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2022-08-09 Special CC MinutesSpecial Meeting Alameda City Council August 9, 2022 1 MINUTES OF THE SPECIAL CITY COUNCIL MEETING TUESDAY- - AUGUST 9, 2022- -6:00 P.M. Mayor Ezzy Ashcraft convened the meeting at 6:03 p.m. Councilmember Herrera Spencer led the Pledge of Allegiance. ROLL CALL - Present: Councilmembers Daysog, Herrera Spencer, Knox White, Vella, and Mayor Ezzy Ashcraft – 5. [Note: The meeting was conducted via Zoom.] Absent: None. ORAL COMMUNICATIONS, NON-AGENDA (22-503) Tod Hickman expressed concern about the state of the City and minutes. (22-504) Stewart Levine expressed concern about the Golf Course. CONSENT CALENDAR Expressed concern about Zoom meetings: Tod Hickman. Councilmember Knox White moved approval of the Consent Calendar. Vice Mayor Vella seconded the motion. Under discussion, Councilmember Herrera Spencer stated that she does not support the findings to allow City meetings to be conducted via teleconference; expressed support for hybrid meetings; stated it is long since passed the time for City Hall to be open to the public and allowing participation in meetings; many places are open and allow public attendance; the ability to participate in person at meetings contributes to the effectiveness; expressed concern about speakers being passed over during public comment; stated some people have difficulty with technology and internet service; discussed other agencies holding public meetings without mask mandate s; expressed support for the City joining other government agencies in allowing in -person public comment. Vice Mayor Vella stated the State Senate is still in COVID-19 protocols; people are not allowed to testify in person and can only participate by calling in; a number of different agencies are moving back to remote processes; noted some events have been delayed or cancelled due to COVID-19 outbreaks; she will continue to support the matter; some members have immunocompromised family members; some members have children who have only recently been able and eligible to be vaccinated; some members of the public are weary of gathering in close proximity; Council has had great meeting attendance with over 100 attendees at times; the amount exceeds the vast majority of the meetings held pre-pandemic; the meeting currently being held is public, has been Special Meeting Alameda City Council August 9, 2022 2 agendized and minutes are posted online; Zoom access is provided as well as call-in information; the City Clerk is moving towards upgrading the Council Chambers to allow for hybrid capability. Councilmember Daysog stated that he has supported the City getting back to in -person public meetings; expressed support for gathering information related to Alameda County; some City Council’s in Alameda County must offer a hybrid model; the information can be put together so that the next Council approval can review and decide a timeframe; with some cities meeting publically for several months, Alameda can begin to move in the same direction; proposed a friendly amendment to the motion to direct gathering all information related to different cities in Alameda County meeting styles; stated the information can be part of the report. Mayor Ezzy Ashcraft stated the City Clerk is prepared to provide information on surrounding cities; discussed the first League of California Cities in -person meeting; stated the Alameda County Mayor’s Conference is being cautious about returning to in- person meetings; caution should be used if meetings are held in-person; requested clarification about surrounding cities. The City Clerk stated the status changes frequently; more cities are going back to remote meetings, including the City of Hayward which had been meeting in a hybrid fashion has gone back to remote-only meetings; nine cities meet remotely; the City of Piedmont decides prior to each meeting at the time of publishing the agenda whether to meet hybrid or remote; four cities meet in a hybrid manner. Councilmember Daysog inquired whether the public attends meetings for the four cities that hold hybrid meetings, to which the City Clerk responded in the affirmative. In response to Mayor Ezzy Ashcraft’s inquiry, the City Clerk outlined City of Berkeley going to a hybrid meeting model and immediately reverting back to remote -only meetings. Mayor Ezzy Ashcraft outlined a hybrid meeting model where the majority of Commissioners attended remotely; stated masks were required while i nside; those who are immunocompromised have expressed concerns related to meeting in person; people with mobility concerns have appreciated being able to meet remotely; there will likely always be some form of remote option for people to attend meetings. Councilmember Herrera Spencer stated that she supports having hybrid meetings and not eliminating the online communications; her goal is to include as many members of the public as possible; expressed concern over people with poor