Livermore City Council Meeting - February 11, 2019

 

CALL TO ORDER / PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE

CITIZENS FORUM

CONSENT CALENDAR

MATTERS FOR CONSIDERATION

COUNCIL COMMITTEE REPORTS AND MATTERS INITIATED

ADJOURNMENT


CITY COUNCIL


February 11, 2019

CLOSED SESSION

CALL TO ORDER - The Closed Session of the City Council was called to order by Mayor John Marchand at 6:30 pm, in the City Council Chambers, 3575 Pacific Avenue, Livermore, California.

ROLL CALL - Present: Mayor John Marchand, Vice Mayor Robert W. Carling, and Council Members Bob Coomber, Trish Munro, and Bob Woerner.

OPPORTUNITY FOR THE PUBLIC TO ADDRESS THE CITY COUNCIL REGARDING CLOSED SESSION ITEMS.

ADJOURN TO CLOSED SESSION

1. Conference with Real Property Negotiator. To meet with Paul Spence and Steve Stewart, the City's negotiators pursuant to Government Code section 54956.8, regarding the purchase, sale, exchange, or lease of real property at Assessor's Parcel Number 098-0282-009-00. The City negotiators may negotiate with Bordoni Ranch LLC, Green Valley Corporation, and their agents. The instructions will concern price and terms of payment.

2. Conference with Real Property Negotiator. To meet with Paul Spence and Steve Stewart, the City's negotiators pursuant to Government Code section 54956.8, regarding an amendment to the disposition and development agreement approved on September 10, 2018, for the sale and disposition of the real property at Assessor's Parcel Numbers 098-0289-021-00, 098-0407-029-02, 098-0289-013-11, and 098-0407-013-00. The City negotiators may negotiate with Rikesh Patel on behalf of the Presidio Companies, LLC and 2205 Railroad Avenue LLC. The instructions will concern amendments to the price and terms of payment in exchange for an amendment to the disposition and development agreement to allow for the development of a three-story hotel.

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REGULAR MEETING

1.

CALL TO ORDER / PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE

- The meeting of the City Council was called to order by Mayor John Marchand at 7:00 pm, in the City Council Chambers, 3575 Pacific Avenue, Livermore, California.

1.01 ROLL CALL - Present: Mayor John Marchand, Vice Mayor Robert W. Carling and Council Members Bob Coomber, Trish Munro, and Bob Woerner.

1.02 PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE

1.03 REPORT OF ACTION TAKEN IN CLOSED SESSION

City Attorney Jason Alcala said there was no reportable action.

2. PROCLAMATIONS AND PRESENTATIONS - NONE

3. CITIZENS FORUM

Angie Marshall, Livermore, spoke regarding purchasing a City-owned unit from the Station Square townhomes and requested follow-up from staff.

Greg Scott, Livermore, spoke regarding issues relating to homelessness in Livermore.

John Stein, Livermore, asked that mature trees at the Civic Center site be protected during the upcoming sidewalk replacement project.

Karl Wente expressed appreciation to the City Council and staff.

Jacob Anderson expressed appreciation for temporary parking in the Downtown.

4.

CONSENT CALENDAR

ON THE MOTION OF CM WOERNER, SECONDED BY CM COOMBER, AND CARRIED ON A 5-0 VOTE, THE CITY COUNCIL APPROVED THE CONSENT CALENDAR.

4.01 Approval of draft minutes - January 28, 2019 regular City Council meeting.

4.02 Resolution 2019-011 authorizing issuance of a purchase order with Towne Ford, in an amount not to exceed $143,000, for four replacement patrol cars.

4.03 Resolution 2019-012 accepting for permanent maintenance and releasing of security for the 2018 Slurry Seal, Project No. 2018-04.

4.04 Resolution 2019-013 authorizing execution of a three-year agreement with Prime Mechanical Services Inc., in an amount not to exceed $510,000, for heating ventilation and air conditioner (HVAC) maintenance and repair services in City owned buildings; and authorizing execution of up to two three-year extensions.

5. PUBLIC HEARINGS - NONE

6.

MATTERS FOR CONSIDERATION

6.01 Selection of candidates for Planning Commission interviews.

Recommendation: Staff recommended the City Council review applications for the Planning Commission and select candidates for interview at a special City Council meeting on February 21, 2019.

The City Council discussed whether to interview all applicants or eliminate some, noting that Ms. Hosterman had responded minimally to the application questions, and suggesting that the other seven candidates be invited to interview.

In response to questions by the City Council, City Clerk Sarah Bunting confirmed that the special meeting to conduct interviews would be held on Thursday, February 21, 2019, at 6:30 pm, with twenty-minute interviews for each candidate.

THE CITY COUNCIL SELECTED THE FOLLOWING CANDIDATES FOR INTERVIEW AT A SPECIAL MEETING: JACOB ANDERSON, REGINA BONANNO, BARBARA HICKMAN, LORETTA KASKEY, ROBERT J. KLUBALL, STEVEN SPEDOWFSKI AND JOHN STEIN.

6.02 Discussion and direction regarding state housing legislation.

Recommendation: Staff recommended the City Council provide direction.

Assistant Planner Tricia Pontau and Principal Planner Stephen Riley presented the staff report. City Manager Marc Roberts outlined the purpose of the City's legislative platform and requested Council's direction on the state housing items.

Mayor Marchand invited public comment.

