{"body": "CityCouncil", "date": "2013-05-28", "page": 1, "text": "MINUTES OF THE SPECIAL CITY COUNCIL MEETING\nTUESDAY-MAY - 28, 2013- 7:00 P.M.\nMayor Gilmore convened the meeting at 7:03 p.m. Vice Mayor Ezzy Ashcraft led the\nPledge of Allegiance.\nROLL CALL -\nPresent:\nCouncilmembers Chen, Daysog, Ezzy Ashcraft, Tam\nand Mayor Gilmore - 5.\nAbsent:\nNone.\nORAL COMMUNICATIONS, NON-AGENDA\nNone.\nAGENDA ITEMS\n(13-265) Adoption of Resolution Approving and Adopting the Operating and Capital\nBudget For Fiscal Years 2013-2014 and 2014-2015. Not adopted.\nThe Assistant City Manager and Controller gave a Power Point presentation and\nresponded to Council questions.\n*\nCouncilmember Daysog left the dais at 7:53 p.m. and returned at 7:54 p.m.\nCouncilmember Chen left the dais at 8:11 p.m. and returned at 8:13 p.m.\nCouncilmember Daysog thanked staff; discussed Other Post-Employment Benefits\n(OPEB) costs; inquired how OPEB would be addressed.\nThe Controller responded the matter would not be resolved overnight and staff would be\npresenting ideas to the Council in the future.\nCouncilmember Daysog stated the costs should be considered as part of the current\nbudget decision.\nCouncilmember Tam commended staff for listening to the community and prioritizing\naccordingly; stated public safety services have been maintained; noted the City is still\nfunding services, such as the animal shelter, jail services and the Museum, which are\nnice to have programs that are above the core services.\nVice Mayor Ezzy Ashcraft commended staff; inquired about ranking for Capital\nImprovement Projects (CIP).\nThe Assistant City Manager responded Departments rank the proposed projects based\nSpecial City Council Meeting\nAlameda City Council\n1\nMay 28, 2013", "path": "CityCouncil/2013-05-28.pdf"}
{"body": "CityCouncil", "date": "2013-05-28", "page": 2, "text": "on criteria.\nVice Mayor Ezzy Ashcraft inquired whether the criteria allow items to have the same\nranking, to which the Public Works Director responded in the affirmative; stated the\nmaximum score is 100; noted funds are not always budgeted for the highest ranked\nprojects.\nThe City Treasurer gave a Power Point presentation.\nMayor Gilmore noted Measure C polling indicated that the community is not concerned\nabout deferred maintenance; stated that she looks forward to upcoming OPEB\ndiscussions; other cities are amazed that Alameda employees are paying part of the\nEmployer's share; the City has made progress and is not kicking the can down the road.\nStated residents value recreation; the capital projects in the budget are reasonable;\nhaving money for the design phase of the Jean Sweeney Park is very exciting; people\nwant to serve by volunteering; $200,000 in funding can be leveraged: Jim Sweeney,\nJean Sweeney Open Space Park Committee.\nOutlined the benefits of parks; stated park funding should be increased and urged\nsupport of funding the Jean Sweeney Park: Dorothy Freeman, Jean Sweeney Open\nSpace Park Committee.\nExpressed support for not getting further advances from Alameda Municipal Power\n(AMP) and reducing Recreation and Park Department cuts; urged greater public safety\ncuts; discussed AMP transfers: Jane Sullwold, Alameda.\nStated fiscal issues studied in the past have been highlighted; federal, State and local\nissues could impact the City, such as Measure B funding; expressed concern over\nPolice vehicle purchases and the lack of deferred maintenance funding, revolving funds,\nand performance measures: former Councilmember Doug deHaan, Alameda.\nExpressed support of funding Beltline remediation: Aaron Thies, Alameda.\nSuggested additional meetings be held; stated public input will be needed to solve the\nCity's budget problems: Gretchen Lipow, Alameda Citizens Task Force.\nExpressed concern over Recreation and Park Department budget cuts; urged future\nfunding for Estuary Park: Pat Bail, Alameda.\nIn response to Councilmember Tam's request, the AMP General Manager gave a brief\npresentation on AMP's transfers to the City and AMP's financial condition.\nThe City Manager noted AMP would pay fees if it were a private utility.\nThe AMP General Manager provided further information on AMP's budget.\nSpecial City Council Meeting\nAlameda City Council\n2\nMay 28, 2013", "path": "CityCouncil/2013-05-28.pdf"}
