REGULAR BERKELEY CITY COUNCIL MEETING

TUESDAY, JANUARY 26, 1999

Roll Call: 7:03 p.m. All present.

Ceremonial Matters:

Commended Sam Dyke for his work with the Adeline-Alcatraz Merchants Association for the proposed improvements in the Adeline Corridor.

Action: Moved, seconded carried (Armstrong/Olds) to commend Tamlyn Bright of Mayor Dean’s office and Calvin Fong of Councilmember Maio’s office for their exemplary services during the move of Council offices to 1900 Addison Street.

Comments From The City Manager:

Steve Barton has been appointed Interim Housing Director effective January 26, 1999.

Final workshop on the Marina Master Plan will be held on February 6, 1999 at 10:00 a.m. at the Berkeley Yacht Club.

The City of Berkeley has received the Project Impact Model Community Award from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and was designated as "Community of the Year" nationally.

Comments From The Public: Eight speakers.

 Consent Calendar

Action: Moved, seconded, carried (Shirek/Maio) to approve Consent Calendar items in one vote except as indicated.

1. From: City Manager
Recommendation: Adopt a Resolution reviewing and confirming the continued existence of a local emergency with regard to HIV transmission from use of HIV-infected needles among injection drug users, and authorizing the Director of Public Health to take steps to enable the operation of needle exchange emergency distribution.
Contact: Manuela Albuquerque, City Attorney, 644-6380
Action: Adopted Resolution No. 59,858-N.S.

Contact: Sherry M. Kelly, City Clerk, 644-6480
Action: Adopted second reading of a) Ordinance No. 6472-N.S., b) Ordinance No. 6473-N.S. (Noes – Armstrong, Olds, Woolley), c) Ordinance No. 6474-N.S., d) Ordinance No. 6475-N.S. and e) Ordinance No. 6476-N.S.

3. Contract: Environmental Impact Report (EIR) for Playing Field at East Campus
From: City Manager
Recommendation: Adopt a Resolution authorizing the City Manager to execute a contract and any amendments with LSA Associates, Inc. in an amount not to exceed $95,000 to prepare an Environmental Impact Report for a playing field at East Campus, and to evaluate two design concepts which includes Derby Street closed and the option of leaving Derby Street open as the most viable alternative. Neither option to include any field lighting or amplified sound system.
Contact: Lisa Caronna, Parks and Waterfront, 644-6943
Action: Adopted Resolution No. 59,859-N.S.

4. Fiscal Year 1997-98 Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Carryover Funds
From: City Manager (to be delivered)
Recommendation: Recommendation: Adopt a Resolution reappropriating $1,676,071 of committed carryover funds from Fiscal Year 1997-98 CDBG Grant Program to Fiscal Year 1998-99, and refer $91,458 in uncommitted Fiscal Year 1997-98 CDBG funds to the Fiscal Year 1999-2000 CDBG budget allocation process.
Contact: Weldon Rucker, Deputy City Manager, 644-6580
Action: Withdrawn by the City Manager.

5. Honoring Censure and Move On Group
From: Councilmember Woolley
Recommendation: Adopt a proclamation honoring the group Censure and Move On, which is using the internet as a means to enable people to voice their opposition to the impeachment and possible removal from office of President William Jefferson Clinton. The proclamation would be formally read during the Ceremonial Matters section of the February 9, 1999 Council meeting. The proclamation is to honor Censure and Move On’s founders, as well as everyone who has gotten involved.
Contact: Diane Woolley, Councilmember District 5, 644-6294
Action: Approved Proclamation to be presented at the February 9, 1999 meeting.

6. Moratorium on New Restaurants
From: Councilmember Spring
Recommendation: Refer the request for a moratorium on new restaurants, especially fast food restaurants in the downtown area, to the Planning Commission and request that the Commission form a staffed subcommittee to work with representatives of downtown businesses, including restaurants and coffee shop owners, to develop a quota plan similar to other commercial areas such as Telegraph and Solano Avenues.
Contact: Dona Spring, Councilmember District 4, 644-6266
Action: Removed from the Consent Calendar by Councilmember Maio. Held over to February 9, 1999.

