{"body": "CityCouncil", "date": "2012-03-07", "page": 1, "text": "MINUTES OF THE SPECIAL CITY COUNCIL MEETING\nWEDNESDAY- MARCH 7, 2012- -7:00 P.M.\nMayor Gilmore convened the meeting at 7:07 p.m. Councilmember Tam led the Pledge\nof Allegiance.\nROLL CALL -\nPresent:\nCouncilmembers Bonta, deHaan, Johnson, Tam and\nMayor Gilmore - 5.\nAbsent:\nNone.\nORAL COMMUNICATIONS, NON-AGENDA\nNone.\nCONSENT CALENDAR\nThe Resolution [paragraph no. 12-110 was pulled from the Consent Calendar for\ndiscussion.\nCouncilmember Tam moved approval of the remainder of the Consent Calendar.\nVice Mayor Bonta seconded the motion, which carried by unanimous voice vote - 5.\n[Items so enacted or adopted are indicated by an asterisk preceding the paragraph\nnumber.]\n(*12-109) Recommendation to Approve the Mid-Year Budget Adjustments for Fiscal\nYear 2011-2012. Accepted.\n(12-110) Resolution No.14659, \"Approving Revised Memorandum of Understanding\n(MOU) Between the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers and the City of\nAlameda for the Period Commencing January 1, 2012 and Ending December 26, 2015.\"\nAdopted.\nThe Alameda Municipal Power (AMP) General Manager gave a brief presentation.\nUrged approval of the MOU: Ray Thomas, IBEW; and Al Fortier, IBEW (submitted\ninformation).\nThe City Manager stated the negotiations were tough, but fair; IBEW had a righteous\ncause for its members; both sides heard each other and ended up with a longer term\nagreement; thanked Mr. Thomas and Mr. Fotrier.\nCouncilmember Johnson congratulated AMP on the three year safety record; stated\nnegotiations are tough for both sides these days; that she is pleased that staff, the City\nManager and IBEW came to successful conclusion; moved adoption of the Resolution.\nSpecial Meeting\nAlameda City Council\n1\nMarch 7, 2012", "path": "CityCouncil/2012-03-07.pdf"}
{"body": "CityCouncil", "date": "2012-03-07", "page": 2, "text": "Vice Mayor Bonta seconded the motion, which carried by the unanimous voice vote - 5.\nAGENDA ITEMS\n(12-111) Mayor's State of the City Address.\nThe Mayor gave her State of the City Address.\nDiscussed the Sunshine Ordinance and thanked the City for its commitment to\nopenness in government: Jeff Cambra, League of Women Voters (LWV) President,\nsubmitted information.\nThanked the Council for doing the job of making difficult decision: Helen Sause,\nAlameda.\n(12-112) Resolution No. 14660, \"Calling an Election in the City of Alameda on June 5,\n2012 for the Purpose of Submitting to the Electors a Ballot Measure Seeking Enactment\nof a One-Half of One Percent Special Transactions and Use (Sales) Tax, Establishing\nthe Policies and Procedures for Such an Election and Requesting that the County of\nAlameda Conduct Such an Election.\" Adopted.\nThe City Manager gave a brief presentation.\nCouncilmember Johnson stated that she likes the proposed uses; she would like to\nconsider including an all-weather sports fields and lights for a baseball field.\nThe City Manager stated the resolution would permit such an expenditure; anything the\nCouncil wishes to add needs to be voted upon to allow the public to understand what\nthe City will address and hold the City accountable.\nCouncilmember deHaan stated the measure is broken down into various projects and\nsegments; requested further explanation of the bond and how the funding would be\ndistributed.\nThe City Manager responded staff estimates the sales tax would generate $1.86 million\nper year; although the amount should rise with inflation, calculations were based on the\n$1.86 million; the City can issue a bond; $1 million per year would go to debt service to\npay the bond; the bond would yield between $15 and $16 million and would have a\nlarge coverage of 175%, which would give the City a better bond rating and keep rates\ndown; if the City were going forward today, the quote was 4.1% [interest rate]; an\nestimate of 4.5% was included based on the time it would take to get to the market;\nnumbers were not included in the resolution because the City only has estimates; for\nexample, the $3.5 million estimate for the Carnegie is based on a 2007 estimate when\nconstruction costs were higher and $4 million was estimated for a 50-meter swimming\npool based on projects in other communities; the priorities are: 1) building Fire Station 3\nSpecial Meeting\nAlameda City Council\n2\nMarch 7, 2012", "path": "CityCouncil/2012-03-07.pdf"}
