed support for one special meeting to be agendized
earlier in the day to allow participation; expressed support for tabling the item until the
shelter in place has been lifted.
Mayor Ezzy Ashcraft stated the same avenues to submit comments will be allowed at
the special meetings, people can e-mail or text; those that want to show up in person
can have access on devices; expressed support for two special meetings; stated the
topics are fairly meaty and can be time-consuming.
Councilmember Vella stated there are people working long hours that are not thinking
about items aside from providing essential work and cannot respond in way that they
would normally be able to; expressed concern about people not having the time or
capacity to dig through recommendations; stated the conversation should be robust; all
items should be considered should be in front of all Councilmembers and constituents.
Councilmember Oddie expressed support for Councilmember Vella’s comments; stated
many people are worried about their health, jobs, and family; stated it is a bad look for
Council to have this discussion when people are preoccupied; Measure A and Charter
Section 7-3 are not part of the current agenda item; the idea of a City prosecutor has
come up this year.
Mayor Ezzy Ashcraft stated that not all items have originated from the Grand Jury
report; some items have come from evaluating the Charter, finding deficiencies and
wanting to make improvements; these are exceptional times; an election is occurring in
November.
Councilmember Oddie stated the Charter discussion should happen at a later date.
Vice Mayor Knox White stated all items were brought to Council, including a couple
being brought by Councilmember Vella; the City prosecutor item was based on direction
provided by a unanimous Council vote last September; expressed support for a way to
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Alameda City Council
April 21, 2020 3
slim down the conversation; stated there is no specific language ready to place on the
ballot; feedback is desired; expressed support for having the item related to Council
pay, City prosecutor and remote meetings on the May 5th meeting; stated direction can
be provided at the May 5th meeting for consideration of additional meetings to take
place after the shelter in place order has lifted; stated tonight Council can discuss
specific items to be continued to May 5th.
Councilmember Vella expressed support for the three items to be considered at the May
5th meeting and tabling the remainder until after the shelter in place order has lifted.
Mayor Ezzy Ashcraft expressed support for continuing the item to May 5th to whittle
down the items and make a decision for next steps on May 5th; stated more information
may be available at that time.
Vice Mayor Knox White stated some items such as term limits could be part of a simpler
conversation; expressed support for a discussion allowing a future Council to raise pay
if and when the economy is better, allowing the City Attorney’s office to prosecute
without approval of the District Attorney (DA), and clarifying the absence and remote
meeting participation as related to parenting and family care; stated the items can then
be written into ballot language after the May 5 th meeting; the last meeting in June is
projected to be without a shelter in place order; stated many people are submitting
correspondence electronically.
Mayor Ezzy Ashcraft stated remote attendance based on shelter in place restrictions is
a reason to broaden the exception.
Councilmember Vella inquired whether the Subcommittee could pare down the agenda
item to the items discussed by Vice Mayor Knox White if the item is tabled until a future
date.
Vice Mayor Knox White responded in the affirmative; stated that he and Councilmember
Daysog could pare down the item and provide it to staff for the May 5th meeting.
Councilmember Daysog expressed support for the proposal; stated the current items
are important, but not as heavy as the other items; the item is technical in nature;
expressed support for paring down the item.
Councilmember Oddie inquired whether the Subcommittee can provide items in time for
agenda publishing and whether giving direction during an agenda changes motion is
appropriate.
Mayor Ezzy Ashcraft stated the Subcommittee has already discussed paring the item
down.
Vice Mayor Knox White stated the idea is to pare down items for the May 5th meeting.
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April 21, 2020 4
Councilmember Oddie stated the item can be placed on a special meeting if it cannot to
be completed in time for the regular meeting.
The City Attorney stated Councilmembers are able to say whether or not they are willing
to support a particular motion based on representation from other Councilmembers; the
vote is related to continuing the item or if the item should be heard at the current
meeting; additional items are informational only.
Vice Mayor Knox White inquired whether edits can be made prior to the agenda
publishing on Thursday, to which the City Attorney responded in the affirmative.
Councilmember Oddie expressed support for the proposal.