7. Traffic Mitigation for Public Safety Building
From: Councilmembers Spring and Worthington
Recommendation: Direct the City Manager to expeditiously install a pedestrian, bicycle, car activated traffic signal at Martin Luther King Jr. Way and Center Streets as required by the public safety building mitigations approved in the final EIR; and report back to the Council on a timetable for its installation.
Contact: Dona Spring, Councilmember District 4, 644-6266; Kriss Worthington, Councilmember District 7, 644-6398
Action: Withdrawn by Councilmember Spring.

8. Transportation Equity Act for the 21^st Century
From: Vice Mayor Shirek
Recommendation: 1) request staff to initiate an application for Transportation Equity Act for the 21^st Century (Transportation for Livable Communities Capital Program TEA-21), funding for streetscape and sidewalk/pedestrian improvements in the Adeline Corridor to implement the South Berkeley Area Plan, as specified in a letter from Sam Dyke, Chair of the Adeline-Alcatraz Merchants Association; 2) accept Sam Dyke’s offer for the City to partner with the Adeline-Alcatraz Merchants Association in the application and the community design process for the improvements; 3) adopt a Resolution to provide City funds of $20,000 for the community design process to match $10,000 provided by the Adeline-Alcatraz Merchants Association; 4) in addition, request staff to pursue explore a "Transportation for Livable Communities" planning grant to plan other improvements and enhance the relationship between the Ashby BART Station, the new Ed Roberts Campus, and the surrounding residential and business communities; 5) direct the City Manager to report back to Council with a schedule for the grant applications and community design process; and 6) request the City Manager to thank Mr. Dyke for his initiative and community spirit in initiating a long over-due implementation of a part of the South Berkeley Area Plan, and (7) to affirm Council commitment of matching funds of up to 11.5% of the final grant amount.
Contact: Maudelle Shirek, Councilmember District 3, 644-6243

Action: Removed from the Consent Calendar by Councilmember Shirek. Moved, seconded, carried (Shirek/Maio) to approve recommendation as amended above and to adopt Resolution No. 59,860-N.S.

 Action Calendar

a. Appeal filed by Nora Chorover on behalf of Ocean View Neighborhood Association and Communities for a Better Environment, of the Zoning Adjustments Board decision to take no action to initiate revocation proceedings for Use Permits based on certain findings for the property located at 699 Virginia Street.
Contact: Sherry M. Kelly, City Clerk, 644-6480

Recommendation: 1) Conduct a public hearing and upon conclusion adopt a Resolution affirming the decision of the Zoning Adjustments Board with findings that Berkeley Asphalt and Ready Mix is in compliance with the conditions of Use Permits 3033 and 3681, and based on the evaluation provided by expert consultants and affected agencies, as well as the testimony, the current operation of the Berkeley Asphalt and Ready Mix Companies does not constitute a nuisance. If Council after considering the record, is unable to determine whether there is a nuisance or violation of conditions, continue the hearing without action to coincide with the six month review by staff required pursuant to Use Permit 3033 six months after initiation of operation of the approved replacement equipment for the asphalt plant.
Contact: Liz Epstein, Planning and Development, 705-8105

c. Communication from December 8, 1998:
1) Rena Rickles, Attorney on behalf of Berkeley Asphalt, applicant

d. Communication:
1) Nora Chorover, Attorney for Ocean View Neighborhood Association
Contact: Sherry M. Kelly, City Clerk, 644-6480

Action: The Mayor opened the public hearing. Thirty-three speakers heard. Moved, seconded, carried (Maio/Worthington; Absent – Armstrong, Olds) to discuss the matter in closed session on February 9, 1999; to continue the public hearing to February 16, 1999 for additional testimony; and to list the item on the agenda of February 9, 1999 for possible announcement of a change in hearing date.

1.  Martha Nicoloff
Contact: Sherry M. Kelly, City Clerk, 644-6480

Action: Eight speakers heard. Moved, seconded, failed (Maio/Spring) to close the public hearing and refer to the Planning Commission: Ordinance consistency with Measure L; zoning of parks including Aquatic Park zoning, Live-Work regulations, the 500 sq.ft. within one year rule, group living or accommodation of persons vs. rooms, and noticing period requirement.

