pages: CityCouncil/2020-11-17.pdf, 20
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CityCouncil | 2020-11-17 | 20 | Vice Mayor Knox White stated a discussion is needed on how to move forward; questioned whether the City can use overlays and whether the City can accommodate if overlays are not used; how many housing units can be accommodated and should the number be used in ABAG discussions about proposing a lower RHNA number; stated the voters were decisive and Council should honor the results. Councilmember Vella discussed the Code of Conduct; stated actions taken during this discussion have been counter to the Code of Conduct; Council should welcome public comment openly; the voting results are public and have been decisive; however, there has been much misinformation and misguidance; expressed support for discussing how to move forward with limitations; noted that she takes Council fiduciary obligations seriously; stated there has been difficulty in Council not having conversations with executive staff to discuss pros and cons moving forward from a fiduciary standpoint; expressed support for an established timeline for discussions and for the matter to be first agendized at a Closed Session to allow Council to hear input from the City Attorney; stated there is value to Council meeting in Closed Session for an honest discussion; noted that she is not concerned about a lawsuit from a developer per se, but potentially from constituents; stated lawsuits come at a cost to the City; Council should be moving forward in a proactive way; expressed support for discussing what the election results mean for the City, for a presentation from ABAG, and for a publicly agendized meeting; stated it is insulting to refer to Alameda as "the Island City" as it ignores an entire portion of the City which exists outside of the Island as a peninsula and is exclusionary to a vast majority of the population that resides on Bay Farm Island; it is important to recognize all of the City. Councilmember Oddie outlined the Code of Conduct; stated it should be possible to combine a Closed Session hearing legal risks and taking a vote on waiving Council privilege, then, hold an open session on said waived rights; he has advocated for Measure Z yet it convincingly lost; it is imperative to discuss what the results mean for the City and how to move forward with conflicting ordinances, which have been passed; outlined City Charter provisions and constitutional rights; noted Council has passed laws which get around Measure A; outlined election results; stated Council cannot ignore the results whether agreed upon or not and must learn how to deal with them; conflicts with the City Charter must be addressed; expressed support for Option 2, with the caveat of adding a Closed Session to discuss waived privileges. Mayor Ezzy Ashcraft stated the Code of Conduct applies to all Councilmembers; Council conducts its best work when members listen to each other, especially when matters are disagreed upon; outlined the theme of communication and misinformation; stated Council strives to treat people the way they would like to be treated; noted a presentation will be brought forth on the RHNA methodology for determining the allocation of housing numbers; expressed concern about waiving attorney-client privilege; stated a slippery slope can evolve through waiving certain privileges. The City Attorney stated staff plans to prepare a confidential memorandum outlining various legal implications to the Council; the memo will be provided within the month in advance of future Council meetings; Council can digest the memo and consider whether Special Meeting Alameda City Council November 4, 2020 | CityCouncil/2020-11-17.pdf |