2000-05-02 Regular CC MinutesMINUTES OF THE REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING
TUESDAY- -MAY 2, 2000- -7:30 P.M.
Mayor Appezzato convened the Regular Meeting at 7:35 p.m.
Councilmember Johnson led the Pledge of Allegiance. Pastor Don
Taylor, Central Baptist Church, gave the invocation.
ROLL CALL - Present: Councilmembers Daysog, DeWitt, Johnson,
Kerr and Mayor Appezzato - 5.
Absent: None.
[Note: Mayor Appezzato left the Meeting at 8:35 p.m.]
AGENDA CHANGES
None.
PROCLAMATIONS, SPECIAL ORDERS OF THE DAY AND ANNOUNCEMENTS
(00 -205) Mayor Appezzato announced that the Dog Park was up and
running; thanked City staff.
(00 -206) Proclamation declaring the Week of May 15, 2000, Girls
Incorporated Week.
Mayor Appezzato read the proclamation and presented it to John
Abrate, Board Member, Girls Incorporated, and Romy Amos, Executive
Director, Girls Incorporated.
(00 -207) Presentation by the Chief of Police and Members of the
Hate and Intolerance Response Team on Student Threats of Violence
the Week of April 17, 2000.
Mayor Appezzato stated that recently, there were a number of
incidents in the public schools; that he requested the City Manager
to have the Police Department prepare a presentation on the City's
response to said incident; provided a background on the Hate and
Intolerance Response Team (HIRT); and listed members of HIRT who met
to address the incidents.
The Chief of Police outlined the Police Department's and HIRT's
response to graffiti and threats at various schools in the City.
Mayor Appezzato called a recess at 7:57 p.m. and reconvened the
Regular Meeting at 8:34 p.m.
Regular Meeting 1
Alameda City Council
May 2, 2000
CONSENT CALENDAR
Vice Mayor Daysog announced the recommendation to authorize the
Mayor to send a letter of support for Assembly Bill 2110 [paragraph
no. 00 -215]; and the Resolution Commending Million Mom March Day
[paragraph no. 00 -217] were removed from for discussion.
Councilmember Kerr moved approval of the remainder of the Consent
Calender.
Councilmember Johnson seconded the motion, which carried by
unanimous voice vote - 4. Absent: Mayor Appezzato - 1. [Items so
enacted or adopted are indicated by an asterisk preceding the
paragraph number.]
(00 -208) Minutes of the Regular City Council Meeting held on April
18, 2000. Approved.
Councilmember Johnson moved approval of the minutes.
Councilmember Kerr seconded the motion, which carried by unanimous
voice vote - 4. Absent: Mayor Appezzato - 1.
( *00 -209) Recommendation to authorize calling for bids for Legal
Advertising for Fiscal Year 2000 -01. Accepted.
( *00 -210) Recommendation to accept Quarterly Investment Report for
the Period Ending March 31, 2000. Accepted.
( *00 -211) Recommendation to accept Quarterly Sales Tax Report for
Sales Transactions in the Fourth Calendar Quarter of 1999. Accepted.
( *00 -212) Recommendation to accept Quarterly Financial Report for
the Period Ending March 31, 2000. Accepted.
( *00 -213) Recommendation to set a Public Hearing to seek
authorization to place Delinquent Business License Fees on Property
Tax Bill. Accepted.
( *00 -214) Recommendation to set Hearing for Establishment of FY
2000 -01 Prop 4 Limit for June 20, 2000. Accepted.
(00 -215) Recommendation to authorize the Mayor to send a letter of
support for Assembly Bill 2110 concerning Graffiti Abatement.
Accepted.
Richard Neveln, Alameda, stated graffiti abatement needs creative
solutions; suggested public notice boards similar to those used by
the City be provided for citizens; further stated that he supports
Regular Meeting 2
Alameda City Council
May 2, 2000
the letter that the Mayor will send.
Councilmember Kerr moved approval of the staff recommendation.
Councilmember Johnson seconded the motion, which carried by
unanimous voice vote - 4. Absent: Mayor Appezzato - 1.
( *00 -216) Recommendation to accept Report on Local Law Enforcement
Block Grant Program Expenditure Plan. Accepted.
(00 -217) Resolution No. 13209, "Commending Million Mom March Day in
the City of Alameda, May, 14, 2000." Adopted.
Lois Workman, Alameda, provided a background on the Million Mom
March; stated there are 30,000 gun deaths per year in the United
States and 12 children killed per day; encouraged everyone in
support of sensible gun policies and a safer community to
participate; the policy goal is a licensing and registration
procedure similar to automobiles; the organization supports
candidates who commit themselves to adoption of commonsense gun
laws.
Vice Mayor Daysog thanked the Alameda Democratic Club and Ms.
Workman for bringing the matter forward.