{"body": "CityCouncil", "date": "2012-03-07", "page": 3, "text": "and adding an Emergency Operations Center (EOC) on the second floor, 2) the\nswimming pool, and 3) the Carnegie, which would total $12.5 million; after that, items\ncould be added by Council or funds could be used for construction of the training center.\nCouncilmember deHaan inquired whether a greater breakdown would be provided if the\nmeasure goes forward.\nThe City Manager responded in the affirmative; stated the bond proceeds would be\nused to complete construction projects first; $1 million would pay for the bonds and the\nremaining approximately $800,000 annually would be used to address issues, such as\nfleet; staff would establish a line item to begin depreciating new equipment purchased.\nIn response to Councilmember deHaan's inquiry about the duration of the bond, the City\nManager responded the duration would be 30 years, the same as the tax; to yield $15.5\nmillion, the entire bond would be around $29 million over 30 years; the entire tax comes\nout to a little more than $54 million.\nCouncilmember Johnson inquired whether a regional fire training tower could be\nconsidered.\nThe City Manager responded the original list he developed had a fully built out regional\ntraining center for police and fire because there are very few in the region; he felt the\ncenter could be marketed and revenue could be used to offset the center's operational\ncosts; however, after discussions with staff and the City Auditor and Treasurer, the\nconclusion was that the City would be better served to have funds to replace the entire\nCity fleet and scale the project back to just the tower; the training center would be on\nland out at the Base; the City would build the tower and two classrooms and look for\nother agencies as partners to buy in.\nCouncilmember Johnson stated that she envisioned different jurisdictions investing in\nthe creation of training tower so the City would not front the whole cost.\nThe City Manager stated public safety staff would have to market the facility to other\nagencies; both Chiefs believe there is a need in the region and the City will not have\nany trouble getting the project done.\nCouncilmember deHaan stated that he has questions regarding the vehicles; the City\nhas an account for rolling stock; the City Manager is saying the City has not put in\nadequate funding; fire apparatuses and patrol vehicles were purchased this year.\nThe City Manager reviewed the Power Point slide comparing equipment funding with\nother cities.\nThe Police Chief reviewed purchases; stated five vehicles exceed mileage currently;\noutlined problems with the cycle being created; stated purchasing one or two vehicles\nper year will not get the City out of its current cycle.\nSpecial Meeting\nAlameda City Council\n3\nMarch 7, 2012", "path": "CityCouncil/2012-03-07.pdf"}
{"body": "CityCouncil", "date": "2012-03-07", "page": 4, "text": "Councilmember deHaan stated enough vehicles have not been procured; the City is not\nliving up to the policy it created; inquired how many vehicles are requested next year.\nThe Police Chief responded the Police Department does not request vehicles; stated\nthe Police Department is slated to receive two new patrol vehicles; five vehicles exceed\nmileage and a number are close to exceeding mileage; the mileage requirement could\nbe adjusted, but the City is in such a hole it cannot get out.\nCouncilmember deHaan stated effort was made to create a reserve; inquired whether\nthe ladder truck and engine purchased this year were included in the budget.\nThe Division Chief responded the City has done a lease purchase for an air ladder truck\nand a fire engine.\n*\nCouncilmember Johnson left the dais at 8:20 p.m. and returned at 8:25 p.m.\nIn response to Councilmember deHaan's inquiry, the Police Chief stated the intention is\nnot to go out and purchase a whole new fleet; a better process needs to be in place that\nis financially stable; marked vehicles are being discussed; however, there are detective\nvehicles from 1995 and 1996, which sometimes do not start; the two vans for the School\nResource officers are from 1993.\nCouncilmember deHaan inquired how many patrol cars are needed next year, to which\nthe Police Chief responded at least 5.\nIn response to Councilmember deHaan's inquiry regarding Fire vehicles included in the\nnext Fiscal Year budget, the Division Chief stated a ladder truck and an engine would\nbe purchased.\nCouncilmember deHaan inquired whether expenses are included in the budget for next\nyear, to which the City Manager responded expenses are across many years because\nthe equipment is leased.\nCouncilmember deHaan stated the City has refinanced buildings; inquired whether the\nPolice Station has been refinanced twice.\nThe Police Chief responded that he believes the bond was for the jail, not the Police\nStation.\nCouncilmember deHaan inquired whether the City would do so again, to which the City\nManager responded the issue is not related and is not on the table; there would have to\nbe a natural disaster for current staff to ever propose any type of sale lease back of\nexisting City facilities.\nSpecial Meeting\nAlameda City Council\n4\nMarch 7, 2012", "path": "CityCouncil/2012-03-07.pdf"}
