{"body": "CityCouncil", "date": "2017-03-07", "page": 1, "text": "MINUTES OF THE SPECIAL CITY COUNCIL MEETING\nTUESDAY- MARCH 7, 2017--5:30 P.M.\nMayor Spencer convened the meeting at 5:01 p.m.\nRoll Call -\nPresent:\nCouncilmembers Ezzy Ashcraft, Matarrese, Oddie, Vella and\nMayor Spencer - 5.\nAbsent:\nNone.\nPublic Comment\nJanet Davis, Friends of the Alameda Animal Shelter (FAAS), urged Council to fund\nFAAS at the level requested.\nChris O'Connell, FAAS, provided an overview of animals, building conditions and\nworkers; urged full funding.\nCharlotte Tlachac, FAAS, stated that she fosters animals; expressed support for funding\nand positions requested.\nSwati Shah, FAAS, outlined her experience volunteering at the shelter; expressed\nsupport for FAAS.\nSusan Getman, FAAS, stated the proposal takes off the table hiring four staff; stated a\npart-time veterinary care position should be funded.\nWendi Poulson, FAAS, expressed her support for FAAS.\nThe meeting was adjourned to Closed Session to consider:\n(17-141) Conference with Real Property Negotiators (54956.8); Property: 1590\nFortmann Way, Alameda, CA 94501; City Negotiator: Jill Keimach, City Manager;\nOrganizations Represented: Friends of the Alameda Animal Shelter; Issue Under\nNegotiation: Real Property Negotiations Price and Terms of Payment\n(17-142) Conference with Labor Negotiators (Pursuant to Government Code \u00a7\n54957.6); City Negotiators: Jill Keimach and Nancy Bronstein; Employee Organizations:\nAlameda Fire Chiefs Association (AFCA) and International Association of Firefighters,\nLocal 689 (IAFF); Under Negotiation: Salaries and terms of employment\nFollowing the Closed Session, the meeting was reconvened and Mayor Spencer\nannounced that regarding Real Property, direction was given to staff.\n***\nMayor Spencer called a recess at 6:54 p.m. and reconvened the meeting at 12:04 a.m.\nSpecial Meeting\nAlameda City Council\nMarch 7, 2017", "path": "CityCouncil/2017-03-07.pdf"}
{"body": "CityCouncil", "date": "2017-03-07", "page": 2, "text": "Following the Closed Session, the meeting was reconvened and Mayor Spencer\nannounced that regarding Labor, direction was given to staff.\nAdjournment\nThere being no further business, Mayor Spencer adjourned the meeting at 2:30 a.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\nMarch 7, 2017", "path": "CityCouncil/2017-03-07.pdf"}
{"body": "CityCouncil", "date": "2017-03-07", "page": 3, "text": "MINUTES OF THE REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING\nTUESDAY--MARCH7, 2017--7:00 P.M.\nMayor Spencer convened the meeting at 7:02 p.m. and led the Pledge of Allegiance.\nROLL CALL -\nPresent:\nCouncilmembers Ezzy Ashcraft, Matarrese, Oddie,\nVella and Mayor Spencer - 5.\nAbsent:\nNone.\nAGENDA CHANGES\nNone.\nPROCLAMATIONS, SPECIAL ORDERS OF THE DAY AND ANNOUNCEMENTS\n(17-143) Mayor Spencer did a reading on hope for the Season for Nonviolence.\nORAL COMMUNICATIONS, NON-AGENDA\n(17-144) Gaby Dolphin, Alameda, submitted information; urged the City Council to\nconsider adopting a living wage resolution.\n(17-145) Arnold Brillinger, Alameda, urged that new construction address accessibility\nfor visibility, including limiting stairs, having wider doors and bathroom facilities on the\nfirst floor.\n(17-146) Eric Strimling, Alameda Renters Coalition, discussed the cases heard at the\nRent Review Advisory Committee meeting last night.\n(17-147) Naza Djelik discussed disaster preparedness.\n(17-148) Abigail Lev stated Presidential candidates should have to have psychological\nevaluations.\nCONSENT CALENDAR\nCouncilmember Matarrese moved approval of the Consent Calendar.\nCouncilmember Ezzy Ashcraft seconded the motion, which carried by unanimous voice\nvote - 5. [Items so enacted or adopted are indicated by an asterisk preceding the\nparagraph number.]\n(*17-149) Minutes of the Special Meeting, the Special Joint City Council and Successor\nAgency to the Community Improvement Commission (SACIC) Meeting, and the Regular\nCity Council Meeting held on February 7, 2017. Approved.\nRegular Meeting\nAlameda City Council\n1\nMarch 7, 2017", "path": "CityCouncil/2017-03-07.pdf"}
{"body": "CityCouncil", "date": "2017-03-07", "page": 4, "text": "(*17-150) Ratified bills in the amount of $3,601,195.91.\n(*17-151) Recommendation to Substitute a Revised Exhibit A to the License Agreement\nwith the Alameda Unified School District (AUSD) for a Fire Safety Access Route\nThrough Otis Elementary School to Krusi Park. Accepted.\n(*17-152) Recommendation to Authorize the City Manager to Execute an Amendment to\nan Agreement with ENGEO, Incorporated to Extend the Term until March 2018 and Add\nthe Amount of $9,400 for a Total Contract Amount of $100,900 for Geotechnical\nServices Related to the Seaplane Lagoon Ferry Terminal; and\n(17-152A) Resolution No. 15238, \"Amending the Operating Budget for Fiscal Year\n2016-17 by Adding $9,400 to the Base Reuse Fund.\" Adopted.\n(*17-153) Resolution No. 15239, \"Declaring Intention to Establish a Community\nFacilities District (CFD) and to Authorize the Levy of Special Taxes Therein - Alameda\nPoint Public Services District.\" Adopted.\n(*17-154) Resolution No. 15240, \"For Authorization to Apply for Housing Related Parks\nGrant from the State Department of Housing and Community Development for the\nAnnual Playground Replacement Program.\" Adopted.