John Stein, Livermore, supported balancing between housing and jobs; he expressed concerns regarding the impact of growth on transportation and municipal services.

Greg Scott, Livermore, expressed concerns regarding environmental pollution from transportation and the imbalance between housing and job locations.

CM Munro expressed support for the policy framework and said she also supported stronger emphasis regarding funding and resources to address regional concerns.

In response to questions by VM Carling, Mr. Roberts confirmed that while current legislation did not include penalties for not meeting goals, penalties were being discussed. CM Woerner noted that communities that did not allocate resources to housing would face lawsuits.

VM Carling expressed appreciation for Senator Weiner's bill starting the conversation; he noted that the City was behind on very low and low housing numbers. While recognizing regional issues, he said the City had the obligation to provide housing to people irrespective of income levels. He suggested working with the state legislature to identify funding.

CM Woerner agreed with focusing on low and very low housing; he noted that fairness was being decided by the inner Bay Area communities where the problem originated by creating jobs without housing. He talked about Livermore's efforts to add housing and suggested that other communities should also balance their jobs-to-housing ratios.

In response to questions by CM Woerner, Mr. Roberts said Livermore's jobs-to-housing balance was approximately 1.3 to 1.

CM Coomber agreed with CM Woerner regarding the lack of very low housing. He noted the challenges of being a diverse Bay Area with urban and suburban areas and expressed concerns regarding water supply and population growth.

In response to questions by VM Carling, Mr. Roberts said staff would bring back a graphic showing the radius around transit stops at the next presentation.

Mayor Marchand spoke regarding the CASA Compact, saying much of the bill didn't make sense for Livermore and noting that some communities had created hundreds of thousands of jobs while opposing transit solutions along I-580; those communities were now looking for others to pay for the housing solution. He agreed with concerns regarding population growth and water supply. He spoke regarding the Alameda County Transportation Commission's discussions on the topic, saying funds should stay local and noting the possibility of creating a head tax to create a funding stream to provide additional housing in the communities where jobs were being created.

THE CITY COUNCIL DIRECTED STAFF TO PROCEED WITH THE FRAMEWORK AS PRESENTED WITH AN EMPHASIS ON FUNDING AND RESOURCES AND CONSIDERATION OF THE JOB-HOUSING BALANCE.

Mr. Roberts said staff would continue to monitor legislation and would return to the City Council with an item in March.

7.

COUNCIL COMMITTEE REPORTS AND MATTERS INITIATED

7.01 Council Committee Reports and Matters Initiated by City Manager, City Attorney, Staff, and Council Members.

Flavored Tobacco Ban CM Coomber spoke regarding minors using flavored tobacco products and said he would like to ban flavored tobacco in Livermore. City Attorney Jason Alcala confirmed that staff would present an item regarding vaping and flavored tobacco to the City Council on March 11, 2019.

Livermore Cultural Arts Council (LCAC) CM Munro said she attended the meeting on February 6, 2019.

Tri-Valley Transportation Commission (TVTC) CM Munro said she attended the meeting on February 11, 2019 where there was discussion regarding the CASA Compact.

East Bay Community Energy (EBCE) CM Munro said she met with the Executive Director and attended an informational meeting, noting that Livermore had a high opt-out rate from EBCE.

Wheels Board (Stopwaste.org) CM Woerner said he attended the Wheels Board meeting on February 4, 2019.

Altamont Open Space Committee CM Woerner said he attended the workshop where there was discussion regarding algorithms for prioritizing money for open space.

Community Interactions The City Council directed staff to provide information on options for informal dialogue between the City Council and the community. City Attorney Jason Alcala said he would provide the City Council with information regarding the Brown Act, ad-hoc subcommittees, and subcommittees.

Tour of Homelessness Services VM Carling said on January 29, 2019 he and CM Munro had a tour of homeless services currently provided by the City.

Night to Shine VM Carling spoke regarding the prom night event for young people with special needs; he thanked the Livermore Police Department for supporting the event.

In response to questions by VM Carling regarding street trees referenced by Mr. Stein during public comment, City Manager Marc Roberts confirmed that the objective of the sidewalk project was enlarging tree wells and preserving trees.

Tri-Valley Mayors Advocacy Mayor Marchand said on January 30, 2019 he met with elected representatives to discuss concerns in the Tri-Valley relating to transportation and the Casa Compact. He also met with the Department of Parks and Recreation regarding the Iron Horse Trail and expansion of open space areas.

Homelessness Webinar Mayor Marchand said on January 31, 2019 he attended a nationwide webinar on homelessness with seventy-four other mayors.

Alameda County Transportation Commission (ACTC) Mayor Marchand said on February 11, 2019 he attended the I-580 Express Lanes Policy Committee and the Planning, Policy, and Legislation meetings.

8.

ADJOURNMENT - at 8:16 pm to a City Council special meeting workshop on Tuesday, February 19, 2019 at 1:30 pm, Library Community Room, 1188 S. Livermore Avenue; to a special City Council meeting on Thursday, February 21, 2019 at 6:30 pm, Cabernet Room, City Administration Building, 1052 S. Livermore Avenue; and to a regular City Council meeting on February 25, 2019 at 7:00 pm, Council Chambers, 3575 Pacific Avenue, Livermore.

APPROVED:

JOHN P. MARCHAND, MAYOR

ATTEST:

SARAH BUNTING, CITY CLERK