2006-04-18 Joint CC ARRA CIC HABOC MinutesMINUTES OF THE SPECIAL JOINT CITY COUNCIL,
ALAMEDA REUSE AND REDEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY,
COMMUNITY IMPROVEMENT COMMISSION, AND
HOUSING AUTHORITY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS MEETING
TUESDAY- -APRIL 18, 2006- -7:31 P.M.
Mayor /Chair Johnson convened the Special Joint Meeting at 9:27 p.m.
ROLL CALL - Present: Councilmembers / Board Members /
Commissioners Daysog, deHaan, Matarrese,
Commissioner Torrey, and Mayor /Chair
Johnson - 5.
Absent: Vice Mayor /Board Member /Commissioner
Gilmore - 1.
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(06- 214CC /06- 12CIC) Minutes of the Special Joint City Council and
Community Improvement Commission Meeting held on March 21, 2006.
Approved.
Councilmember /Board Member /Commissioner Matarrese moved approval of
the minutes.
Councilmember /Board Member /Commissioner deHaan seconded the motion,
which carried by unanimous voice vote - 4. [Absent:
Councilmember /Board Member /Commissioner Gilmore - 11
AGENDA ITEM
(06- 215CC /06- 13CIC) Discussion of City Attorney/ General Counsel
Legal Services and staffing options.
The City Attorney provided a brief presentation on staffing
options.
Burney Matthews, Alameda, stated that he does not see how two
attorneys can handle all of the issues facing the City; the Police
Department's relationship with the City Attorney saved the City
thousands of dollars over the years; outsourcing will not keep
litigation costs at a minimum.
Mayor /Chair Johnson stated that the Council /Board
Members /Commissioners are not suggesting outsourcing; outsourcing
is only one option.
Special Joint Meeting
Alameda City Council,
Alameda Reuse and Redevelopment Authority, 1
Community Improvement Commission, and
Housing Authority Board of Commissioners
April 18, 2006
Councilmember /Board Member /Commissioner Daysog stated residents
were led to believe that the City needed a fully staffed Attorneys
Office in 1937; the City has not been flying with all wings in
place over the past year; Option One seems consistent with what
prompted creating the City Attorney's office in 1937.
Mayor /Chair Johnson stated she would prefer to have Vice
Mayor /Board Member /Commissioner Gilmore's input; outside counsel
costs have ranged from $2.5 to $3 million; the
Council /Board /Commission have been receiving monthly reports on the
costs of outside counsel; now the costs are within a reasonable
range; the Council /Board /Commission should have a better
understanding on the operation of the City Attorney's Office; the
Council /Board /Commission should not focus on the number of
attorneys on staff but on how to deal with outside counsel costs
and the combined costs; $1.4 million is budgeted for outside
counsel this year.
Councilmember /Board Member /Commissioner deHaan stated the costs for
outside counsel have gone down; the Council /Board /Commission should
concentrate on filling the City Attorney's position; suggested
filling one of the attorney vacancies immediately.
Mayor /Chair Johnson stated the Council /Board /Commission would have
a better understanding on how to model the rest of the City
Attorney's Office once the City Attorney's position is discussed.
Councilmember /Board Member /Commissioner deHaan stated hiring from
within the City is a possibility.
Councilmember /Board Member /Commissioner Matarrese stated the City
Attorney position should be posted as soon as possible; he would
prefer to discuss filling the vacancies when Vice Mayor Gilmore is
present.
Councilmember /Board Member /Commissioner deHaan moved approval of
announcing the City Attorney position and filling one other
attorney position.
Mayor /Chair Johnson concurred that the City Attorney position
should be announced; stated she would want to have Vice Mayor /Board
Member /Commissioner Gilmore's input.
Councilmember /Board Member /Commissioner Daysog stated the process
for ramping up to five attorneys, including the City Attorney,
should begin.
Special Joint Meeting
Alameda City Council,
Alameda Reuse and Redevelopment Authority, 2
Community Improvement Commission, and
Housing Authority Board of Commissioners
April 18, 2006
Councilmember /Board Member /Commissioner Daysog seconded the motion.
Mayor /Chair Johnson stated a Council /Board /Commission discussion on
filling the vacancy from within should be scheduled.
Councilmember /Board Member /Commissioner deHaan stated he was
willing to take his motion off the table and have the
Council /Board /Commission discuss the matter in two weeks.
Councilmember /Board /Commissioner deHaan moved approval of meeting
in two weeks to discuss the matter.
Councilmember /Board Member /Commissioner Matarrese seconded the
motion, which carried by unanimous voice vote - 5. [Absent: Vice
Mayor /Board Member /Commissioner Gilmore - l.]
The City Manager clarified that the matter would be discussed at
the May 2 Closed Session and Regular City Council meetings.
Commissioner Torrey stated he did not receive any notice of the
meeting in advance.
ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business, Mayor /Chair Johnson adjourned the
Special Joint Meeting at 9:54 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Lara Weisiger, City Clerk
Secretary, Community Improvement
Commission
The agenda for this meeting was posted in accordance with the Brown
Act.
Special Joint Meeting
Alameda City Council,
Alameda Reuse and Redevelopment Authority, 3
Community Improvement Commission, and
Housing Authority Board of Commissioners
April 18, 2006