\n(*17-155) Ordinance No. 3175, \"Approving a Lease and Authorizing the City Manager to\nExecute Documents Necessary to Implement the Terms of a 3 Year Lease with No\nExtension Options with Williams-Sonoma, Inc. a Delaware Corporation, for Building\n169, Suite 102 Located at 1680 Viking Street, Alameda Point.\" Finally passed.\nREGULAR AGENDA ITEMS\n(17-156) Recommendation to Approve Pre-Commitment of $6.0 million of the City's\nBase Allocation of Funding through the Alameda County Affordable Housing Bond\nProgram for the Eagle Avenue and Site A Affordable Housing Projects.\nThe Community Development Director and Base Reuse Director gave a Power Point\npresentation.\nCouncilmember Ezzy Ashcraft stated Council inquired whether the County will support\nthe applications for the Eagle Avenue project and closing the gap on Site A funding, to\nwhich the Community Development Director responded staff is planning to engage with\nthe County starting tomorrow.\nCouncilmember Ezzy Ashcraft inquired whether staff will be meeting with County\nSupervisor Wilma Chan, to which the Community Development Director responded staff\nhas not met with Supervisor Chan yet but it is an excellent suggestion.\nRegular Meeting\nAlameda City Council\n2\nMarch 7, 2017", "path": "CityCouncil/2017-03-07.pdf"}
{"body": "CityCouncil", "date": "2017-03-07", "page": 5, "text": "Councilmember Oddie inquired when the City can apply for the competitive regional\npool funds, to which the Community Development Director responded she expects\nwithin the next year or two.\nIn response to Councilmember Oddie's inquiry whether funds could be backfilled, the\nCommunity Development Director stated the City would utilize competitive regional pool\nfunds for a different project; the money would be used in a more pro-active way to fund\nother affordable housing.\nCouncilmember Oddie stated the competitive regional pool funds are not guaranteed;\n58% of the $10.4 million the Council is being asked to allocate is guaranteed.\nThe Community Development Director stated staff has been successful in receiving\ncompetitive funding from the County Home Consortium pool, and expects that Alameda\nprojects would be competitive with the regional pool.\nCouncilmember Oddie stated the funding was going to be used across the County and\nwould be leveraged; Alameda is putting in $1 million and only receiving $1 million;\ninquired why Alameda is not leveraging funds.\nThe Community Development Director responded the $1 million commitment preserves\na $14.4 million project, which is 7% of the total funding; if the City does not commit the\n$1 million, the City would forego $7.4 million; a lot of money is being leveraged; no one\nanticipated the announcement of a federal tax cut or the impacts; if approved, the\nproject would commence construction on June 1, 2017; by the fall of 2018, 20 families\nwill live in affordable housing; if the project is not done in time, the funding will be taken\nback; the $1 million is a small investment which ensures a 20-unit project commences\nconstruction three months from now.\nCouncilmember Oddie stated 5 months ago the City had the entire pot; inquired whether\nother options have been reviewed.\nThe Community Development Director responded the affordable housing bond program\nwas put in place to fund affordable housing projects; what is being requested is to put\nthe projects in the most competitive advantage to leverage other funds; if Site A does\nnot have the full local match it needs to make its application in June, it will not be\ncompetitive and could miss 40 to 45% of all the funding needed for the project; Eagle\nAvenue will miss out on already-committed funding if the City foregoes the $1 million.\nCouncilmember Oddie stated another argument is that the City is foregoing using that\nmoney for the future, because it is not being leveraged.\nThe Community Development Director stated the City would continue to do the same\nrigorous funding for each of the projects; the same sources would be used because\nevery affordable housing project is comprised of several different funding sources; the\nCity does not have a Boomerang funding program, the County does; the City has not\nRegular Meeting\nAlameda City Council\n3\nMarch 7, 2017", "path": "CityCouncil/2017-03-07.pdf"}
{"body": "CityCouncil", "date": "2017-03-07", "page": 6, "text": "applied because there have been enough funds to leverage; the City would not be able\nto compete for the bond without a stack of sources.\nCouncilmember Ezzy Ashcraft inquired whether the two projects are time sensitive, to\nwhich the Community Development Director responded in the affirmative; stated Eagle\nAvenue must be in construction by June and financing must close in May; the City must\napply for tax credit funding in June for the Site A project; if a tax credit application is not\ntimely, it will not be a competitive application; requirements for the developer have to be\nin place; there is a relationship between affordable housing readiness and construction\nat Alameda Point.\nVice Mayor Vella inquired whether Alameda is assuming the County will approve use of\nfunds for Site A, to which the Community Development Director responded in the\naffirmative.\nThe Base Reuse Director continued the presentation.