{"body": "CityCouncil", "date": "2013-05-28", "page": 3, "text": "Mayor Gilmore noted that the Public Utilities Board (PUB) is responsible for AMP's\nbudget.\nThe AMP General Manager stated the City Charter gives the PUB control over AMP's\nbudget and rates.\nCouncilmember Daysog stated the PUB has been conservative in setting fiscal targets\nand fund transfers to as required by the Charter.\nCouncilmember Tam stated the City is considering refinancing; inquired at what point\nthe City's outstanding liabilities would be factored into the bond rating.\nThe Assistant City Manager responded the liabilities have already impacted the rating;\nstated a recent letter indicated the City's rating is AA rather than AAA due to the Other\nPost Employment Benefit (OPEB) liability; noted many surrounding cities have a similar\nrating.\nThe Controller stated the City's full disclosure in the budget helps the rating.\nCouncilmember Daysog stated that he would like the City to find a way to reduce the\n$60,000 Recreation Department cut; suggested funds be used from the Council budget.\nThe Assistant City Manager addressed the Council budget; noted the Recreation\nDepartment cuts were reduced since prior budget presentations; inquired whether\nCouncilmember Daysog is suggesting no cuts be made.\nCouncilmember Daysog responded that he would prefer no cuts be made; stated that\nhe would like staff to review the matter, but understands staff might not be able to find\nany way to not make cuts.\nCouncilmember Tam left the dais at 10:07 p.m. and returned at 10:09 p.m.\nVice Mayor Ezzy Ashcraft requested an explanation of increases in the City Attorney's\nbudget.\nThe Controller stated operational expenses previously reported under the Internal\nService Fund (ISF) were moved under the City Attorney's budget because the expenses\nshould not have been under an ISF; explained other City Attorney increases.\nVice Mayor Ezzy Ashcraft inquired whether the budget includes expenses for outside\ncounsel, to which the City Attorney responded in the affirmative; stated outside counsel\nexpenses are under the department budget as well as under some other line items.\nSpecial City Council Meeting\nAlameda City Council\n3\nMay 28, 2013", "path": "CityCouncil/2013-05-28.pdf"}
{"body": "CityCouncil", "date": "2013-05-28", "page": 4, "text": "In response to Vice Mayor Ezzy Ashcraft's inquiry regarding the Recreation Department\nbudget changes, the Controller stated three Recreation programs are charged to the\nGeneral Fund: park maintenance, the hardball facility and the swim center, which have\nsome School District reimbursements; all other programs generate fees and are under\nthe Recreation special fund; administration charges assist with all programs and were\nalso moved under the Recreation special fund.\nVice Mayor Ezzy Ashcraft inquired about the Mastick Senior Center, to which the\nController responded Mastick is also now completely fee based.\nVice Mayor Ezzy Ashcraft inquired whether $15 million for construction of a sports field\nand swim center should be considered an annual deferred cost.\nThe Controller responded the unfunded CIP list was created for a five year period to\nrepresent unfunded annual maintenance items as well as unfunded one time projects.\nVice Mayor Ezzy Ashcraft inquired about funding the Alameda Point Gymnasium and\nPool versus funding the other two pools.\nThe Recreation Director responded the City is working with the School District on short\nand long term solutions to address pools, which is the immediate focus; stated the\nAlameda Point project has been on the list for quite a while and would focus on the\ngym; the pool cannot be rehabilitated.