Tuesday, March 3, 2009

Presiding: Mayor Gayle McLaughlin · Called to order: 5:04 p.m. · 12 items · 11 votes · 7 public comments

What happened

The council voted down a proposal to limit expired board members to 90 days in office, failing 3-4 with Rogers, Lopez, Viramontes, and Bates voting no. Currently, Planning Commission and Design Review Board members can stay indefinitely after their terms expire.

The council approved new rules for expired board and commission members in a 5-2 vote, with McLaughlin and Butt opposing. The city previously had unclear policies about what happens when members' terms end.

A moratorium blocking new cell towers was extended through September 2009, passing unanimously. The temporary freeze remains in place while officials develop new rules for tower placement.

The council approved putting a utility tax cap removal on the ballot, passing unanimously. The measure would eliminate the current cap on utility taxes and remove a loophole for large utility users.

Seven residents were appointed to planning and historic preservation committees to fill vacant volunteer positions. The council also approved a contract with Creative Education Consulting for nonprofit training programs, with only Bates voting no.

Auto-summarized from official minutes and vote records

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Attendance

Tom Butt(Present)
Gayle McLaughlin(Present)
Jeff Ritterman(Present)
Maria Viramontes(Present)
Nat Bates(Present)
Jim Rogers(Present)
Ludmyrna Lopez(Present)
13 items
Contract with Creative Education Consulting for nonprofit training program
Passed 6-1Police & Community Safety
Appoint 7 residents to planning and historic preservation committees
Passed 4-0Board Appointments
Extend moratorium blocking new cell towers until September 2009
Passed 7-0Police & Community Safety
Remove cap on utility tax through ballot measure
Passed 6-0Police & Community Safety
Accept 2005 greenhouse gas emissions inventory as city's baseline
Passed 7-0Environmental Justice
Receive update on research into 4-day work weeks and telecommuting for city employees
Police & Community Safety
Direct staff to find funding for bus shelter at Heritage Park Senior Apartments
Police & Community Safety
Change rules for board and commission members whose terms have expired
Passed 4-2Police & Community Safety
Create plan for nonprofits to apply for Chevron and city grants together
Chevron & the Refinery
Draft ballot language to eliminate utility tax cap for large users
Passed 6-0Utility Users Tax
Support 2009 Contra Costa County Homeless Connect Summit as co-sponsor
Passed 7-0Political Statements
Limit expired board members to 90 days in office
Failed 3-4Board Appointments
Endorse federal Employee Free Choice Act legislation
Passed 7-0Labor & City Workers
*Minutes approval for February 17, 2009 meeting