Tuesday, February 17, 2015

The council approved 16 routine items on consent, including a $496,000 contract for road repairs and $600,000 contracts with three engineering firms for construction management.

The council approved supporting a Community Benefits Agreement with UC Berkeley's Global Campus by a 5-1 vote, with Bates voting no. The agreement would require the university to provide specific benefits to the community as it builds a new campus facility. In another governance change, the council voted 4-1 with Bates dissenting to eliminate two standing committees that currently review public safety and finance issues before full council votes.

Three housing-related measures passed unanimously, including directing staff to draft a law requiring landlords to show cause for evictions. The council also approved waiving rental fees for a homeless workforce conference at Memorial Auditorium and declared intent to contact lenders about a nonprofit foreclosure prevention program.

The council unanimously passed resolutions on several other topics, including opposing three international trade agreements and calling on Chevron to safely shut down the refinery if workers strike rather than using replacement workers. Discussion of changes to city sign rules and appointing a new council member was continued to a future meeting.