{"body": "CityCouncil", "date": "2012-03-07", "page": 5, "text": "Councilmember deHaan stated the City looked into a salt water pump to use in an\nemergency; inquired whether any research has been done.\nThe Division Chief responded the matter was researched several years ago; stated the\npurchase was low on the priority list; further stated a six year old pump is being\noverhauled.\nIn response to Councilmember deHaan's inquiries regarding maintenance, the Public\nWorks Director outlined the City's process; stated many Public Works and Recreation\nand Parks vehicles have been deferred; maintenance costs increase as the fleet ages.\nThe City Treasurer and the City Auditor discussed the proposed measure and\nexpressed their support.\nFollowing the Treasurer's comments, Councilmember deHaan inquired how on going\nmaintenance for the pool and firehouse would be funded.\nThe City Manager responded for the pool, the City anticipates creating a partnership\nwith the swim community and having a 66 year lease, which would require the swim\ncommunity to operate and maintain the facility; the animal shelter model will be used;\nassuming the useable life of a fire house is 50 years, building a $5 million fire house\nwould require the Fire Department to set aside $100,000 every year to replace the fire\nhouse; further stated both Chiefs want to depreciate facilities, as well as both purchased\nand leased vehicles; depreciating is the proper way to budget.\nSpeakers in favor of placing the measure on the ballot: Fred Blas, Citizens Emergecy\nResponse Team (CERT) and Armature Radio Air Service; Bob Ploss, Alameda Aquatic\nFoundation; Bruce Thompson, Alameda Aquatic Foundation; Tom Schweich,\nAlameda/CERT; Jack Boeger, Alameda; Robbie Dileo, Alameda Museum; Jon\nSpangler, Alameda; Trish Spencer, Alameda; Karen Bey, Alameda; Domenick Weaver,\nAlameda Firefighters Association and Alameda resident; and former Councilmember\nTony Daysog, Alameda.\nSpeakers in favor of placing the measure on the ballot and urged adding funds for a\nsports field: Ron Matthews, Alameda Youth Sports Foundation (AYSF); Pat Bail,\nWolverines, AYSF and Alameda Babe Ruth; and Tracy Jensen, Alameda Soccer Club.\nSpeakers not in favor of placing the measure on the ballot: Donna Eyestone, Alameda.\nUrged including funding for TASC, Inc.: Apostle Tillman, TASC, Inc.\nUrged revision to the measure including a shorter timeline: Al Wright, Alameda.\n***\nVice Mayor Bonta left the dais at 9:45 p.m. and returned at 9:47 p.m.\nSpecial Meeting\nAlameda City Council\n5\nMarch 7, 2012", "path": "CityCouncil/2012-03-07.pdf"}
{"body": "CityCouncil", "date": "2012-03-07", "page": 6, "text": "In response to Councilmember Johnson's inquiry about a shortened timeframe, the City\nManager stated there is a balancing act that goes on with a finance measure; if the tax\nis closed off more quickly than 30 years, the bonding ratios become very different and\nyield much less money up front; since construction costs are lower and given the needs,\nstaff thought a 30 year time horizon was advantageous; when he had a conversation\nwith the City Treasurer, they discussed that the City does not want to buy something\nwith a 15 year useful life since the tax is 30 years; the conversation led to the concept of\nhaving an Administrative Instruction on depreciation; to address non-profit fatigue,\nactivating a community with specific interest in an activity is more likely to generate\ndonations and volunteer time; spinning activities off to non-profits is cost effective and\ngives the groups a stake; the movement is to partner with people interested in specific\nservices while having core services provided by government.\nVice Mayor Bonta inquired what is the vision to make the measure pass; stated polling\ndata looked at an issue that is not included in the package; the community expressed\ninterest in public safety, parks and libraries; stated that he would like to see components\nfor a sports field and the library.