pages: CityCouncil/2022-05-10.pdf, 12
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CityCouncil | 2022-05-10 | 12 | The Interim City Manager stated if there is an openness to gathering more information, staff is willing to do the work; a significant amount of infrastructure needs to be addressed. Vice Mayor Vella stated being one vote short of putting the measure before the people of Alameda is disappointing; allowing voters to make a decision is direct democracy; while Councilmembers may individually disagree philosophically, she would hope that her colleagues would put it to a vote of the people. Councilmember Daysog stated his grave concern is the reserve policy that has been in place since 2017 without the vote of the people; $46 million has been spent on unfunded liabilities; the policy needs to be fixed, as well as other spending priorities. Mayor Ezzy Ashcraft concurred the policy needs to be revisited, which the Interim City Manager indicated would be done; Alameda has an existential climate change threat; more information is need. Councilmember Knox White stated there is a commitment to bring back and revise the reserve policy; infrastructure funding will not be fixed from said discussion; the issues are separate; addressing concerns about the reserve policy will not fix the infrastructure problem; the City will still have an unfunded infrastructure need as well; inquired whether Councilmember Daysog is open to having a conversation with staff in the next four weeks; stated the conversation would not be committing to support a measure going on the ballot, but would be to see if there might be pieces of a supportable infrastructure bond; he understands nothing will change Councilmember Spencer's opinion. Councilmember Daysog stated that he does not see how a $95 million infrastructure bond could be addressed between now and late July; educating people previously for the library bond required a lot of legwork; doing a $95 million infrastructure bond between now and August is not practical; the City should revisit the matter in 2024; for philosophical and practical reasons, he does not see it. Mayor Ezzy Ashcraft inquired whether the Vice Mayor has a motion. Vice Mayor Vella expressed concern about the votes not being there. Mayor Ezzy Ashcraft stated there is an opportunity to inform the voters better than they were informed by the first round of polling. Vice Mayor Vella stated Council colleagues have indicated it does not matter what the voters think; they do not want to put the matter to a vote of the people; discussed percentages and other measures; stated there is an opportunity to put a measure on the ballot, which is worth exploring, but the point is moot since other Councilmembers do not support putting it to a vote of the people. Continued May 3, 2022 Meeting Alameda City Council May 10, 2022 7 | CityCouncil/2022-05-10.pdf |