| Time | Speaker | Text |
|---|---|---|
| 00:01:09.91 | Unknown | recording in progress. |
| 00:01:16.73 | Mayor Blashton | City clerk, whenever you're ready. |
| 00:01:19.29 | Walfred Solorzano | Okay, good evening Mayor Blashton and council members. The regular meeting for April 25, 2023 is being held in council chambers, located at 420 Little Street. Staff and members of the public are also participating through Zoom. And this meeting is being broadcast live on the city's website and on cable TV channel 27. So we'll start with the roll call. |
| 00:01:42.01 | Mayor Blashton | Thank you, City Clerk. Good evening. I'll call this meeting to order at 5.01 PM and ask that you call the roll. |
| 00:01:48.42 | Walfred Solorzano | Council Member Cox. |
| 00:01:50.36 | Mayor Blashton | YEAR. |
| 00:01:51.29 | Walfred Solorzano | Councilmember Kelman? Here. Councilmember Hoffman? Here. Vice Mayor Sobieski? |
| 00:01:54.98 | Vice Mayor Sobieski | Thank you. |
| 00:01:55.02 | Mayor Blashton | Here. |
| 00:01:57.68 | Walfred Solorzano | and mayor blosty |
| 00:01:59.49 | Mayor Blashton | So the first item on the agenda this evening is our closed session conversation. In tonight's closed session, we have three items. One conference with labor negotiator, government code section 54957.6. public employment city attorney, Conference with legal counsel, existing litigation pursuant to California government code section 5495. 69, Sausalito Marin City, Marin County chapter of the Homeless Union. and conference with labor negotiation agency designated representative SEIU local 1021. I will now open it up to public comment on our closed session agenda items, unless members of the council want to share recusals related to closed session. |
| 00:02:38.27 | Vice Mayor Sobieski | Thank you, Mayor. I will recuse myself I think you have a separate order from mine, but from the item dealing with public employment, Government code section 54957 title city attorney. |
| 00:02:49.76 | Mayor Blashton | Thank you very much and I will now open it up for public comment. City Clerk, could you please remind members of the public how they may make public comment at this time? |
| 00:02:57.84 | Walfred Solorzano | If you are in person, you can fill out one of the slips over by the table on the television and bring it over here to the city clerk area. If you're on Zoom, you can use the raise hand function. If you're on telephone by Zoom, you can press star nine and see no public comment right now. |
| 00:03:14.68 | Mayor Blashton | Okay, I will now close public comment and we will adjourn to closed session. We will return at 7 p.m. |
| 00:03:32.66 | Unknown | recording in progress. |
| 00:03:47.34 | Walfred Solorzano | Thank you. |
| 00:03:47.35 | Mayor Blashton | Thank you. |
| 00:03:47.37 | Walfred Solorzano | Okay. |
| 00:03:49.99 | Mayor Blashton | I'm ready whenever you are. Are we good to go? Okay, this is the busiest I have ever seen Council chambers. I'm so excited to see so many of you here as we return from closed session, we have no announcements. Welcome back to the regularly agenda City Council meeting of April 25 2023. I will now ask for a motion to approve our agenda this evening. |
| 00:04:11.00 | Vice Mayor Sobieski | So moved. |
| 00:04:13.04 | Mayor Blashton | All in favor say aye. |
| 00:04:14.41 | Vice Mayor Sobieski | Bye. |
| 00:04:15.08 | Mayor Blashton | Okay, so I'll dive right into the first item on the agenda, which is special presentations, and that's probably why you're all here. And I'm very excited to invite our interim chief, Stacy Gregory, up to perform the oath of office for our new employees from the Sausalito Police Department. So welcome, Chief Gregory. I don't know, is it on? |
| 00:04:39.46 | Stacy Gregory | On. Yes. Okay, so we're excited to be here. We haven't seen this. We haven't been here since 2018. doing this. So, You know, this is strictly a ceremonial swearing in. Employees are actually physically you know, informally sworn in, their first day on the job. This is for the family, it's for the employees, and it's for you to get to see our new employees face to face so they can formally be introduced. So this is a memorable moment for... the five employees that are going to come up here tonight badge pinning is It's a really significant part of our law enforcement tradition. And so what we'll do is I'm going to bring the five employees up I'm going to say a little something about them and The city clerk will swear them in and then we'll have their family member, the family member that they choose come up and pin their badge. So that's kind of how it'll go. So I'd like to bring all five of you up. To stand next to me. |
| 00:05:55.57 | Walfred Solorzano | Thank you. |
| 00:05:55.62 | Stacy Gregory | Thank you. Yep, just line up so they can see your faces. Yep, line up right here. |
| 00:06:01.07 | Walfred Solorzano | No, we're here, guys. Yeah, we... Smile with the camera, guys. On me. |
| 00:06:06.74 | Stacy Gregory | Thank you. |
| 00:06:06.81 | Walfred Solorzano | Thank you. |
| 00:06:06.88 | Stacy Gregory | Thank you. |
| 00:06:08.33 | Walfred Solorzano | . |
| 00:06:08.41 | Mayor Blashton | Do we have a movable mic for the chief? |
| 00:06:13.05 | Sergio Rudin | Can I move up here? All right. |
| 00:06:15.72 | Mayor Blashton | Yeah, come on up, Nick. I mean, Officer White. Come on up. Yeah. |
| 00:06:21.61 | Stacy Gregory | Thank you. Okay. I'm going to start with the officers Ryan Walsh and Bryce Mitchell, only because they were hired in December of 2019. So this is the first opportunity that we've had to get them in front of you to get their family here to do the formal swearing in the badge pinning, and that's all important for the reasons I just talked about. So the pandemic, council meetings on Zoom, the importance of this event, we're here now, and thankfully that we have five new employees to swear in. It's really exciting for the police department. So since I have five of them, I'm just going to read their bios so I don't screw anything up. So we'll start with Bryce Mitchell. |
| 00:07:15.29 | Stacy Gregory | Bryce was born and raised in Santa Rosa by his mother who worked as a nurse and a father who worked for the Marin County Department of Public Works. Bryce has a brother who is a deputy Sonoma County Sheriff officer, a sister who is an optometrist, and a sister who works in accounting. While attending classes at the Santa Rosa Junior College, Bryce intermed as a police cadet at the Santa Rosa Junior College Police Department. He then transferred to Sonoma State where he received his bachelor's degree in Sociology, before Bryce began his career as a police officer, he worked as a butcher for nine years. In his spare time, Bryce enjoys working out, riding his motorcycle, and spending time outdoors hiking and fishing. And I apologize, you're probably wondering who's Bryce, right? Bryce, raise your hand. Okay. Um, okay. Ryan Walsh, right center. Yep. Ryan Walsh was born and raised in Roanoke Park, California. After graduating from high school, he ultimately found an interest in law. He furthers his education and received an associate's degree in administration of justice from Santa Rosa Junior College. while playing baseball. He then earned a bachelor's degree in criminology and criminal justice studies from Sonoma State. When he is not at work, Officer Welch enjoys playing sports and spending time with his fiancee, Desiree, and their two dogs. Okay, Jesse is right here. |
| 00:08:40.27 | Stacy Gregory | Jessie was born and raised in Santa Rosa. He has three brothers and one older sister. He graduated from California State University Chico in 2017. Jesse has an identical brother who is a city of Chico police officer. It's great. And I have a thing for twins. Thank you. . |
| 00:09:01.97 | Unknown | Yeah. |
| 00:09:02.66 | Stacy Gregory | LAUGHTER Jesse's desire to become a police officer started in high school. He wanted to follow in his brother's footsteps. And so Jesse grew up fishing and hunting birds with his family, and he values time that he spends with his family, friends, and coworkers. Jessie was sponsored and mentored through the academy as a police officer trainee by the Sausalito Police Department. So we actually found Jessie. hired him, did a background, sent him to the academy, mentored him through the academy. And then he graduated from the Academy in December, 2022. And he was just released from his training program on April 11th of 2023. And apparently he bought In-N-Out for everybody. to celebrate that day. And I did forget to mention that Bryce and Ryan were also to... officers that we found before They went through the Academy, did their background, and then sent them to the Academy and mentored them the whole way. So they are great. They're our senior new guys. So Officer Brandon Beck. There he is. Okay, Officer Brandon Beck was raised in Sonoma and Napa counties with his parents and brother. He played football in high school. And apparently he had the opportunity to play in the blue and gray All-American game in Florida. So if you know what that is, it's a big deal for football players. He was one of, you know, 90 kids out of... Several thousand that got to play in this football football game and he also ran track for four years in college. He graduated from California State University, San Marcos in Southern California, with a bachelor's degree in sociology. He is proud to be the first person to graduate from college in his family. In his spare time, Brandon likes to work on cars and run. Brandon was also a self-sponsored academy student. We found Brandon when he was already in the academy, did a background on him, hired him, He was paid as a trainee and He also graduated in 2022. He did take some time off. We allowed him to take some time off before he started the training program to go and get married. And so he did that for about a month. He's now married to his wife, Laurel, who's here. And we expect that Brandon will also be released from the training program the next month or so. And last but certainly not least, we have parking enforcement officer Luis via Real. He is 21 years old and currently attending San Francisco State University. He's in his final... Year? PURSUING A BACHELOR'S DEGREE IN CRIMINAL JUSTICE, Luis grew up in Daly City with a single mom, two brothers, and older sister. During his free time, Luis likes to play basketball and hike with his brothers. He enjoys collecting sports cards and watching professional sports. Luis's goal is to graduate with his bachelor's and to pursue a career in law enforcement Luis was just released from his training program last week and is now driving around keeping everybody honest. |
| 00:12:03.17 | Walfred Solorzano | Hehehehe. |
| 00:12:05.89 | Stacy Gregory | So that's who these guys are. Pretty proud of who they are and that they're now part of our team. |
| 00:12:18.48 | Stacy Gregory | And so now we'll, I think I want to shift you guys. If you could just go single file and face this way. Does that make sense? And then Walford, the city clerk's going to come up and do your swearing in. |
| 00:12:36.76 | Walfred Solorzano | Okay. Repeat after me. I state your name. |
| 00:12:42.87 | Walfred Solorzano | Do solemnly swear. that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States |
| 00:12:50.95 | Sergio Rudin | and defend the Constitution of the United States. |
| 00:12:53.85 | Walfred Solorzano | and the Constitution of the State of California. against all enemies, foreign and domestic. that I will bear true faith and allegiance |
| 00:13:11.03 | Walfred Solorzano | to the Constitution of the United States and the Constitution of California, of the State of California. |
| 00:13:17.32 | Sergio Rudin | to the Constitution of the United States and to the Constitution of the Italian government. |
| 00:13:24.26 | Walfred Solorzano | that I take this obligation freely |
| 00:13:26.83 | Unknown | Thank you. Thank you. |
| 00:13:28.80 | Walfred Solorzano | without any mental reservation, or purpose of evasion. and that I will well and faithfully discharge the duties upon discharge the duties upon which I am about to enter. |
| 00:13:52.36 | Walfred Solorzano | That's it, congratulations. |
| 00:14:02.08 | Stacy Gregory | Thank you. you Bryce Mitchell, why don't you come up first? Thank you. And you can invite whoever's going to pin your badge on up. |
| 00:14:09.52 | Mayor Blashton | Chief Gregory, can you use the mic so the camera shifts for those watching at home? |
| 00:14:12.54 | Stacy Gregory | Yes, I apologize. We're going to now individually invite family members up to pin the badge and get the pictures. And then once they're done, we'll have them come around and shake everybody's hands. |
| 00:14:23.37 | Walfred Solorzano | No. Oh, that's... |
| 00:14:31.88 | Stacy Gregory | Okay, Ryan Walsh. |
| 00:14:38.97 | Walfred Solorzano | Thank you. Aww. Thank you. |
| 00:14:40.21 | Stacy Gregory | Thank you. |
| 00:14:40.53 | Walfred Solorzano | Thank you. |
| 00:14:40.59 | Stacy Gregory | Yeah, everybody else can come out and take pictures. |
| 00:14:40.77 | Walfred Solorzano | Yeah. Thank you. |
| 00:14:44.32 | Unknown | Thank you. |
| 00:14:45.36 | Stacy Gregory | Thank you. |
| 00:14:45.97 | Unknown | Oh. |
| 00:14:47.01 | Stacy Gregory | . |
| 00:15:00.38 | Stacy Gregory | All right, Jessie, your turn. |
| 00:15:08.08 | Walfred Solorzano | Thank you. Thank you. |
| 00:15:08.28 | Unknown | Thank you. Thank you. |
| 00:15:09.91 | Walfred Solorzano | This is so cool. |
| 00:15:16.41 | Unknown | It's time. |
| 00:15:17.64 | Marco Lamandri | Thank you. |
| 00:15:17.69 | Walfred Solorzano | you |
| 00:15:17.95 | Unknown | Thank you. |
| 00:15:17.96 | Walfred Solorzano | . |
| 00:15:33.91 | Stacy Gregory | Brandon Beck. |
| 00:16:06.87 | Stacy Gregory | All right, Luis, finish it off, huh? |
| 00:16:13.99 | Unknown | Thank you. |
| 00:16:15.96 | Alice Merrill | Thank you. |
| 00:16:33.50 | Stacy Gregory | Okay, that's it for us. We're gonna vacate and you're gonna probably have an empty room, I apologize. But I think they should come around and shake hands |
| 00:16:42.09 | Mayor Blashton | Yep. And we'd love to get a picture with all of them as well. |
| 00:16:46.12 | Walfred Solorzano | We're excited. |
| 00:16:46.37 | Mayor Blashton | Thank you. |
| 00:16:46.40 | Walfred Solorzano | Thank you. Thank you. |
| 00:16:47.06 | Mayor Blashton | Thank you. |
| 00:16:47.16 | Walfred Solorzano | Nick, that's your job. Congratulations. I remember meeting you on your first week's pod. I'm so excited. Congratulations. Thank you. Welcome. We're so happy to have you. Welcome for three years. Thanks for being here. Welcome for three years. Thanks for being here. Congratulations. Hey, welcome. Good to see you. Congrats. |
| 00:16:55.25 | Unknown | Bye. Welcome. Thanks for being here. |
| 00:17:02.76 | Unknown | Thank you. |
| 00:17:03.68 | Walfred Solorzano | Oh yeah, let's take a photo. |
| 00:17:04.61 | Unknown | Oh, yeah. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Okay. Thank you. |
| 00:17:27.14 | Lauren Wiley | I'm sorry. Thank you. |
| 00:17:36.02 | Unknown | Thank you. |
| 00:17:36.14 | Walfred Solorzano | I'm sorry. Thank you. Thank you. |
| 00:17:41.42 | Unknown | I'm sorry. |
| 00:17:41.48 | Walfred Solorzano | Thank you. |
| 00:17:41.57 | Unknown | Thank you. |
| 00:17:50.68 | Walfred Solorzano | Thank you. |
| 00:17:50.72 | Mayor Blashton | Yeah. Before you guys leave, just an enormous thank you to our police department. We have one of the hardest working police departments in the state. If not the country, you guys do great. And we really appreciate you. So congratulations and welcome to our new force members. Thank you for being here. |
| 00:18:06.97 | Unknown | Thank you. Thank you. |
| 00:18:08.45 | Janice Reynolds | That's our cue. But you know, |
| 00:18:13.30 | Walfred Solorzano | But you're not gonna stay for the full agenda? Yeah. It's okay. Thank you for being here. |
| 00:18:13.58 | Mayor Blashton | Thank you. |
| 00:18:21.98 | Stacy Gregory | Come back to the police department. |
| 00:18:23.77 | Steve Gibson | Okay. Thank you. Thank you. |
| 00:18:48.44 | Unknown | I'm ready. Thank you. It's my favorite film now. |
| 00:18:59.97 | Unknown | Thank you. Thank you. |
| 00:19:03.89 | Walfred Solorzano | You're welcome anytime. |
| 00:19:06.96 | Marco Lamandri | Thanks for all you do. Good luck, everyone. |
| 00:19:10.97 | Walfred Solorzano | Thank you. |
| 00:19:10.99 | Marco Lamandri | Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. |
| 00:19:12.42 | Walfred Solorzano | Okay, are we ready to Get back on track here. |
| 00:19:15.92 | Marco Lamandri | Thank you. |
| 00:19:15.97 | Unknown | Thank you. |
| 00:19:18.16 | Walfred Solorzano | Thank you. |
| 00:19:18.18 | Unknown | Thank you. |
| 00:19:18.23 | Walfred Solorzano | Thank you. |
| 00:19:18.31 | Unknown | Thank you. |
| 00:19:18.33 | Walfred Solorzano | Thank you. |
| 00:19:18.37 | Unknown | Thank you. |
| 00:19:18.41 | Walfred Solorzano | Thank you. |
| 00:19:19.07 | Unknown | Thank you. |
| 00:19:19.29 | Walfred Solorzano | Thank you. |
| 00:19:19.33 | Unknown | Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. |
| 00:19:19.73 | Walfred Solorzano | Thank you. |
| 00:19:19.77 | Unknown | Thank you. |
| 00:19:52.67 | Walfred Solorzano | No, no, I'm just curious to think about yours. |
| 00:20:03.03 | Unknown | Thank you. |
| 00:20:03.07 | Unknown | Oh my gosh. |
| 00:20:04.03 | Unknown | Thanks, guys. |
| 00:20:06.26 | Mayor Blashton | All right, so I think we can get started now. And thanks again to our police department and their families and friends for being here for... The swearing in. And we'll go ahead and move on to item two, which is our action minutes of the previous meeting. I'm going to open it up to public comment on the minutes at this time. |
| 00:20:24.11 | Walfred Solorzano | Seeing none. THE END OF THE END OF THE |
| 00:20:25.34 | Unknown | Thank you. |
| 00:20:25.44 | Walfred Solorzano | Thank you. |
| 00:20:26.05 | Mayor Blashton | Yes. |
| 00:20:26.49 | Jill Hoffman | I had an amendment that I sent to Walford on the amendment to the action minutes. And is the new attached or is it? |
| 00:20:37.83 | Walfred Solorzano | No, they're going to be done after we approve the amendment that you requested. |
| 00:20:42.94 | Jill Hoffman | the draft, okay, all right, so then, and that's where we're at now. |
| 00:20:48.53 | Sergio Rudin | Yeah, and I would recommend that we just read that suggested amendment into the record, and then the council can move to approve with the amendment. |
| 00:20:48.78 | Jill Hoffman | AND I WOULD BE ABLE TO just read that suggestion. |
| 00:20:57.94 | Jill Hoffman | Thank you. |
| 00:20:57.98 | Walfred Solorzano | OK. |
| 00:20:59.87 | Jill Hoffman | So then I sent Walfred an email, and actually the city manager as well, to approve the action minutes that the motion under 8C, appointments to board committees, and then it was one reappoint Christina Feller to the Planning Commission effective April 12th, but it was also reappoint I amended, did a friendly second amendment to reaffirm Richard Graff for his second term, effective back to January of 2021. And then I sent the actual- I have it here verbatim if you want me to read that. |
| 00:21:24.12 | Unknown | Thank you. |
| 00:21:40.10 | Walfred Solorzano | I have it here verbatim. Oh, yeah, thank you so much. Okay, so the minutes should read a real point Christina Feller to a second term on the planning commission effective April 12 2022 to reappoint Richard graph to a second term on the planning commission effective January 1 2021. Three confirm the continued service of all planning commissioners for ratify all planning commission decisions from January 1 2021 to present. |
| 00:22:03.40 | Mayor Blashton | Thank you. |
| 00:22:03.42 | Vice Mayor Sobieski | I second the motion to approve as amended. |
| 00:22:03.67 | Mayor Blashton | I am. |
| 00:22:10.34 | Mayor Blashton | Okay? |
| 00:22:11.03 | Jill Hoffman | in favor say aye did you move that you they know that I did move okay I said okay so I'm moving to amend the amend the action minutes as reflected by our city clerk |
| 00:22:14.88 | Mayor Blashton | Thank you. |
| 00:22:14.89 | Vice Mayor Sobieski | Okay. |
| 00:22:21.73 | Vice Mayor Sobieski | Thank you. |
| 00:22:21.76 | Jill Hoffman | Thank you. |
| 00:22:21.78 | Vice Mayor Sobieski | Are you moving approval of the amendment? Yes. Okay. I second that motion. |
| 00:22:25.31 | Mayor Blashton | Okay, all in favor say aye. |
| 00:22:27.37 | Vice Mayor Sobieski | I, |
| 00:22:28.02 | Mayor Blashton | Aye. OK, motion carries unanimously. Thank you very much. We will move on to the consent calendar, which is item three on our agenda. Matters listed under the consent calendar are considered routine and non-controversial require no discussion, are expected to have unanimous council support and may be enacted by the Council in one motion in the form listed below. There will be no separate discussion of consent calendar items. However, before the council votes on a motion to adopt the consent calendar items, Council members may request that specific items be removed from the consent calendar for separate actions. Items removed from the consent calendar will be discussed later on the agenda when public comment will be heard on any item that was removed. So with that being said, do any members of the council have amendments? Those items this evening are 3A, Library Q3 report, 3B, Treasurer's Q1 report, 3C, Treasurer's Q2 report, 3D, Treasurer's Q3 Report, 3E, Receive and File Report from Pavement Engineering, Inc., and 3F, Reaffirm City Council City Manager City Attorney Operating Protocols. Any members of the council wish to, okay. At this time I will open it up for public comment. |
| 00:23:34.00 | Walfred Solorzano | See you then. |