\nCouncilmember Oddie inquired whether the $5.5 million was City or County money, to\nwhich the Base Reuse Director responded the money would come to the City to be\ndisbursed; the fiscal neutrality policy relates to General Fund services and ensures the\nGeneral Fund is held neutral.\nCouncilmember Oddie inquired whether all of the affordable housing vouchers are being\nused for the $5.5 million, to which the Base Reuse Director responded in the negative.\nCouncilmember Oddie stated the issue is urgent and the Council is being asked to act\nquickly; everybody should pitch in; he is not convinced the City has looked for funding\nunder every single rock.\nIn response to Councilmember Oddie's inquiry, the Housing Authority Director of\nHousing and Community Development (HAHCD Director) stated the Housing Authority\n(HA) is constrained by Housing and Urban Development (HUD) regarding the number of\nvouchers that could be issued; until the vouchers were made available, the Housing\nAuthority was at the cap and had no more vouchers; the HA applied under a national\ncompetitive application process and was awarded 45 vouchers for eligible veterans\nonly; the award letter was published in November and the project has until May to move\nforward; if the projects fail to move forward, the HA loses the vouchers; she applied for\nthe vouchers on behalf of the Rosefield Village project; there is a comprehensive\nscoring process to determine how the vouchers are to be distributed; the Base Reuse\nDirector applied for all 45 vouchers for Site A and 20 vouchers were granted to Site A.\nCouncilmember Oddie inquired about the voucher distribution, to which the HAHCD\nDirector responded Site A is eligible to receive 20 vouchers, Rosefield Village is 20\nvouchers, and Eagle Avenue is five vouchers.\nVice Mayor Vella inquired whether the vouchers could be transferred to the Site A\nproject if the Rosefield Village project does not move forward due to funding, to which\nRegular Meeting\nAlameda City Council\n4\nMarch 7, 2017", "path": "CityCouncil/2017-03-07.pdf"}
{"body": "CityCouncil", "date": "2017-03-07", "page": 7, "text": "the HAHCD Director responded in the affirmative; stated the City has confirmed with\nHUD that if a project falls out, the vouchers could be awarded to another project.\nIn response to Councilmember Ezzy Ashcraft's inquiry, the HAHCD Director stated\nRosefield Village is between Buena Vista Avenue and Eagle Avenue, one half block\neast of Webster Street.\nCouncilmember Ezzy Ashcraft stated Site A is not a HA property; inquired whether it is\nunusual to award Section 8 vouchers to properties that are not solely under control of\nthe HA, to which the HAHCD Director responded in the negative.\nIn response to Councilmember Ezzy Ashcraft's inquiry whether the HA Executive\nDirector made a direct request of HUD for the Site A project, the HAHCD Director stated\nthe process of awarding vouchers is standardized across the United States.\nIn response to Vice Mayor Vella's inquiry, the HAHCD Director stated if a housing\nchoice voucher is available, the dollar value allows a loan of another $100,000; the loan\nneeds to be repaid by the rent subsidy; in the Eagle project, the investor is requiring a\n$50,000 per unit reserve fund because of uncertainty on the Federal level; the $100,000\nis offset by the $50,000; the voucher can supplement and spread funds further, but it\nvaries per project.\nThe Base Reuse Director continued the presentation.\nIn response to Councilmember Oddie's inquiry, the Base Reuse Director stated the City\ncould not apply for the 4% Low-Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) because the cap\nand trade could not be obtained.\nThe Community Development Director stated base allocation monies are never seen;\nproject applicants apply for funding directly to the County which underwrites the deal;\nthe County makes the determination whether a project should be awarded.\nMayor Spencer stated the Eagle Avenue project is $1 million or 7%, and Site A is $5\nmillion or 16%; inquired whether there is a best practice in regards to taking such a\nlarge percentage for one project.\nThe Community Development Director responded spending $5 million over 130 units is\nless than 16%.\nIn response to Mayor Spencer's inquiry, Andy Madeira, Eden Housing, stated local\nfunds are represented by the market rate land developer's contribution, HA vouchers,\nand other local contributions, including the County A1 bond funds; the amount being\nrequested tonight is a typical amount.\nThe Base Reuse Director stated the City was strategic in determining the scenarios;\nstaff concentrated the $5 million on one project in order to make the City better fit the\n9% tax credit; concentrating on one project made Alameda score higher and stay\ncompetitive.\nRegular Meeting\nAlameda City Council\n5\nMarch 7, 2017", "path": "CityCouncil/2017-03-07.pdf"}