quality technology; stated that she participates in the meetings from City Hall where she has the best access to quality technology; discussed the State of the City address at the USS Hornet; stated many people did not wear masks at the event. Councilmember Knox White stated the City Clerk has given Council an update on the Special Meeting Alameda City Council August 9, 2022 3 status of Alameda County cities on many occasions; the status has not changed since the last meeting and the motion does not need to be amended; he understands that the City will have the technology to allow for hybrid meetings in the future; inquired the timeline for the technology to be in-place. The City Clerk responded the equipment has come in and the project is getting under way; stated there are many moving parts; her department is working with the Information Technology (IT) department; hopefully, the project will be completed by the end of the month. Councilmember Knox White expressed concern about having Councilmembers in- person and not in-person at the same time; expressed support for holding me etings in- person and hybrid when all five Councilmembers can be present. Mayor Ezzy Ashcraft stated the matter is an authorization which must occur every 30 days, which required the special meeting to be held. Councilmember Daysog stated the information presented by the City Clerk is sufficient and is the type of information being requested; there is no need for an amendment to the motion; the information is sufficient enough to allow the City to move toward s a hybrid model. Councilmember Herrera Spencer stated that she understands the position of Councilmember Knox White to be that the City should not hold in -person meetings until all Councilmembers can be present in-person, which she does not support; the ability to meet remotely helps people unable to be vaccinated or with health concerns; discussed treatments which would prevent her ability to participate in-person; stated that she would attend in-person when possible; some Commissioners are immunocompromised and might not be able to come back as so on as others; it is important that the City be fluid throughout the process and allow people to make the choice. The City Clerk noted if Council does not vote to continue the matter, Councilmembers would need to publically disclose locations and open the area to the public for participation. On the call for the question, the motion carried by the following roll call vote: Councilmembers Daysog: No; Herrera Spencer: No; Knox White: Aye; Vella: Aye; and Mayor Ezzy Ashcraft: Aye. Ayes: 3. Noes: 2. [Items so enacted or adopted are indicated by an asterisk preceding the paragraph number.] (*22-505) Recommendation to Approve Findings to Allow City Meetings to be Conducted via Teleconference. Accepted. REGULAR AGENDA ITEM (22-506) Resolution No. 15948, “Appointing Timothy Erwin as a Member of the Civil Special Meeting Alameda City Council August 9, 2022 4 Service Board.” Adopted; (22-506A) Resolution No. 15949, “Appointing Jordan Frank as a Member of the Civil Service Board.” Adopted; and (22-506B) Resolution No. 15950, “Appointing Diane Lang as a Member of the Civil Service Board.” Adopted. Councilmember Knox White moved adoption of the resolutions. Councilmember Daysog seconded the motion, which carried by the following roll call vote: Councilmembers Daysog: Aye; Herrera Spencer: Aye; Knox White: Aye; Vella: Aye; and Mayor Ezzy Ashcraft: Aye. Ayes: 5. The City Clerk administered the Oath of Office to Ms. Lang and Mr. Frank. Ms. Lang and Mr. Frank made brief comments. COUNCIL COMMUNICATIONS (22-507) Councilmember Knox White discussed the State of California Historic Resources Commission meeting regarding the Wellness Center project; expressed support for staff’s work on the matter. (22-508) Councilmember Herrera Spencer expressed support for City staff; stated that she appreciates the Alameda Police Department’s beat update meetings. (22-509) Mayor Ezzy Ashcraft discussed the State of California Historic Resources Commission meeting; expressed concern about projects to help homelessness being delayed and challenged; stated there is little likelihood that another challenge to the Wellness Center will take place. (22-510) Mayor’s Nominations for Appointment to the Commission on Persons with Disabilities, Golf Commission, Historical Advisory Board, Housing Authority Board of Commissioners, Library Board, Public Utilities Board and Social Service Human Relations Board. Mayor Ezzy Ashcraft nominated Amanda Bugge and Jane Schmitz for appointment to the Commission on Persons with Disabilities and Gerald Bryant for appointment to the Social Service Human Relations Board. ADJOURNMENT There being no further business, Mayor Ezzy Ashcraft adjourned the meeting at 6:49 p.m. Special Meeting Alameda City Council August 9, 2022 5 Respectfully submitted, Lara Weisiger City Clerk The agenda for this meeting was posted in accordance with the Sunshine Ordinance.