***
Due to technical difficulties, the meeting was recessed at 10:39 p.m. and reconvened at
10:59 p.m.
***
Mayor Ezzy Ashcraft stated Council needs to take action to continue the meeting to
tomorrow night at 7:00 p.m.; inquired whether Council is able to continue the meeting.
The City Attorney requested a motion be done; stated prior to continuation, a motion
should also be made to continue the Charter amendment to a date specific; once a
motion is adopted to continue the meeting, other motions on specific agenda items
cannot be considered.
Vice Mayor Knox White inquired whether revised information could be provided for the
continued meeting occurring on April 22.
The City Attorney responded Council can only discuss the items included in the staff
report; stated the agenda materials have already been published for the meeting and a
new staff report would not be able to be submitted.
Vice Mayor Knox White inquired whether a subset of the staff report could be submitted.
The City Attorney responded in the affirmative; stated as long as the changes are
contained within the staff report already submitted without any new items.
Vice Mayor Knox White stated that he already sent revised language and is ready to
consider the revision tomorrow or at the May 5th meeting.
Councilmember Vella expressed support for continuing the item until May 5th.
Councilmember Oddie expressed support for the pared down version being brought
back to the May 5th meeting.
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April 21, 2020 5
Mayor Ezzy Ashcraft expressed support for continuing the item to the May 5th meeting.
Councilmember Vella moved approval of a substitute motion continuing the Charter
amendment to May 5th.
Councilmember Oddie seconded the motion, which carried by the following roll call vote:
Councilmembers Daysog: Aye; Knox White: Aye; Oddie: Aye; Vella: Aye; and Mayor
Ezzy Ashcraft: Aye. Ayes: 5.
Vice Mayor Knox White moved approval of continuing the curre nt meeting to April 22,
2020 at 7:00pm
Councilmember Vella seconded the motion; requested a friendly amendment to have
the start time be 6:30 p.m.
Mayor Ezzy Ashcraft expressed support for a 6:00 p.m. start time.
Vice Mayor Knox White amended the motion to a 6:00 p.m. start time.
Councilmember Vella seconded the motion, which carried by the following roll call vote:
Councilmembers Daysog: Aye; Knox White: Aye; Oddie: Aye; Vella: Aye; and Mayor
Ezzy Ashcraft: Aye. Ayes: 5.
PROCLAMATIONS, SPECIAL ORDERS OF THE DAY AND ANNOUNCEMENTS
(20-220) Proclamation Declaring the Month of April as Autism Awareness Month 2020.
Not heard.
(20-221) Proclamation Declaring the Week of April 19 to 25, 2020 as Alameda County
Victims’ Rights Week. Not heard.
ORAL COMMUNICATIONS, NON-AGENDA
Not heard.
CONSENT CALENDAR
(20-222) Minutes of the Special City Council Meeting, the Special Joint City Council and
Successor Agency to the Community Improvement Commission Meetings and the
Regular City Council Meeting Held on March 17, 2020. Not heard.
(20-223) Ratified bills in the amount of $3,184,612.02. Not heard.
(20-224) Recommendation to Accept the Work of St. Francis Electric for Streetlight
Conduit Replacement Project, Gibbons and Southwood, P.W. No. 04 -19-18. Not heard.
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Alameda City Council
April 21, 2020 6
(20-225) Recommendation to Authorize the City Manager to Execute Five, Five -Year
Agreements, in an Amount Not to Exceed $150,000 Each, Annually, to Advanced
Mobility Group (AMG); Fehr and Peers; Iteris Inc.; Kimley-Horn and Associates, Inc.;
and Parisi Transportation Consulting for On-Call Consulting Services for Transportation
Planning and Engineering Services for Individual Total Cumulative Amounts Not to
Exceed $750,000 Each and a Combined Total Cumulative Amount Not to Exceed
$3,750,000. Not heard.
(20-226) Recommendation to Set June 16, 2020, for a Public Hearing to Consider
Collection of Delinquent Integrated Waste Management Accounts Via Property Tax
Bills. Not heard.