| 00:23:35.57 | Mayor Blashton | Okay, I'll go ahead and close public comment and ask for a motion to approve our consent calendar this evening. |
| 00:23:41.65 | Vice Mayor Sobieski | Second. |
| 00:23:43.54 | Mayor Blashton | All in favor say aye. Aye. Fantastic, motion carries unanimously. |
| 00:23:45.12 | Vice Mayor Sobieski | Hi. |
| 00:23:47.64 | Walfred Solorzano | For the record, who was the second? Thank you. |
| 00:23:50.91 | Mayor Blashton | Okay, and now we will move on and begin with our business items exactly on time at 725 p.m. And we'll start with the first item, which is 5A. Receive and File Fiscal Year 2021-2022 Basic Financial Statements. And if you are not familiar with the nice gentleman who is approaching the podium now, this is our new Interim Finance Director. Chad Hess, who has recently joined us, and I believe we'll have a more formal introduction during the city manager's announcements, but just so you know who he is. Welcome, Chad, nice to see you in person in the council chambers. |
| 00:24:20.55 | Chad Hess | Thank you, Mayor and Council. So tonight we are going to welcome Vicki Rodriguez, who is a partner at Mays and Associates. Mays and Associates has conducted our independent external audit of the financial statements for the city of Sausalito ending fiscal year or for fiscal year 2022, which ended June 30th of 2022. Vicky has a presentation that she's going to bring up and kind of explain what the audit is, the tests and procedures that they perform. and then give some financial highlights over the city. I'll be available to help answer any questions after we go through her presentation. And with that being said, I'd like to welcome Vicki to the show. |
| 00:24:60.00 | Mayor Blashton | Hi Vicki, welcome. |
| 00:25:01.08 | Vicki Rodriguez | Thank you. |
| 00:25:01.18 | Mayor Blashton | Thank you. |
| 00:25:01.99 | Vicki Rodriguez | Thank you. And I had a PowerPoint, I believe, that was sent that could be brought up. |
| 00:25:45.83 | Mayor Blashton | City clerk, do you have the presentation? |
| 00:25:47.97 | Walfred Solorzano | Okay. |
| 00:25:48.16 | Mayor Blashton | Okay. |
| 00:25:50.81 | Walfred Solorzano | Thank you. |
| 00:25:50.83 | Vicki Rodriguez | Thank you. And will I be able to advance the slides using? Oh, OK. |
| 00:25:56.08 | Alice Merrill | Thank you. |
| 00:25:56.14 | Unknown | Thank you. |
| 00:25:56.16 | Alice Merrill | Thank you. |
| 00:26:07.38 | Vicki Rodriguez | Okay. Thank you. Thank you. Well, thank you very much for inviting me this evening to present the audit for the city's financial statements for fiscal year-ended. June 30, 2022. If you could please. Next slide. |
| 00:26:26.94 | Vicki Rodriguez | Okay, so just who we are, Maize and Associates. We've been in business since 1979. We are a niche firm in that we focus purely on municipal and nonprofit audits. We've been conducting municipal audits since 1987. We have over 150 municipal entity clients. And most importantly for the city, we are independent from the city. Next slide, please. And just a little information on me. So there was a rotation of engagement partner this year. I'm Vicki Rodriguez. I've been with Mays for 25 years now. Thank you. and just wanted to give you a little bit of familiarity with me. I do audit similar entities currently. the city of Belvedere. City of Emeryville, Town of Fairfax, Town of Moraga, and City of San Leandro. Next slide. Thank you. Thank you. And so what the services that we performed, We did perform the audit of the city's basic financial statements. We also performed a compliance audit of federal awards. That's a single audit. And we also did an agreed upon procedures for the appropriation limit calculation. Our audit was conducted under auditing standards generally accepted in the United States of America, as well as the government auditing standards, which are also called Yellow Book Rules. Next slide. The timing of our audit, we completed the interim phase back in May of 2022. And that's when we focused on the internal control environment and performed our tests of controls. And then our final phase, we started in November of 2022 and We're conducting that phase throughout November, December, and January. And that's where we focus on the testing of the final financial statement balances. and the preparation of the footnotes. Just to go over a little bit about our audit scope, so we first start with what we call a risk assessment. And that's where we look at the city's financial statements at the different line items and the different activities and assess the risk of each activity. And when we're looking at risk, we're considering risk of fraud as well as misstatement. We also gain an understanding of the internal control environment, and that's where we focus on segregation of duties, Just looking for making sure that employees that have access to assets aren't also performing the functions related to those assets. Or if they are, then we look for what we call compensating controls. That there's an additional review to compensate for the lack of segregation. We also perform control tests over the transaction cycles. That's transactions throughout the year. And the areas where we look at are the receipts, disbursements, payroll, and journal entries. And so this is where we'll select sample sizes of anywhere from 25 to 60, And we look at the support and just make sure that the internal control procedures that the city has that they're following those procedures throughout that process. And we also look at proper recording. Next slide, please. Just to continue a little bit about our audit scope, we also perform what we call an analytical review. And this is where we'll look at the current year financial balances and compare it with prior year. and look at the fluctuations and just make sure that they're kind of in alignment with what we're expecting And then we'll ask questions about anything that's kind of out of the ordinary or if we were expecting something different just to get an understanding around it. We also send out third party confirmations and we test the balances. So when we're testing the balances, we're reviewing reconciliations, reviewing the general ledger details, we test significant transactions we review the actuarial reports for like the pension other post-employment benefits as well as claims and then we also perform what we call subsequent transaction testing and that's where we'll look at transactions that are completed after year end just to make sure that they're properly recorded in which period. And we also do review the council meeting minutes as well as the finance committee meeting minutes just to make sure that Again, if we're noting anything in the council meetings, different activities, we want to make sure that we're aware of it and that they're reflected appropriately in the financial statements. Okay, so just to go over the basic financial statements, So there's the four components of the basic financial statements include the auditor's opinion, the management's discussion and analysis, or MD&A, which is written by management, the statements, and the footnotes. Next slide, please. So the results of the audits for the basic financial statements, I'm very happy to report And you'll see it in our independent auditor's report on page one, but we have issued unmodified opinions on all of the financial statement opinion units. So that is the cleanest opinion that the city can receive. So again, congratulations for that. Next slide please. um and just to continue about the results of the audit so you will note that in Our opinion this year on the basic financial statements that we did have an emphasis Two emphases of matters. That's the proper word for it. But the first one being the implementation of Governmental Accounting Standards Board or GASB 87. And that's in regards to recording leases. And we'll get into that in a little bit. But the other emphasis is regarding restatements. And so in note 7F on page 61 of the basic financial statements, we have more details surrounding the restatements. We did have restatements in the general fund, A couple of them were for correction of errors recorded in the previous year. The net impact of those corrections was a drop of about 109,000 to fund balance. And then we also recorded an advance related to the Bank of America building for the movement to the enterprise fund, and that was an increase of 217,000. So the total, net increase of all of the restatements for the general fund. Thank you. totaled 108,000 where fund balance was increased related to that. And then there was another restatement to correct just activity between the measure A and recreation grant funds. So those were just in the previous year, they were the same amount was recorded in the wrong funds of this year. So the net to the total fund balance for all governmental activities for that one is zero, but. And then just to go over, so we did do a single audit this year and that's because of the American Rescue Plan Act funds that the city did receive. So in previous years, I've noted that The city hasn't required the single audit. The single audit is only required when you meet the threshold of $750,000 in federal fund awards. So this last year, June 30, 2022, The city did meet that threshold. We did conduct a single audit, and we are happy to report that we had no findings, no questioned costs. And then lastly, the last report that we did, the agreed-upon procedures, was to review the appropriations limit calculation, and we had no exceptions related to that. Next slide. Okay, then the next component to the basic financial statements is the management's discussion and analysis or the MD&A. I really like this report, this is written by management, but it really Thank you. really provides in a narrative format that the fluctuations from year to year and just the good information about the year's activities why things increased, why they decreased, and then provides a little bit of the economic outlook for the near future as well. But that begins on page five of the basic financial statements and again is prepared by finance staff. Um, And As auditors, we don't opine on it, but we do review it to make sure that it is consistent with the financial statements, as well as consistent with our findings or observations during our audit. Next slide. So the financial statements themselves are broken out in two different formats as required by GASB. So the entity wide or city wide level. that's going to break out basically consolidate all of the activities between governmental activities and then business type activities. And this has a long-term perspective in that it includes not just the current assets and current liabilities, but it does include the long-term assets, like your capital assets, and then your long-term liabilities, like your net Pension liability, your OPEB liability, and long-term debt. And then the equity section for those sets of financial statements is called net position. And then you have what you call the fund level, and this is where it's really broken out more by funding source. And that's looking at it from a short-term perspective, so that has the current assets and current liabilities and doesn't include the long-term accounts. Okay, so this year, as I mentioned earlier, we did assist the city with implementing GASB 87 relating to leases. and basically previously only capital leases were required to be reported um so this year the the city did have to make an inventory of all of its leases whether uh the city's Lessee or the lessor. and report basically over a certain threshold, which the city management did establish a threshold of 50,000. And they determined, I'm sorry, next slide, you can go. They determined that 12 leases were required to be reported. And so management did report those 12 leases. It required a restatement as of July 1, 2021. It wasn't required to be reported retroactively. we the city had to record a lease receivable and then an offsetting deferred inflow of resources but the net impact to fund balance or net position was zero as of this year. As as of July 1, 2021. And then there is a new footnote, Note 4, that details those leases and provides a table as well on the leases that were recorded. |
| 00:38:31.06 | Unknown | Thank you. |
| 00:38:33.14 | Vicki Rodriguez | So just to go over some key financial highlights from an entity-wide level or city-wide level, |
| 00:38:39.21 | Mayor Blashton | Vicki? Could you just clarify for members of the public, I know we at the council are familiar with the difference between governmental type and business type activities, but it might be helpful for those that are watching or participating in the meeting. |
| 00:38:39.92 | Vicki Rodriguez | Thank you. |
| 00:38:49.84 | Vicki Rodriguez | No problem. So business type activities are those activities that we call like enterprise funds. And those would be activities where you're charging fees or a significant amount of revenues to cover the costs related to those operations. So just to kind of cover the city's specific activities. So that would be the MLK building, the sewer fund, parking, and the Bank of America building, as well as the old city hall building. So these are all activities where you're charging fees. and not necessarily to recoup 100%, of the costs, but you are charging some fees to keep those operations going. Governmental activities would be pretty much everything else. Those would be like your grant funded, your general fund for like police, library, parks and recreation, Those would be like your property taxes, sales taxes. Those would be those activities that are funded by taxes and grants and things like that. Cover. |
| 00:40:01.97 | Lauren Wiley | Great. Thank you very much. |
| 00:40:04.08 | Vicki Rodriguez | host. All right. So key financial highlights. So for governmental activities, in total, net position did decrease by about 2.7 million. Two million of that was related to the change in the net pension liability. And then there were also just overall general government expense increases as well as less transfers that occurred between the enterprise funds and governmental activities. And then for the business type activities, net position increased by 1.6 million. And, So the MLK fund, The increase there was related to Revenue is coming back to kind of more of a normal level. You'll kind of see that throughout a lot of activities. Parking as well, the increase in tourism, and visitor activities and then the old city hall where the gross sales increased and with the increase in collected rent. next. Thank you. Next slide, please. Okay. Other key financial highlights, the net pension liability decreased 11.3 million to 20.6 million and I just like to let my clients know, or Councilor, I'm sure you're familiar with this, Mainly, a lot of this decrease is related to the valuation that's dated back to 2021, because the pension valuations are a couple years behind. That's kind of every year. So in 2021, there were really good investment activities. So that really helped the investments for that year. So I just provide that warning like, yes, it decreased significantly this year, but you can expect it to increase coming here in 23 and 24 as the valuations catch up, and especially with the 22 investment market. |
| 00:42:12.93 | Mayor Blashton | Just on the next, you're not quite there yet, but the, we'll go ahead. |
| 00:42:18.27 | Vicki Rodriguez | Are you sure? |
| 00:42:19.16 | Mayor Blashton | Just on the OPEB liability increase, the 8.4, actually, I had talked to Chad about the 2.3 million number because I think the actual number is 5.3. |
| 00:42:28.63 | Vicki Rodriguez | Oh, they didn't change. I'm sorry, I had updated it, but I think I think this is the old one. Yeah, sorry, I did update the slide. Yeah, $884,000 to $5.3 million, so. |
| 00:42:39.77 | Mayor Blashton | total accumulative yeah on page 72 of the the note 10 yes you got eagle eye over there yes |
| 00:42:43.06 | Vicki Rodriguez | Mm-hmm. Yes, you got eagle eye over there. Yes. So yes, the net OPEB liability increased $884,000 to 5.3 million, not 2.3 million. Thank you. And then I do just want to note also that the city did make contributions this year. Made contributions of $250,000 to the pension trust and then $300,000 to the OPEB trust. Other financial highlights is that the Bank of America building was recategorized, whereas previously it was reported as a debt service fund. has now been recategorized as an enterprise fund, so kind of operating more similar to the old City Hall building. And then also the vehicle replacement and employee benefits internal service funds Those funds were closed and then the resources were transferred over to the general fund. Okay, next slide, please. Okay, so financial highlights specific to the general fund. So fund balance decreased by about 147,000 to 13.8 million. Non-spendable fund balance is at $1 million, and that consists mostly of advances to other funds. Restricted is $2.5 million, which is the balance that's in the Section 115 pension trust, since those are restricted for pension costs. Assigned is $3.2 million, consisting of the budget stabilization and emergency shortfall reserves. And then you have unassigned of $7.1 million, which is basically the balance after all of those. |
| 00:44:31.31 | Unknown | See? |
| 00:44:32.00 | Vicki Rodriguez | Next slide, please. Okay, so in looking at total governmental funds, so general fund is just one piece of the governmental funds. So other major funds other than the general fund is the Tidelands Fund and where fund balance did increase by 131,000. And then the general capital improvements fund fund balance increased 1.8 million. Then you have what you call your non-major funds, which are basically all of the other funds, and fund balance in total for non-majors decreased by 388,000. And then total governmental funds had an increase of fund balance of 1.4 million. And your total fund balance was 17 million at the end of the year. Mm-hmm. And then I guess I'll go into the next slide. Thank you. So we also issue as part of the audit the memorandum on internal control and required communications. The Memorandum on Internal Control is also known as a management letter. And so we do review the internal controls and compliance And we make comments on that. And then the required communications kind of talks more about significant changes in the reporting or if there were significant things in the audit process that we noted. Okay, next slide please. So the memorandum on internal control contains two different components. It can talk about control deficiencies as well as other matters. So other matters would be like, Just if we had general recommendations or alerting you to accounting pronouncement updates, things like that. Next slide. So just to go over what a control deficiency is, so what it is is basically the design or the operation of a control. And then who is management or employees are performing these functions um, or, or in operations and then when in the normal course of performing their assigned functions. So these are the day-to-day activities as well as year-end closing activities. And a control deficiency basically does not allow for the, or may not allow for the prevention, detection, or correction of misstatements on a timely basis. Okay. Thank you. Next slide. So on the memorandum of internal control, we did highlight three material weaknesses. The first is related to the year end close. So that's timely and accurate year end close. So the year end close wasn't completed before we started the audit in November. And that's kind of why the audit process lingered for quite a while. And then there were many adjustments that we identified through the audit process. And then the second item is related to the cash transactions not properly accrued at year end. That's the bank reconciliation. So there were reconciling items that should have been accrued versus being dated back to June 30. And then the third item in relation to review, approval and segregation of duties in major control areas, You'll note that last year, I went to review last year's for fiscal year ended June 30, 2021. There were nine areas that were highlighted. Now, we went through those items, and we did determine that five areas were addressed. But there are four areas that still need some improvement. And so just in regards to that number three also, when you look at them individually, they may not arise to the level of a material weakness, but together, we considered them together to be a material weakness. Okay, next slide please. So in the other matters, we've provided information about upcoming GASB pronouncements. And then next slide, please. And then in our required communications, we just noted that the implementation of GASB 87 leases As far as significant audit journal entry, we did have One significant issue. Um, adjusting journal entry relating to accounts payable, that's in relation to the bank reconciliation. comment that we had earlier, and that was to post an adjustment to book accounts payable as of year end of 1.4 million. And then the audit process itself, I'd say overall finance was very responsive while the closing process took quite a while Finance was very responsive to our requests and inquiries. And then, um, yeah, pretty much most of the difficulties were relating to the closing of the GL. And with that, any questions regarding the audit process or the report? |
| 00:49:51.36 | Mayor Blashton | Thank you, Vicki. I'll go ahead and bring it back up to the council to see who might have questions for ladies and associates. Councilmember Kelman. Great. Hi. |
| 00:49:59.34 | Unknown | Nice to see you again. Thank you very much for the thorough report. I want to divide my questions into three different topics. The first is leases. And so on the slides talking about leases and it said that we were fully reconciled. Does that mean that you reviewed all outstanding payments and confirmed that the city had received all these payments as of the date of the audit? |