{"body": "CityCouncil", "date": "2017-03-07", "page": 8, "text": "Vice Mayor Vella stated Alameda scored low in the application process; inquired what is\nthe plan if the City does not get the cap and trade for the family project.\nThe Base Reuse Director responded Alameda's score was low because all the\ninfrastructure was removed and was not counted; there is no good answer to the\nquestion; at some point, there is no money.\nCouncilmember Oddie inquired if the City is doing anything on the lobbying side, to\nwhich the Base Reuse Director responded in the affirmative.\nIn response to Councilmember Oddie's inquiry, the HAHCD Director stated the HA is\ntechnically not making the decision on how to allocate the vouchers; the scoring\nprocess determines how the vouchers are distributed; the rules have changed; if\nlegislation becomes effective, there will be more support for housing projects.\nThe City Manager stated the City is receiving money early for the highest two priority\nprojects; the money is formula based and the City is competing with other cities in the\nCounty, including San Leandro and Hayward; the $50 million is being divided amongst\nfour agencies.\nStated Renewed Hope supports Alameda County Measure A1 funds for the two low and\nvery low income housing projects in Alameda: Doyle Saylor, Renewed Hope.\nUrged the Council to vote yes on the funding: Kari Thompson, Chamber of Commerce\nand Alameda Homeless Network.\nUrged Council to support the \"Everyone Belongs Here\" sentiment by approving the\nbond program to provide the housing needed: Philip James, Alameda.\nStated building housing in Alameda and the region takes too long and is complicated;\nthe Site A plan is delayed; affordable and market rate housing needs to be delivered\nnow; urged Council to use the resources it has at its disposal: Brian McGuire, Renewed\nHope.\nExpressed support for the bond program; stated funding affordable housing is difficult;\nUrged Council not to lose sight of community development and support the proposal:\nKaren Bey, Alameda.\nStated the City is not alone; all of the other cities in Alameda County are facing the\nsame predicament; he supports the bond program and hopes Council moves forward\nwith the staff recommendation: Former Councilmember Tony Daysog, Alameda.\nCouncilmember Oddie stated Council still has to do due diligence when a large sum of\nmoney is being requested; Council is being asked to fund projects that were thought to\nalready be fully funded.\nUrged Council to authorize the bond program financing: Helen Sause, Alameda Home\nRegular Meeting\nAlameda City Council\n6\nMarch 7, 2017", "path": "CityCouncil/2017-03-07.pdf"}
{"body": "CityCouncil", "date": "2017-03-07", "page": 9, "text": "affordable housing project against another; the money does not stretch far enough;\nunderstanding how complicated it is to cobble affordable housing funding is important;\nAlameda does need more affordable housing and needs to look to the State; there are\n169 housing-related issues making their way through the legislature; the City needs to\ndo everything possible to increase affordable housing funds; she feels strongly about\nthe two projects; geographical equity is important and affordable housing needs to be\nspread across the Island; seniors housing issues are difficult; Alameda has a 25%\naffordable housing component; Alameda Point Collaborative homes exceed the\npercentage at 30%; Alameda is ahead of the class; Alameda is a Sanctuary City which\nshould be more than words on paper.\nCouncilmember Matarrese stated that he will be voting to approve the funding; he will\nnot risk Site A or Eagle Avenue; there is an irony that permanent loans are based on\nSection 8 vouchers; Council needs to approve the funding or risk losing 150 units.\nVice Mayor Vella stated it would be helpful to capture the work performed; she would\nlike to get a matrix of what the City applied for; urged putting pressure on the Board of\nSupervisor so funds are in place sooner rather than later; she supports both projects\nand does not want to risk other monies; the State not prioritizing senior affordable\nhousing is sad; she does not want to further delay the projects, but contingencies need\nto be discussed; the City should make sure to have a plan B in place so the projects are\nnot delayed.\nMayor Spencer thanked staff for additional efforts and information; stated that she is\nconcerned about having less money moving forward; she will be supporting the funding;\nprioritization is critical.\nCouncilmember Oddie moved approval of the staff recommendation.\nCouncilmember Ezzy Ashcraft seconded the motion, which carried by unanimous voice\nvote - 5.\n***\nMayor Spencer called a recess at 8:59 p.m. and reconvened the meeting at 9:06 p.m.\nRegular Meeting\nAlameda City Council\n7\nMarch 7, 2017", "path": "CityCouncil/2017-03-07.pdf"}
{"body": "CityCouncil", "date": "2017-03-07", "page": 10, "text": "(17-157) Introduction of Ordinance Approving a Lease and Authorizing the City\nManager to Execute Documents Necessary to Implement the Terms of a Lease with\nDelphi Productions, Inc. a California Corporation, for a Ten-Year Lease with One Five-\nYear Renewal Option for Building 39 Located at 950 West Tower Street at Alameda\nPoint. Introduced.\nThe Assistant Community Development Director gave a brief presentation.\nCouncilmember Ezzy Ashcraft moved introduction of the ordinance.\nCouncilmember Matarrese seconded the motion, which carried by unanimous voice\nvote - 5.\n(17-158) Resolution No. 15241, \"Requesting the Federal Aviation Administration to\nAddress Increased Aircraft Noise in Alameda.\" Adopted.\nMayor Spencer made brief comments about the resolution.\nCouncilmember Matarrese stated addressing airport noise is doable because patterns\nare not permanent and is something to stay on top of; he is prepared to support the\nresolution.