\nThe Assistant City Manager and Public Works Director provided a brief explanation of\nthe CIP list and criteria process.\nVice Mayor Ezzy Ashcraft stated everyone should understand the projects would be\naddressed farther down the road; however, she does not believe the City Hall clock\ntower project should be included; urged that reconfiguring the Central Avenue and\nWebster Street crosswalk be a priority.\nThe Public Works Director stated crosswalk improvements have been funded as part of\nthe Webster Street Smart Corridor Project; design work is commencing.\nIn response to Vice Mayor Ezzy Ashcraft's inquiry about Alameda Point Officer's Club\nrenovations, the Chief Operating Officer - Alameda Point stated the building is a\ncontributing structure and would remain a community center in the foreseeable future.\n(13-266) Vice Mayor Ezzy Ashcraft moved approval of addressing the Public Hearings\n[paragraph nos. 13-267 and 13-269 after 10:30 p.m.\nCouncilmember Chen seconded the motion, which carried by the following voice vote:\nAyes: Councilmembers Chen, Daysog, Ezzy Ashcraft and Mayor Gilmore - 4. Noes:\nCouncilmember Tam - 1.\nSpecial City Council Meeting\nAlameda City Council\n4\nMay 28, 2013", "path": "CityCouncil/2013-05-28.pdf"}
{"body": "CityCouncil", "date": "2013-05-28", "page": 5, "text": "Councilmember Chen stated the budget clearly identifies future issues that have to be\ndealt with, which will allow Council, the public and staff to come up with solutions; the\nCity should stay focused on striving to have the sales tax reach average.\nMayor Gilmore noted the budget would return to Council on June 11th.\nMayor Gilmore called a recess at 10:27 p.m. and reconvened the meeting at 10:37 p.m.\n*\n(13-267) Public Hearing to Consider Resolution No. 14813, \"Amending Master Fee\nResolution No. 12191 to Increase Citywide Parking Meter Rates.\" Adopted.\nThe Assistant City Manager gave a brief presentation.\nCouncilmember Daysog inquired whether he would need to recuse himself since there\nare parking meters in front of his house, to which the City Attorney responded in the\nnegative.\nMayor Gilmore expressed support for the staff report recommendation to improve\nsignage.\nCouncilmember Chen stated that he supports all increases, except for Lots A and C,\nwhich seem too great.\nVice Mayor Ezzy Ashcraft suggested that staff review evening parking rates for the\nparking garage and Park Street area; noted the theater contract provision regarding\nparking rates could be revisited.\nReviewed the Park Street Business Association (PSBA) suggestions which were\noutlined in the staff report; noted Lots A and C are prime parking; urged signage be\nimproved: Robb Ratto, PSBA.\n*\n(13-268) Councilmember Chen moved approval of continuing the meeting past 11:00\np.m.\nVice Mayor Ezzy Ashcraft seconded the motion, which carried by the following voice\nvote: Ayes: Councilmembers Chen, Daysog, Ezzy Ashcraft and Mayor Gilmore - 4.\nNoes: Councilmember Tam - 1.\nMayor Gilmore noted rapid turnover is desirable for Lots A and C.\nSpecial City Council Meeting\nAlameda City Council\n5\nMay 28, 2013", "path": "CityCouncil/2013-05-28.pdf"}
{"body": "CityCouncil", "date": "2013-05-28", "page": 6, "text": "Councilmember Tam moved approval of the staff recommendation; outlined her\nquestions which staff addressed prior to the meeting.\nVice Mayor Ezzy Ashcraft seconded the motion, which carried by unanimous voice vote\n- 5.\n(13-269) Public Hearing to Consider Resolution No. 14814, \"Amending Master Fee\nResolution No. 12191 to Revise the Civil Penalties for Parking Violations of the\nAlameda Municipal Code and California Vehicle Code.\" Adopted.\nThe Police Captain gave a brief presentation.\nIn response to Vice Mayor Ezzy Ashcraft's inquiry regarding reducing disabled parking\nfines, the Police Captain stated the recommendation is to bring the fine down since it is\nabove the average.