| 00:50:24.05 | Vicki Rodriguez | I don't... |
| 00:50:25.53 | Unknown | What does the GASB rule require when it comes to city leases that we specifically satisfy per the audit? So, so, |
| 00:50:35.27 | Vicki Rodriguez | So basically, so the city staff took an inventory of all of the leases. So these would be all operating leases. And so they provided us with that inventory and then they also prepared what we call an amortization schedule. of the payments and And so if the net present value of the total payments, depending on how long the lease, until it expires, if it met the threshold of 50,000, then it needed to be recorded. And so it was recorded as a lease receivable and then an offsetting deferred inflow. Now what we do in the audit is we look at the number of leases and it's kind of like the sampling where we select at least 10% of the total number of leases to review to make sure whether they meet the criteria for having to be recorded or not and determine whether the city did record it correctly. As far as payments, we do that more from a, we did well, we review the lease documents as well just to make sure that all of the, that the maturity schedules are correct and the footnote disclosures are correct. And then the other piece that we do is basically an analytical of the lease payments. |
| 00:52:06.45 | Unknown | So if there were outstanding payments with the audit, catch those. |
| 00:52:11.63 | Vicki Rodriguez | And it could if it was subject to our testing, but we don't specifically look for for like missed payments. We, if it's something significant, we would note it in the analytical looking at balances from year to year. But as far as, again, we do sampling and analytical, we're not looking at every single transaction. |
| 00:52:34.46 | Unknown | Okay. Um, we'll follow up offline. Let's go to slide 16. Um, the net position increased. I think it would be helpful in the future if there's a timeframe for that. So coming out of COVID, I would expect our net position to increase. And I just want to make sure that when we're presenting this, it's not being interpreted in a vacuum. Um, so when it says that the MLK revenue returned to a quote normal level, |
| 00:52:59.55 | Unknown | Mm-hmm. |
| 00:53:00.46 | Unknown | Is there a way to provide some context for that? What is normal? |
| 00:53:04.97 | Vicki Rodriguez | Mm-hmm. |
| 00:53:05.30 | Unknown | The same as one year ago? Is that the same as our highest year? |
| 00:53:05.32 | Vicki Rodriguez | Thank you. Thank you. |
| 00:53:09.76 | Vicki Rodriguez | Um, so, um, so that would be more of, well, I guess normal. I kind of took the wording more from the management's discussion and analysis and kind of looked back, uh, several years. So it's kind of getting to where pre COVID time. But as far as looking at the fluctuation, like we look from June 30, 2021, to June 30, 2022, and that's to note about it. it the net position increasing in total that's from june 30 2021 to june 30 2022 and then we kind of look at the different activities that make up that |
| 00:53:48.03 | Unknown | Okay, and that's just our revenue position. It doesn't capture the expenses associated with, for example, parking. So if a parking increased, that doesn't necessarily mean that we were offsetting that with the expenses associated with parking, correct? |
| 00:54:01.23 | Vicki Rodriguez | you'd have to look at the individual fund. So this is more of a total net position for all business type activities. And then we just kind of highlighted the different funds that did have significant fluctuations under that. So like the business type activities in total are all of your enterprise funds. So that's the MLK, the parking, and old city hall building, the B of A building. So in total, it increased by the 1.6 million from prior year. And then we just kind of highlighted the more significant fluctuations in the individual funds. But you could look at just the individual fund statements if you wanted to get more of an idea of specifically, this is just net position. So this is basically assets minus liabilities. |
| 00:54:51.58 | Unknown | Okay. Yes, it could be a little misleading if not sort of offset by expenses on a per fund basis because then it seems like there's an overall characterization without all the information. So that was where my concern is coming from. |
| 00:55:05.88 | Vicki Rodriguez | Okay. So I think, and again, this is just highlights, so you'd have to look at the full financial statements, and I would say if you really want to know the activity is to look at the individual fund level statement. |
| 00:55:20.07 | Unknown | Okay, last question. Slide 17, the Bank of America was recategorized into an enterprise fund, but we have debt service on that building. How does that work? |
| 00:55:31.27 | Vicki Rodriguez | How does that work? So now, okay, so when it was a debt service fund, then that was included in what you call the governmental activities, like I was saying earlier, the difference between governmental and business type or enterprise. Those funds are booked on what you call modified accrual, so they don't look out further than the year, really. So the long-term debt associated with that was booked just in governmental activities and not in the debt service fund when it was recategorized to an enterprise fund enterprise funds or business type activities do operate more like businesses where they do it is full accrual so the capital assets long term debt, everything is included in those in that fund statements. So the B of A building, now that it's an enterprise fund, will show the debt in that fund. |
| 00:56:29.78 | Unknown | Got it, so that's an improvement, right? Because that way we're not doing a modified accrual and then we're just not hitting our books. Okay, thank you, appreciate that. |
| 00:56:36.14 | Mayor Blashton | Thank you. Other questions from the council? Councilmember Cox? Thank you. |
| 00:56:40.80 | Vice Mayor Sobieski | that. Just a couple. On slide 18, you reflect an unassigned general fund balance of 7.1. million. What is the typical percent of general fund unassigned balance as compared to the whole? |
| 00:57:02.08 | Vicki Rodriguez | out. Thank you. |
| 00:57:03.56 | Vice Mayor Sobieski | So in other words, how does a 7.1 million unassigned fund balance stand up against other municipalities? |
| 00:57:03.60 | Vicki Rodriguez | So in other words, |
| 00:57:08.69 | Vicki Rodriguez | Thank you. |
| 00:57:12.83 | Vicki Rodriguez | Oh, okay. you know, that's a question I get all the time, but, you know, it... It's... Every city is different. Every entity is different. There's different activities. Like if I come here and I look at the fund balance here, it's going to be very different than the fund balance in City of Belvedere or Town of Fairfax. So it's not really, easy to compare because you have different activities and there's different revenue sources. Also have different future expenses that you need to be concerned about. So I honestly don't have, I think it, 7.1 million out of the 13.8 million Appears to me to be a healthy fund balance. So, um, I, I have, I have some cities where it's negative. So, um, |
| 00:58:09.51 | Vice Mayor Sobieski | Right. I had one other question on slide 23, I think. Yes. The findings regarding segregation of duties. That's item three on slide 23. Sausalito is a small town with a small staff. And so how typical is it that you find overlapping duties in a small town with a small staff. And so how typical is it that you find overlapping duties in a small town with a small staff? |
| 00:58:30.55 | Unknown | Mm-hmm. THE END OF THE END OF THE |
| 00:58:41.69 | Vicki Rodriguez | Very often, very often. And so that's where we're looking at, earlier I mentioned, when we look at internal controls and we look at segregation of duties, especially in a city this size where you have a small finance department, you are going to have those overlaps. So what we look for is if there's a compensating control, or again, someone reviewing a reconciliation or spot-checking something. So if you, that comment is more, and a lot of it too is, that there needs to be documentation of that review in order for us to be able to confirm that it's being reviewed. And so just to kind of go into a little bit of detail on that, I... I'm not saying that it's not happening, the review's not happening, but because there's no documentation of it, I can't confirm that. And then also other city staff, how are they able to confirm that if, THERE'S NO ONE SIGNING OFF ON IT TO SHOW THAT, OKAY, THIS CHECK LOG HAS BEEN REVIEWED OR THIS PAYROLL REGISTER HAS BEEN REVIEWED, THINGS LIKE THAT. |
| 00:59:50.73 | Vice Mayor Sobieski | And so as I understand it, some of those internal controls actually did happen. They were done via email. But because staff did not print out. |
| 00:59:57.39 | Vicki Rodriguez | I mean, |
| 01:00:01.26 | Vice Mayor Sobieski | the email and attach it. a copy of it to the transaction, you weren't able to verify that that happened. But your understanding is not that it didn't happen, your understanding is simply that you weren't able to verify that it happened. |
| 01:00:12.50 | Vicki Rodriguez | I understand. Yes, I can't confirm that it did happen if I'm not provided with that. |
| 01:00:19.90 | Vice Mayor Sobieski | And so a process improvement for that would be to either electronically or a dinosaur like me, printing out piece of paper and attaching it to the transaction, but there are programs such as budget.com. that allows you to document that process electronically so that we can better document, satisfy an auditor's spot checking in the future. Is that right? Correct. Okay, thanks. That's the extent of my questions. |
| 01:00:34.57 | Unknown | THAT I'M GOING TO BE |
| 01:00:39.53 | Unknown | Thank you. |
| 01:00:39.55 | Vicki Rodriguez | Mm-hmm. |
| 01:00:39.97 | Unknown | to the |
| 01:00:46.74 | Mayor Blashton | Is that right? |
| 01:00:50.58 | Mayor Blashton | Thank you, Councilmember Cox. Other questions? I had a couple of questions. So in looking at slide 17, where you are talking about our other post-employment benefits or OPEB liabilities and the increase there, we continue to see an increase of almost a million dollars. And that seems to be a trend despite the passage of the Public Employment Spent and Reform Act and the changes to PEPRA. which should put us in a better financial position because we're no longer paying the full benefits. We're allowing the option to continue care at your own out-of-pocket cost. So could you help me to understand One, where that increase comes from, given the change due to PEPRA, just for the understanding of the trend. And two, is this a trend that you see across cities or is this a problem that based on decisions we've made about how we chose to pay down our pensions previously? |
| 01:01:36.79 | Vicki Rodriguez | I mean, I would say that, you know, we have seen increases in it, um, in, And part of it, part of it, so all of this is just, just for the understanding is all of this is all based on the actuarial evaluation. So when the actuaries, uh, review things, And they put together their data. they do consider different factors and so one of the factors that because OPEP can be, More, um... more fresh than like the pension. they could be considering that the investment earnings really aren't as high as what they've been expecting. And so they may change that factor and that could greatly increase the net OPEB liability. Other factors would be whether you're making contributions to the trust. I mean, this year you did make 300,000 to the trust. I think that that's healthy, so you're being proactive about it. But basically, they're looking at the total OPEB liability, looking at current retirees as well as current employees, and determining what the total and then and comparing it with the assets that have been accumulated. So if so so that liability will grow if the assets being contributed or the investments being contributed aren't aren't going in the same flow as the increases in the liability. Is that, I'm sorry, that's a lot of accounting speak, I realize that, but. |
| 01:03:13.53 | Mayor Blashton | It looks like interim director Hess is approaching the podium. Yeah. |
| 01:03:17.95 | Chad Hess | On page 72 of your audit report, it will give a much more detailed description of what is changing in that actuarial assumption. Um, you know, if we if we look, we had a loss on that on the plan assets of about 218,000. So that's a Portion of that 800,000 increase because of plant assets decrease that net liability increases because we have less resources to pay for it. But also just the interest on that previous liability was $320,000. So we have to remember that that liability calculation is a present value of that future obligation. So each year we're going to accrue the interest rate on that liability, about 4.55% is our discount rate. So there's an implicit increase in that liability each year because of the inherent present value calculation. So that's really a bulk of it was that interest cost plus our new service cost for those employees accruing or earning more benefit and then the loss on the plan assets is really what's driving that. |
| 01:04:23.51 | Mayor Blashton | Thank you. I appreciate that. And then I had another question just about our general fund balance versus balances in existing funds. And some of the conversations I had with our interim director, Hess, this week and last week, I was made aware that we had some funds that we perhaps were opportunities where we could have used specific funds rather than general funds, and that we had existing cash in places like the police grant fund or we had a library specific capital improvement fund. Could you just maybe designate which of those there is how that might impact the 7.1 million that's available and whether it's included |
| 01:04:44.91 | Unknown | WE HAVE TO BE ABLE TO BE ABLE TO |
| 01:04:59.78 | Vicki Rodriguez | I think Chad might be the better one too. That's a level of detail. |
| 01:05:01.65 | Chad Hess | Thank you. |
| 01:05:01.68 | Mayor Blashton | Okay. |
| 01:05:01.97 | Chad Hess | I. |
| 01:05:02.17 | Mayor Blashton | I... |
| 01:05:05.02 | Chad Hess | Yeah, so talking about the 7.1, that is specific to just the general fund. That's the unassigned fund balance of just the general fund. That would not include our special revenue funds. So the special revenue funds, like you mentioned, the police cops grant fund, there's $279,000 of fund balance as of 630. That is outside of the 7.1 so there's additional restricted dollars within those special revenue funds that the city could expend if they meet if the expense meets the the criteria of that restricted dollar, if it's spent on a particular purpose that meets that requirement. There's additional dollars. Let me go to the balance sheet. |
| 01:05:54.47 | Chad Hess | Maybe you haven't. Might be easier to see there. |
| 01:05:57.17 | Vicki Rodriguez | on the governmental. |
| 01:05:59.11 | Chad Hess | Yeah. |
| 01:06:03.07 | Chad Hess | So if we look at restricted dollars in the special revenue fund, there's about $8.1 million of restricted dollars. And then about $100,000 of committed dollars. The committed dollars are for the library. So there's another $1.8 million. of restricted funds that could be spent on a particular purpose. depending upon the grantor. |
| 01:06:22.41 | Mayor Blashton | Okay, thank you so much. Do we have any other questions from members of the council? OK. Thank you so much Vicki for your hard work on the audit and also for joining us this evening in this presentation. So I will now open it up for public comment city clerk, would you please facilitate public comment at this time? |
| 01:06:40.13 | Walfred Solorzano | seen none. |
| 01:06:42.31 | Mayor Blashton | Okay, oh, I see Alice Merrill has her hand raised. Of course. |
| 01:06:50.07 | Alice Merrill | Hi, thank you very much. I kept hearing them talk about the rental properties that we own. But I never heard about the ones that are up by the old Richardson Bay School that I went to. So there's a bunch of, aren't there, are we still renting to them or are they not anymore in our accounting? I'm just curious. I just didn't hear any of those mentioned. Thanks. |
| 01:07:22.61 | Mayor Blashton | Typically we don't directly respond, but I think that that's part of the Special Enterprise Funds. Chad will, yeah. |
| 01:07:31.58 | Alice Merrill | Yeah. Thank you. I'm not being okay here in town, but The one over by the dog park. |
| 01:07:39.62 | Alice Merrill | Thank you. |
| 01:07:39.63 | Mayor Blashton | We, the MLK, where the Lise Francaise is in all of the schools. Yeah, that's included. Yes. Yes. |
| 01:07:40.41 | Chad Hess | Thank you. Okay. |
| 01:07:41.24 | Alice Merrill | Okay. |
| 01:07:41.96 | Chad Hess | What? the police. Thank you. says isn't all to get the people. you included, yes. Thank you. Thank you. |
| 01:07:49.34 | Jill Hoffman | Perhaps Chad would want to come up to the microphone. Yes. Yes. |
| 01:07:53.98 | Chad Hess | Yeah. |
| 01:07:54.20 | Jill Hoffman | Yes. I think that clarification is fine. |
| 01:07:54.36 | Chad Hess | Yes. So the properties that were in question is the MLK campus, and that is accounted for in the MLK fund as a business type activity. |
| 01:08:06.53 | Mayor Blashton | Okay. Great, so I think our only action is to receive and file the audit at this point. If members of the council wanted to make additional comments or consideration, we do have quite a packed agenda this evening. So I would appreciate if we might just move ahead with that direction of filing the report from staff unless there's, okay. |
| 01:08:27.34 | Vice Mayor Sobieski | With our thanks, of course, to staff and to our auditor. |
| 01:08:32.03 | Mayor Blashton | for a really clear report. |
| 01:08:33.73 | Vice Mayor Sobieski | Thank you. |
| 01:08:34.22 | Mayor Blashton | Yes, thank you very much for your hard work and all the time that you've spent with each of us individually this week and being responsive and to our questions. And Chad, we're very happy to have you. So We're thrilled. I'm sure we'll hear more about your bio again from the city manager, but. Fantastic having her okay and now we'll move on to item 5b which is the next item on our agenda is Interview of business improvement district consultant firms and selection of one firm to begin engagement with our Chamber of Commerce. So with that, I'll go ahead and introduce the, I think our city manager is presenting. |
| 01:09:03.70 | Chris Zapata | I can start this mayor. Thank you. Um, uh, do we have the first, uh, firm ready to go? No, Ellie. Okay. There's Marco Lamandri there. Okay. Uh, mayor and council, if you recall, and members of the public, um, we came to you, um, uh, a month or so ago with a request to, uh, issue request for proposals for consultant firms. It might, uh, perform, uh, consulting services to see about the possible for formation of a property business improvement district in Sausalito we received two two responses to the request for proposals one from New City America and one from Urban Place consulting so we're going to start the process with recommended questions, which you have in front of you. Obviously you can deviate from those. We have the second consultant waiting in a sequestered room who will come on in person after the first interview is done and then we'll get direction from you all on what to do next. Thank you. |
| 01:10:05.26 | Mayor Blashton | Thank you. Okay, so members of the council, we have in front of us a set of questions which were developed for us by staff, the Economic Development Advisory Committee, and the Chamber of Commerce. And we're first going to hear from Marco from New City America. Just to be mindful of the process and also of time, each firm will be asked the same questions. And there are three from staff, three from EDAC, and four from the chamber. So I'll go in order, starting with Council Member Hoffman. and you can select one from staff, three from EDAC and four from the chamber. So I'll go in order starting with Council Member Hoffman and you can select one from staff, then Council Member Sobieski from EDAC, I'll select one from the chamber and then we'll go chamber EDAC given the number of questions if that makes sense. And we can go, if you want to ask on the next round in a different order, we can go that way. So we'll start with you, Councilmember Hobart. |
| 01:10:48.02 | Jill Hoffman | Okay, thank you. I'm just going to pick the obvious one, which is what is a business improvement district and what services are legally allowable? |
| 01:10:59.52 | Marco Lamandri | Well, thank you for the opportunity to speak to you this evening. A business improvement district is |
| 01:11:03.40 | Unknown | Thank you. |
| 01:11:03.57 | Unknown | Thank you. |
| 01:11:05.63 | Marco Lamandri | found in Article 13 of this California State Constitution. and it's allowable under Proposition 218, which is adopted by the California voters in 1996. It's a special benefits district. You can only assess property owners. within a property business improvement district for those services over and above what the city is currently providing. So for example, if the city doesn't empty any trash cans and you want trash cans, then that would be a special benefit. That normally is not the case, but sometimes cities only do pick up on trash three days a week, and maybe you want it seven days a week. Uh, public art, if the city does that, that's great. But if they don't and people want that as a special benefit, they can do that as property owners in the downtown. social media marketing promotion, those aren't normally things that cities do for downtown property owners and business owners. But that is also another service that can be provided. So ultimately it's anything over and above with the city of Sausalito is currently providing for the downtown property owners and business owners can be funded through a business improvement district. |