\nVice Mayor Vella stated that she serves as the alternate to the Airport Noise Forum; all\nimpacted communities were heard at meetings; a lot of issues specific to Alameda are\naddressed in proposed plan.\nMayor Spencer stated Council is taking the matter seriously; addressing airport noise is\nimportant to the community.\nCouncilmember Oddie stated addressing the issue is what citizens do; citizens petition\nfor redress; the issue is appropriate for Alameda residents.\nCouncilmember Matarrese moved adoption of the resolution.\nCouncilmember Ezzy Ashcraft seconded the motion, which carried by unanimous voice\nvote - 5.\nCITY MANAGER COMMUNICATIONS\n(17-159) The City Manager briefly reviewed two new executive orders that have been\nissued: a revised immigration executive order which removes Iraq from the list of\ncountries; and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) revision of the 2015 Clean\nWater Rule; stated the City would not participate in the voluntary immigration and\ncustoms program.\nRegular Meeting\nAlameda City Council\n8\nMarch 7, 2017", "path": "CityCouncil/2017-03-07.pdf"}
{"body": "CityCouncil", "date": "2017-03-07", "page": 11, "text": "Councilmember Matarrese stated an immigration sweep in the City of Santa Cruz was\ndone under the false notion that police and federal agents were looking for gang\nmembers; the federal update reports are very important for the public to understand\nwhat is being asked.\nORAL COMMUNICATIONS NON-AGENDA\n(17-160) Caylin Yula, Alameda, expressed support for funding the animal shelter.\nCouncilmember Matarrese stated the public comments are supposed to be on non-\nagenda items.\nMayor Spencer stated that she indicated she would allow the FAAS speakers to speak\nat this time; a lot of people did not understand the item was on the Closed Session\nagenda; there are 10 FAAS speakers who did not have the opportunity to speak earlier.\nVice Mayor Vella stated she is concerned that Council had told an earlier FAAS speaker\nthe item was agendized on the Closed Session agenda and that the comment session\nwas already closed; the speaker was not allowed to speak; there are also a number of\npeople waiting to speak on referral items.\nMayor Spencer stated that she called speakers at 5:00 p.m. for the closed session item;\nwhen she noticed speakers for the FAAS at 7:00 p.m., she told the audience she would\ncircle back to the FAAS speakers under the next Oral Communications Section 8.\nCouncilmember Ezzy Ashcraft stated exceptions to the rules should not be made; the\nFAAS issue was already deliberated in Closed Session; Council needs to follow the\nrules out of respect for the rest of speakers on other items.\nCouncilmember Matarrese moved approval of adhering to the rules and continuing with\nupcoming items.\nVice Mayor Vella seconded the motion, which carried by the following voice vote: Ayes:\nCouncilmembers Ezzy Ashcraft, Matarrese, Oddie and Vella - 4. Noes: Mayor Spencer\n- 1.\nCOUNCIL REFERRALS\n(17-161) Consider Revising the City Council Call for Review Process to Appeal Board\nand Commission Decisions by Requiring that Two, Rather Than Just One, City Council\nMembers Initiate a Call for Review and State a Reason for the Appeal. (Councilmember\nEzzy Ashcraft)\n***\nMayor Spencer called a recess at 9:29 p.m. and reconvened at 9:30 p.m.\nRegular Meeting\nAlameda City Council\n9\nMarch 7, 2017", "path": "CityCouncil/2017-03-07.pdf"}
{"body": "CityCouncil", "date": "2017-03-07", "page": 12, "text": "Councilmember Ezzy Ashcraft made brief comments regarding the referral.\nStated the call for review process is an unfair burden on businesses; the process is\ninconvenient, cost prohibitive, and is a deterrent for new businesses; urged Council to\napprove the referral: Kari Thompson, Chamber of Commerce.\nStated his project did not receive the due diligence given to other projects; the call for\nreview on his project caused tremendous injury to him and his wife; urged support of the\nreferral: Thomas Ellebie, Alameda.\nStated that she does not support the referral; the call for review process works and\nshould not be changed: Janet Gibson, Alameda Citizens Task Force.\nStated the community spends time researching issues brought to Council for review; the\nPlanning Board should not be making decisions without knowing the rules: Dorothy\nFreeman, Alameda.\nSubmitted information; suggested citizens not be charged for appeals; urged the\nCouncil not to approve the referral: Gretchen Lipow, Alameda Citizens Task Force.\nStated there is easy access for citizens to share their opinion before a decision is made;\nthe one-councilmember rule has been abused in the past; the business community\nsupports the referral and urged Council approval: Mike McDonough, Chamber of\nCommerce.\nCouncilmember Ezzy Ashcraft stated sometimes elected officials need to police\nthemselves; it is not unreasonable to stop and think about the implications; the City\nwants to attract new business and create more jobs; the addition of a second opinion in\nthe call for review process is reasonable.\nCouncilmember Oddie stated a related referral was done last year and is in the queue;\ninquired whether last year's referral would remain in the queue if Council passes\ntonight's referral.\nThe City Manager responded in the affirmative; stated last year's referral is not as\nspecific and will be brought back to Council.\nIn response to Councilmember Oddie's inquiry, the City Attorney stated passing the\nreferral tonight directs staff to modify the Alameda Municipal Code.\nCouncilmember Oddie stated Council direction can be given, but the modifications\nwould not be implemented right now; he is sympathetic to the resident; those who were\nagainst the project and had no skin in the game had to spend nothing; he has a problem\nRegular Meeting\nAlameda City Council\n10\nMarch 7, 2017", "path": "CityCouncil/2017-03-07.pdf"}