\nThe City Manager stated an all-weather, lighted, multi-purpose field would cost $1.9\nmillion; broke down costs; further stated if the Council desires, $1 million would be\navailable from the bond; the City would partner with the youth sports foundation and\nrequire the foundation to come up with matching grant money; the structure would be\nthe same as the pool and animal shelter; the library needs an elevator, computer\nupgrades and conversion to electronic books, which would cost $300,000 and would not\ncome from the bond proceeds.\nCouncilmember Johnson stated that she would love to include the library; requested\ninformation on the need for an elevator; inquired whether funds could be used on the\ncollection.\nThe Library Director responded a second elevator would provide back up; stated staff\nhas to carry boxes of books upstairs if the elevator goes down; the elevator is very\nimportant; as for collections, e-book use is expanding and there can be a wait list of 40\npeople; computers are 5 years old.\nCouncilmember Johnson stated that she is in favor of including the collection and\nelectronic equipment; inquired whether the Library Director would choose to fund the\ncollection and computers versus an elevator.\nThe Library Director responded the elevator is on the Library Board's wish list.\nCouncilmember Johnson inquired whether the collection is at the desired level, to which\nthe Library Director responded in the negative.\nSpecial Meeting\nAlameda City Council\n6\nMarch 7, 2012", "path": "CityCouncil/2012-03-07.pdf"}
{"body": "CityCouncil", "date": "2012-03-07", "page": 7, "text": "The Assistant City Manager noted in the past, the library elevator has been out of\nservice frequently and patrons with disabilities cannot get upstairs.\nThe City Manager stated the elevator fits as a capital project and a staff injury\navoidance expense.\n***\nCouncilmember Johnson left the dais at 10:10 p.m. and returned at 10:11 p.m.\n*\nIn response to Vice Mayor Bonta's inquiry regarding when projects would start, the City\nManager stated staff would start with Fire House 3, the Carnegie, the pool and the\nsports field.\nThe Controller further responded the Board of Equalization would start collecting at the\nbeginning of the next quarter, which would be October 1st; stated there is lag time; the\nCity would receive the money for the October through December quarter at the end of\nMarch 2013 at which time bonds would be issued.\nThe City Manager stated staff would work on plans and other prep work; however,\npeople probably would not see work begin until September 2013.\nMayor Gilmore stated having people in the community know the timeline is important.\nIn response to Councilmember deHaan's inquiry regarding Fire Station 3, the Division\nChief stated the current plans are for a two-story, two-bay station; two-bay means the\nstation would hold two fire apparatus.\nCouncilmember deHaan inquired what is currently at the station, to which the Division\nChief responded right now one, bay is reinforced; the other is un-reinforced and has a\nreserve engine in it.\nIn response to Councilmember deHaan's inquiry about Fire Station 5, the Division Chief\nstated the current location is not the ideal location.\nCouncilmember deHaan stated that he is comfortable with the organization running the\nanimal shelter; inquired how the City would have oversight of the other non-profits.\nThe City Manager responded deeds are not being turned over; if there are issues, the\nCity still has the leasehold; for example, the museum will have benchmarks and the\nlease would be revoked if benchmarks are not met.\nThe Police Chief reviewed the animal shelter oversight.\n***\n(12-113) In compliance with the Sunshine Ordinance, Councilmember Tam moved that\nSpecial Meeting\nAlameda City Council\n7\nMarch 7, 2012", "path": "CityCouncil/2012-03-07.pdf"}
{"body": "CityCouncil", "date": "2012-03-07", "page": 8, "text": "flexibility within the categories; examples are given; items can be added to the list of\nSpecial Meeting\nAlameda City Council\n8\nMarch 7, 2012", "path": "CityCouncil/2012-03-07.pdf"}
