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2002-02-05 Regular CC MinutesMINUTES OF THE REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING TUESDAY- - FEBRUARY 5, 2002 - -7:30 P.M. Mayor Appezzato convened the Regular Meeting at 7:40 p.m. ROLL CALL - Present: Councilmembers Daysog, DeWitt, Johnson, Kerr, and Mayor Appezzato - 5. Absent: None. AGENDA CHANGES None. PROCLAMATIONS, SPECIAL ORDERS OF THE DAY AND ANNOUNCEMENTS (02 -054) Proclamation declaring January 30 through April 4, 2002 as A Season for Nonviolence in Alameda; (02 -054A) Recommendation to Support A Season for Nonviolence. Tom Sartwell, Alameda, stated the Season for Non - Violence creates an awareness of non - violence principles and practices to heal, transform and empower lives and communities. Mark Weinstein, Alameda, stated humanity's next collective step should be a breakthrough in the area of violence; in January 1998, the Season of Non - Violence was launched in the United Nations; and beginning in January 2001, the General Assembly declared the decade the International Decade for a Culture of Peace and Non - Violence for the Children of the World. Morten Wellhaven, Alameda, commended Mayor Appezzato for the Proclamation; stated American culture has a clandestine love affair with violence; compared America to other countries regarding the amount of incarceration, executions, and children watching violent movies and playing violent video games; further stated the philosophy of the Season for Non - Violence is the most effective tool against oppressive power. Mayor Appezzato read the Proclamation and presented it to Mr. Sartwell, Mr. Weinstein and Mr. Wellhaven. CONSENT CALENDAR Mayor Appezzato announced that the recommendation to authorize the City Manager to execute an Amendment to Consulting Contract with Regular Meeting Alameda City Council 1 February 5, 2002 LSA Associates, Inc. [paragraph no. 02 -056] and the recommendation to authorize the City Manager to execute a Mutual Aid Agreement with Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory [paragraph no. 02 -0571 were removed from the Consent Calendar for discussion. Vice Mayor DeWitt moved approval of the remainder of the Consent Calendar. Councilmember Johnson seconded the motion, which carried by unanimous voice vote - 5. [Items so enacted or adopted are indicated by an asterisk preceding the paragraph number.] ( *02 -055) Minutes of the Special and Regular City Council Meetings held on January 15, 2002. Approved. (02 -056) Recommendation to authorize the City Manager to execute an Amendment to Consulting Contract with LSA Associates, Inc. for Consulting Services regarding the Northern Waterfront Specific Plan and appropriate $141,000 from General Fund Reserves. Jean Sweeney, Northern Waterfront Specific Plan Committee Member, encouraged Council to approve the Contract extension; stated there is a lot of work to be completed; all three alternatives selected by the Committee faced a traffic test which showed that the same ten intersections will have poor ratings in 20 years; outlined heavily used intersections; stated development will exacerbate traffic problems; either development should stop or additional work must be completed to find a way to have lower levels of traffic. Councilmember Johnson moved approval of the staff recommendation. Vice Mayor DeWitt seconded the motion. Under discussion, Councilmember Kerr stated additional funds would be used to allow key property owners in the area to give presentations; only two key property owners are providing funding; a third property owner is not paying; inquired why the City should allot additional money for presentations by the property owner who is not contributing to the cost of the Northern Waterfront Specific Plan. The City Manager responded the City will recapture costs either now or when the property owner submits development plans. Councilmember Kerr stated the Northern Waterfront Specific Plan is Regular Meeting Alameda City Council 2 February 5, 2002 not considering the effect Tinker Avenue extension will have on the Clement Avenue extension; just as the study of Tinker Avenue extension did not consider the effect of the Clement Avenue extension; however, Clement Avenue brings traffic from the east and puts it into exactly the same intersections and the same tubes as Tinker Avenue; studying Clement Avenue extension without including Tinker Avenue extension does not make sense; a complete study should review the effect of the two extensions on each other. Councilmember Daysog inquired whether $8,000 budgeted to cover the costs of the traffic analysis would provide sufficient information. The Planning and Building Director responded said amount covers the additional costs; the original Contract contained approximately $40,000; $8,000 will pay for needed analysis resulting from the refinement of the alternatives. Vice Mayor DeWitt stated Tinker Avenue analysis did not include study of Clement Avenue; inquired whether Tinker Avenue extension can be evaluated. The Planning and Building Director responded Tinker Avenue extension did not include Clement Avenue extension because Clement Avenue extension was not adopted Council policy; Clement Avenue extension is still not policy; when the Specific Plan moves forward, traffic will have to be evaluated in the context of all existing policy; Tinker Avenue extension is existing policy; a General Plan amendment [for Tinker Avenue extension] was approved; therefore, Tinker Avenue will be included [in analysis]. Councilmember Kerr stated that she was informed Tinker Avenue extension would not be included [in analysis]. The Planning and Building Director stated said information is not correct; Tinker Avenue extension must be included [in analysis]. On the call for the question, the motion carried by unanimous voice vote - 5. (02 -057) Recommendation to authorize the City Manager to execute a Mutual Aid Agreement with Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory to provide Fire /Emergency Medical Services Dispatch for the City of Alameda. Councilmember Kerr stated that she heard concerns about 9 -1 -1 calls going to Livermore; the City has an agreement with Alameda County which requires emergency medical dispatch; the City is required to Regular Meeting Alameda City Council 3 February 5, 2002 have people answering 9 -1 -1 calls able to provide emergency medical advice until paramedics arrive; if the service remained on the Island, it would cost $350,000 annually, with a one -time start -up cost of $150,000; consolidation will cost just over $100,000 per year, with $180,000 start -up cost; inquired how much insurance will cost to indemnify the State and federal government. The Fire Chief responded insurance would cost $3,300 for the first year; after the fist year, the County will review the matter and determine whether insurance should continue. Councilmember Kerr noted the City would save over $200,000 per year. Councilmember Johnson congratulated the Fire Department; stated the matter has been under review for several years; a very good plan was developed. Mayor Appezzato stated not one person contacted him with concerns about the matter. Councilmember Johnson moved approval of the staff recommendation. Councilmember Kerr seconded the motion, which carried by unanimous voice vote - 5. ( *02 -058) Recommendation to authorize the City Manager to execute a Contract Amendment, resulting in a total Contact amount of $155,600, with Novell, Inc. for Consulting Services to implement the City -wide Network System. Accepted. ( *02 -059) Ratified bills in the amount of $2,842,004.46. REGULAR AGENDA ITEMS (02 -060) Final Passage of Ordinance No. 2875, "Amending the Alameda Municipal Code by Amending Subsection 1 -5.1 (Misdemeanors; Infractions; General Penalties; Continuing Violations) of Section 1 -5 (Penalty Provisions Enforcement) of Chapter I (General), to Set Mandatory Minimum Penalties for Specific Violations." Finally passed. Vice Mayor DeWitt moved final passage of the Ordinance. Councilmember Johnson seconded the motion, which carried by unanimous voice vote - 5. Regular Meeting Alameda City Council 4 February 5, 2002 ORAL COMMUNICATIONS, NON- AGENDA (02 -061) John Koopman, Alameda, stated that he lives at the corner of Lincoln Avenue and Court Street; Alameda is besieged with speeding traffic; on his street during the last six months, speeding vehicles have killed three cats; his cat was hit and fortunately survived; vehicles reach speeds of 40 m.p.h. or faster traveling down Lincoln Avenue; the community should take action to stop speeding which occurs on major thoroughfares and in residential areas; a newspaper article indicated speed bumps are not appropriate; suggested alternatives of remote radar devices with cameras or barriers in residential areas; encouraged Council to take action; further stated speeding is dangerous. Mayor Appezzato stated that at the last Council meeting he requested the City Manager and Police Chief to complete a comprehensive study on how the City can deal with vehicular speeding and pedestrian safety; the majority of people not observing the speed limit are probably from Alameda; staff will review additional methods to make streets safe. The City Manager stated a pedestrian safety program was launched last year, however, the program fell short of what the City wanted to achieve; a more comprehensive program on education, enforcement and engineering is being developed; education will be heavily emphasized; a sting was conducted and 150 citations were issued; staff will present the