{"body": "CityCouncil", "date": "2017-03-07", "page": 13, "text": "with the inequity and would like to see the policy change implemented sooner rather\nthan later.\nCouncilmember Matarrese stated the matter is no longer a referral, it is Council\ndirection; he saw a flaw in the Oak tree situation in that the requirement of a stated\nreason was not present; the policy needs to be tightened up and Council has the\nopportunity to do that now; he does not agree with having two Councilmembers call an\nitem for review; there has to be a mechanism of appeal that does not require two\nCouncilmembers; the City has very strict guidance not to pre-judge evidence that comes\nfrom the review.\nCouncilmember Ezzy Ashcraft stated having two Councilmembers call an item for\nreview does not mean they are pre-judging an issue; saying an issue deserves a\nsecond look might yield a different result or make the project better after the second\nreview; making the appeal process financially available to citizens is important; she\nstrongly believes if people opposing a project do not have the financial resource to call\nfor an appeal, that they could approach a Councilmember who could recruit a second\nCouncilmember to call the project for review; these are reasonable questions with\nreasonable answers.\nVice Mayor Vella stated she thinks there is a lot of presumption that more than one\nCouncilmember is on board; it is not a huge ask to send the same request to multiple\nCouncilmembers, as part of the due diligence when involved in a project; she is inclined\nto support the change, which is feasible, will strengthen the process and ensures there\nis merit to the calls for review.\nMayor Spencer stated that she will not be supporting the referral; it is important to look\nat the facts; the Planning Board makes approximately 44 decisions a year,\napproximately 10% of the cases are called for review; changing the process would also\nbe a Brown Act violation as Councilmembers can only speak to one other\nCouncilmember; issues are worthy for Council to weigh in on; the Planning Board\nmembers are appointed, not elected by the people; the Council's opportunity to weigh in\nis a call for review; the only way to do the due diligence is for issues to come to Council;\nit is important for Council to protect said ability.\nCouncilmember Ezzy Ashcraft stated that she is not suggesting Council does away with\nthe process; more deliberation is needed; the call for review for the cell phone project\nwas an exercise of a lot of time spent, when State regulations prohibited change;\nCouncil would have known if a second opinion was given.\nCouncilmember Ezzy Ashcraft moved approval of the Council considering revising the\ncall for review process to appeal Board and Commission decisions by requiring that two,\nrather than just one, City Councilmembers initiate a call for review and state a reason\nfor the appeal.\nCouncilmember Oddie seconded the motion, which carried by the following voice vote:\nRegular Meeting\nAlameda City Council\n11\nMarch 7, 2017", "path": "CityCouncil/2017-03-07.pdf"}
{"body": "CityCouncil", "date": "2017-03-07", "page": 14, "text": "Ayes: Councilmembers Ezzy Ashcraft, Oddie and Vella - 3. Noes: Councilmember\nMatarrese and Mayor Spencer - 2.\n(17-162) Consider Resolution No. 15242, \"in Support of a Congressional Investigation\nRegarding the Impeachment of President Donald Trump.\" Adopted. (Vice Mayor Vella\nand Councilmember Oddie)\nCouncilmember Oddie and Vice Mayor Vella made brief comments regarding the\nreferral.\nUrged Council to support the resolution for Congress to initiate an investigation for the\nimpeachment of President Trump: Rosemary Jordan, Alameda4Impeachment.\nSubmitted information; stated the Council is the voice for the citizens; that he supports\nthe resolution: Allen Michaan, Alameda.\nStated that she supports the resolution; she is concerned about the President's possible\ncollusion with Russia; cities have the right and responsibility to convey its residents'\nsentiments to Congress: Katherine Cameron, Alameda4lmpeachment.\nStated that he feels strongly about the issue; urged Council to stand up for the\nConstitution and the democracy: John Ota, Alameda.\nStated that she is concerned about the President's statement about the media and\ncompared it to Stalin's statement that the \"press is an enemy of the State\"; urged\nCouncil to join the group's endeavors: Leslie Walsh, Alameda4lmeachment.\nStated that she is alarmed by the actions of the President; urged Council to support the\nresolution: Betty Yee, Alameda4lmeachment.\nStated a balanced approach to public service and public policy is needed; the balance is\nbeing destroyed by the current administration: Kenneth\nCameron,\nAlameda4lmeachment.\nStated that he is opposed to the resolution; the Council does not have his authorization\nSteve Slauson, Alameda.\nUrged the Council to approve the resolution; stated the issue is a real concern; the\ncommunity needs to stand together and Council is a reflection of the community: Gaby\nDolphin, Alameda.\nStated the time for appeasement is over; citizens are responsible to hold elected\nofficials accountable at every level; the proposal is an opportunity to bring the truth to\nlight; urged Council to support the resolution: Philip James, Alameda.\nRegular Meeting\nAlameda City Council\n12\nMarch 7, 2017", "path": "CityCouncil/2017-03-07.pdf"}