| 01:12:25.16 | Mayor Blashton | Thank you. Thank you. Vice Mayor. |
| 01:12:30.46 | Unknown | MOTIVATED. How is it? How is the initial board or sponsors of the BID formed? |
| 01:12:41.80 | Marco Lamandri | The initial sponsors are people from the community. There is no board until you create a district. It's if you use the analogy of a vehicle and gas, The gasoline is basically the revenues that are generated from the business improvement and the vehicle to fill is the board of directors. So we've formed 92 districts. We've formed more than any other company in the Bay area, Los Angeles and San Diego. And in all cases, the board of directors, which is a nonprofit corporation, normally a 501, is formed after the district has been approved by the city council. Thank you. |
| 01:13:29.57 | Mayor Blashton | Okay, do you have examples of other towns our size that you have worked with and been successful in securing a BID? |
| 01:13:37.77 | Marco Lamandri | Honestly, there aren't a lot of towns under 10,000 population in the state of California. The ones I think that are very similar though, to I'm working, the reason why I couldn't be up there today is because I'm working on State Street in Santa Barbara. We're doing a district, we call them community benefit districts as well as business improvement districts on State Street. And they had to be here today for a meeting. The other ones I've worked in is Del Mar, and that was to do an investigation of the business improvement district. Del Mar and San Diego County only has 4,000 people. And some of the other ones that I've worked with that might be considered a little bit similar. would be Dana Point and San Clemente. Dana Point we're right in the middle of the investigation right now San Clemente we initiated an investigation but the property owners elected not to pursue it. So those are all beach communities, not exactly like Sausalito, but there are a lot of similarities in terms of having a downtown near the beach. |
| 01:14:37.56 | Mayor Blashton | Thank you. |
| 01:14:37.96 | Vice Mayor Sobieski | Thank you. |
| 01:14:38.03 | Mayor Blashton | on to remember Cox. |
| 01:14:38.74 | Vice Mayor Sobieski | Thank you. You mentioned some of the other communities and, you know, who some elected not to proceed. What is your timeframe for completing the process? |
| 01:14:53.99 | Marco Lamandri | We do. It's a big deal. Dual timeframe. So the initial stage is an investigation that's laid out in the proposal that I submitted to the city. It's a five month process where we send a survey that we've done multiple times. in the state of California to all the property owners, whether they be tax exempt, they be commercial, mixed use or whatever. Every property owner within the district will receive a survey. We ask them questions that are related to services they might want to fund over and above with the city of Sausalito is currently providing. From that survey, we're able to plot it out on a map and we would create a community benefit district or PBIT steering committee to look at the results of that survey We would mark the people that were conceptually supportive in green, the people that were conceptually opposed in red, public properties in orange and people that said they had no opinion in yellow. And as part of that process, the downtown property owners and business owners can see what support exists conceptually for the idea of the special assessments district. They'll also see what the highest rating was in terms of special benefits. We never ask the questions like, do you like downtown Sausalito? They have to be specific questions. and the constitution is pretty clear that any services that are funded by a special benefits district must confer a special benefit to real property owners and those are tangible services not really conceptual services. So that's the process that we take. We do a survey of the entire community that may be impacted by the property business improvement district. And then we work with the steering committee and city officials to determine whether or not we believe the basis of support exists. So that's a five month process. |
| 01:16:48.22 | Mayor Blashton | Thank you. |
| 01:16:48.41 | Unknown | Thank you. |
| 01:16:48.51 | Mayor Blashton | Councilmember Kelman? |
| 01:16:49.88 | Unknown | Thank you, Marco. So just continuing on that, that seems a very preliminary step. One of the questions we have gotten is around this formation, right? So how does it get spun up? Are we giving away city authority? The city is maybe one of the largest street front owners, the city obligates itself. Who's going to administer this, who collects the funds, pursues the delinquent accounts, et cetera. What can you share with us about how this actually comes into fruition and then is run with an emphasis on who retains authority over how the monies are spent? |
| 01:17:29.90 | Marco Lamandri | Excellent questions. So just to do the 30,000 foot level, first an investigation is done to determine whether or not the property owners will meet the required petition threshold as well as the balloting process. So we first do the investigation. If there seems to be support to move forward, then at that point the we will, the steering committee will get three options on proposals, usually like an A, B, and C, different levels of costs, as well as different frequency of services. and then once the steering committee approves that plan it's submitted a management district plan is written submitted to the city attorney and the city manager for review reports can be given to the city council as many as many times as the city council likes or to the edak group They can also be, as well as the chamber, just to update all the parties on what's going on. Let's assume that we go to a formation stage. There is a balloting process that exists. It's a male ballot procedure. Anybody who's a property owner, regardless of their status. commercial. tax exemptions. municipal, county, et cetera, would all be included within the district. State constitution is pretty clear in that unless the state or federal government can make clear and convincing evidence that they will not derive benefit then they don't have to pay or they can pay at a reduced amount. All the other properties are considered receiving a benefit and they pay into it. It could be benefit zones where there's a core area and then a peripheral area that pay a different rates based upon different frequencies. Once the district is formed, the city council would then adopt what's called the resolution of formation. At that point, you would inform Marin County to put the assessments on the property tax bills for the upcoming year. Let's assume that perhaps December 2024. when that would take place. It would be on the property tax bills. The county tax assessor would collect the assessments. Then they would transfer those as they do the property taxes to the city of Sausalito In that process and after the district is formed, a group of business and property owners will get together they'll establish themselves as a 501c3 So that allows them as a public benefit corporation to get grants in order to supplement whatever they're doing Um, within the downtown area. The board is consolidated. They elect officers. They're incorporated by the state of California. They seek to get their IRS status through the internal revenue service consistent with the 501 C three. The city then enters into a contract with that entity. And there's requirements that they adhere to the Brown Act, as well as public records and public meetings. The city ultimately has the authority over that corporation if they're not compliant with the management district plan, as well as with the state constitution. Let's say that the property owners voted for, the majority of the budget being for marketing promotion, and the board decides to deviate from that then the city can call them in and say, look, you're not following the management district plan, which was approved not only by the property owners, but also by the city. |
| 01:20:55.56 | Unknown | Thank you. |
| 01:20:55.61 | Marco Lamandri | And then once that occurs and there's a contract with the city, then that nonprofit corporation will run the day to day services for the district. And then they'll be expected to be results-oriented rather than process-oriented because property owners, business owners, and anyone else who owns property in downtown is going to want to see the impact and the benefits of that new property business improvement district. I hope I covered all the bases on that. |
| 01:21:22.69 | Mayor Blashton | Thank you very thorough. Appreciate that. So, That's it from the questions that were submitted, but before we go on, I'm just going to allow council members to ask questions that may not have been on the list with a reminder that whatever you do ask of this firm, you would have to ask the same question on the next round. And we have time, I mean, probably let's be mindful. And if you, you know, I don't want to spend another, more than maybe another five to 10 minutes. So if you have a question, I see the vice mayor and Councilman Hoffman have questions. |
| 01:21:52.85 | Jill Hoffman | this is more of a clarifying question maybe for our city manager. So, um, you know, I looked at the, um, the packages from both, um, both, uh, companies and they had kind of phased, you know, um, they had a total and then phased charges, right? For certain steps that you would go through. So Chris, or I suppose, Marco, either one, whichever one was the way. But if we decide to do the first step, which is, as I understand it, the education part, and you go out and you talk to members of the community and you see if you poll to see if you have enough to the minimum for the petition If you don't meet that gate, then is it true that we only pay for that first phase of work or any of those phase steps that we move through? If we don't proceed on to the next phase, either one of you, city manager or our new city, America representative, is that what we pay for or do we pay one lump sum up front? |
| 01:22:51.66 | Chris Zapata | Let me let the consultant answer that, Councilmember. |
| 01:22:54.39 | Jill Hoffman | Thank you. Thank you. Sorry I didn't think about setting that up. |
| 01:22:54.55 | Chris Zapata | Thank you. |
| 01:22:56.06 | Marco Lamandri | Yes. The proposal is divided into there's an investigative phase and we make the determination that there is not support to move forward, then I would report that to the city manager and say the process should end right now because there's not enough support to do this. So you're not obligated, there's no lump sum, it's a monthly amount. And again, we've done this 92 times and we managed six districts in the state of California. at this point. And so we have a really good feel as to whether or not I've been a little bit. not only based upon the survey, but talking to business and property owners in downtown Sausalito. whether our professional opinion is this would be approved at the final stage, which is the balloting process. So and I also have a 30 day escape clause. The city also would have in its contract. They can terminate the contract that well. So the city has complete flexibility in this process. Thank you. |
| 01:23:53.88 | Mayor Blashton | Thank you. |
| 01:23:54.23 | Marco Lamandri | Thank you. Thank you. |
| 01:23:54.87 | Mayor Blashton | Vice Mayor. |
| 01:23:55.56 | Unknown | Marco, can businesses be part of the bid or only property owners? |
| 01:24:00.69 | Marco Lamandri | The property business improvement district allows both to be assessed, but the issue then is that if I'm a business owner at downtown Sausalito and I pay an assessment, for certain special benefit services THE FAMILY IS A One thing, it's difficult to quantify how they would pay. Normally a property owner would pay based upon the variables of the property, which would be linear frontage, lot size and buildings for footage. That's not necessarily applicable to the business per se. The property owner will get benefits from the frontage and the building for marketing and promotion, as well as the lot size in terms of if you have new parking management or something like that. The other issue is that the property owner in all probability if they have a triple net lease will pass that through to the tenant. and what is not good is that the tenants paying one fee. as a business and then the other fee as part of their triple net lease so it's much more straightforward and it's easier just to do it as a property-based district it doesn't preclude business owners from being on the board and As I mentioned, we run six boards. Our largest board has 28 people on it, and at least half of them are business owners or residential tenants. Got it. That's so there's plenty of combination for both businesses and property owners on the new board of directors. |
| 01:25:17.69 | Unknown | Got it. |
| 01:25:23.57 | Unknown | That's a profound detail I wasn't aware of. So it's possible, for instance, that a business improvement district might be put in place by property owners, and yet the board may have businesses that are the tenants of those property owners on the board. Is that what I just heard you say? |
| 01:25:38.86 | Marco Lamandri | Yes, that's absolutely true. And we realize that the business owners are the ones who really see day to day what's going on. There are not a lot of owner occupiers of businesses that are also on their property. but it's important that both are included because they get the pulse of downtown. Property owners have a certain view of how they want to see their investment pay off. But the business owners also have great interest because the whole point of this district is to create demand. More demand for people walking through the front door, whether it's a retailer or a restaurant, And the property owners will always be looking for greater value to their property. |
| 01:26:13.18 | Jill Hoffman | Thank you. |
| 01:26:17.13 | Marco Lamandri | So they both gain if it's managed properly. |
| 01:26:20.98 | Unknown | Just real quick, Margot, how many times have you seen this not move from assessment to implementation? I guess very briefly, how often do you recommend stopping the process? |
| 01:26:27.85 | Marco Lamandri | I'm not. |
| 01:26:31.78 | Marco Lamandri | Um, probably every one out of 10. So, and I just did this in San Clemente. extensive survey, but property owners just were not engaged. And if they're not engaged, there's no way the district conforms because the petition requirement under the PBID law is that you need 50% of the property owners by dollar amount to sign a petition. And then the petition doesn't create the district. The balloting creates the district. But the threshold to get to the ballot is extremely high. So I'll have a good idea. And so will the steering committee at the end of five months as to whether or not we believe that we have what's called the weight or the dollar amount to support ultimate formation stage. |
| 01:27:19.48 | Mayor Blashton | Thank you very much, Marco. We appreciate your time and your robust proposal that you submitted to us and your response to our RFQ. And we will now go ahead and hear from our next interviewee. So thank you again for being with us tonight. Thank you. |
| 01:27:32.80 | Marco Lamandri | Thank you. I appreciate the time and just want to end by saying my wife and I had our honeymoon and saw some legal. Oh, that's lovely. |
| 01:27:38.01 | Mayor Blashton | Oh, that's awesome. |
| 01:27:39.02 | Unknown | Lovely. . |
| 01:27:39.85 | Marco Lamandri | Thank you. |
| 01:27:39.97 | Unknown | Thank you. |
| 01:27:40.00 | Marco Lamandri | Great. Thanks a lot. Thank you. Goodbye. |
| 01:27:49.03 | Mayor Blashton | Thank you. |
| 01:27:49.45 | Walfred Solorzano | Sure. Okay, we're gonna |
| 01:27:51.16 | Mayor Blashton | Okay, we're going to take a short bio break while you go get the next interviewee. That's fine. We're still going to do that at the request of a... Yeah, go ahead. |
| 01:28:14.56 | Unknown | Thank you. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Great. |
| 01:28:17.48 | Chad Hess | Yeah, yeah, yeah. Raise your vocal knowledge. Like, he's got a lot of history. Oh, sorry. In our stance. Yep. |
| 01:28:26.04 | Unknown | Oh, sorry. Sorry. |
| 01:28:28.72 | Walfred Solorzano | Thank you. |
| 01:28:33.88 | Unknown | Thank you. |
| 01:28:33.94 | Walfred Solorzano | Oh, oh, Bowie. |
| 01:28:37.16 | Mayor Blashton | . |
| 01:28:37.21 | Walfred Solorzano | It is. Sit. |
| 01:28:37.97 | Mayor Blashton | Thank you. Mayor Tux. What happened? |
| 01:28:43.32 | Walfred Solorzano | Almost. Over here. |
| 01:28:46.86 | Mayor Blashton | Okay, all right. Welcome back, everyone. We'll go ahead and resume the meeting. So if we could just have a little bit of quiet Chamber, that would be great, we're gonna get started again. And. Okay, great, we'll go ahead and get started again and we are gonna continue our interviewing of our business improvement district consultants and we have Steve here from Urban Concepts. So please come forward and we will use the same process that we just used with the same questions for each of the. |
| 01:29:13.81 | Steve Gibson | Okay. |
| 01:29:15.53 | Mayor Blashton | Thank you. |
| 01:29:15.72 | Steve Gibson | So this is the official place to stand here? Yes, exactly. |
| 01:29:15.78 | Mayor Blashton | Thank you. THE END OF THE END OF THE Yes, exactly. Okay, great. So we'll start with Councilmember Hoffman again and we'll go through. If you listen. |
| 01:29:23.19 | Steve Gibson | You want us to introduce ourselves or? Okay. Thank you. |
| 01:29:27.88 | Mayor Blashton | That'll be my question. You have to actually ask the exact same question as last time, per the process. But you can introduce yourself as part of your response to the question. Got it. I'm going to head Councilman Hoffman. |
| 01:29:38.04 | Jill Hoffman | Got it. Okay, well do we want to get my question last time was what is the business improvement district and what services are legally allowable? But we already know that I don't think we have to ask the exact same question do we a city attorney? I just have to ask something off this list. |
| 01:29:53.64 | Mayor Blashton | I think we have to ask the same questions for the city attorney, but please weigh in. If we don't, then I'm... |
| 01:29:55.41 | Jill Hoffman | Okay. We're going to have a lot of Here he is. I see him. |
| 01:30:00.47 | Sergio Rudin | I don't think legally you're required to, but I think it's probably a good idea to provide the same opportunity to answer the questions that were asked of the other applicants. And it's also good for your assessment of, you know, Apples to apples. |
| 01:30:14.71 | Jill Hoffman | Okay, that's fine, I'm happy to. Welcome, and your question is, what is a business improvement district and what services are legally allowable? |
| 01:30:25.80 | Steve Gibson | Okay, just before I answer that, or we answer that, I would like to introduce us, so you know who you're talking to or who's answering your questions. Steve Gibson, president of Urban Place Consulting Group. And Rena Letty, and she's vice president of Urban Place. She fell down some stairs a week ago, and she's sort of, she's a little slower now than she was, but we're here, and we're very glad to be here and meet you in person. So what is a business improvement district, and what are the services that are legally allowed? Is that the question? Yeah, it's pretty simple. A business improvement district is a district that is, created to assess either the property owners or the business owners in a defined geographic area to raise money to provide services that benefit the property owners and the business owners and this in either a property-based district or a business-based district you can do a wide variety of of services and programs you know you can do you know clean and safe and all of its various varieties of providing clean and safe services you can do marketing you can do advertising you can do special events you can do economic development it's there's a lot of leeway in the law on what you can actually use the money for especially in the property based district the key is you have to be able to tie the benefit to the property back to the cost of the assessment and so that's that's the very key and you know I'm sure we'll get into some questions that might talk about that a little bit more. But that's it. It's really simple. It's just an assessment district to find geography and assess for programs that benefit the people that are paying the assessment. |
| 01:31:27.98 | Unknown | property based on the |
| 01:32:29.09 | Unknown | Thank you, yes, nice to meet you. Thanks for being here. How is the initial board of a BID or the sponsors of the BID selected? |
| 01:32:30.73 | Steve Gibson | Good to meet you. |
| 01:32:31.21 | Unknown | Thank you. |
| 01:32:37.34 | Steve Gibson | Well, those are actually two questions |
| 01:32:41.61 | Unknown | Yeah, I was thinking that way. |
| 01:32:44.07 | Steve Gibson | And is that fair? Do you really get two questions instead of, |
| 01:32:49.96 | Steve Gibson | So, yeah, I'm sorry, just keeping it light a little bit. But, yeah, the original, usually there's not the governing board, but as a district gets started or there's interest to having a district, that usually comes from either a group of property owners, usually it's a small group, two or three, or a group of business owners that have an issue or something that they want to affect change from a group dynamics, and they need some more resources to affect the change. So they usually come together in a casual basis and say, we'd like to come together, and we've heard about business improvement districts, and they start meeting that way. Once you establish a district, and usually in our process, that informal group, sort of the next evolution of it is a more official steering committee that guides the process, the whole process of developing a business improvement district. |