{"body": "CityCouncil", "date": "2012-03-07", "page": 9, "text": "examples if desired.\nCouncilmember Johnson stated the City should be specific about the lighted all-weather\nfield; inquired whether a supermajority vote would be needed on the leases with the\nnon-profits and whether the matter should be addressed as part of the measure.\nThe City Attorney noted a supermajority vote is need to place the matter on the ballot;\nresponded the supermajority vote is required for leases under the Charter; a Charter\namendment could be brought forward in the near future if needed.\nCouncilmember Tam suggested that the City attempt to get the funds and have the\nleases conform to the Charter; stated the Charter could be addressed if issues arise.\nThe City Manager stated staff would be able to resolve the matter; rather than calling it\na lease, it could be called a management agreement.\nMayor Gilmore stated Charter amendments take time, thought and public input; in spite\nof the 2008 clean up, there are additional items that need to be addressed.\nCouncilmember Tam noted the City could follow other model agreements, such as\nFranklin Pool.\nVice Mayor Bonta inquired whether the all-weather sports field and library\nimprovements should be included as examples in Section 3-63.14.\nThe Mayor and Councilmembers agreed.\nIn response to the City Attorney's inquiry about whether the language should read\nlighted all-weather sports field, the Council consensus was to include lighted all-weather\nsports field.\nVice Mayor Bonta inquired whether the ballot question would be worked on with the\ncommunity, to which Councilmember Tam responded in the affirmative.\nThe City Attorney stated staff presented the ballot language; the community and Council\nwould be writing the argument in favor.\nThe Assistant City Manager stated the ballot question and resolution has to be\nsubmitted to the County by Friday [March 9].\nThe City Manager stated the ballot question is based on the text of the measure as\ninformed by the poll conducted; the question was not constructed absent consideration\nto get two-thirds [voter approval]; the matter was discussed with political professionals.\nVice Mayor Bonta stated someone should be engaged before Friday.\nSpecial Meeting\nAlameda City Council\n9\nMarch 7, 2012", "path": "CityCouncil/2012-03-07.pdf"}
{"body": "CityCouncil", "date": "2012-03-07", "page": 10, "text": "Councilmember Johnson inquired whether a subcommittee could work with staff on the\nlanguage.\nThe Assistant City Manager stated the resolution has to be adopted tonight; staff needs\nto determine whether the language can be left unclear; the resolution has to be to the\nCounty by Friday.\nThe City Manager stated staff discussed the matter with Alex Evans who conducted the\npoll; political and public opinion professionals were used to help staff draft the language.\nCouncilmember Johnson stated the motion should go forward since there is not time.\nCouncilmember Tam inquired whether the ballot question has to be submitted by Friday\n[March 9] and the ballot arguments have to be submitted by March 15.\nThe City Manager responded in the affirmative; stated the ballot arguments are not\nbeing adopted.\nThe Assistant City Manager stated the argument would not come back to Council for\napproval.\nCouncilmember Tam stated that she is fine with the ballot question and is more\nconcerned with the ballot argument.\nThe Assistant City Manager stated Council needs to designate a subcommittee to write\nthe argument.\nIn response to Mayor Gilmore's inquiry, Vice Mayor Bonta stated that he moved\nadoption of the resolution with minor tweaks; noted the ballot question does not include\nthe sports field or library.\nThe City Manager stated the ballot question states cultural and recreational facilities;\nnoted the number of words is limited.\nCouncilmember Johnson seconded the motion.\nThe Assistant City Manager suggested \"other\" be replaced with \"library\" in the ballot\nquestion.\nThe Council agreed to amend the motion to incorporate said suggestion.\nOn the call for the question, the motion carried by unanimous voice vote - 5.\nMayor Gilmore stated a subcommittee needs to be appointed to write the ballot\nargument, which is due on March 15th; stated that she would be willing to be on the\nsubcommittee.\nSpecial Meeting\nAlameda City Council\n10\nMarch 7, 2012", "path": "CityCouncil/2012-03-07.pdf"}
{"body": "CityCouncil", "date": "2012-03-07", "page": 11, "text": "Councilmember Tam stated that she would volunteer to serve on the subcommittee.\nThe motion to have Mayor Gilmore and Councilmember Tam serve as the\nsubcommittee and to direct the City Attorney to prepare the Impartial Analysis was\nmoved by consensus.\nVice Mayor Bonta seconded the motion, which carried by unanimous voice vote - 5.\n(12-114) Review the Closed Session Minutes Approval Process.\nThe matter was not heard.\nCITY MANAGER COMMUNICATIONS\nNone.\nCOUNCIL COMMUNICATIONS\nNone.\nADJOURNMENT\nThere being no further business, Mayor Gilmore adjourned the meeting at 10:47 p.m.\nRespectfully submitted,\nLara Weisiger\nCity Clerk\nThe agenda for this meeting was posted in accordance with the Sunshine Ordinance.\nSpecial Meeting\nAlameda City Council\n11\nMarch 7, 2012", "path": "CityCouncil/2012-03-07.pdf"}