Tuesday, January 16, 2007

Presiding: Mayor Gayle McLaughlin · Called to order: 7:05 p.m. · 11 items · 16 votes · 15 public comments

What happened

The council failed to fill a vacant council seat after five members abstained from voting on three candidates. Only Bates, Butt, and McLaughlin voted yes, falling short of the majority needed to appoint Corky Booze, Harpreet Sandhu, or Whitney Dotson.

The council approved $55 million in bonds to finance the Crescent Park Apartments housing project unanimously. The bonds will allow the city to borrow money at lower interest rates and pass savings to developers.

The council approved a zoning appeal for 759 Wilson Avenue by a 6-1 vote, with Rogers voting no. Mike Stanley can now build closer to his property lines than normally allowed after the Planning Commission had rejected his variance request.

The council directed the city manager to demand Chevron present their disaster plan to the council within 45 days. The city will also ask Contra Costa County to discuss problems with the current emergency warning system.

The council approved a contract with the National Research Center to survey residents about spending priorities for the 2007/08 budget. The council also passed new meeting procedures and created an annual Martin Luther King Jr. community service award.

Auto-summarized from official minutes and vote records

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Attendance

Gayle McLaughlin(Present)
Tony Thurmond(Present)
Nat Bates(Present)
Tom Butt(Present)
Jim Rogers(Present)
Ludmyrna Lopez(Present)
Maria Viramontes(Present)
John Marquez(Present)
12 items
Contract with National Research Center to survey residents about spending priorities
Passed 8-0Resident Survey
Research creating local law to enforce train Quiet Zone violations
Passed 8-0Police & Community Safety
Appoint someone to fill vacant city council seat
Failed 5-0Labor & City Workers
Direct city manager to demand Chevron present disaster plan to council
Passed 8-0Chevron & the Refinery
Adopt new rules for how city council meetings run
Passed 8-0Council Meeting Rules
Contract with Contra Costa County for building inspections during staff absence
Passed 8-0Building Inspection Contract
Rezone Terminal One property for Point Richmond Shores condominiums
Passed 8-0Terminal 1 & the Port
Create agreement for Employment Department to monitor redevelopment projects for wage and hiring compliance
Passed 8-0Labor & City Workers
Add new Comprehensive Planning Fee to recover costs of updating city plans
Passed 8-0Planning Fees
Review appeal of denied variances for side yard and front yard setbacks at 759 Wilson Avenue
Passed 7-0759 Wilson Avenue
Issue $55 million in bonds to finance Crescent Park Apartments housing project
Passed 8-0Police & Community Safety
Create annual Martin Luther King Jr. community service award
Passed 8-0MLK Community Award
*Approve minutes of December 19, 2006