{"body": "CityCouncil", "date": "2011-05-31", "page": 1, "text": "MINUTES OF THE SPECIAL JOINT CITY COUNCIL,\nALAMEDA REUSE AND REDEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY (ARRA), AND\nCOMMUNITY IMPROVEMENT COMMISSION (CIC) MEETING\nTUESDAY-- -MAY 31, 2011 - -7:00 P.M.\nMayor/Chair Gilmore convened the meeting at 7:08 p.m. Councilmember/Board\nMember/Commissioner Tam led the Pledge of Allegiance.\nROLL CALL -\nPresent:\nCouncilmembers / Board Members / Commissioners\nBonta, deHaan, Johnson Tam and Mayor/Chair\nGilmore - 5.\n[Note: Councilmember Johnson arrived at 8:50 p.m.]\nAbsent:\nNone.\nPUBLIC COMMENT\n(11-275 CC) Mayor Gilmore made a brief statement regarding the tragic downing at\nCrown Memorial Beach on May 30th.\nThe following speakers commented on the matter: Lynn Krekemeyer, Alameda Aquatic\nMasters and Alameda Aquatic Task Force; Adam Gillitt, Alameda; Rosemary McNally,\nAlameda; and Michael John Torrey, Alameda.\n(11-276 CC) Robb Ratto, Park Street Business Association (PSBA), announced that the\nCity of Alameda was featured on Eye on the Bay; provided the video to the City Council.\nCONSENT CALENDAR\nCouncilmember/Board Member/Commissioner deHaan moved approval of the Consent\nCalendar.\nVice Mayor/Board Member/Commissioner Bonta seconded the motion, which carried by\nunanimous voice vote - 4. [Absent: Councilmember Johnson - 1.] [Items so enacted\nor adopted are indicated by an asterisk preceding the paragraph number.]\n(*11-046 ARRA/11-026 CIC) Minutes of the Joint City Council, Alameda Public\nFinancing Authority and CIC Meeting of April 6, 2011; the Joint City Council City\nCouncil, ARRA, CIC Meeting of April 12, 2011; and the Joint City Council, ARRA, CIC\nMeeting of April 19, 2011. Approved.\n(*11-277 CC/11-047 ARRA/11-027 CIC) Recommendation to Accept the Quarterly\nFinancial Report through March 31, 2011. Accepted.\nSpecial Joint Meeting\nAlameda City Council, Alameda Reuse and\n1\nRedevelopment Authority, and Community\nImprovement Commission\nMay 31, 2011", "path": "CityCouncil/2011-05-31.pdf"}
{"body": "CityCouncil", "date": "2011-05-31", "page": 2, "text": "AGENDA ITEM\n(11-278 CC) Recommendation to Receive a Summary of Proposed Budget and\nForecast for Fiscal Years 2011-12 and 2012-13.\nThe Acting City Manager and Controller gave a Power Point presentation.\nFollowing questions regarding redevelopment, the Controller continued the\npresentation.\nFollowing vehicle replacement discussion, the Controller and Acting City Manager\ncontinued the presentation\nThe City Council asked questions regarding the Fire Department budget.\nThe City Council addressed the Police Department budget.\n***\nCouncilmember Tam left the dais at 9:26 p.m. and returned at 9:29 p.m.\nThe Recreation and Park Department budget was discussed.\n*\nVice Mayor Bonta left the dais at 9:35 p.m. and returned at 9:37 p.m.\nThe City Council addressed the Library budget, revenue generation and redevelopment.\nSpeakers: Kevin Kennedy, City Treasurer; Nancy Bianchi, Friends of the Alameda\nAnimal Shelter (FAAS); Cindy Shelby, FAAS; Robb Ratto, PSBA; Judi Friedman, West\nAlameda Business Association; Heather Wood, FAAS; Matthew Pearce, Alameda;\nNancy Hird, Alameda Citizen's Taskforce; and Chuck Bianchi, FAAS.\nFollowing public comment, there was discussion of the fa\u00e7ade grant program,\nredevelopment funding and the animal shelter.\nIn response to Vice Mayor Bonta's inquiry about providing animal shelter information in\nan Off Agenda Report or at the next Council meeting, the Acting City Manager stated\neuthanasia rates could be provided fairly quickly; explained Council direction is needed.\nMayor Gilmore stated that the City Council needs to provide direction on the items\naddressed in the Power Point on slide 30; stated that she did not hear any discussion\non general government; staff should go forward with A [$328,000 General Government\nreduction] and B [$195,000 Administrative Services reduction] as proposed; there was\nSpecial Joint Meeting\nAlameda City Council, Alameda Reuse and\n2\nRedevelopment Authority, and Community\nImprovement Commission\nMay 31, 2011", "path": "CityCouncil/2011-05-31.pdf"}
