CITY COUNCIL AGENDA
COMMUNITY CENTER, MAIN HALL
1249 MARIN AVENUE
MONDAY, MARCH 2, 2009

CLOSED SESSION

6:45 p.m

OPPORTUNITY FOR THE PUBLIC TO SPEAK ON CLOSED SESSION ITEMS

Closed session to discuss real property pursuant to Government Code Section 54956.8

Property: 842 Masonic Avenue, Albany
Negotiating Parties: City Administrator and Rebecca Nemeth, Berkeley Hills Realty, on behalf of the City; Rita Smith, Rita Smith Realty, on behalf of property owner.

Appproved minutes


7:30 p.m.

CALL TO ORDER

1. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE

2. ROLL CALL

3. REPORT ON ACTION TAKEN IN CLOSED SESSION, IF ANY

4. CONSENT CALENDAR

(Consent Calendar items are considered to be routine by the City Council and will be enacted by one motion. By approval of the Consent Calendar, the staff recommendations will be adopted unless otherwise modified by the City Council. There will be no separate discussion on these items unless a Council Member or a member of the audience requests removal of the items from the Consent Calendar.)

4-1. Minutes, February 17, 2009.

Staff recommendation: Approve.

4-2. a. Ratification of City of Albany net payroll in the amount of $186,276,26; taxes, benefits & withholdings in the amount of $229,894.25. Total payroll in the amount of $416,170.51. Payroll period: 02/13/09.
b. Ratification of Albany Municipal Services JPA net payroll in the amount of $58,364.35; taxes, benefits & withholdings in the amount of $41,885.20. Total payroll in the amount of $100,249.55. Payroll period: 02/13/09.

Staff recommendation: Ratify.

4-3. a. Ratification of bills, claims and demands against the City of Albany in the amount of $708,857.75. Period: 02/06/09.
b. Ratification of bills, claims and demands against the City of Albany JPA in the amount of $33.79. Period: 02/06/09.

Staff recommendation: Ratify.

4-4. Pension payments for the month of February, 2009, in the amount of $112,553.57.

Staff recommendation: Ratify.

4-5. Council Appointments: Council Member Wile appointing Anne Bingham Goess to the Arts Committee. Council Member Lieber appointing Judy Abel to the Arts Committee.

4-6. Request to temporarily close portions of Solano Avenue and Jackson Street on March 28, 2009 for the Albany Little League Parade.

4-6A Staff Report
4-6B Encroachment Documents

Staff recommendation: Approve an encroachment permit and parade permit, at no fee, to allow closure of Solano Avenue, between Key Route Boulevard and Jackson Street, and closure of Jackson Street, between Solano Avenue and Buchanan Street, from 9:00 a.m. to approximately 9:45 p.m. on Saturday, March 28, 2009, for the annual Albany Little League Parade.

4-7. City organizational and staffing analysis contract.

4-7A Staff Report
4-7B Citygate Associates Excerpts

 

Staff recommendation: Authorize the City Administrator to execute a contract with Citygate Associates to conduct an organization and staffing review in an amount not to exceed $33,495.

4-8. Review of composition and purpose of City commissions and Committees

4-8A Staff Report
4-8B Definitions

Arts Committee recommendation: Authorize one of the two appointees from the Albany Unified School District Board of Trustees to be a youth member; Social & Economic Justice Commission and Sustainability Committee recommendation: Retain the separation of the two bodies for the present time. Waterfront Committee recommendation: Rename the Waterfront Committee to be the Waterfront Commission. Staff recommendation: Authorize the change in the Arts Committee, revisit the merging of the Social & Economic Justice Commission and Sustainability Committee in Fall, 2010, and direct staff to return with recommended guidelines on definitions and distinctions between commissions, committees, and other advisory and working groups.

4-9. 2009-2010 Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) City-County Agreement

4-9A Staff Report
4-9B Allocation Projections

Staff recommendation: That the City Council approve the use of FY 2009-10 Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds, projected to be in the amount of $87,257 ($80,657 jurisdictional improvements + $6,600 general administration), for the following projects: Meals on Wheels program - $15,000; Alameda County HMIS (Homeless Management Information System) - $1,473; 2-1-1 Program - $5,000; Senior Center expansion (property acquisition) - $65,784 or Curb Ramps in the event the property is not acquired.

4-10. Fee waiver for encroachment permit for sidewalk on 1300 block of Solano Avenue for a March 21, 2009 St. Patrick’s Day event.

4-10 Staff Report

Staff recommendation: Approve.

5. GOOD OF THE CITY/PUBLIC FORUM/ANNOUNCEMENTS

For persons desiring to address the City Council on an item that is not on the agenda please note that City policy limits each speaker to three (3) minutes. The Brown Act limits the Council’s ability to take and/or discuss items that are not on the agenda; therefore, such items are normally referred to staff for comment or to a future agenda.