Guy Smith, Alameda, stated the Million Mom March organization is
backed and financed by all the traditional anti -self defense groups
in the United States; misinformation and grossly exaggerated numbers
are used to scare the public; that 12 children killed per day is a
myth; eliminating ages 18 through 20 drops the number of children
killed using guns to 2.7 per day; when children killed while
committing felonies are eliminated, the number drops to about 1.1
[killings per day]; elimination of suicides, drops the number to 0.1
children per day.
Councilmember DeWitt stated the matter was brought to Council by
Lois Workman and the Social Service Human Relations Board; the
matter is a Resolution rather than a Proclamation; the Resolution
states that the Councilmembers support the matter, not the entire
City; the City does well to not make decisions on moral, religious,
and political issues; that he supports the Resolution because a
former Alamedan, Loraine Taylor, had two sons killed in gun
shootings.
Councilmember DeWitt moved adoption of the Resolution.
Councilmember Johnson seconded the motion.
Under discussion, Councilmember Johnson stated issues can be raised
Regular Meeting 3
Alameda City Council
May 2, 2000
regarding statistics; ages 18 through 20 years should be included;
too many youth are killing each other; one way to try to stop
killings is by getting guns out of the hand of youths; the Police
Department has been very supportive of gun control issues.
Vice Mayor Daysog stated Alameda County Supervisor Gayle Steele held
a ceremony commemorating children who are victims of violence;
something has to be done about youth succumbing to violence,
including violence inflicted by gun wounds; the culture of violence
is not abating; something has to be done about the proliferation of
guns.
On the call for the question, the motion carried by unanimous voice
vote - 4. Absent: Mayor Appezzato - 1.
( *00 -218) Ratified bills in the amount of $2,370,015.06.
REGULAR AGENDA ITEMS
None.
ORAL COMMUNICATIONS, NON- AGENDA
(00 -219) Jean Sweeney, Alameda, stated that when the first floor of
the library [Carnegie building] is finished, a miniature [model] of
the City should be constructed with moveable parts to allow
everybody to see what is going on in the City; people on Maitland
Drive have many ideas about what will happen to the street when the
Cross Airport Roadway is constructed; a traffic engineer should be
involved with said decision; there is apprehension; a model showing
zoning and impacts of projects would be helpful.
Councilmember Kerr stated the fourth graders at Washington School
built a model of the [City Hall] tower and should be contacted; the
project sounds great.
(00 -220) Richard Neveln, Alameda, stated tourism is increasing in
Oakland and will increase in Alameda, too; there is great potential
for tourism money in Alameda; tourism should be increased without
creating [traffic] congestion on City streets; public transit should
be increased; the AC Transit Board voted in favor of extending Line
50 to the Chabot Observatory and Alameda Point.
(00 -221) John Fee, Alameda, commented on various organizations.
(00 -222) Bill Smith, Alameda, commented on inclusionary housing
needs and East Housing.
Regular Meeting 4
Alameda City Council
May 2, 2000
COUNCIL COMMUNICATIONS
(00 -223) Councilmember Kerr requested the City Manager and /or City
Attorney to clarify whether the Resolution to close the 1000 block
Chestnut Street [Resolution No. 13198] would preclude residents on
the block from getting to and from their units; stated there is a
residential building on the block; a tenant inquired about being
able to drive her car during street closure.
The City Manager stated the record will have to be reviewed; that he
recalls the ability to access homes would not be impeded; written
response will be provided.
(00 -224) Councilmember Kerr stated that she is fed up with
legislative foot dragging on generic automatic weapons; there is no
reason individuals should have an uzzi or similar guns in their
homes; legislation passed in the name of gun control has included
specific guns with specific serial numbers that cannot be possessed
by the public, and has left out the fact that copies can be
produced; that she wants to go on record that there is not any need
for certain levels of weapons to be available to the general public.
(00 -225) Councilmember DeWitt announced that May 4 is National
Prayer Day; stated there will be a prayer vigil at City Hall at
12:15 p.m. on May 4.
(00 -226) Councilmember Johnson stated AC Transit voted to expand
[bus] services through June; the matter should be placed on an
agenda to allow the City of Alameda to send a letter supporting
expansion of service prior to AC Transit reviewing the matter again.
The City Manager stated there is some sense of urgency; staff will
confirm the date [AC Transit will consider the matter].
Councilmember Johnson suggested the matter be considered at the May
16 Council Meeting, if possible; stated a letter of support needs to
be provided to AC Transit before the Board considers the matter; a
whole package of services, including expansion of Line 50 and Chabot
Observatory service, was approved through June only.
(00 -227) Vice Mayor Daysog stated the target for City of Alameda's
response to the US Census is 720; the City is at 710; urged the
public to submit responses as soon as possible; only two other
cities in Alameda County have met goals; hopefully, the City of
Alameda will meet or exceed its goal.
ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business, Vice Mayor Daysog adjourned the
Regular Meeting 5
Alameda City Council
May 2, 2000
Regular Meeting at 9:10 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Diane B. Felsch, CMC
City Clerk
Agenda for meeting was posted in accordance with the Brown Act.
Regular Meeting 6
Alameda City Council
May 2, 2000