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Minutes of the Special Joint City Council and Successor Agency to the Community Improvement Commission Meetings Held on June 15, 2021 and July 6, 2021. [City Council/SACIC] (City Clerk)
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UNAPPROVED
MINUTES OF THE SPECIAL JOINT MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL AND SUCCESSOR AGENCY TO THE
COMMUNITY IMPROVEMENT COMMISSION (SACIC)
TUESDAY- -JUNE 15, 2021- -6:59 P.M.
Mayor/Chair Ezzy Ashcraft convened the meeting at 7:23 p.m. Councilmember/Commissioner Daysog led the Pledge of Allegiance.
ROLL CALL - Present: Councilmembers/Commissioners Daysog, Herrera Spencer, Knox White, Vella and Mayor/Chair Ezzy Ashcraft - 5. [Note: The meeting was held via Zoom.]
Absent: None.
CONSENT CALENDAR
Councilmember/Commissioner Knox White moved approval of the Consent Calendar.
Vice Mayor/Commissioner Vella seconded the motion, which carried by the following roll call vote: Councilmembers/Commissioners Daysog: Aye; Herrera Spencer: Aye; Knox White: Aye; Vella: Aye; and Mayor/Chair Ezzy Ashcraft: Aye. Ayes: 5. [Items so enacted or adopted are indicated by an asterisk preceding the paragraph number.]
(*21-398 CC/21-13 SACIC) Minutes of the Special Joint City Council and SACIC Meeting Held on June 1, 2021. Approved.
(*21-399 CC/21-14 SACIC) Recommendation to Accept the Investment Report for the Quarter Ending March 31, 2021. Accepted.
REGULAR AGENDA ITEMS
(21-400 CC) Public Hearing to Establish the Proposition 4 (Appropriations) Limit for Fiscal Year 2021-22; and
(21-400 A CC) Resolution No. 15781, “Establishing the Appropriations Limit for Fiscal Year 2021-22.” Adopted.
The Senior Management Analyst gave a brief presentation.
Councilmember/Commissioner Knox White moved approval of the staff recommendation [including adoption of the resolution].
Councilmember/Commissioner Herrera Spencer seconded the motion, which carried by the following roll call vote: Councilmembers/Commissioners Daysog: Aye; Herrera Spencer: Aye; Knox White: Aye; Vella: Aye; and Mayor/Chair Ezzy Ashcraft: Aye. Ayes: 5.
(21-401 CC) Resolution No. 15782, “Approving and Adopting the Operating and Capital Budget for Fiscal Years (FYs) 2021-22 and 2022-23.” Adopted;
(21-15 SACIC) Resolution No. 21-12, “Approving and Adopting the Budget for FYs 2021-22 and 2022-23”; and
(21-401 A CC) Resolution No. 15783, “Approving Workforce Changes and Amending the Management and Confidential Employees Association (MCEA) Salary Schedule in FYs 2021-22 and 2022-23 Effective July 1, 2021.” Adopted.
The Finance Director made brief comments.
The Senior Management Analyst and Supervising Senior Engineer gave a Power Point presentation.
Councilmember/Commissioner Knox White requested confirmation that the staff recommendation is consistent with direction given at the previous workshops, to which the Finance Director responded in the affirmative.
Councilmember/Commissioner Daysog inquired whether the $200,000 park maintenance budget is for the resurfacing of tennis and pickle ball courts and whether the Recreation and Park Commission will weigh-in and provide recommendations.
The Supervising Senior Engineer responded in the affirmative; stated the increase in funding is for park improvements, with specific projects to be determined at a later date.
Councilmember/Commissioner Knox White stated that he would like to clarify the funding is not specifically for tennis and pickle ball court resurfacing; the funding is for projects identified by the Recreation and Park Commission, which could be beyond the resurfacing.
Vice Mayor/Commissioner Vella expressed support for the clarification.
Urged $250,000 in funding for the master planning of DePave Park; outlined benefits of the Park: Linda Carloni, Golden Gate Audubon Society.
Stated there is a disconnect relative to direction previously provided by Council on Police Reform and Equity; several important matters in an upcoming matter include budget applications with no allocated funds, which is an important step in implementing the Subcommittee recommendations; urged funding be allocated now: Jacqueline Zipkin, Transform Alameda.