{"body": "CityCouncil", "date": "2017-03-07", "page": 15, "text": "Stated that he finds the President offensive, lacking of integrity, and dishonest; the\nPresident has undermined every fundamental institution; it is imperative for Council to\nmake a statement representing the citizens: Charles Hurt, Alameda.\nUrged Council to take swift action on the resolution; stated President Trump has\ndestructive local and global impacts; Alameda should encourage other communities to\nspeak out: Helen Sause, Alameda.\nStated that she is proud to reside in a Sanctuary City; she supports the resolution for a\nCongressional investigation of the President: Marhya Kelsch, Alameda.\nStated the issue is a weighty one; he would like Councilmembers to contemplate the\nimpacts on Alameda; urged Council to respond with hearts and minds: Former\nCouncilmember Tony Daysog, Alameda.\nStated that she endorses President Trump; she does not support the referral: Jane\nJackson.\n***\n(17-163) Mayor Spencer stated a motion is needed to continue the meeting past 11:00\np.m.\nCouncilmember Matarrese moved approval of continuing the meeting.\nCouncilmember Ezzy Ashcraft seconded the motion, which carried by unanimous voice\nvote - 5.\nStated that she believes strongly in the principle to defend her stance; she supports the\nresolution; President Trump has never been held accountable: Laura Fries.\nMayor Spencer inquired how much the City pays for a federal lobbyist, to which the\nAssistant City Manager responded less than $100,000.\nMayor Spencer stated she that has received emails suggesting the matter is outside\nCouncil's jurisdiction.\nThe City Attorney stated the matter is a free speech issue; there is some connection to\nwhat the federal government does that has an impact and it can certainly be discussed.\nVice Mayor Vella stated everyone is impacted when there are allegations of election\ntampering and if the President had a hand in it; if transparency is required in local\nboards and commissions, it should also be applied to the President; when free press is\nsilenced and there is evidence of alleged wrong doing, system faith needs to be\nrestored; Alameda has a stake in the issue; Alameda is stronger when united; she\nhopes Council joins in support of the referral.\nRegular Meeting\nAlameda City Council\n13\nMarch 7, 2017", "path": "CityCouncil/2017-03-07.pdf"}
{"body": "CityCouncil", "date": "2017-03-07", "page": 16, "text": "Mayor Spencer stated that she hears and supports the community concerns; the people\nneed to have a voice; Alameda has a very strong voice represented by\nCongresswoman Barbara Lee and Congresswoman Nancy Pelosi; Congresswoman\nLee is not asking cities to weigh in on the matter at this point; the Constitution provides\nthat the House of Representatives has the sole power over impeachment; she is\nconcerned about the financial risk to the City; Alameda has a former Naval base that is\nin process of being cleaned; how Alameda is going to move forward is important in the\nchanging financial environment; being a Sanctuary City sent a strong message;\nsupporting this referral will be a second time Alameda sends a strong message to the\nPresident; she strongly believes Congresswomen Lee and Pelosi are doing their job;\nshe will not be supporting the resolution and will follow the leadership Congresswomen\nLee and Pelosi.\nCouncilmember Matarrese stated if the matter comes down to risking funding versus\nprotecting the constitutional rights of Alameda's citizens, he does not have to think twice\nabout protecting citizens; he would jump on the issue now if he thought it would do\nsomething; there is a time to address the issue in in the future; the issue is a partisan\none; a resolution is not appropriate; as individual members, voices can be heard with\nthe same effect as a resolution; he would like to hold off until there is a clearer picture of\nwhat is happening in Congress.\nCouncilmember Ezzy Ashcraft stated that she concurs with all Councilmembers; the\nPresident has an utter disregard for the rule of law; she is frustrated at the appalling turn\nof events under the new administration; a symbolic resolution is not going to have the\nnecessary impact; what is needed is more democrats and elected officials to oppose\nexecutive decisions; urged people to act where it can really make a difference; stated\nworking locally can address the impacts of the administration's actions; the priority\nsetting workshop came up with matrix of issues that need attending; time is a finite\ncommodity; she cannot support the resolution but does not dismiss it; the referral could\nbe revisited.\nCouncilmember Oddie stated the issue is not a political one; asking representatives and\nCongress as a whole to conduct an investigation is not going to stir the pot or cause\nundue harm; he was elected to speak up and support the Constitution; citizens opposed\ngoing to war in 2003 asked Congress not to go to war; there are rules of law; the\nrequest is not to impeach, the request is to investigate; he wants to make sure it is clear\nthe intent is not fear mongering; Council does take a stand for the citizens.\nVice Mayor Vella moved adoption of the resolution in support of a congressional\ninvestigation.\nCouncilmember Oddie seconded the motion.\nUnder discussion, Councilmember Ezzy Ashcraft inquired whether the motion could be\namended as a simplified resolution directed to the Congressional representatives.\nRegular Meeting\nAlameda City Council\n14\nMarch 7, 2017", "path": "CityCouncil/2017-03-07.pdf"}
