Tuesday, June 7, 2011

The council approved a $340,000 increase to the Holland & Knight legal contract for Chevron project work, bringing the total well above the original $10,000 limit. The contract expansion was approved unanimously with Beckles absent.

The council approved 6 routine items on consent, including a $750,000 contract with Environ for Chevron refinery environmental review and a $150,000 extension with an attorney for police legal services.

The council rejected all bids for a street repaving project and directed staff to seek new proposals. The unanimous decision delays street repairs but ensures the city gets acceptable pricing for the infrastructure work.

Three other contracts passed with split votes, each opposed by a single councilmember. The council extended the interim Library Director contract through July for $15,250, with Beckles voting no. Morrison & Foerster was hired for Point Molate legal work, with Bates dissenting. The council also asked regional authorities to study environmental impacts of a single-use bag ban, again with Bates voting no.

The council unanimously approved several other items, including support for a $246,500 grant for school walking and biking safety, directing staff to revise the Municipal ID program, and urging AC Transit to keep its Division 3 Operating Yard open. Discussion of Hilltop landscaping fees, Marina Bay assessments, and Northshore development plans was continued to future meetings.