| 01:33:41.63 | Unknown | it. |
| 01:33:41.95 | Unknown | Thank you. |
| 01:33:41.97 | Unknown | Yeah. |
| 01:33:57.55 | Steve Gibson | And then once you establish the district, and it's legally established, you do have to set, you create a nonprofit and a board of directors. And that board of directors, there's no set legal way that you have to create that. But what the normal process is the steering committee that's been guiding the process all the way along kind of evolves into the board of directors and usually add a few more people. The board of directors is usually 9 to 12 or 15, somewhere in that size. But they can be any size. There's no real legal restriction on that. |
| 01:34:36.27 | Rena Letty | I would just add that The board can also self-select or you can actually create like an election system for them. for the property owners. |
| 01:34:47.36 | Rena Letty | Um, or business owners to vote. So it just depends on how you want to do that. |
| 01:35:04.79 | Steve Gibson | Yeah, we were talking about that when we were waiting back there. Sort of yes and no. I mean, not a city that is the size of, and this is a fairly small city, but what you really need to look at is not the size of the city. It's the size of the commercial district that you're trying to establish a business improvement district in. And so in that case, yes, we've worked with a number that have business districts about your size, some actually smaller. When we were talking about, I mean, there's one in Providence, Rhode Island. We've worked in 26 different states, so we've worked all over the country. There's one that's connected to Brown University in Providence, Rhode Island. That's only about two streets, and each street is about four blocks long. And so it's smaller than your district, although Providence is a much bigger city than this district. And that, you know, successfully established, and we even managed it for a while. That's one. A district in Culver City in Southern California. Second Street, Belmont Shore in Long Beach is another one. In fact, that's where I got my start in this whole business, working in that business district, and actually owning a business on Second Street. So yeah, a number of them. So again, it's not the size of the city, it's the size of the district, which is more important. And you have a good size commercial district, you know, much bigger than a city of this size would usually have. |
| 01:36:23.09 | Unknown | Yeah. |
| 01:36:38.30 | Unknown | move. |
| 01:36:48.27 | Vice Mayor Sobieski | Thank you. What is your timeline for completing the process? |
| 01:36:53.79 | Steve Gibson | It's roughly a, especially if it's a property-based district, it's about a year and a half, roughly. Basically, there's seasons to a property-based district, and it's determined by the county assessor. And you have to get your assessment roll in by a certain date to the county assessor. So, for example, if you were to start the process now, you're going to get your assessment roll in |
| 01:37:17.87 | Unknown | you |
| 01:37:23.78 | Steve Gibson | your season would begin and you need to to start fairly quickly in the spring of each year what you're looking at is is June and July of next year so example if we started a process here now and we can walk through the process probably in another question but your target date is to have the whole process completed by June of next year, June of 2024. And then the district, then you go on the tax rolls and the income would flow in and you'd start the programs in January of 2025. So it's roughly a year and a half. |
| 01:38:08.93 | Unknown | Can you give us a little bit more of an understanding, maybe outline how a district is actually formed, what the process is, including things like who collects fees, who administers the funds, what type of authority the city retains, how the governance structure. So we really understand what it is we're actually forming and how we know if the community wants to form one. |
| 01:38:31.28 | Steve Gibson | Yeah, we'll just walk you through the whole process. That's really what you're talking about there. Yeah, it starts again with this informal group of people that are interested in the possibility of starting a district. We would have meetings with those, outreach meetings, group meetings, begin an education process, begin to understand what are the issues that you face here in Sausalito. If you were to establish a district, what do you want out of it? What are the needs that you're trying to meet that come from a district? We spend a lot of time listening and asking questions and getting to know your district and your needs and the people, the business owners and the property owners in the district. So once you do that and you've decided you want to move ahead, then we have to write a management plan. Before we can write the management plan, you have to make a number of decisions. And that's really where, as far as the community and the steering committee, that's where all the hard work is You have to really define what's the geographic boundaries We usually start with what we call a study area and a lot of times the final area ends up somewhat smaller than that But we want to make sure we consider all options and then you sometimes you end up with a smaller one that is more doable for one reason or another. But so you define the geography. |
| 01:38:37.27 | Unknown | Yeah. |
| 01:38:37.49 | Unknown | It's not. |
| 01:38:38.14 | Unknown | to the next one. |
| 01:38:59.29 | Unknown | you. |
| 01:39:17.04 | Unknown | Thank you. |
| 01:40:06.81 | Steve Gibson | You need to quickly move into programs. What do you want to do with this district because one's established? This is providing clean, safe services, safe services. Let's do marketing, all of those things. All this leads to a budget. Define what you want to do. And then once you understand that, we help you price it out. This is what it would cost to do what you need to do. So you end up with a budget. And, again, that's a whole process because, you know, we start with a wish list budget. And almost every time we come back and say, you said you wanted to do all these things, we priced it out. This is what it costs. And everybody goes, oh, we probably can't afford that. You know, so you've got a back and forth on the budget to get down to a number that works but still provides enough resources to actually make a difference in the district once you have that budget and then we have to move into the assessment methodology how will we assess this in California for a property-based district we can't we cannot use value because of prop 13 back in the 70s and so we have to use a factor of the land and in what the normal are building square footage lot square footage or Frontage of the properties street frontage parcel frontage of the property And you can use any combination of those three in different percentages. You can use just one of them or any two of them. So what we lead you through a whole process of, and show examples of three or four or five different ways you can assess it. We create a database that's tied to all the property. We built early on in the process. We built a database of all the property in the study area. And so before you're asked to make any final decisions, you've got a budget. You have an assessment methodology. We show you a number of options of different ways to assess it. And you can see actually for each parcel what the effect of the different options would be and then you make a consensus is built that makes sense to do it this way you know we'll we'll have recommendations obviously but but again the one of the real beauties of this whole process is it's all from the ground up it's all from the people who are going to pay the assessment, make all the decisions. Our role is to bring you expert advice and experience from other districts, but not to tell you how to do it. We're facilitators in bringing experience. And so you make all those decisions. So we try to give you as much data as possible so that you can make really good educated decisions so the so you've got a job you've got boundaries you've got a business plan of what what the district will provide you've now got assessment methodology you know how it's going to be assessed and we write a management plan they're usually about 20 25 pages long and have all these you know detail and all of this spilled out You know, there's a number of legal things you have to make sure that are in the district in the management plan So all of that. So if we were to start now or you know fairly soon that whole process would take the summer with final decisions in usually August or September, we'd like to have it if we can. October, the management plan's written. We have to write in, we have an engineer that works for us as a subcontractor. Part of the law is we have to have an engineer's report that ties the cost and the benefit to each property owners makes that nexus. That's all determined by law. |
| 01:41:56.39 | Unknown | and that's what we're doing. |
| 01:42:53.82 | Unknown | you |
| 01:42:53.97 | Unknown | you |
| 01:43:55.26 | Steve Gibson | And then the next step then once all this is in place Everybody's agreed to this is to go out to the petition drive and the petition drive is really that the In some ways the hardest part of this whole process Because we have to have property property owners Who represent more than 50% of the assessment to be paid to sign the petition saying the petitions to you to the City Council that they'd like you to start the legal steps to establish a district and so You have to reach out you have to find all the property owners. That's not always easy You have to you and you work the whole process from the beginning looking for all the property owners and educating them and bringing them along and including them and as many Is want to be included in this whole process? But the petition drive will usually last Two months to three or four months depending on how many property owners and how difficult it is to connect with them and to get to that 50%. Once you get to the 50%, |
| 01:44:38.65 | Unknown | the whole thing. |
| 01:45:07.03 | Steve Gibson | Then the petition is presented to the council. You accept it and you make a decision whether you want to start the legal process. What that means is that you, You pass a notice of intent to establish a district that's a legal step that you take You also then Set a public hearing date at the end of the process And start what we call the 218 Ballot process came from prop a proposition 218 that was passed a number of years ago So the city then sends back out to every property owner a ballot So it's a second time the property owner needs to weigh in on this sends the ballot out And the property owner has a right to vote yes or vote no on the ballot and they return it The threshold on the ballot it is a little bit different than the petition. It's weighted the same way. So in the petition, you basically have $1, one vote. It's weighted by the amount of dollars that you'll pay, trying to get to this over 50% of the total. In the ballot, you only count the ballots that are returned. And you need ballots representing more yeses, weighted by the amount of assessment that you'll pay, than the ballots that vote no, weighted. And so just to clarify it in a really simple way, if you only had three ballots returned, |
| 01:46:28.84 | Unknown | you. |
| 01:46:49.78 | Steve Gibson | And only one voted yes, but that yes vote was paying more assessments than the two no votes added together, it would pass. So it's not the number, it's the amount of the assessment. Once that happens, and the ballot is open for 45 days, that's mandated by law, a minimum of 45 days. It can go a little bit longer. And then you have your public hearing, you listen to the, you know, the, |
| 01:47:15.80 | Unknown | And then, |
| 01:47:20.53 | Steve Gibson | you the testimony from the public and the public hearing, you close the public hearing and you make a final decision. You count the ballots to see where you are on that. And then you make a final decision about establishing the district, submit the assessment roll to the county assessor and the assessment dollars are collected by the county. And the county then passes the assessment dollars to the city. The city has a contract with a nonprofit that runs these districts, or CISA districts, and implements the business plan, the management plan. So you have a contract with this nonprofit, and that contract then defines how you pass the money to the nonprofit, what oversight the city has on the nonprofit, what rules you'll have in that whole area. So that contract is really important, that relationship. And then you start the operations, you set up your board of directors, and they go on the day-to-day operation. I think I covered all of that, which you probably heard before, |
| 01:48:30.49 | Mayor Blashton | That was a very detailed response, thank you. And now- We've done this a time or two. Yeah, it seems like it. The council members that asked additional questions, if you could ask the same questions, Council Member Hoffman. |
| 01:48:33.90 | Steve Gibson | We've done this a time or two. Yeah, it seems like it. |
| 01:48:41.90 | Mayor Blashton | Thank you. |
| 01:48:41.91 | Jill Hoffman | Thank you. So thank you. My additional question was, I see from your bid package that there are phased approaches. I'm just confirming that we would pay you as we went through the phases. In other words, we wouldn't pay you a total sum at the beginning, we would pay you as we went along. |
| 01:48:58.20 | Unknown | Mm-hmm. |
| 01:49:04.06 | Steve Gibson | No, as the work's done. And if for some reason we got into the process and the community said they weren't interested, you would just pay for the work up until that point. Yeah, it's pretty simple. |
| 01:49:20.64 | Mayor Blashton | Vice Mayor. |
| 01:49:21.32 | Unknown | I think my question was that, is it true that the BID can be both businesses as well as property owners? |
| 01:49:30.26 | Steve Gibson | Uh, |
| 01:49:30.58 | Unknown | Thank you. |
| 01:49:30.62 | Steve Gibson | Thank you. Sort of. Basically, there are two types of business improvement. A business-based district and a property-based district. Usually, you have one or the other. You can have both and layer them over each other. Yeah. Thank you. Thank you. Bye. you that usually only happens if you already have a business based and you want to create a property base and sometimes you layer it over and you don't disband it we would encourage you to make a decision one or the other you know through a property based you know the properties are the only ones that are directly assessed but through most leases or you know triple nets or or you know in that area properties Owners have the right to pass assessments back through to proper to businesses so In the whole process especially for sure if the business base but property based district You want to involve the businesses in the whole process because they're gonna end up paying part of the assessment |
| 01:49:57.41 | Unknown | Thank you. leave. |
| 01:50:39.77 | Unknown | Yeah, my follow-up question on that was, even if it is an all property owner district, the board can be made up of the representatives of the businesses. |
| 01:50:49.96 | Steve Gibson | Yes, in fact, we encourage that to be the case. Most definitely that. The property owners need to maintain a majority on the board, but if it's 11, it could be 6 to 5. I mean, it could be that close. Yeah, and especially in a district like Sausalita, you need a good representation of your businesses on this board. |
| 01:51:07.72 | Unknown | and you know, |
| 01:51:19.51 | Unknown | Okay, and my follow-up question was, we understand there's an initial and preliminary assessment as to whether or not the district has the backing of potential participants. In your experience, how often does it not move from assessment to implementation? |
| 01:51:29.42 | Steve Gibson | Mm-hmm. |
| 01:51:36.79 | Steve Gibson | Rarely, but it does happen. You know, you want to be honest in that first phase. It's a lot of work to establish a district. And if it's, you know, if you don't have a pretty strong, you never know when you start it. And so there's no guarantees in this thing. But, you know, in that initial, in the outreach, in the discussions, in meeting the businesses, meeting your leading property owners, you can usually get a pretty good indication. if you work hard they'll And meeting the businesses meeting your leading property owners. You can usually get a pretty good Indication if if you work hard, they'll be success at the end of this and so you you want to have that It's important because it's a lot of work, you know when I go through it all and then then fail At the end of it |
| 01:52:26.69 | Mayor Blashton | Thank you so much for your time. We really appreciate it, and we appreciate you being here in person as well. And I think that covers all of our questions, so we'll get back to you shortly, and we're going to deliberate, and thanks for being here. |
| 01:52:38.11 | Steve Gibson | Good. Yeah, no, and our office is just across the bay in San Francisco, so it's easy to get here. And actually, it's quite enjoyable to come over here and get out of San Francisco a little bit. So we really appreciate that. |
| 01:52:51.41 | Mayor Blashton | that. |
| 01:52:52.86 | Steve Gibson | Thank you for having us. |
| 01:52:54.03 | Mayor Blashton | Thank you for being here. Thank you so much. |
| 01:53:04.96 | Mayor Blashton | Okay, so members of the council, our next steps here, we have to, select a firm to move forward with the first phase, which would be round tables with the Chamber of Commerce, and give direction to staff on our approach this evening so that we can move ahead per the requests of the RFP and EDAC. So whoever wants to first weigh in and give some comments. Sorry, have we had public comment? Oh, I'm so sorry. Let me open it up for public comment first. |
| 01:53:26.36 | Walfred Solorzano | Thank you. |
| 01:53:33.94 | Walfred Solorzano | See, see none. |
| 01:53:36.11 | Unknown | I see Sandra Bushmaker's hand is up. Thank you. |
| 01:53:37.70 | Walfred Solorzano | Is it? Sorry, Senator Bushmaker? |
| 01:53:43.30 | Sandra Bushmaker | Hi, everybody. Um, I am perplexed. about this whole business district, business improvement district. I sat through the EDAC meetings when the idea first came out. And It came up around the subject of lights. lighting the downtown area. Um, And here's what I'm observing with this process tonight is that the city is in an unusual place of not only being the initiator of the business improvement district, but also one of the members who owns a lot of property. in downtown Sausalito. So you've got two roles going on. It's not like the Chamber is bringing this proposal to the city, the city to approve. The city is initiating this business improvement district. The most important thing that is so, so I think it's important to keep those two roles segregated in your mind, even though they are definitely related. I'm not sold on the idea of the business improvement district yet, Having just sat through the geologic, um, Yeah. mapping with Kevin McGowan and our task force in the, Oh. that we're using for that. We've got a lot of fish to fry in that department. So here are several points that I just wanted to make. They're not necessarily in order, but one, I think the city needs to have an exit strategy. on how to get out of this business assessment district, should you choose to do it since you are forming it. |
| 01:55:13.65 | Unknown | AND HOW DID YOU DO? |
| 01:55:19.07 | Sandra Bushmaker | Um, Number two is to out. answer the question. what is it we want out of this improvement district i said assessment district improvement district And I also think the city should look very, very carefully at the cost to the city, other than paying the assessment or the dues to the 501 C3, Uh, to belong to the district. How much is this going to cost the city aside from those two items? And, I also am concerned about the costs the costs of the improvement district. |
| 01:55:57.00 | Mayor Blashton | Thank you. |
| 01:55:59.31 | Sandra Bushmaker | Thank you. |
| 01:55:59.33 | Mayor Blashton | Yes. you Am I? Your two minutes has elapsed, Sandra. Thank you so much for your comment. I appreciate it. Okay, do we have any further public comment at this time? |
| 01:56:10.67 | Walfred Solorzano | Seeing none in the room. Seeing none on Zoom. |
| 01:56:13.56 | Mayor Blashton | Okay, I'll go ahead and close public comment, and then I'll bring it back up to the council for consideration and discussion. |
| 01:56:21.45 | Vice Mayor Sobieski | May I ask a question just on the process? So are we choosing tonight or is, I thought that the members of the business community were going to participate in this process. I'm looking to the city manager. |
| 01:56:34.19 | Chris Zapata | Thank you for the question councilmember Cox mayor in public the request tonight is to interview the two firms that submitted To identify one if you choose to go to the next step To have a conversation with people in the business community They may have questions similar to former mayor Bushmaker and then provided you know There is some support or not there come back to the City Council and then if you decide that you want to retain and pay for a consultant which could be one of these two that would be the step so tonight we're not asking you to pick and pay for one we're asking you to advance one of them to the next stage would be to talk to the business community |