Stated there is lack of funding in the budget for the Police Accountability Committee; the recommendations provided by the Steering Committee have been approved by Council; funding should be included in the proposed budget; urged Council to amend the proposed budget: Lorin Laiacona Salem, Alameda.
Stated that he would like to see the recommendations of the Steering Committees be fully funded; discussed the death of Mario Gonzalez; stated 42% of Police funding goes toward incidents where Police are not needed; Police should be out of the way of Mental Health responders when a public safety risk is not present; the City needs to move faster in funding the programs to ensure no one else is hurt or killed: Josh Geyer, Alameda.
Discussed results from the Transform Alameda People’s Budget survey: Laura Cutrona, Alameda.
Stated the budget has come back without Council direction included; she is unsure whether there is a miscommunication; she is frustrated to see the budget come up with none of the Subcommittees proposals; she has not seen anything implemented from the Steering Committee; the people have spoken and showed up to do the work: Melodye Montgomery, Alameda.
Stated spending shapes well-being, quality of life, and safety; the Nation has been ushered into a new era where communities are forced to reckon with racism and Police violence; Alameda is no different; discussed the death of Mario Gonzalez; stated over half of 911 calls are non-criminal in nature; Police calls which involve mental health, substance use or homelessness should be diverted to a community based mental health professional response; urged the Police budget be decreased: Debra Mendoza, Alameda.
Stated the proposed ideas and recommendations from Transform Alameda are not new; the matters have been discussed for over a year; urged Council to take immediate action and prioritizes accordingly; stated there is a debate about how to spend money instead of creating immediate change and impact: Alexia Arocha, Alameda.
Stated unbundling of Police means shifting resources and money out of the Police Department to other services in conjunction with law enforcement, not separately: Marilyn Rothman, Alameda.
Urged Council to include funding in the current year to develop the Master Plan for DePave Park; stated the matter is important for the City and is forward-looking; the Park is a proactive approach to dealing with climate change and associated sea-level rise; the park will be an important investment for the City: Henrich Albert, Alameda.
Stated that he is upset the Subcommittees work has not been reflected in the budget; it is upsetting to have worked many hours on the recommendations with nothing changed or reflected in the budget; questioned the reason for continuing to fund Policing when the community has specifically mandated that mental health resources be funded; stated that he is upset to see Police funding go up: Vinny Camarillo, Alameda.
Stated that she is disappointed and confused by the budget proposal; the need for dramatic changes was made clear last year; changes are to ensure the safety and well-being for all; noted prior Council approvals; stated the budget does not convey a seriousness and is frustrating; expressed concern about only two options being proposed: the Felton Institute and Fire Department; stated that she does not think the City should go with the Felton Institute at this time due to Police involvement: Eve Gordon, Alameda.
Stated there is a lot of momentum for change; the budget falls short; discussed her family member being the victim of a crime; stated that she did not feel comforted or supported by the response provided; there is deeper work to be done; urged Council look deeper at the work of the Subcommittees: Jennifer Rakowski, Alameda.
Expressed support for including the DePave Park Master Plan in the budget; stated the Park is envisioned to be a wetlands education park for impacts of sea-level rise; the Park will be a jewel of the City; discussed redevelopment of the area surrounding DePave Park; stated there is a unique opportunity for the Park to receive funding from the San Francisco Bay Restoration Authority; previous funding attempts have been denied since the City has not provided funding; urged Council to approve funding in order to demonstrate City support: Ruth Abbe, Community Action for a Sustainable Alameda (CASA).
Expressed gratitude towards the City Manager’s Office for information on the budget process; stated the budget remains largely the same as the prior year; there were not many changes to the budget; the budget is a two-year process; urged Council to make changes: Erin Fraser, Alameda.
Mayor/Chair Ezzy Ashcraft requested the City Manager address questions and concerns raised by public comment.
The City Manager stated about $1.3 million has been added to alternative policing, mental health, and the Police audit function; recommendations from the Subcommittees have been included in the budget; the money has not been specifically placed into programs, but is available for access moving forward; staff has budgeted for the Crime Analyst position and homeless programs; there will be access to American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds, as well as contingency funds, that can be reallocated when needed; savings within the Police Department fund can be reallocated when necessary.