{"body": "CityCouncil", "date": "2011-05-31", "page": 3, "text": "discussion, but no opposition on the Fire Department recommended option [$800,000\nreduction]; that her recommendation would be to implement outsourcing the Animal\nShelter for one year and engage the community about the City/non-profit [operation of\nthe shelter] because additional time is needed; that she is reluctant to take more Police\nOfficers off the street; she wants to work with the community to find another solution,\nwhich cannot be done before budget adoption; that would be her recommendation for\nthe Police Department [recommended option: $1.3 million reduction]; for Parks,\nalthough difficult, reducing the playground staffing from 10 to 5 keeps 5 free sites; for\nthe Library, she would like to look at different options discussed or use fund balance.\nThe Acting City Manager requested prioritization of adding back Library funding.\nMayor Gilmore stated that her preference would be to add everything back, but at least\nstay open Sundays; saving $163,000 is not worth the huge benefit of remaining open.\nCouncilmember deHaan inquired how much would be saved by closing Sundays, to\nwhich the Library Director responded $10,000.\nCouncilmember Johnson stated that she is okay with reducing to 8 hour days; the\ncritical thing is having the Library open on Sunday.\nThe Acting City Manager stated Sundays would be added back; the Main Library would\nbe open 8 hours; and branches would be closed one additional day per week.\nMayor Gilmore inquired how many days the branches would be open, to which the\nActing City Manager responded 4 days.\nMayor Gilmore stated that she could live with that.\nVice Mayor Bonta stated that he agrees Sunday hours should be brought back; the\nreduction to 8 hour days during the week has to be done; if justified by use patterns, the\nhours should vary so the Library closes some days at 6 p.m. and others at 8:00 p.m.\nThe Acting City Manager stated the varied scheduled was the intention; Library staff\nwould look at getting the most bang for the buck.\nVice Mayor Bonta stated remaining open on Sundays costs $10,000; soliciting a $5,000\ncontribution from the Friends of the Library would share the costs.\nThe Acting City Manager stated the $10,000 amount is not large and could be added\nback.\nFollowing brief discussion, Mayor Gilmore requested the Councilmembers to confirm\nwhether the one time use of funds outlined on slide 20 is acceptable; there was no\nSpecial Joint Meeting\nAlameda City Council, Alameda Reuse and\n3\nRedevelopment Authority, and Community\nImprovement Commission\nMay 31, 2011", "path": "CityCouncil/2011-05-31.pdf"}
{"body": "CityCouncil", "date": "2011-05-31", "page": 4, "text": "opposition.\nThere was discussion of using the $2.7 million in proceeds from land sales.\nIn response to Councilmember Tam's inquiry about the $1.3 million in omitted expenses\noutlined in slide 11, the Controller responded that he does not expect to find any more\nsurprises.\nMayor Gilmore stated there is clear direction approving use of one-time funds.\nThere was discussion of use of fund balance and objection to using fund balance for FY\n12-13.\nCouncilmember deHaan provided a handout on budget issues.\nFollowing discussion, Mayor Gilmore stated that she heard consensus that the Council\nis grudgingly okay with using $814,000 from fund balance; the Councilmembers\nconcurred.\nMayor Gilmore addressed the proposals involving employees on slide 23; stated that\nshe supports addressing the deficits with employee unions; employees should be\nengaged and might have creative solutions to solve problems; all options should be\nreviewed; the City should not be limited and should include creative ideas; noted\nCouncil concurred.\nIn response to Vice Mayor Bonta's inquiry regarding the savings from closing Friday, the\nActing City Manager stated the savings are marginal; efficiency is an issue; skeleton\ncrews on Friday cause difficulties serving the public.\nMayor Gilmore addressed increasing taxes [listed on slide 24]; stated the property\ntransfer tax was recently increased and should be off the table; staff indicated a survey\nwould be done, which is fine and would provide valuable information; increasing existing\ntaxes is not as a high priority as other things discussed; getting more information from\npolling would help Council decide how, and if, the City should go forward.\nCouncilmember Tam stated that she would focus on things that give the biggest bang\nfor the buck; the Utility Users Tax might be worth reviewing; encouraged focusing on\ngetting property conveyed and on the tax roll.\nMayor Gilmore addressed other revenue generation options [listed on slide 25]; stated\npolling would be done; that she doubts the public has an appetite for a parcel tax, but\nhaving the information would be good; doing the fee study is fine; addressed franchise\ntaxes; stated that she would direct staff to go forward and work on the two areas [fee\nstudy and franchise fees].\nSpecial Joint Meeting\nAlameda City Council, Alameda Reuse and\n4\nRedevelopment Authority, and Community\nImprovement Commission\nMay 31, 2011", "path": "CityCouncil/2011-05-31.pdf"}