| 01:57:13.84 | Walfred Solorzano | Is that a nice marriage? |
| 01:57:14.27 | Unknown | You quoted the staff report to me last time. So I'm reading from the staff report. After the interview, it's recommended the city council select one consultant of the two direct them to participate in a business round table discussion facilitated by the chamber, bring them back to the city council, for a decision about retaining or not a business to view district consultants. |
| 01:57:34.25 | Vice Mayor Sobieski | Right, I knew it just, it sounded from the way that this was being presented this evening as though we were selecting a firm and I just wanted to clarify that. Thank you, Vice Mayor. |
| 01:57:44.60 | Unknown | I couldn't miss the chance to read the stock report to you. |
| 01:57:46.62 | Mayor Blashton | Thank you. Thank you. Of course. Okay, so who wants to kick us off? |
| 01:57:54.35 | Mayor Blashton | I'll kick us off. |
| 01:57:54.57 | Unknown | I would just say it seems, I mean, picking which one is a different matter, but in terms of the process, the businesses I've spoken to would like to know more about the BID. They have questions. They're not sold on it either. Some are concerned about their increasing rents at the same time, if that goes into place. others however see the benefits to being able to control and have an influence over improving same time if that goes into place. Others, however, see the benefits to being able to control and have an influence over improving the built environment around them, like the lights that former Mayor Bushmaker cited. So I think at the very least we ought to allow the round table that the head of the Chamber of Commerce proposed. |
| 01:58:40.45 | Mayor Blashton | Yeah, but did you have a proposed firm for the roundtable? |
| 01:58:43.81 | Unknown | I have my own personal choice. Is that what we're doing, is voting one at a time? I'd like them both. I love them both. I think either one could do the job, but of the two, I prefer the first one. |
| 01:58:47.10 | Mayor Blashton | I'd like to... |
| 01:58:54.75 | Unknown | New City, I believe it's called. New City of America. |
| 01:58:58.58 | Mayor Blashton | That's more Kelvin. Thank you. |
| 01:58:59.29 | Unknown | Yeah, it's a little bit of a tough choice. I thought that the first applicant did a really fantastic job of articulating a very clear process in a cogent succinct manner. However, I will note that the budget checklist, first of all, for the second applicant is about $20,000 cheaper for the first phase. And it also is more detailed as to how exactly this would get carried out. And so, I'm not gonna be super helpful when I say I'm torn because on one hand the articulation was much clearer for us, I think, on the first one, and it helped me understand the second one. But I think the written product of the second one is actually easier to understand now that I heard from the first one. If so, so if you don't mind, I'd like to hear other people's input, but that was kind of my takeaway. And I suppose it's just the last comment. If we're relying on the consultant to sit down and have a conversation, probably the ability to Interact just on the fly is probably slightly more important at this time, but I think the budget piece of it. I was trying to compare them, and I couldn't quite tell. I think there's a cost savings on the second, but then I wasn't quite sure because they had line items much more clearly. |
| 02:00:11.77 | Mayor Blashton | So from my understanding and looking at the proposals, the first consultant has a retainer of $8,000 a month. And what he had said is that we have an opportunity to withdraw from the retainer at any time, including after the roundtable or after any phase. So I think when you look at the cost in that sense, even though it's more detailed in the second proposal, there's a chance for the cost to be similar or to make up the discrepancies based on the amount of time in the phases we work through. That's a good point. Thank you. |
| 02:00:36.49 | Unknown | Good point. |
| 02:00:36.96 | Vicki Rodriguez | Thank you. |
| 02:00:39.62 | Mayor Blashton | Councilman Hoffman. |
| 02:00:46.53 | Vice Mayor Sobieski | I'll, okay. Thank you. Yeah, I also, you know, both presentations were really thorough. I did. favor the first proposal just based on the presentation. I appreciated that they made the distinction that the services to be provided are over and above those provided by the city. I thought that was a really, Important distinction made by the first proposer that was not made. by the second proposal. I would imagine that they'll all to say the same things, but I thought that was a really, important distinction, I also Um, appreciated the opt-out opportunity described by the first Proposer. which was not as clear to me in the narrative of the process by the second proposer. So I really found both of them to be very qualified. I don't think we would necessarily go wrong if this is something that the business, that the members of the proposed district itself choose to move forward, but I would lean towards the first proposer. |
| 02:02:02.60 | Mayor Blashton | Thank you, Council Member Cox. Did you wanna weigh in Council Member Hoffman? I'm happy to if you want, or up to. Great. |
| 02:02:13.82 | Jill Hoffman | Thank you. because I just looked up the locations for the offices. And so the second one has offices in San Francisco. So that's why I would need to work on. One thing I would request from staff, and I want this as part of our discussion perhaps, is I'd like to have four pieces of information in the presentation of staff reports to come back to us. And one is how much property the city has in the proposed district. What is the approximate percentage of the assessment to the city dollar-wise? |
| 02:02:24.34 | Unknown | Thank you. |
| 02:02:24.35 | Unknown | Thank you. |
| 02:02:24.49 | Unknown | Thank you. |
| 02:02:48.82 | Jill Hoffman | What would be the cost of the non-profit management of the business district? And finally, the fourth question is, how is a business improvement district resolved? So I'd like to know this at our next decision point, which I think is going to be next time to be back to the council. So I think they were both really great presentations. I think the written proposals were both very, very good. But my lean is toward, but it's not an inclusive no on the other one as well. |
| 02:03:19.65 | Vice Mayor Sobieski | Can I make a follow-on comment to one thing that Councilmember Hoffman just said? |
| 02:03:23.67 | Jill Hoffman | Sure. |
| 02:03:24.86 | Vice Mayor Sobieski | She said, how much property does the city own? I think that is so important because the ballots are weighted by assessed value. And so to follow on to former Mayor Bushmaker's point, If the city. owns the majority of the property in the proposed business District. The city. could be in the, conflict of interest position of actually forcing other neighboring property owners into this arrangement even if all of them voted against it. if the city, I'm just saying, it really would depend on how much the city... how much property the city owns, I see the city manager raising his hand. I just wanted to point out that I think that's a really valuable inquiry raised by Councilmember Hoffman. Thank you. |
| 02:04:15.62 | Mayor Blashton | Councilman Hoffman, I'm hearing from a text message that your microphone was perhaps muted when you made your comment or was not turned on. So just a brief summary of that would be great. |
| 02:04:23.32 | Jill Hoffman | that would be great all right here they are here they are again sorry apologies how much property there are four questions that I'd like to have in the next staff report that we receive and presentation how much property the city has in the proposed district What's the approximate percentage of the assessment to the city? In other words, how much would the city have to pay? What would be the cost of the nonprofit management of the business district? And how is a business improvement district dissolved once it's formed? |
| 02:04:52.04 | Mayor Blashton | Thank you very much. And I'll let the city manager weigh in who had his hand raised, I believe. |
| 02:04:56.40 | Chris Zapata | I appreciate the concern about the city tipping the scale unduly and and that that can happen The city could also take a position to not Be a part of the vote even though they're part of the district and that's happened before as well So that could you know make it a more balanced? approach as opposed to the city being a big property owner and saying we want it or we don't want it if you you did not vote, then you know, you're not part of the process in terms of creating an outcome that may be heavy handed or not. So that's policy decision you all can make as a council. I just offer that as a suggestion. |
| 02:05:33.28 | Mayor Blashton | Thank you for that. Okay, so I'll just give my comments on the presentations and what direction I'm leaning. I think that both work very impressive and both firms obviously have a strong understanding and expansive experience in business improvement districts. So I don't really think that we could go wrong with either. However, I think given our specific business community and the response to some of the questions, I think that I favor the first. I'm leaning towards the first as well, because I think that just their articulation of how the district would work and they're more a little bit easier or perhaps just a little bit more step-by-step approach to explanations are a better fit for folks who have no context for the BID whatsoever. So I'm leaning towards that for the choice. I don't know if we feel okay about that. Okay, consensus, vice mayor. |
| 02:06:26.76 | Unknown | Good. So can I just move to accept the recommended process? So selecting new city? |
| 02:06:31.49 | Mayor Blashton | Yeah, so I'm gonna go ahead and just to summarize, since I think that the ask from staff was to provide direction here on which firm we would like to select to go to a roundtable with the Chamber of Commerce. And I think we all agree it was the first that we heard from, which is New City America, but of course, big thanks to for being here in person. And then the other part that I want to give direction to staff and be sure it is noted Verbatim in the minutes, or so we are very clear about it, are the four questions that Councilmember Hoffman, had raised, which is how much property the city has in the district, What is the percentage of the assessment of the city? What would be the cost of the nonprofit management of the business district? and how is the business improvement district dissolved? So just those four questions for when they come forward again, and I think we'll go ahead and move the first firm, urban new city America forward to the Chamber of Commerce round table. Is that direction clear to staff? Okay, thank you very much and thanks for everyone's I know that the interview processes can be a little bit harder and longer to follow, so I really appreciate that. Okay, so now we'll go ahead and move on to Our third business item, which should not take very much time, This is the Consider Adoption of a Resolution Setting City Council Meeting. regular times. I don't know who's introducing this or if we're just having a discussion. |
| 02:07:51.37 | Walfred Solorzano | I can do it. The proposed resolution is going back to the first and third Wednesdays of the month at 7 p.m., back how we were doing it beforehand, and that way it helps get back to flow with the other commissions and boards that we have. |
| 02:08:10.58 | Vice Mayor Sobieski | May I ask a question? Oh, go ahead. Yes. Given that if we go back, we would have another city council meeting in a week. Given there are five weeks in May, is it possible to do the 9th and the 23rd in May and then go back to the 1st and 3rd starting in June? |
| 02:08:28.73 | Mayor Blashton | I was going to propose that because we're lucky we have five Tuesdays in May and so we could do that in return. And I just wanted to note as well that the Planning Commission, right now the issue is the Planning Commission meets the same week as the City Council. So it's easier for staff and for preparation for both those meetings if they're on switch weeks and they were switched specifically to accommodate us and then we switch to accommodate our city attorney who has told us that he can go back to the first and third. |
| 02:08:55.02 | Unknown | unfortunately all of my work travel for May and June were shaped around the other schedule so I'm happy to switch starting in July but I would probably miss two meetings if we switched |
| 02:09:10.55 | Mayor Blashton | I could switch starting in July. I'm also accommodating changes because I thought it was the first and third and I'm gonna be a CHDS at the Naval Academy. Does that work for |
| 02:09:22.92 | Unknown | The trick with July is the first Tuesday of July is the fourth of July. |
| 02:09:27.20 | Jill Hoffman | We would move that anyway, regardless. I'm not sure. I have no objection. Agree, but agree. We'll adjust, but we usually adjust for the week of the fourth, anyway. |
| 02:09:36.20 | Mayor Blashton | Yeah, let's just do it and then adjust for the week of the 4th of July, effective in July. |
| 02:09:39.85 | Unknown | Sounds good. Starting July. |
| 02:09:42.11 | Walfred Solorzano | For the 4th of July, we can just cancel the regular meeting for that day and then we can make a special meeting. |
| 02:09:46.09 | Mayor Blashton | I'm not sure. |
| 02:09:46.16 | Vice Mayor Sobieski | Thank you. |
| 02:09:46.21 | Mayor Blashton | Thank you. |
| 02:09:46.27 | Vice Mayor Sobieski | Thank you. So, Thank you. |
| 02:09:46.65 | Mayor Blashton | TO BE ABLE |
| 02:09:46.73 | Vice Mayor Sobieski | Thank you. |
| 02:09:46.81 | Mayor Blashton | I'm not going to be a |
| 02:09:47.10 | Vice Mayor Sobieski | . |
| 02:09:47.27 | Mayor Blashton | That's great. That's great. Okay, great. |
| 02:09:50.69 | Walfred Solorzano | Thank you. |
| 02:09:50.71 | Vice Mayor Sobieski | Yeah. |
| 02:09:50.73 | Jill Hoffman | Thank you. |
| 02:09:50.75 | Walfred Solorzano | I'm not. |
| 02:09:50.97 | Vice Mayor Sobieski | Oh, good. But so does that mean we have a city council meeting in one week? |
| 02:09:56.69 | Mayor Blashton | No, we just said we'd do the 9th and the 23rd, effective July. 9th and 23rd and then the- |
| 02:09:57.28 | Vice Mayor Sobieski | up. |
| 02:09:59.77 | Unknown | Thank you. |
| 02:09:59.81 | Vice Mayor Sobieski | I'm 23. |
| 02:10:02.09 | Mayor Blashton | Yeah. |
| 02:10:02.56 | Vice Mayor Sobieski | So what are we doing? Well, 9th and 23rd is not, oh yeah, it is 2nd and |
| 02:10:02.88 | Mayor Blashton | Well, 9th and 12th. |
| 02:10:05.51 | Unknown | So what are we doing in July? I'm sorry I missed all that. |
| 02:10:07.94 | Mayor Blashton | We're canceling the regular meeting and we're having one meeting in July because it's the summer. The third of July. |
| 02:10:09.02 | Unknown | Thank you. Thank you. |
| 02:10:11.64 | Vice Mayor Sobieski | Thank you. Yes. |
| 02:10:13.90 | Mayor Blashton | Okay, is this clear to staff? Do we need public comment? Yeah, we do, we need a couple of things, but I just wanna make sure, does that make sense for staff? |
| 02:10:20.01 | Walfred Solorzano | Okay. |
| 02:10:20.38 | Mayor Blashton | Can I? |
| 02:10:20.41 | Jill Hoffman | Good night. Thank you. |
| 02:10:20.83 | Walfred Solorzano | Thank you. |
| 02:10:21.02 | Jill Hoffman | I had one more thing, sorry about the calendar. So at some point we'll also need to talk about the full next half of the year. And usually we would publish that at the second half of the year, which means what are we gonna do about Thanksgiving? What are we gonna do about other holidays? And what are we gonna do about August? |
| 02:10:21.58 | Mayor Blashton | Sorry. |
| 02:10:21.97 | Walfred Solorzano | about the |
| 02:10:22.18 | Mayor Blashton | Thank you. |
| 02:10:31.70 | Unknown | Thank you. |
| 02:10:31.72 | Mayor Blashton | THE FAMILY IS |
| 02:10:31.92 | Unknown | Thank you. |
| 02:10:36.19 | Mayor Blashton | Oh, sorry. That's okay. Thank you. |
| 02:10:37.59 | Jill Hoffman | I think that- |
| 02:10:37.94 | Mayor Blashton | I think that this is for the whole second half of the year. So if you have additional dates beyond July that you're worried about, |
| 02:10:44.04 | Jill Hoffman | that are, well, my point is we usually publish that in one shot so that we, the second half of the year, we publish that at one point and then, you know, we know when we're gonna meet and everybody knows when we're gonna meet in August, you know, September, whatever we're gonna do for the holidays and things like that. I'm thinking that in July we issue either the last probably the second meeting in June we issue our calendar if not for before that our calendar for the second half of the year sorry |
| 02:11:11.15 | Vice Mayor Sobieski | Sorry, I'm not being very... On consent. Yeah, yeah, yeah. |
| 02:11:12.69 | Jill Hoffman | Yeah, yeah, yeah. |
| 02:11:13.20 | Mayor Blashton | that we can wait. |
| 02:11:13.91 | Vice Mayor Sobieski | Thank you. |
| 02:11:14.02 | Mayor Blashton | Yep. Couldn't we issue it sooner than that? |
| 02:11:16.49 | Vice Mayor Sobieski | Yeah, she said sooner. |
| 02:11:17.55 | Mayor Blashton | Yeah, I think that that was the purpose of the discussion so that we can get that calendar and assuming starting in July we would go to first and third. |
| 02:11:25.30 | Unknown | Okay. Since we're talking about a calendar, I just should ask, for two years, we've canceled some August meetings. I've never been clear on how many, and that has been on some calendars. Is that still how? It depends. |
| 02:11:36.27 | Vice Mayor Sobieski | It depends on the year. In 2018, we had no meetings in August. |
| 02:11:41.07 | Unknown | And that was the first year also. |
| 02:11:43.23 | Vice Mayor Sobieski | Thank you. |
| 02:11:43.25 | Jill Hoffman | Yeah, you know, that's a good question. |
| 02:11:44.52 | Unknown | I know you brought that up. |
| 02:11:45.26 | Jill Hoffman | It's a good thing. |
| 02:11:45.31 | Unknown | . |
| 02:11:46.19 | Jill Hoffman | Yeah, it's a good discussion to have. The traditional break is that we have a break in August because the staff needs a break. We need a break. We have, you know, just, you know, we just need a break. So that's typically what we do and try not to have a meeting in August. And if we have to have a meeting in August, it's either at the very beginning. or the area. very end, understanding that we may have emergency meetings, and that's always something out there. But Yeah. August is usually the traditional break. residents also rely on that they know they're gonna be out of town and and they don't have to keep track of what we're doing city council I'm just throwing that out Thank you. |
| 02:12:25.12 | Mayor Blashton | Agreed. Agreed. So I would, I think we would just have a meeting on the 18th of July and then have no meetings in August. So we can, and that, that would be, okay. So now we'll open it up to public comment on this item. |
| 02:12:31.58 | Jill Hoffman | Okay. |
| 02:12:37.72 | Walfred Solorzano | Seeing none on Zoom, seeing none in the room. |
| 02:12:41.64 | Mayor Blashton | Okay, I'll close public comment. So I think that we have to formally adopt the resolution to change the meeting dates from the first to the third per the staff report. |
| 02:12:49.98 | Vice Mayor Sobieski | So I move that we adopt the resolution with the following changes. That... that paragraph one start off with the words commencing July, comma, 2023, comma, and that paragraph one, number one, be amended to say with no meeting the first week of july and no meeting in august 2023 |
| 02:13:30.36 | Unknown | Second. |
| 02:13:31.94 | Mayor Blashton | Okay, all in favor say aye. |
| 02:13:34.41 | Vice Mayor Sobieski | I... |
| 02:13:34.48 | Mayor Blashton | Thank you. Fantastic. That was so efficient. Thank you very much, everyone. And we'll go ahead and move on to our last business item, which is going to be presented today. by our new sustainability coordinator, Katie Thero Garcia. And that is the what's the formal name of the introduction and waiver of first reading of ordinance number XX2023, ordinance repealing and replacing chapter 11.40 of the Sausalito Municipal Code. |
| 02:13:59.18 | Katie Thero Garcia | Great. I think I have a presentation. |