\nVice Mayor Ezzy Ashcraft stated that she would like the fine to remain the same.\nCouncilmember Chen inquired about enforcement, to which the Police Captain\nresponded Parking Technicians and Police Officers can issue citations.\nIn response to Councilmember Chen's inquiry regarding training, the Police Captain\nstated meter enforcement is understaffed; two more part time positions would be added;\noutlined training.\nCouncilmember Daysog agreed that the City needs more Parking Technicians.\nStated the PSBA Board would like current rates maintained; expressed support of hiring\nadditional Parking Technicians; urged not lowering the fee for parking in disabled or\nyellow and white zones: Robb Ratto, PSBA.\nUrged the fine not be lowered for parking in disabled spots; raised questions about\nvarious disabled parking locations: Carol Gottstein, Alameda.\nCouncilmember Tam inquired whether some South Shore enforcement is done by\nvolunteers, to which the Police Chief responded in the affirmative.\nIn response to Councilmember Tam's inquiry regarding conflicting Municipal Code and\nVehicle Code provisions, the Police Captain stated the Municipal Code section is not\nenforceable and the fine has been eliminated.\nCouncilmember Tam stated that she would advocate keeping the disabled parking fine\nat $335.\nVice Mayor Ezzy Ashcraft stated that she would like to keep the current fine for parking\nin a disabled space and yellow and white zones.\nSpecial City Council Meeting\nAlameda City Council\n6\nMay 28, 2013", "path": "CityCouncil/2013-05-28.pdf"}
{"body": "CityCouncil", "date": "2013-05-28", "page": 7, "text": "Councilmember Tam suggested that the abandoned vehicle violation also not be\nchanged.\nIn response to Councilmember Chen's inquiry regarding smoking in or near vehicles,\nMayor Gilmore stated smoking enforcement is complaint driven.\nThe Police Chief noted signage is very important to inform people of the City's smoking\nregulations.\nCouncilmember Tam moved adoption of the resolution with amendment to keep the fine\nfor disabled parking at $335, the abandoned vehicle fine at $271, and the fine for yellow\nand white zone parking at $75.\nVice Mayor Ezzy Ashcraft seconded the motion, which carried by unanimous voice vote\n- 5.\nCITY MANAGER COMMUNICATIONS\n(13-270) The City Manager announced deeds transferring Alameda Point would be\nsigned on June 4th; stated pinball machines can be played for free in the lobby of City\nHall during lunch time; recognized the meeting would be the Police Chief's last.\nCOUNCIL COMMUNICATIONS\n(13-271) Mayor Gilmore thanked the Police Chief for his years of service.\nADJOURNMENT\nThere being no further business, Mayor Gilmore adjourned the meeting at 11:26 p.m.\nRespectfully submitted,\nLara Weisiger\nCity Clerk\nThe agenda for this meeting was posted in accordance with the Sunshine Ordinance.\nSpecial City Council Meeting\nAlameda City Council\n7\nMay 28, 2013", "path": "CityCouncil/2013-05-28.pdf"}
{"body": "CityCouncil", "date": "2013-05-28", "page": 8, "text": "MINUTES OF THE SPECIAL CITY COUNCIL MEETING\nTUESDAY- - MAY 28, 2013- -6:00 P.M.\nMayor Gilmore convened the meeting at 6:03 p.m.\nRoll Call - Present:\nCouncilmembers Chen, Daysog, Ezzy Ashcraft, Tam and\nMayor Gilmore - 5.\n[Note: Councilmember Chen arrived at 6:05 p.m.]\nAbsent:\nNone.\nThe meeting was adjourned to Closed Session to consider:\n(13-264) Conference with Legal Counsel - Existing Litigation (54956.9); Name of Case:\nRobert Zack, Bernice Jolliff, The Estate of Raymond Zack VS. City of Alameda, County\nof Alameda, and DOES 1 through 50, inclusive; Superior Court of California, Alameda\nCounty Case No. RG12632015\nFollowing the Closed Session the meeting was reconvened and Mayor Gilmore\nannounced that direction was given to staff.\nAdjournment\nThere being no further business, Mayor Gilmore adjourned the meeting at 6:30 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\nMay 28, 2013", "path": "CityCouncil/2013-05-28.pdf"}