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2021-07-20 Continued 7-6 CC Minutes 659 pmContinued July 6, 2021 Meeting Alameda City Council July 20, 2021 1 MINUTES OF THE CONTINUED JULY 6, 2021 CITY COUNCIL MEETING TUESDAY- -JULY 20, 2021- -6:59 P.M. Mayor Ezzy Ashcraft convened the meeting at 7:48 p.m. ROLL CALL - Present: Councilmembers Daysog, Herrera Spencer, Knox White, Vella, and Mayor Ezzy Ashcraft – 5. [Note: The meeting was conducted via Zoom] Absent: None. CONTINUED CONSENT CALENDAR ITEM (21-479) Resolution No. 15801, “Amending Resolution Nos. 15728 and 15739 Amending the 2021 Regular City Council Meeting Dates.” Adopted. The City Clerk gave a brief presentation. Councilmember Herrera Spencer stated that she was not on Council when the meeting dates changed; noted correspondence has been received on the matter; stated that she is not available for the proposed September 22 nd meeting date; proposed keeping the September 1st meeting date and reverting to the September 21st date; stated the proposal appears to accommodate different requests. Mayor Ezzy Ashcraft expressed concern about changing the meeting dates due to religious holidays. Councilmember Knox White expressed support for the September 1 st and 22nd meeting dates; stated the League of California Cities has programming the evening of September 22nd until 7:00 p.m.; noted the Regular City Council meeting starts at 7:00 p.m.; Council can make a good faith determination that a large portion of the City has conflicts due to meaningful cultural events; residents have requested Council honor the conflicts; he does not support moving the meeting dates back; September 21 st is the first night of Sukkot and September 7th is the first night of Rosh Hashanah; expressed support for September 1st and September 22nd and for moving away from September 15th, which is the most problematic date proposed. Councilmember Herrera Spencer expressed support for Councilmember Knox White’s proposed dates. Mayor Ezzy Ashcraft stated there are many ways to participate in a Council meeting; there are also ways to have comments incorporated into the record; members of the public do not vote on matters; ma ny events are held in the evening; noted the current meeting is being held on Eid Al Adha, which is a Muslim holy day; expressed support for consideration of cultural observations; stated that she would prefer concerns about conflict be considered by the Social Services Human Relations Board (SSHRB). Continued July 6, 2021 Meeting Alameda City Council July 20, 2021 2 Councilmember Knox White stated missing Eid Al Adha was a mistake; he reviewed the inter-faith calendar for the year in order to avoid major conflicts; he will not support moving the dates back and creating h arm; outlined an argument provided by City of Dublin related to flying a rainbow flag for Pride Month; stated Council can address the matter with the meetings identified as having a conflict within the community and send the matter to SSHRB for policy deve lopment; Council can do the right thing by a large portion of the community, allowing full engagement in the process. Mayor Ezzy Ashcraft stated the analogy of flying the rainbow flag is not applicable; inquired whether additional dates have been proposed to be moved for cultural holidays. Councilmember Knox White responded had he known Eid Al Adha was in conflict, he would have proposed the meeting date be moved; stated he has not requested any other dates be moved; the two meeting dates in September happen to be prominent. Vice Mayor Vella inquired the original meeting dates, to which the City Clerk responded the meeting dates were adopted in December 2020 and modified in January 2021 to be the first and third Wednesday in September; the meeting dates went from September 7th and 21st to September 1st and 15th. Vice Mayor Vella expressed concern about taking a stance in terms of policy; stated should a policy be developed and should apply to all Boards and Commissions, not just Council; expressed concern about flip-flopping on the confirmed dates due to substantial business coming before Council; stated that she has a conflict on September 1st; the original proposal created a scheduling conflict with an important high holiday; she wants to find a way to accommodate all community members; scheduling conflicts will be created; it is problematic to throw dates out at the current meeting in hopes for a date that works for all. Councilmember Daysog stated most residents have the expectation of City Hall wo rking on the first and third Tuesday’s of the month; expressed support for meeting dates to remain the first and third Tuesday; stated that he suspects groups of people understand the importance of City Hall being as religious-neutral as possible; Council has previously gone through a variety of religious-based matters; he respects religious holidays; the business of the people must continue in a practical and religious -neutral manner. Vice Mayor Vella inquired whether the proposed dates from Councilmembe r Daysog are part of a motion. Councilmember Daysog moved approval of the Council meeting dates being the first and third Tuesday of September. Vice Mayor Vella seconded the motion. Continued July 6, 2021 Meeting Alameda City Council July 20, 2021 3 Under discussion, Mayor Ezzy Ashcraft inquired whether the motion in cludes direction to staff to have the matter brought before SSHRB in the future; stated that she agrees with Vice Mayor Vella that the consideration is not solely for Council meetings but for all Boards and Commissions. Councilmember Daysog stated that he has no preference for or against bringing the matter to SSHRB in the future; he is fine with the proposal should the majority of Council desire. Vice Mayor Vella made a friendly amendment to the motion to direct the SSHRB to look into the matter; stated any recommendation from SSHRB should be brought back to Council. Councilmember Daysog accepted the friendly amendment. On the call for the question, the motion carried by the following roll call vote: Councilmembers Daysog: Aye; Herrera Spencer: No; Knox White: No; Vella: Aye; and Mayor Ezzy Ashcraft: Aye. Ayes: 3. Noes: 2. ADJOURNMENT There being no further business, Mayor Ezzy Ashcraft adjourned the meeting at 8:01 p.m. Respectfully submitted, Lara Weisiger City Clerk The agenda for this meeting was posted in accordance with the Sunshine Ordinance.