| 02:14:05.12 | Katie Thero Garcia | I'll go ahead and get started. Greetings, Mayor Bilefstein, Vice Mayor Sobieski, and members of the City Council. I'm here today to present the Sustainability Commission Waste Subcommittee's recommendation on Marin County's reusable foodware ordinance. Hopefully it will be a very quick presentation. Next slide, please. So just giving a little bit of a background anticipating the ultimate countywide ordinance in June 2019, the city passed one of the first single-use plastic bans in Marin County. Community outreach in 2020 and 2021 focused on educating and informing the business community. As a recommendation from the Chamber of Commerce, the city included a one-year phase-in period, which ended in winter 2021. By May 2022, the Marin County Board of Supervisors adopted the countywide ordinance banning single-use plastics with a jurisdictional onboarding fee starting after May 10, 2023. And in November 2023, countywide enforcement is inspected to begin. Next slide, please. Right. So community outreach in 2020 and 2021 was led by the Sustainability Commission, including Mayor Blaustein and consultants. Outreach included educational events, merchant walks and starter packs for vendors for food wear vendors. In doing so, organizations found that most food wear, sorry, most food vendors were already compliant and supported the ban. In addition, they gained support from the Sausalito Chamber of Commerce, Sausalito Beautiful, the Women's Club, and collaborated a lot with Bay City Refuge. Next slide, please. All right, so since Ossolito has already passed the single-use plastic ban, I'm not gonna belabor you on the environmental benefits of of banning single-use plastics. I will state, however, that adopting a countywide food ordinance, countywide single-use foodware ordinance would provide clear and consistent foodware ordinances throughout Marin joining jurisdictions, including unincorporated Marin Tiburon, Fairfax, Larkspur, Mill Valley, Novato, Ross, and San Anselmo. In addition, it would also provide countywide enforcement And it would also assist Sausalito and local businesses in complying with the recently adopted state legislation focused on waste reduction. And finally, it would also keep reducing litter and plastics at the source. Next slide, please. So key ordinance features are listed here on this slide. However, the ones in bold are changes to the city's ordinance. And by repealing and replacing the current city ordinance, these would take into effect. They include having to go food, where ordinance to go food, where must be fiber based and compostable compostable with aluminum allowed. having to go accessories that are available only upon request and must be compostable. Having dine in foodware must be reusable with the exceptions for specified items such as paper napkins, paper straws, and foil wrappers. And ban single-use plastics items such as stirrers. And reusable condiments, containers, or dispensers are mandated. Next slide, please. All right. In addition, there will also be a 25 cent disposable cup charge that will be retained by the food vendors. They will be... They will be encouraged to have front and back house three stream collection containers and as previously stated enforcement would be done by the county and starting in November. Next slide, please. All right, as previously stated, the ordinance which would begin, sorry, the ordinance enforcement would begin on November 10th, 2023. and it would be through the county environmental health services, which would include education and enforcement. And any fees from violations would pass through food inspection fees. Next slide, please. And so the benefits of passing, or at least having a first reading before May 10th, the county gave jurisdictions until May 10th, 2023 to have a first reading of this ordinance and to have their onboarding fee waived. For Sausalito, this amounts to a savings of $7,245. In addition, it would mean that we are in alignment with the other eight Marin jurisdictions that have already passed or are passing this ordinance. And finally, it ensures that the county enforcement would not get delayed. Next slide, please. So the sustainability commission waste subcommittee supports this measure and believes moving it forward will continue Salcelito's commitment for the environment. Thank you all so much for listening. Members of the sustainability commission, including the waste subcommittee are online and Greg Christie from Bay city refuge is here in person. Thank you so much. To help answer any questions that I'm not able to answer. |
| 02:19:44.53 | Walfred Solorzano | Thank you. One more thing. The city attorney advises that this ordinance, the number is going to be 04-2023. So when we do the motion to wave the first reading, please say ordinance number 04-2023. |
| 02:19:44.56 | Katie Thero Garcia | Thank you. |
| 02:20:01.15 | Mayor Blashton | Thank you very much, city clerk. And thank you, Katie, for a great presentation and your hard work. In your first couple of weeks getting this ready on time for us to pass it and be able to be in compliance with the county's ordinance and save money on enforcement among other things. Do the Right Thing on Single-Use Plastics. So, I am quite familiar with this having worked very closely with and spearheaded the 2019 ban. So I'll just open it up to the members of the council for questions. None? |
| 02:20:28.98 | Vice Mayor Sobieski | Well, I just procedurally, this says ordinance number XX-2023, but the ordinance itself says 2023-XX, and it seems to me our ordinances usually start with the year and then the number. |
| 02:20:33.51 | Mayor Blashton | Yes, we... |
| 02:20:45.02 | Walfred Solorzano | No, we've been, well, prior to my tenure, we've just given them a four digit number. And so this year we started naming them 01-2023. So that was probably just a typo, a clerical typo. |
| 02:21:00.33 | Unknown | Thank you. |
| 02:21:02.30 | Mayor Blashton | Okay, I'll go ahead and open it up for public comment. I know we received a lot of correspondence on this topic. |
| 02:21:09.17 | Walfred Solorzano | Okay, we're seeing some hands raised right now, and we're going to start with Lauren Wiley. |
| 02:21:12.99 | Mayor Blashton | And Lauren Wiley is the chair of the Sustainability Commission's Waste Subcommittee. |
| 02:21:19.09 | Lauren Wiley | Bye everyone. |
| 02:21:19.13 | Mayor Blashton | I'm not. |
| 02:21:20.14 | Lauren Wiley | I just wanted to echo my I'm very impressed with Katie and her ability to just jump right in and do this. We were waiting for this Marin County ordinance for quite a long time. We knew it was coming. We knew it was going to be the key thing to enable us to really enforce the Singeuse Plastic Ban. I see this as the logical next step. So does the sustainability commission that I'm here representing, Thank you all and thank you, Katie. I also would add a plea that if this does move forward, that we really look hard at our own Sausalito events, making sure that they comply as well. That has to do with vendors coming in, things like jazz and blues, all these places where we can really send a signal that we are walking the talk with these ordinance that we're passing. So thank you very much. Thank you, Lauren. |
| 02:22:15.12 | Walfred Solorzano | All right. Next person is Janice Reynolds. |
| 02:22:19.78 | Mayor Blashton | Thank you. |
| 02:22:19.79 | Janice Reynolds | everybody |
| 02:22:20.74 | Mayor Blashton | Thank you. |
| 02:22:20.96 | Janice Reynolds | I'm Janice Reynolds, co-chair of Plastic Free Marin. Thank you for adopting the Sausalito Single-Use Plastic Ordinance in June. |
| 02:22:21.11 | Mayor Blashton | you |
| 02:22:21.18 | Walfred Solorzano | I'm Janice Reynolds, co-chair of |
| 02:22:30.07 | Janice Reynolds | of 2019 and for considering the county's foodware ordinance. The requirements of this ordinance are already in play throughout Marin. To date, every jurisdiction The jurisdiction except corner there is on track to meet the May 10th deadline. to either finalize the adoption or have A first reading. That in itself shows businesses and the public at large in Marin are supportive of the intentions of the ordinance, which are to reduce single use waste and efforts to protect human and environmental health in our communities. As a reminder, The county is providing ongoing support and education for business with a grant program to help them help businesses meet additional requirements that are not covered in your current ordinance. Getting all jurisdictions on board is a big deal for consistency and positive results and reducing single use waste throughout the county. the collective Marin voice and this model ordinance will be a powerful We have a great example to show other counties throughout California and the country how they too can make meaningful change, contributing to reducing toxic waste and emissions locally and globally. |
| 02:23:35.66 | Mayor Blashton | Thank you. Thank you. |
| 02:23:36.19 | Janice Reynolds | Thank you so much. |
| 02:23:37.03 | Mayor Blashton | . Janice drafted the first ever single-use plastics brand in the county of Marin. So thanks for those comments, Janice. |
| 02:23:44.61 | Walfred Solorzano | Vicki Nichols? |
| 02:23:47.83 | Vicki Nichols | Hi, good evening, Mayor and Council members. I'd just like to concur with all these great facts that you've been given. I'm speaking tonight as the, um, zero waste jpa the local task force committee um mr christie's also on there with us and I'm very pleased to see this before the council tonight. This got stalled because of COVID. We weren't able to meet. It's well written. There's benefits to Sausalito. So I encourage you to vote on this and save a little money. Thank you. |
| 02:24:20.96 | Mayor Blashton | Thank you, Vicki. |
| 02:24:22.00 | Walfred Solorzano | No further public comment. |
| 02:24:23.42 | Mayor Blashton | I see Alice Merrill has her hand raised in person. approaching the podium. |
| 02:24:30.34 | Alice Merrill | Hello everybody, Alice Merrill. I was sent by the Woman's Club, and I think it's just mostly the Woman's Club, but I would come on my own anyway. So I agree, I think it's great. Let's vote for this tonight, thank you. |
| 02:24:47.48 | Mayor Blashton | Yes, Greg Christie, please, from Bay Cities Refuse. |
| 02:24:52.04 | Greg Christie | Great Christie basically it's refuse what the real reason I'm here tonight is not not to be in person But so I don't have my cat walk across the keyboard before I speak and having the sense of that We have no problem with it as your sustainability partner We'll have complete availability to continue this ordinance as well as the one that's also had before and we don't We don't have any issues with it at all as your as your hauler So I just want to let you know that and if there was any questions |
| 02:25:18.43 | Mayor Blashton | Thank you very much, Greg. Do we have any further public comment at this time? |
| 02:25:24.27 | Walfred Solorzano | scene then. |
| 02:25:25.45 | Mayor Blashton | Okay, I'll bring it back up to the council for discussion. |
| 02:25:31.38 | Mayor Blashton | Thank you. |
| 02:25:31.41 | Vice Mayor Sobieski | THE END OF THE END OF THE |
| 02:25:31.46 | Mayor Blashton | Great. |
| 02:25:31.98 | Vice Mayor Sobieski | Yes. |
| 02:25:32.34 | Walfred Solorzano | Yes, please. Somebody else can. Yes, please. Can I just make it? |
| 02:25:32.54 | Mayor Blashton | Thank you. |
| 02:25:32.59 | Vice Mayor Sobieski | or somebody else can. Yes, please. Can I just make a point of order before we make the motion? There were a number of comments that were addressed to the city clerk. and I didn't receive those. They were uploaded to the staff report ultimately, But... if someone doesn't transmit something to the city council, I don't see it unless the city clerk forwards it. In the past, I think our city clerk did use to forward comments that were sent to the city clerk and not copied to the city council. So I just wanted to ask if that could be implemented as a process in the future. And I do thank the city clerk who printed out the comments and provided them so that I could see everybody who commented, but I didn't see it until I arrived tonight. It would just be helpful in the future if something is directed only to the city clerk. that. concerns a matter that the city council will vote on that we that it's forwarded to us |
| 02:26:28.95 | Mayor Blashton | OK. |
| 02:26:30.03 | Vice Mayor Sobieski | Thank you. |
| 02:26:31.06 | Mayor Blashton | Okay, and I'll go back to Councilmember Hoffman for the motion. Sorry, what did we just |
| 02:26:35.87 | Jill Hoffman | Decide 04-2023. 0, 4. OK, gotcha. Okay, I move to introduce by title only and waive the first reading of Ordinance 04-2023 and Ordinance Repealing and Replacing Chapter 11.40 of the Sausage Municipal Code to participate in the county-wide reusable foodware ordinance implementation and enforcement program. Hold a second. |
| 02:27:07.97 | Mayor Blashton | Thank you. |
| 02:27:07.99 | Jill Hoffman | Thank you. |
| 02:27:08.00 | Mayor Blashton | City Attorney, do we have to take a roll call vote because it's a reading of an ordinance? We do. Okay. So City Clerk, I'll ask for a roll call vote please. |
| 02:27:17.32 | Walfred Solorzano | Council member Cox? Yes. Council member Hoffman? |
| 02:27:18.50 | Mayor Blashton | Yes. Yes. |
| 02:27:20.76 | Walfred Solorzano | Thank you. Councilmember Kelman. Yes. Vice-Mary Sobieski. Yes. Mayor Blostein. |
| 02:27:22.65 | Mayor Blashton | Yes. Yes, motion passes unanimously. Thank you so much to Katie, our new sustainability coordinator, and the Sustainability Commission, and the JPA Zero Waste Committee and Basity Refuge for helping us move this forward and be part of such an important initiative from the county. Okay, so with that, we'll go ahead and move on to item six on the agenda. Item six on the agenda is communications. This is the time for members of the public to provide any public comment for items that are not on the agenda. If you would like to provide a public comment, please fill out a speaker slip, raise your hand in the Zoom application, or raise your hand in the Zoom application The city clerk will call on individuals who have raised their hands in the order they were raised. After you are called on, you will be unmuted to allow you to share your comments. Public comments are each allowed a total of two minutes to speak. So I will now open it up for public comment for communications. |
| 02:28:20.36 | Mayor Blashton | Yes, please. |
| 02:28:21.26 | Alice Merrill | Thank you. |
| 02:28:22.07 | Mayor Blashton | Thank you. |
| 02:28:25.39 | Alice Merrill | May as well use my time here, right? The two minutes. Now, it's not a lot of people here tonight, and there's not a huge amount of worry about the time. |
| 02:28:27.94 | Unknown | Thank you. |
| 02:28:27.97 | Walfred Solorzano | Okay. |
| 02:28:28.19 | Unknown | Thank you. |
| 02:28:37.52 | Alice Merrill | And I think two minutes is a really short amount of time. I usually try to speed mine up, but I think it's a really short amount of time. And if you don't have, a huge controversial thing that has 50 people talking Why is it only two minutes? I think that's my comment. Other than that, thank you very much for what you're doing. |
| 02:29:00.29 | Mayor Blashton | Thank you. Do we have any further public comment at this time? |
| 02:29:03.07 | Walfred Solorzano | See none. I'm sorry. Sandra Bushmaker. |
| 02:29:10.41 | Mayor Blashton | Okay. Sandra? Was that in the Zoom? Yeah. Okay. |
| 02:29:14.36 | Unknown | I mean, |
| 02:29:15.53 | Mayor Blashton | Thank you. |
| 02:29:15.54 | Sandra Bushmaker | I'm back. |
| 02:29:16.81 | Mayor Blashton | Thank you. |
| 02:29:17.97 | Sandra Bushmaker | Let me get my I can't start my video here. All right. I agree with Alice. I didn't get to finish my my comment. about the BID and its inner relationship with the historic district downtown. So I think we need to address that as well. But I also agree with the two minutes when there's nobody in the in the speaking and it seems to me we could be a little more generous with time. I mean the reason it was cut back from two minutes was to avoid congestion, if you will, at the dais, I mean, at the speaker's podium. Anyway, the other issue that I wanted to bring to your attention, I was going to write to you about it, is the proliferation of short-term rentals in Sausalito. And I have, I just went online to check out the short-term rentals and they are there. In fact, there's one around the corner from my house here. That has, I mean, it's very short-term rental. Let's put it that way, days. And we have new people coming in. So I just want to know what the city is planning to do about enforcement. I know we had a big production about this issue several years ago and we got real serious about it. We hired enforcement people. And I think, um, Not only are we not enforcing, I question whether we're collecting the taxes, the TOT taxes that are derived from those short-term rentals. So those are my points. Thanks a lot. Thank you, Sandra. |
| 02:30:50.85 | Unknown | Thank you. We do collect those taxes. We also have a third party who's supposed to be monitoring that. Good future tonight. I don't want to get there. |
| 02:30:57.94 | Mayor Blashton | Yeah, that's a good thing to consider. And I would just say we did recently hire a new and quite fantastic code enforcement officer who is looking at this. And I had a conversation with our community development director about it recently as well. And so it is back on the top of staff's agenda and we can maybe add it to our own agenda as well going forward. Okay, so are we no further public comment, Wilfred? |
| 02:31:19.46 | Walfred Solorzano | No further comment. |
| 02:31:20.57 | Mayor Blashton | Okay, so the next item on the agenda is Councilmember Committee Reports. Does anyone want to share out? Mm-hmm. Council Member Cox. |
| 02:31:31.03 | Vice Mayor Sobieski | Sure. I attended the MCC-MC Legislative Committee meeting on Monday morning, and there are some bills of interest to Sausalito specifically. BCDC is supporting two bills that would also be of an advantage to Sausalito, which is AB748, which imposes additional regulations for derelict vessels. SB272 would require BCDC and any local government within a coastal zone in the next update of their local coast program to include a sea level rise. plan. They weren't able to take a position opposing this time, but next time they will be considering opposing some of the housing bills that continue to wrest away local control in favor of imposing additional... obligations upon cities. including allowing HCD which is the Housing and Community Development Department of California, which is an administrative body, to actually weigh in on third party lawsuits in which a city is being sued over the Housing Accountability Act. So now you have the um, Um, administrative arm interfering with the executive arm. And so League of California Cities has come out against that. I believe that the MCCMC legislative committee will come out against that, as well as other several bills that impose additional obligations on cities from Sacramento as opposed to allowing the city that's in the best position to govern itself to actually govern itself. |
| 02:33:36.30 | Unknown | Thank you. Other committee reports? I'll add to that. Was it last week? I can't remember anymore. I'm a VP for the League of California Cities, and Council Member Hoffman is actually the MCCMC representative for the league. We went up to the Leadership Summit in Sacramento, where this very theme that Council Member Cox just mentioned was at front of mind. Lots of conversation around loss of discretionary control and the different housing bills coming down from Sacramento also a lot of conversation around additional funding for cities for homelessness and mental health services so it's a really good session and I'm really glad that we were able to go I also had an MCE board meeting this last week you can't remember a big focus on EVs and EV charging so highlights 320 low-income customers provided with a rebate on new EVs totaling over a million in rebates and over 1,100 customers using MCE sync to manage their vehicle charging so really big push and lots of infrastructure coming to light the sea level rise task force is trying very very hard to dissolve but we are trying to do a handoff to Katie and not overwhelm her so we met with her this week to help with the RFP for the vulnerability assessment and I think she's finally up to speed and then I yesterday we had the last meeting of the blue economy task force we thanked and dissolved that committee because we did launch a dot org called see futures org and if it pleases the council, happy to have them come and do a presentation to council as a future agenda item. Thank you. |
| 02:35:07.61 | Unknown | to the next. |
| 02:35:07.79 | Unknown | Thank you. |
| 02:35:07.84 | Unknown | Thank you. Thank you. |
| 02:35:10.25 | Unknown | Thank you. |
| 02:35:10.27 | Mayor Blashton | I'll just add that I myself and Councilman McKellman participated in some climate week activities as a part of the Blue Economy Task Force and Sustainability Commission efforts. I went to a demo of a very exciting potential new technology for see futures that we're really excited about. And so that's great to see. Also wanted to add that myself and council member Cox had a meeting with representative from DGS and Senator McGuire's office to speak further about the potential 100% affordable project at the Corporation Yard. At this point, we are in an exploratory phase to understand what the benefits are and what local control is maintained. As Council Member Hoffman brought up at the last meeting, that's a critical question that we need to address. But we're so far pursuing and trying to get a better understanding of what that might look like for us and the benefits of pursuing the development with state funding. Are there any other council member committee reports? Yes, councilman Hoffman. |
| 02:36:05.03 | Jill Hoffman | I have an update on the landslide task force that met for the first time in 2019. The fall of 2019 when we presented our task force recommended plan to the city. And we had a really excellent meeting actually with the original task force members who brought great depth of knowledge about approaching this and we're getting started on the hazard assessment map, which is going to be in the scope of that. That was our main conversation at our meeting last week. So I expect that we'll be meeting monthly, and I'll be giving monthly updates on where we're at with that. But that's sort of the first step on some other different positive things that would come from that, including perhaps a hillside ordinance and some other strategies for addressing these large risks that we have. And also, you know, our capital improvement plan and roads plans, which also play into that effort. So, and securing those risks and mitigating the risks. So. Thank you. Anybody else? |