(20-227) Recommendation to Support Resource Recovery Coalition of California’s
Emergency Solid Waste Funding Proposal, which Provides Additional Support to
Alameda County Industries in Response to Financial Impacts of the COVID -19
Pandemic. Not heard.
(20-228) Adoption of Resolution Preliminarily Approving the Annual Report Declaring
the City's Intention to Order the Levy and Collection of Assessments and Providing for
Notice of Public Hearing on June 16, 2020 - Island City Landscaping and Lighting
District 84-2 (Various Locations). Not heard.
(20-229) Adoption of Resolution Preliminarily Approving the Annual Report Declaring
the City's Intention to Order the Levy and Collection of Assessments and Providing for
Notice of Public Hearing on June 16, 2020 - Maintenance Assessment District 01-01
(Marina Cove). Not heard.
(20-230) Adoption of Resolution Approving that the Pavement Management Project be
Funded Through the State’s Road Maintenance and Rehabilitation Account for Fiscal
Year 2020-21. Not heard.
(20-231) Adoption of Resolution Authorizing the City Manager to Apply for and Receive
up to Three Hundred Thousand Dollars ($300,000) in Local Government Planning
Support Grant Program Funds. Not heard.
(20-232) Final Passage of Ordinance Approving a Development Agreement By and
Between the City of Alameda and Boatworks, LLC Governing the Boatworks Project for
Real Property Located at 2229 to 2235 Clement Avenue. Not heard.
REGULAR AGENDA ITEMS
(20-233) Adoption of Resolution Establishing Policies on Street Width, Lane Width,
Crosswalks and Bulb-Outs to Promote Safe, Livable Streets and Environmentally
Sustainable Transportation Choices;
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Alameda City Council
April 21, 2020 7
(20-233 A) Recommendation to Provide Direction to Staff on Tools for Improving Safety
at Intersections. Not heard.
(20-234) Adoption of Resolution Recommendation to Provide Direction on Potential
Measures Amending the City Charter. Not heard.
(20-235) Introduction of Ordinance Amending Alameda Municipal Code Chapter 30
(Development Regulations) to Modify Accessory Dwelling Unit Regulations to
Implement and Comply with State Law and Make Other Administrative, Technical, and
Clarifying Amendments pertaining to Appeals and Youth Centers Definition, as
Recommended by the Planning Board. Not heard.
(20-236) Introduction of Ordinance Amending Section 1 (Part) of Ordinance No. 3226
N.S. and Section 4-60.40 of the Alameda Municipal Code to Extend from July 1, 2020 to
July 1, 2021, or to Another Date Determined by Council, the Increase in Minimum Wage
within the City of Alameda to an Hourly Rate of Fifteen Dollars. Withdrawn.
(20-237) Introduction of Ordinance Authorizing the City Manager, or Designee, to
Execute a Twelve Month Amendment to the Lease with Pacific Pinball Museum, a
501(c)(3) Non-Profit Organization, with the Option of Four One -Year Extensions, for
Building 169, Suite 101 Located at 1680 Viking Street at Alameda Point. Not heard.
(20-238) Introduction of Ordinance Amending the Alameda Municipal Code by
Amending Section 2-19 (Commission on Disability) to Change the Number of Members
to Seven and Change the Name to the Commission on Persons with Disabilities. Not
heard.
(20-239) Recommendation to Provide Direction to the City Attorney to Consent, Modify
or Reject Law Firm Goldfarb Lipman’s Request to Waive Conflicts of Interest In
Connection with Goldfarb’s Legal Representation of t he City of Alameda and the
Housing Authority of the City of Alameda. Not heard.
CITY MANAGER COMMUNICATIONS
Not heard.
ORAL COMMUNICATIONS, NON-AGENDA
Not heard.
COUNCIL REFERRALS
None.
COUNCIL COMMUNICATIONS
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Alameda City Council
April 21, 2020 8
Not heard.
ADJOURNMENT
At 11:09 p.m., the meeting was continued to April 22, 2020 at 6:00 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Lara Weisiger
City Clerk
The agenda for this meeting was posted in accordance with the Sunshine Ordinance.