{"body": "CityCouncil", "date": "2017-03-07", "page": 17, "text": "Vice Mayor Vella stated that she would agree to amend the resolution accordingly.\nCouncilmember Oddie stated that he would agree to an amended resolution directed to\nthe Congressional representatives if it was also sent to the President of the Senate and\nSpeaker of House.\nCouncilmember Ezzy Ashcraft stated she is concerned about the form of the resolution;\nsuggested making a more general request.\nCouncilmember Oddie stated that he would be fine with Councilmember Ezzy Ashcraft's\nsuggestion.\nVice Mayor Vella stated that she supports an amended resolution rather than not\npassing anything; she would like a short break to revise the resolution; she would like to\nempower Congresswoman Lee by providing her something to move forward.\nCouncilmember Matarrese concurred; stated Congresswoman Lee is working with the\ndelegation to build a case to present to Congress; an official letter stating Alameda City\nCouncil backs Congresswoman Lee's case is appropriate at this point.\n***\nMayor Spencer called a recess at 11:30 p.m. and reconvened the meeting at 11:49 p.m.\nThe City Clerk read the amended resolution.\nIn response to Councilmember Ezzy Ashcraft's inquiry, Vice Mayor Vella stated the\nresolution would be attached to a cover letter and sent specifically to Congresswoman\nLee.\nCouncilmember Oddie stated the City of Richmond resolution went to the House\nJudiciary Committee Chair; Alameda's resolution should go to all representatives.\nIn response to Councilmember Ezzy Ashcraft's inquiry, the City Attorney stated the\nresolution is designed to say there were alleged reports of potential wrongdoing; the\nCity Council is asking to have House of Representatives to determine if there should be\nan investigation.\nCouncilmember Matarrese stated that he prefers a more direct line to Alameda's\nrepresentatives and a statement which says the Alameda City Council supports building\na case based on what has been reported.\nThe City Attorney stated Alameda does not have the ability to investigate or verify the\ntruth of allegations; the resolution is requesting the House Judiciary Committee look into\nthe matter.\nRegular Meeting\nAlameda City Council\n15\nMarch 7, 2017", "path": "CityCouncil/2017-03-07.pdf"}
{"body": "CityCouncil", "date": "2017-03-07", "page": 18, "text": "Councilmember Matarrese concurred with the City Attorney; stated staff time should not\nbe spent on the issue; he would like the message to be direct; Council should give\nCongresswoman Lee the support she needs to do the job she is charged with doing.\nCouncilmember Oddie suggested adding \"Now, therefore the City of Alameda resolves\nto support calls by Congresswomar Barbara Lee and others\n\"\nCouncilmember Ezzy Ashcraft stated that she does not think Senators Feinstein and\nHarris should be identified in the resolution because the City cannot call upon them to\ndo anything at this time.\nVice Mayor Vella stated that she prefers to leave the resolution language as is; she\nwould like Congresswoman Lee to be able to take the letter and resolution to the\ncoalition of other people she is working with to encourage support from their\nconstituents.\nCouncilmember Ezzy Ashcraft confirmed that the resolution and cover letter would be\nsent directly to Congresswoman Lee with courtesy copies to Senator Harris and\nSenator Feinstein.\nCouncilmember Oddie moved adoption of the resolution.\nVice Mayor Vella seconded the motion, which carried by unanimous voice vote - 5.\nCOUNCIL COMMUNICATIONS\n(17-164) Councilmember Oddie thanked everyone for holding out with the Council.\n(17-165) Vice Mayor Vella invited citizens to an American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU)\nand resistance training at the senior center in the Fruitvale district on Saturday March\n11th\n(17-166) Mayor Spencer announced the ACLU People Power event will be livestreamed\nin Council Chambers on Saturday March 11th.\n(17-167) Consideration of Mayor's Nominations for Appointments to the Recreation and\nParks Commission and Rent Review Advisory Committee (RRAC).\nMayor Spencer nominated Mindi Chen for appointment to the Recreation and Parks\nCommission and Jeff Cambra for appointment to the RRAC.\nADJOURNMENT\nThere being no further business, Mayor Spencer adjourned the meeting at 12:02 a.m.\nRespectfully submitted,\nRegular Meeting\nAlameda City Council\n16\nMarch 7, 2017", "path": "CityCouncil/2017-03-07.pdf"}
{"body": "CityCouncil", "date": "2017-03-07", "page": 19, "text": "Lara Weisiger\nCity Clerk\nThe agenda for this meeting was posted in accordance with the Sunshine Ordinance.\nRegular Meeting\nAlameda City Council\n17\nMarch 7, 2017", "path": "CityCouncil/2017-03-07.pdf"}