Vice Mayor/Commissioner Vella stated it is important to clarify in plain terms for those not familiar with the budgeting process; if items are not included in the budget, Council can always amend expenditures; upcoming matters may include direction to use City funds from various funding streams; it is important to address questions directly; expressed support for participation from the public in the upcoming agenda matters; inquired whether funding for DePave Park will be part of the discussion.
The City Manager responded the $200,000, as well as grant funds, could be used for DePave Park.
The Recreation and Parks Director stated the intention for the $200,000 each year is for the Recreation and Park Commission and staff to determine current facility and recreation needs as requested by the community; she has presented matters such as the tennis courts and skate parks; while she strongly supports DePave Park, it is not the current intention; Council may direct staff to discuss the matter at the Recreation and Park Commission level; staff will apply for a grant for DePave park; allocating funding towards DePave Park will help the grant process by showing the City’s support; allocating funding is not required; however, the funding will create a more competitive application; stated the Master Plan will not be completed prior to the grant application in October.
Mayor/Chair Ezzy Ashcraft inquired how much funding is needed in order to be considered competitive in the grant process for DePave Park.
The Recreation and Parks Director responded the question is difficult to answer; stated a six figure amount is helpful; however, it may not need to be as much as $250,000; a smaller amount such as $50,000 to 100,000 could prove helpful; she does not have a strong sense since matching funding are not a requirement; the grant program appreciates seeing committed funding.
Councilmember/Commissioner Daysog stated there are things to like and dislike about the budget process; expressed support for the budget; stated that he appreciates the allocation of $200,000 per year for recreation facilities; the funding is an opportunity for people to work with the Recreation and Park Commission and make a case for uses; expressed support for continuing the process going forward; stated DePave Park is at the master plan level; there are other immediate funding needs; he would like to work with Council to find different ways of funding DePave Park; expressed support for setting aside money for implementing alternatives to policing; stated Council is following through on the issues raised by Subcommittees in significant ways.
Vice Mayor/Commissioner Vella moved approval of the budget [including adoption of the resolutions] with clarity and direction for a community-led process relative to parks.
Vice Mayor/Commissioner Vella; stated the Recreation and Parks Department is trying to facilitate the discussion with Alameda Point Collaborative (APC) residents and CASA; she is supportive if the discussions yield a need to utilize funding towards DePave Park; expressed support for adding clarity about allowing the Recreation and Parks Director to utilize Capital Improvement Project (CIP) funding.
Mayor/Chair Ezzy Ashcraft stated that she would like the motion made clearly with discussion to follow.
Vice Mayor/Commissioner Vella moved adoption of the resolutions.
Councilmember/Commissioner Knox White seconded the motion.
Under discussion, Vice Mayor/Commissioner Vella stated that she would like to clarify the Recreation and Parks Director work with the Recreation and Park Commission, understanding that there is already an effort underway to involve and have community-led discussion regarding DePave Park; there is potential for additional allocation to the CIP if it is recommended through the discussion process.
Councilmember/Commissioner Herrera Spencer stated the budget is comprehensive; expressed support for the community input; stated budget concerns have been addressed in the public comments; the budget is reflective of the City’s priorities; there have been many compromises on the proposed budget; she will not be supporting the budget; she is not on the same page after the pandemic; funding mental health is important; she would have liked the Alameda Unified School District (AUSD) and Alameda Family Services requests to be fully funded; she advocated for more funding towards the Recreation and Parks Department; mental and physical health have been compromised in the past 12 to 15 months; she expects to see more side effects moving forward; expressed support for $250,000 for DePave Park planning; stated there are not sufficient funds in the Recreation and Parks Department budget; expressed concern about the Fire Department Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER) grant positions being transferred to the General Fund; outlined the funding; stated reserves are being depleted; stated Council should spend more time looking at pension contributions; a significant amount goes towards employees, benefits, pensions and unfunded pension liabilities; it would be more appropriate to use deficit spending towards mental and physical health and recreation, including DePave Park; DePave Park is a priority; she thinks Council will come up with a way to fund the project; if Council is serious about climate action, it is appropriate to fund DePave Park; the Recreation and Parks Director has previously applied for a grant for DePave Park; stated the previous attempt was denied; the grant is critical; she does not expect the grant to be successful until the City dedicates funding; she would have liked to have seen scholarships for Recreation and Parks activities; there is a greater demand for scholarships; the City is using reserves, which should be spent on community members, including Library and ambulatory services; discussed ambulance services; stated Council should look at the ambulance expenditures.
