pages: CityCouncil/2022-01-04.pdf, 23
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CityCouncil | 2022-01-04 | 23 | consideration should not be through the referral process; Council is close to scheduling a Council priority setting workshop; priority setting workshops provide Council the ability to prioritize matters; expressed concern about addressing matters piecemeal; stated staff is working on many projects; inquired whether a date for the workshop has been set. The City Manager responded the date will either be February 1st, 4th, or 5th; everyone has responded to the poll. Councilmember Daysog stated the Council referral is an example of a Councilmember responding to an issue raised by a constituent; the issue was raised in May; planning meetings are not meant to stifle how Councilmembers respond to constituents; Councilmembers must do their best; Councilmembers not in support of the referral can vote accordingly. Mayor Ezzy Ashcraft concurred with Councilmember Daysog about responding to constituents; stated there are other ways to get information and provide a response. Councilmember Herrera Spencer stated that she has communicated with staff multiple times on the matter; there is inconsistency in how the policy is applied; there is a question whether people can park RV in front of houses; some people receive a ticket and others do not; the referral process is about responding to the public; expressed concern about using the priority setting meeting as a way to never use the Council referral process and for squashing Councilmembers' ability to raise issues; stated there is no way for Council to know all matters of concern that might arise in future; expressed support for priority setting on high level goals; however, some matters have nuance and require the Council referral process. Mayor Ezzy Ashcraft noted the priority setting workshop has categories of topics and does not require anticipating all future matters. In response to Councilmember Knox White's request to clarify the motion, Councilmember Daysog stated the motion is to approve directing staff to publically share information on RV parking to clarify the policy for Council and the public. Councilmember Knox White inquired whether Council is voting to have information return, to which Councilmember Daysog responded in the affirmative; stated Council needs staff to return for Council policy discussion. Councilmember Knox White stated a policy exists. Councilmember Daysog stated the policy does not exist; the point of the referral is that there are conflicts in how departments respond to RV parking; the matter will be taken to staff to resolve conflicts and return to Council with a policy discussion. Vice Mayor Vella stated Councilmembers have the ability to ask staff questions on policy discrepancies and respond to constituents; all Councilmembers have done constituent case work; the referral seems to extrapolate an anecdotal issue into a wholesale policy change; it seems as though an inquiry was made; Councilmembers owe constituents representation as well as performing the job of an elected official; expressed concern about Councilmembers escalating referrals which may or may not be able to be answered by an email and spending limited time at Council meetings discussing a matter with a simpler solution; stated that she is unsure whether there is an issue with the policy; policies are typically written to allow a level of Regular Meeting Alameda City Council January 4, 2022 23 | CityCouncil/2022-01-04.pdf |