| 02:37:23.84 | Mayor Blashton | Okay, oh, and I'll just add one more that myself and Council Member Hoffman and Council Member Cox attended the unveiling of the latest sewer pump station and the honoring, it was great. And the induction of the Ann Arnott bench. And I will note that it is Ann Arnott's, Ann Arnott is turning 95 this week. So happy birthday Ann Arnott. And it was wonderful to be able to go to that event and see her be honored, but also to see the hard work of the Sausalito Marin City Sanitary District, Thank you. and it was wonderful to be able to go to that event and see her be honored, but also to see the hard work of the Sausalito Marin City Sanitary District, which spent several years working on that pump station. And it's actually quite amazing to see, and it will put us in a much safer place in the event of flooding and as we work to mitigate sea level rise. |
| 02:37:24.56 | Jill Hoffman | Yeah. |
| 02:38:04.71 | Mayor Blashton | Thank you very much to the Sausalito-Murin City Sanitary District for their hard work on that. And I hope everyone takes the time to go sit on the Ann Arnott bench because it's, it's nice and it has a funny saying written on it, but I won't ruin it for all of you. Okay, so I'll go ahead and move on to item 8 which is city manager reports city council appointments other council business and the first item on item 8 is 8a Which is public comment on items 8b through 8e. So I will open it up to public comments |
| 02:38:36.43 | Mayor Blashton | The bench is at Colmoma and Bridgeway just by Scott's haircutting if you walk a little bit forward before Wispy Springs. |
| 02:38:45.58 | Walfred Solorzano | Seeing none. |
| 02:38:49.26 | Mayor Blashton | Okay, and city manager information for council. |
| 02:38:53.12 | Chris Zapata | Thank you mayor members of the council members of the public. I'll be brief As you all know our finance director Vivian Chu left the city a month or so ago to work for the city of Los Altos Prior to her departure She indicated to me that the city's cash on hand in the Bank of Marin Was getting pretty high and that we needed to think about what to do about it Subsequently talking to Vice Mayor Sobieski talked to me about the interest rate environment And then finally when we brought Chad Hessbieski, talked to me about the interest rate environment, and then finally when we brought Chad Hess on board, he talked to me about our cash flow needs and what we could do to help our financial picture in this new interest rate environment. So as you know, we had money in the bank of rent at zero return. We were getting some benefit by having services not charged to us for that privilege of keeping our money there that helps other folks in our county. But, you know, LEIF, the local agency investment fund for the state of California, it was a little over 2%, I think 2.7. So we moved money to LEIF to gain the interest advantage that that money would bring. At the same time, having a conversation with the Bank of Marin as partners, we asked them if they could do better. And thanks to Chad's negotiation and the ability of the investment policy of the city to allow the city manager to move money into a safe, liquid with respect to yield yield being the third of those pillars but safe is a predominant operating word liquid is a second the bank of marin created a program where the city of saaslioka now receive four percent interest at this time for money that we keep in their account so you know that's about i think we moved six million dollars chad |
| 02:40:38.84 | Chad Hess | $6 million. Thank you. |
| 02:40:44.55 | Chris Zapata | So that's opportunistic advice that we received at the city and trying to make that work for our budget. So I wanted to make sure you all knew that. Secondly, I want to introduce Chad. So to compensate for Vivian's departure, we went into a contract with Ide Bailey for a short term till we could figure out our next steps. We have been successful in transitioning from Ide Bailey to Chad Hess. And so Chad will be our interim finance director. He comes to us with a specialized background. He has a municipal finance history. He holds a master's degree in accounting from Minnesota State University. He is a certified public accountant. He comes with six years of experience in auditing local governments and two years of advising municipalities. And as you know, we have experience with Chad. He's helped us at the finance committee level. He knows our systems. He knows our personnel. He's been involved in the selection of some of the personnel that's new to the finance department And so we are really lucky that he has Agreed to come on board until we figure out the permanent solution and I just really sleep better at night knowing that We have someone in charge of our finance department working with our finance team that can help us in this critical time where finances are such a key theme and as we start to work and build momentum toward our budget so department working with our finance team that can help us in this critical time where finances are such a key theme and as we start to work and build momentum toward our budget so welcome Chad happy to have you that concludes my report mayor council |
| 02:42:21.23 | Mayor Blashton | Thank you very much, city manager. I appreciate it. And then moving on to the next item on the agenda, which is future, Sorry, appointments to boards and commissions, I don't think we have any this evening. So we'll move on to future agenda items. Yes, Councilman Rookox. |
| 02:42:38.94 | Vice Mayor Sobieski | I note that at our first regular meeting in May, we say continuing of council prioritization. With respect, I thought from our Saturday session that we were going to continue that work. at a special. meeting as opposed to a regular meeting. |
| 02:43:00.29 | Mayor Blashton | Yes, I think we're planning to host a special meeting, a special closed session meeting. |
| 02:43:10.13 | Mayor Blashton | Is that the only comment? That was my comment. Thank you. |
| 02:43:12.27 | Vice Mayor Sobieski | Okay. Thank you. |
| 02:43:15.21 | Jill Hoffman | Yes, Councilman Rothman. So on our last city council meeting, which I think was April, Thank you. 11th, we had an item, boards and commissions, and what we were going to, the transition of boards and commissions and the question, but I don't see that. Am I missing that for... May 11th? |
| 02:43:38.09 | Mayor Blashton | Okay. and drop from our mind. I'm sorry that it's not on the list, but we will definitely, I think if it's not heard at the May 9th meeting, that would only be because the budget is being introduced for the first time and that will take another significant chunk of time. So then I would imagine that the 23rd would be |
| 02:43:53.26 | Jill Hoffman | Well, I think that's a good thing. |
| 02:43:53.58 | Mayor Blashton | They heard. |
| 02:43:53.74 | Jill Hoffman | Thank you. Yeah, when we talked about it on April about whether or not we were going to kick it, it was, or kick it, continue it, it was we were going to continue it to the first meeting in May. So I don't want to, I mean, this is also something that keeps getting pushed. |
| 02:44:06.91 | Walfred Solorzano | We have it on our spreadsheet with the mayor and vice mayor meeting. Those are items that we haven't placed into a May meeting yet. So that's why it's not on there because we already have it placed for future meetings. |
| 02:44:21.36 | Jill Hoffman | Okay, well, I'd like clarification because I tried to make a motion for this back in February and I was seconded, but then I was the motion did not pass. So are we going to talk about this on the 9th or the 23rd or do we not know? |
| 02:44:33.97 | Mayor Blashton | We are absolutely gonna agendize it for a May meeting. The only reason it wouldn't be on the 9th is if we're introducing the budget, which will likely take several hours of discussion and I wouldn't wanna see it get pushed again from another meeting agenda. So per our discussion when we asked if it was all right to continue it at the April 11th meeting to a meeting in May, if it's not the first meeting in May, it's not getting completely pushed, we just, |
| 02:44:56.04 | Jill Hoffman | given the length of the last meeting. OK, well, our conversation was it was going to be the first meeting in May. So let me ask a question to the city manager, are our non statutory boards and commissions still meeting and are still tasking the city staff? Because I think the answer to that is yes. |
| 02:45:13.18 | Chris Zapata | Some of them are, Councilmember. The ones that were part of the city mix, like OMIT and the Finance Committee, have been suspended for a minute. But I can get you a full accounting on who's meeting and who's not, and I can do that through a communication outside of a council meeting. And you can publicize it at a council meeting if you'd like. |
| 02:45:32.93 | Jill Hoffman | Okay, I would request that and then I would request that it be on May 9th. Regardless of what other things are on there, they're always going to be things that take up our time. And so I can look at the agenda for tonight on some things that might have been a lesser priority than trying to figure out what we're doing with our non-statutory boards and commissions. Because as we talked about a year ago in April, April 30th, that these efforts do tax our staff and they take time away from core, core, work from the staff. Do I need to make a motion? that it be on the 9th, I'd like not to, I'd like for just a representation from the mayor and the vice mayor that's gonna be on the 9th. |
| 02:46:15.96 | Mayor Blashton | We have to have our agenda setting meeting to determine what is going to be on the agenda on the night that's going to be on a meeting in May. |
| 02:46:20.55 | Jill Hoffman | it. then I'm gonna make the motion again. If no one wants to second it, that's fine. But I'm following city council protocols as we just had in our, As we just had it again adopted tonight, and I've asked for this to be on We decided a year ago that we were gonna address this issue. In fact, we decided on the course of action on April 30th, 2022. I think you made a motion, so. |
| 02:46:41.64 | Unknown | Thank you. |
| 02:46:41.66 | Unknown | I think he made a motion. |
| 02:46:43.61 | Jill Hoffman | Let's raise a motion. |
| 02:46:43.68 | Unknown | So I'm- |
| 02:46:45.18 | Unknown | Thank you. |
| 02:46:47.45 | Jill Hoffman | I think that a part of our protocols is also not to interrupt fellow council members. |
| 02:46:53.91 | Unknown | So, sorry, I know there's a motion pending, but it seems that perhaps we can just sort of try to resolve this. So I think I'm hearing that it will be in May. There's a budget item on the 9th. The commitment would be potentially, I'm going to throw something out there that maybe commitment is the 9th pending the amount of time needed for the budget, but no later than the second meeting in May. Is that what I'm hearing? |
| 02:46:54.15 | Jill Hoffman | Thank you. |
| 02:47:23.83 | Unknown | I'm just trying to find a way for us to all come to it together. |
| 02:47:27.73 | Unknown | I think it's pretty clear. We ran out of time last time. We kicked it to a future meeting. I'm not sure what the point of this drama is. It's being dutifully attended to. We went for two years and never had such a motion for a future agenda item. I'm kind of shocked that we're doing it now. |
| 02:47:47.35 | Jill Hoffman | Okay. Let me respond to that. Thank you. |
| 02:47:50.34 | Vice Mayor Sobieski | then we decided- There's actually a motion pending. You have to see if there's a second, and then we can have discussion on the motion. |
| 02:47:51.17 | Jill Hoffman | There's actually a... |
| 02:47:55.74 | Jill Hoffman | Well, I'm sorry, but you let the Vice Mayor go on with his soliloquy, I think I can respond to that. |
| 02:47:56.85 | Vice Mayor Sobieski | The Vice Mayor. I'm making a point of order. I'm not letting anybody do anything. I'm not the mayor. |
| 02:48:03.62 | Mayor Blashton | Okay, let's wait to see if there's a response to the motion and then have a civilized and kind discussion where we don't interrupt one another. I appreciate Council Member Kellman's efforts to bring us to consensus. Myself and the vice mayor are hard at work on agenda setting and when we were unable to hear this at the last meeting, we had a discussion to say that we would push it. And so I apologize that it's not on the agenda right now, but it is on the future agenda items list. So let's wait to see if there's a response to the motion and then Council Member Hoffman, of course we will hear your remarks. |
| 02:48:34.05 | Unknown | Okay, so I will second it. I suspect this is going to fail. I will just second it to express my support for the endeavor and then I hope we can move on to having a response to just figuring out how to put it on at some point. |
| 02:48:49.49 | Unknown | So should we have discussion on the motion first? |
| 02:48:49.57 | Unknown | We have to. |
| 02:48:53.27 | Unknown | Well, I would like to, I would like to. |
| 02:48:54.26 | Vice Mayor Sobieski | I would like discussion on the motion. I find it disrespectful. It was never done when Mayor Hoffman was the mayor. It was never done when Mayor Kelman was the mayor. |
| 02:48:56.03 | Mayor Blashton | I'm not. |
| 02:48:56.29 | Unknown | THE END OF THE END OF THE |
| 02:48:56.32 | Mayor Blashton | Yeah. |
| 02:48:56.57 | Unknown | I'm sorry. |
| 02:48:56.83 | Mayor Blashton | THE END OF THE END OF THE |
| 02:48:56.89 | Unknown | Thank you. |
| 02:49:03.34 | Vice Mayor Sobieski | I find it a disrespectful undermining of the mayor, vice mayor, agenda setting committee process. And especially with the representation that it will be heard in May. That's my comment. |
| 02:49:16.60 | Unknown | Thank you. Thanks, I would like to say the same thing. I sat, I politely, persistently advocated for things I thought should be on the future agenda items and never made a motion when you were the vice mayor and you were the mayor. So I do think that it's dramatic and unnecessary, and it isn't justified by the fact pattern, given that we had it on and ran out of time. So there we go. |
| 02:49:48.45 | Jill Hoffman | Okay, so let me respond to those. I've also never made this kind of motion. I've also never been in a situation where. in April, we decided on a course of action as a council a year ago. And despite my request for months about whether or not we're going to revisit this and follow our direction that we gave by consensus as a council about how we're going to address non-statutory boards and commissions and the stress and the, the time away that they take for the staff members from their core duties and focus in, let the staff focus on their core duties at the request, and the recommendation of our city manager. So yes, this is a dramatic effort and this is a dramatic ask But it is justified in this situation because I've been asking for it. It is well laid out in our city protocols about how to get something on the agenda if you keep raising it and you can't get it on by consensus. I did that in February, I had a second by the mayor And that at that point, the motion was defeated. She changed her vote. And I was, you know, then it was on the agenda in April. It came off the agenda because of all the other things that were on the agenda that night. And I was told during that meeting that it was going to come on the first meeting of May. And so now I find no one had the courtesy to call me and tell me that it wasn't gonna be on the first meeting in May. And when I'm looking on this agenda, it's dropped off. And I addressed it here at this meeting with both all of us together and could not get a confirmation about when this was going to be. At this point, I'm gonna call the question for the- Well, okay, again, that's not in accordance with our protocols. Our protocols are to not interrupt each other, and so |
| 02:51:23.28 | Mayor Blashton | Okay, I'm gonna call the question. Well, okay, again. |
| 02:51:33.70 | Jill Hoffman | I think that every based on the comments that the everybody said about how it's inappropriate and never been done before I think I have the right to respond to that and so I've done that and at this point I will call the question well I'm just gonna say, |
| 02:51:49.96 | Mayor Blashton | Thank you. |
| 02:51:50.03 | Jill Hoffman | Thank you. Thank you. |
| 02:51:50.42 | Mayor Blashton | I appreciate that we are making efforts here to follow protocols You have every right to make a motion and provide your comments as does everyone on the dais. I would hope that we Myself and the mayor or the vice mayor would have the competence of the council to be able to set the agenda. And I do appreciate the comments by the vice mayor and council member Cox in supporting our competencies. It is on our future agenda items list. We are doing the best we can to run a meeting that is consistent and uses our time wisely. I apologize for calling into question. I did not mean to interrupt you, but the city attorney made a note, sent me a note saying we need to have a vote, so I wanted to be sure. that it happened. I, This will be on the agenda. I have never said it would not be on the agenda. It is still a priority and I would give direction and I would note that the city manager has since provided several reports saying that we could meet quarterly. And many of these meetings, boards and commissions are already meeting quarterly as a result of the discussion we had, and I would ask staff to include minutes from the meeting at the April of the prior year. where you have mentioned that we gave direct direction or specific direction so that we can clarify that. because my understanding following that meeting when Mayor Kelman was in this role is that we were going to continue the conversation based on feedback we received from boards and commissions going forward. So I think that that is why. There has been, continuance of this topic but yes it will be on the agenda in may i am very I'm not sure. I understand the importance of that and I appreciate everyone's comments. And I think now we need to go ahead |
| 02:53:25.04 | Jill Hoffman | Call a question and take a roll call vote. Well, I think after I'm able to respond to your, that you just made because in April 30th of 2020, Two. We, the vice mayor, summarized our consensus about how we were gonna approach this. And I agree that we should all go back and watch the last, that 20 minute, series about Our discussion in April about what we were gonna do in our timetable. And our timetable was that we were going to address this no later than the end of 2022, so December of 2022. And I've been asking for this to come back to us since that time and it's now five months in. So I'm ready, but I agree we should call vote. |
| 02:54:11.17 | Unknown | S-s-s-s-s-s-s-s-s-s-s-s-s-s-s-s-s-s-s-s-s-s-s-s-s-s-s-s-s-s-s-s-s-s-s-s-s-s-s-s-s-s-s-s-s-s-s-s-s-s-s-s-s-s-s-s-s-s-s-s-s-s-s-s-s-s-s-s-s-s-s-s-s-s-s-s-s-s-s-s-s-s-s-s-s-s-s-s-s-s-s-s-s-s-s-s-s-s-s-s-s-s-s-s-s-s-s-s-s-s-s-s-s-s-s-s-s-s-s-s-s-s-s-s-s-s-s-s-s-s-s-s-s-s-s-s-s-s-s-s-s-s-s-s-s-s-s-s-s-s-s-s-s-s-s-s-s-s-s-s-s-s-s-s-s-s-s-s-s-s-s-s-s-s-s-s-s-s-s-s-s-s-s-s-s-s-s-s-s-s-s-s-s-s-s-s-s-s-s-s-s-s-s-s-s-s-s-s-s-s-s-s-s-s-s-s-s-s-s-s-s-s- |
| 02:54:11.87 | Jill Hoffman | Thank you. |
| 02:54:11.97 | Unknown | Since I was the second, let me please weigh in here. I think this is not the manner in which we want to, of course, reach a conclusion. I am willing to take the word of the mayor and the vice mayor that this is going to be on an agenda in May. I've heard them say it. No reason to doubt this. I'd rather we not pull a vote. I think they've heard us. They've heard you. I feel heard. Am I mishearing anybody about a May agendized? I don't think so. |
| 02:54:45.40 | Unknown | You've been on the agenda setting committee, so I'm |
| 02:54:48.30 | Unknown | I'm saying I'm completely... |
| 02:54:50.04 | Unknown | I mean, I'm still flummoxed by the whole conversation. It's been dutifully attended to. It was on the agenda. We actually had, we pulled it off because we ran out of time. |
| 02:54:50.51 | Unknown | I'm still feeling it. |
| 02:54:59.49 | Unknown | And I promise you that could never happen again. No, I can't promise you that because you know it could happen again. You. We held a meeting every week in the first year of the former mayor's tenure. And I know that she would pull things off the agenda and move things around to adapt to the realities of what's there. That's the way we've organized ourselves. In all that time, even though there are many agenda topics that I had wished had been on the agenda, I simply brought them up at future agenda topics. Never in those two years has there been such a motion and I find it's unnecessarily dramatic. So if we're talking, if we're having a little conversation, I would like there to be a different tenor between the conversations here. And I would have, and so that's what I call for. This isn't the only issue. There are other issues clearly going on. |
| 02:55:42.81 | Unknown | Let me help just to say I hear you. You're right. You never did this. There were other members of council who did have some insistence. But in the interest of achieving a camaraderie and collegiality, I think everyone's been heard. I'm going to withdraw my second. I don't think we need to vote on this. I think there is a really great collaborative way to achieve. I think we've all been heard, and so I trust leadership to make that happen. Thank you. |
| 02:56:09.47 | Mayor Blashton | Thank you for that, Councilmember Kelman. Okay, so since there is no second, We will not be voting on the motion and we will close the discussion unless there are future other future agenda items to add at this time. Okay, thank you very much. Seeing none, I'm gonna go ahead and conclude the meeting unless there's other business items. Okay, concluding the meeting at 10.03 PM. Thank you very much. |