Councilmember/Commissioner Knox White stated staff has done a good job of coalescing everything into an agreed upon budget.
Mayor/Chair Ezzy Ashcraft requested clarification on fully funding the mental health services request from AUSD and Alameda Family Services.
The City Manager stated the City has allocated $125,000.
Mayor/Chair Ezzy Ashcraft inquired whether the amount is what was requested.
The Assistant City Manager responded the Parent Teacher Association (PTA) and School District representatives raised $75,000 and needed $25,000 to fund a position; stated the remaining $100,000 will be used to support both the school and families; the program will help, not only AUSD, but other students across the community, plus family needs; the PTA contribution is not necessarily in place for the second year; the funding for the second year is still in question; $125,000 has been set aside in both years for mental health related items; staff will come before Council to address year two.
Mayor/Chair Ezzy Ashcraft stated that she does not see funding for Village of Love in the second year; inquired the reason for not funding both years.
The Assistant City Manager stated the funding is addressed under Police Reform item; funding sources come from a number of different areas.
Mayor/Chair Ezzy Ashcraft stated that she respects and wants to honor the work of the City Boards and Commissions; Boards and Commissions do important work on behalf of the City and Council; expressed support for the work of the Recreation and Parks Director and the Recreation and Park Commission.
Councilmember Daysog stated that he would want the $200,000 per year dedicated to improving active recreational amenities and infrastructure, such as pickle ball or bicycle motocross (BMX); Council must look at the bigger picture; using some of the money as matching funds for grants would lessen the amount available for active recreational uses; expressed support for the compromise made and for the budget; outlined previous discussions related to the SAFER grant and funding; stated the SAFER grant is exhausted and is now being back-filled with General Fund money; Council must make the difficult decisions; the City is moving in the right direction and has larger issues to deal with, such as revamping the pension funding policy.
On the call for the question, the motion carried by the following roll call vote: Councilmembers/Commissioners Daysog: Aye; Herrera Spencer: No; Knox White: Aye; Vella: Aye; and Mayor/Chair Ezzy Ashcraft: Aye. Ayes: 4. Noes: 1.
ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business, Mayor/Chair Ezzy Ashcraft adjourned the meeting at 8:40 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Lara Weisiger, City Clerk and Secretary, SACIC
The agenda for this meeting was posted in accordance with the Sunshine Ordinance.
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MINUTES OF THE SPECIAL JOINT MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL AND
SUCCESSOR AGENCY TO THE
COMMUNITY IMPROVEMENT COMMISSION (SACIC)
TUESDAY- -JULY 6, 2021- -6:59 P.M.
Mayor/Chair Ezzy Ashcraft convened the meeting at 8:30 p.m.
ROLL CALL - Present: Councilmembers/Commissioners Daysog, Herrera Spencer, Knox White, Vella and Mayor/Chair Ezzy Ashcraft - 5. [Note: The meeting was held via Zoom.]
Absent: None.
CONSENT CALENDAR
Councilmember/Commissioner Knox White moved approval of the Consent Calendar.
Vice Mayor/Commissioner Vella seconded the motion, which carried by the following roll call vote: Councilmembers/Commissioners Daysog: Aye; Herrera Spencer: Aye; Knox White: Aye; Vella: Aye; and Mayor/Chair Ezzy Ashcraft: Aye. Ayes: 5. [Items so enacted or adopted are indicated by an asterisk preceding the paragraph number.]
(*21- CC/21- SACIC) Recommendation to Accept the Third Quarter Financial Report for the Period Ending March 31, 2021. Accepted.
ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business, Mayor/Chair Ezzy Ashcraft adjourned the meeting at 8:31 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Lara Weisiger, City Clerk and Secretary, SACIC
The agenda for this meeting was posted in accordance with the Sunshine Ordinance.