Please go to our website at www.albanyca.org to view all future Commission and Committee meetings.

6. PRESENTATION/PUBLIC HEARING

7. UNFINISHED BUSINESS

7-1. Pierce Street Pavement Rehabilitation and Bicycle/Pedestrian Path - Design contract with Kimley-Horn and Associates

7-1A Staff Report
7-1B Letter to Residents
7-1C Budget Hours
7-1D Phase II Bike Path
7-1E Rev. Budget Dollars
7-1F Rev. Proposal

Staff recommendation: That Council authorize the City Administrator to enter into a two-phase design contract with Kimley-Horn and Associates for the Pierce Street Pavement Rehabilitation and Path project in the amount of $198,580 (Phase 1 is $41,542, and Phase 2 is $157,038).

First phase will consist of public meetings and 20% plans for the pavement reconstruction on Pierce Street and a bicycle/pedestrian path (widened sidewalk) from the northerly City limits, along the Pierce Street sound wall to Buchanan Street via Cleveland Avenue; Upon authorization by the City, the Second phase will consist of preparing 100% plans for the pavement reconstruction, and the widened sidewalk bicycle/pedestrian path along the sound wall from the northerly City limits to the south end of 555 Pierce Street.

7-2. At-Large appointments to the Charter Review Committee.

7-2A-staff report
7-2B-Applications

Staff recommendation: Appoint two (2) at-large members.

8. NEW BUSINESS

8-1. Preliminary Discussion Regarding Acquisition of Property at 842 Masonic Avenue for Expansion of the Senior Center

8-1 Staff Report

Staff recommendation: That Council authorize staff to 1) Ask the Parks and Recreation Commission to advise on acquisition of the property and expansion of the senior center. 2) Submit an application for a conditional use permit to the Planning & Zoning Commission.

8-2. Update on the Federal Stimulus Package, the California State Budget, and election opportunities for local revenue measures.

8-2A Staff Report
8-2B 2009 ARRA Report
8-2C Governor's Summary

Staff recommendation: Receive updates on the passage of the Federal Stimulus Package and California State Budget and State and local election opportunities for ballot measures on May 19 and June 2, 2009, for information, discussion and direction on City efforts to obtain funding.

9. OTHER BUSINESS, REPORTS ON MEETINGS ATTENDED, ANNOUNCEMENT OF EVENTS/FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS

(Council and staff announcements: Council Member reports on State, regional and local boards, commissions and committees to which they are appointed by the City Council; Council Member announcement of requests for future agenda items. No public comment will be taken on announcement of future agenda items).

10. ADJOURNMENT

(The Council meeting packet is available for public inspection at the Albany Library (526-3720), the Fire Department and the City Clerk’s Office. The agenda and supporting staff reports can also be found on our web page at: www.albanyca.org. If you have any questions pertaining to any agenda item or Council meeting procedure, please contact the City Clerk’s Office at 528-5710.)
Agenda related writings or documents provided to a majority of the City Council regarding any item on this agenda will be made available for public inspection in the lobby of City Hall.

The City of Albany is dedicated to maintaining its small town ambiance, responding to the needs of the Community and providing a safe, healthy environment now and in the future.

To view the live televised Council meetings go to Channel 33. Please note that if you provide your name and address when speaking before the City Council it will become part of the official public record, which will be posted on the Internet and broadcast on Channel 33.

NOTICE – Please Read

“Pursuant to Government Code Section 65009, if you challenge a decision of the City Council in court, you may be limited to raising only those issues you or someone else raised at a public hearing described in this notice, or in written correspondence delivered to the City Council at, or prior to, the public hearing.

The decision of the City Council is final as of the date of its decision unless judicial review is initiated pursuant to California Code of Civil Procedure Section 1094.5. Any such petition for judicial review is subject to the provisions of California Code of Civil Procedure 1094.6.

In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), and State Law, if you need special assistance to participate in this meeting, please contact the City Administration Office 510-528-5710. Notification 48 hours prior to the meeting will enable the City to make reasonable arrangements to ensure accessibility to this meeting (28 CFR 35.102.104 ADA Title II)”. Upon request, we will provide written agenda materials in appropriate alternate formats, of disability related modification or accommodation, including auxiliary aids or services to enable individuals with disabilities to participate in public meetings. Please deliver a written request, including your name, mailing address, phone number and brief description of the requested materials and preferred alternative format or auxiliary aid or service at least two (2) days before the meeting. Request should be sent to: City Clerk, 405 Kains Avenue, Albany, CA 94706.