{"body": "CityCouncil", "date": "2011-05-31", "page": 5, "text": "In response to Councilmember deHaan's inquiry, the Deputy City Manager stated\npossessory interest is based on the leasehold value; for example, the operator of the\ntheater pays possessory interest tax based on his lease value.\nThe Acting City Manager stated staff would implement: 1) government services cuts; 2)\nadministrative services cuts; 3) the recommended Fire option; 4) the recommended\n[Police] option with the Animal Shelter, doing a one year contract and during that year\nthe City would engage the community around the idea of a non-profit hybrid; 5)\nRecreation and Park recommendations; 6) all Library recommendations, except that\nSundays are being added back, which would cost approximately $10,000; 7) all one\ntime options are being used, including approximately $800,000 in fund balance; 8)\ntalking to employees; 9) doing polling on taxes, recognizing taxes are not a quick, easy\nfix; 10) doing a fee study; and 11) getting properties moving [on tax rolls].\nThe Controller noted the final budget would only reflect one year of the Animal Shelter\nsavings.\n* *\n(11-279 CC) Vice Mayor Bonta moved approval of continuing the meeting past 12:00\nmidnight\nCouncilmember Johnson seconded the motion, which carried by the following voice\nvote: Ayes: Councilmembers/Board Members/Commissioners Bonta, deHaan, Johnson,\nand Mayor/Chair Gilmore - 4. Noes: Councilmember/Board Member/Commissioner\nTam - 1.\nVice Mayor Bonta stated when implementing revenue increases, comparison with other\ncities should be done; the sales tax is going down 1% in July; a 0.25% or 0.5% increase\nwould still be a lower sales tax payment; inquired whether implementing the tax\nproposals would require a vote of the people.\nThe Acting City Manager responded in the affirmative.\nCouncilmember Johnson stated that she wants direction on the Animal Shelter to be\nclear; staff would bring back information on the euthanasia rates and facility selection;\ninquired when Council would make the final decision.\nThe Acting City Manager stated the reduction would be included in the budget; staff\nwould have information on shelter selection when the matter comes back in June;\neuthanasia rates would be provided as quickly as possible.\nMayor Gilmore stated the key is that the contract would be for one year and the public\nSpecial Joint Meeting\nAlameda City Council, Alameda Reuse and\n5\nRedevelopment Authority, and Community\nImprovement Commission\nMay 31, 2011", "path": "CityCouncil/2011-05-31.pdf"}
{"body": "CityCouncil", "date": "2011-05-31", "page": 6, "text": "would be engaged about doing a public-private partnership.\nCouncilmember Johnson noted the City would not be locked into the direction without\nquestions being answered first.\nThe Acting City Manager stated Frequently Asked Questions information could be\nprepared.\nMayor Gilmore stated community input should be solicited on the front end for the next\nbudget; community members should consider how they would prioritize core services\nand provide suggestions; the City needs to build a budget based on the services the\ncommunity values.\nADJOURNMENT\nThere being no further business, Mayor/Chair Gilmore adjourned the meeting at 12:02\na.m.\nRespectfully submitted,\nLara Weisiger, City Clerk\nSecretary, CIC\nThe agenda for this meeting was posted in accordance with the Brown Act.\nSpecial Joint Meeting\nAlameda City Council, Alameda Reuse and\n6\nRedevelopment Authority, and Community\nImprovement Commission\nMay 31, 2011", "path": "CityCouncil/2011-05-31.pdf"}
{"body": "CityCouncil", "date": "2011-05-31", "page": 7, "text": "MINUTES OF THE SPECIAL JOINT CITY COUNCIL,\nALAMEDA REUSE AND REDEVELOPMENT AUTHOITY (ARRA),\nAND COMMUNITY IMPROVEMENT COMMISSION (CIC) MEETING\nTUESDAY-MAY 31, 2011 - -6:00 P.M.\nMayor/Chair Gilmore convened the meeting at 6:00 p.m.\nRoll Call -\nPresent:\nCouncilmembers/Board Members/Commissioners\nBonta,\ndeHaan, Tam and Mayor/Chair Gilmore - 4.\nAbsent:\nCouncilmember Johnson - 1.\nThe joint meeting was adjourned to Closed Session to consider:\n(11-273 CC/11-044 ARRA/11-024 CIC) Conference with Legal Counsel - Existing\nLitigation (54956.9); Name of case: SCC Alameda Point, LLC, et al V. City of Alameda\net al, U.S. District Court, Case Number CV 10-5178\n(11-274 CC/11-045 ARRA/11-025 CIC) Conference with Legal Counsel - Existing\nLitigation (54956.9); Name of case: SCC Alameda Point, LLC. et al V. City of Alameda\net al, Alameda County Superior Court, Case Number RG10537988\nFollowing the Closed Session, the joint meeting was reconvened and Mayor/Chair\nGilmore announced regarding Case Number CV 10-5178, the legislative bodies\nreceived a briefing on the lawsuit; no action was taken; and regarding Case Number\nRG10537988, the legislative bodies received a briefing on the lawsuit; no action was\ntaken.\nAdjournment\nThere being no further business, Mayor/Chair Gilmore adjourned the meeting at 7:00\np.m.\nRespectfully submitted,\nLara Weisiger\nCity Clerk\nSecretary, CIC\nThe agenda for this meeting was posted in accordance with the Brown Act.\nSpecial Joint Meeting\nAlameda City Council, Alameda Reuse and\nRedevelopment Authority, and Community\nImprovement Commission\nMay 31, 2011", "path": "CityCouncil/2011-05-31.pdf"}