matter to Council within the next 60 days; an aggressive effort will be pursued. Mr. Koopman suggested an unattended method, such as cameras, be reviewed; said method is very successful in Europe and enforces the law without the presence of Police Officers. Mayor Appezzato noted that he received three e -mails on the matter. Councilmember Daysog thanked the City Manager and Police Department for being helpful in trying to deal with the traffic issue in Alameda, including helping with a recent community meeting held at the intersection of Constitution Way and Eagle Avenue. (02 -062) Bill Smith, Alameda, commented on transit issues. (02 -063) Richard Neveln, Alameda, stated AC Transit will hold a redistricting hearing on February 13; the preferred map moves Alameda to AC Transit District Ward 2, which changes the City's elected representative on the AC Transit Board of Director; noted if a more direct line is drawn through the City, Alameda would have Regular Meeting Alameda City Council 5 February 5, 2002 two representatives; encouraged everyone to attend the meeting. Mayor Appezzato requested City staff to review the matter and attend the meeting; noted Alameda's representative on Congress changed [due to redistricting]. COUNCIL COMMUNICATIONS (02 -064) Councilmember Daysog stated a marine - oriented business is moving into the former Rite Aid site on Constitution Way and Buena Vista Avenue; requested information about whether the property is zoned for said use; stated work is already being done on what appears to be a boat sales business. (02 -065) Councilmember Johnson stated the Public Transit Committee (PTC) members are anxious to have recommendations of the PTC implemented; requested staff to provide a timeframe. The City Manager stated that he discussed the matter with Councilmember DeWitt; staff has a heavy workload; although implementing the PTC recommendations is a priority, other projects are requiring time; an Off Agenda Report will be provided to the Council on the matter. Mayor Appezzato stated PTC Members were not aware Vice Mayor DeWitt and Councilmember Johnson were appointed to the AC Transit Committee; staff should get the word out. (02 -066) Councilmember Johnson thanked the Public Works department for painting pedestrian crosswalks on Park Street; noted Park Street Business Association hired a maintenance worker and Park Street looks a lot nicer. (02 -067) Councilmember Johnson stated East Bay Municipal Utilities District might go into the electricity business, which would impact the City and Alameda Power & Telecom; requested staff to monitor the issue and inform the Council and Public Utilities Board if action is necessary. The City Manager stated an Off Agenda Report would be provided to the Council on the matter. (02 -068) Vice Mayor DeWitt thanked the Alameda Sun newspaper; stated the new newspaper is doing a great job; reporters attend most meetings and local activities, including sporting events. Councilmember Kerr noted the Alameda Sun had additional pages on Regular Meeting Alameda City Council 6 February 5, 2002 the City's maritime industry in the last edition. (02 -069) Councilmember Kerr stated an AC Transit staff letter assumed that Alameda Point would be available for high density development; the writer neglected to mention that approximately half of the land will go to the Department of the Interior for the wildlife refuge; half of the remaining amount is under tidelands trust, which does not allow housing; a wildlife refuge puts height limitations on surrounding areas; the letter showed a lack of comprehension of the size and permitted uses at Alameda Point; hopefully, the City is responding; if not, she will respond. The City Manager stated staff is responding to said letter. (02 -070) Councilmember Kerr stated the alternatives for AC Transit redistricting do not group Alameda with Piedmont; Alameda will be grouped with San Leandro or Oakland and part of Emeryville; unless existing alternatives are ignored, Alameda will not retain its existing representative; encouraged everyone to attend the meeting on February 13. (02 -071) Mayor Appezzato stated that he attended the U.S. Conference of Mayors; on his trip, he picked up the City's $100,000 grant from 3Com; he also traveled to New York and toured Ground Zero [former site of World Trade Center]; noted the President promised that cities of 50,000 or more will receive funds to augment security; and announced that the City will host Fire Fighters from New York during March. ADJOURNMENT There being no further business, Mayor Appezzato adjourned the Regular Meeting at 8:25 p.m. Respectfully submitted, Lara Weisiger City Clerk The agenda for this meeting was posted in accordance with the Brown Act. Regular Meeting Alameda City Council 7 February 5, 2002