Action: Moved, seconded, carried a substitute motion (Armstrong/Worthington; Absent – Olds) to continue the public hearing to February 9, 1999, taking no new comments or issues, and that staff address only the questions or issues that were presented at this meeting.

12. Reimbursement for Overpayment of Sewer Bills (removed from Consent by Councilmember Spring from December 8, 1998 meeting and held over from January 12, 1999 meeting)
From: Councilmembers Armstrong, Olds, Woolley and Mayor Dean
Recommendation: Ask the City to reimburse Berkeley residents who have paid unfairly high sewer bills in the months between July 1998 when the Council passed the sewer tax cap, and January 1999 when East Bay Municipal Utility District (EBMUD) will finally re-order their billing to reflect that cap.
Contact: Polly Armstrong, Councilmember District 8, 644-6401; Shirley Dean, Mayor, 644-6484; Betty Olds, Councilmember District 6, 644-6399; Diane Woolley, Councilmember District 5, 644-6294
a. City Manager Report (to be delivered)
Contact: Frances David, Finance, 644-6476
Action: Moved, seconded, carried (Armstrong/Worthington; Absent – Olds) to provide refunds for sewer service overcharges to users who apply to the City in writing with written proof of overcharge; that staff notify individually those people who have notified the City previously; that all users will be notified in a future sewer billing that refunds exceeding $50.00 will be made in the amount above the $50.00 threshold and that a reminder of low income provisions be included.

13. City of Emeryville Proposal to Reconfigure Ashby Interchange of I-80 (held over from the January 12, 1999 meeting)
From: Transportation Commission
Recommendation: That Council take the following action: (1) Direct that the City of Berkeley continue, in conjunction with Emeryville and CalTrans, to explore reconfiguring the Ashby interchange, and indicate that the City of Berkeley does not at this time support or oppose the proposal, but reserves the right to support or oppose the proposal at a future date; (2) request that the City of Emeryville or CalTrans provide funds for an independent traffic study managed by Berkeley to review the many traffic and related issues raised by the Ashby interchange proposal. This study would review the traffic and land use implications of various possible projects at the Ashby interchange, including the project as proposed by Emeryville, relocation of the Potter Street on-ramp only, and possibly another alternative; and (3) request that CalTrans delay approval of the Project Study Report (PSR) for the reconfiguration of the Ashby/I-80 interchange until such time as this independent traffic study can be completed to the satisfaction of the City of Berkeley.
Contact: Nathan Landau, Transportation Commission Secretary, 705-8136
a. City Manager Report
Recommendation: Concurs with the content and recommendations of the Commission.
Contact: Liz Epstein, Planning and Development, 705-8105

Action: Withdrawn by the City Manager.

14. AT&T-TCI Franchise Transfer
From: City Manager
Recommendation: Adopt a Resolution denying without prejudice the application of Tele-Communications, Inc. (TCI) to transfer control of the cable television franchise to AT&T Corporation (AT&T).

Contact: Phil Kamlarz, Deputy City Manager, 644-6580

Action: Withdrawn by the City Manager.

 Information Reports

15. Aquatic Park Sound Barrier Project
From: City Manager
Contact: Lisa Caronna, Parks and Waterfront, 644-6943
Action: Received and filed.

16. Fee Waiver for Bonita House
From: City Manager
Contact: Liz Epstein, Planning and Development, 705-8105
Action: Received and filed.

17. Welfare Reform: Preliminary Impact Analysis
From: City Manager
Contact: Arrietta Chakos, City Manager’s Office, 644-6580
Action: Received and filed.

18. Guidelines for Late-Night Youth Activities
From: Berkeley Youth Commission
Contact: Philip Harper-Cotton, Secretary, 644-6226
Action: Moved to the Consent Calendar by Councilmember Worthington. Endorsed guidelines.

 Communications

Council rules limit action on Communications to referral to the City Manager and/or Boards and Commissions for investigation and/or recommendations.

1. John Vance, Coordinator, A First Amendment Center, regarding Utne Reader’s Y2K Citizen’s Action Guide. Maio and referred to the City Manager’s task force on Y2K preparedness.

2. Preston J. Taylor, ASUC President, regarding expansion of the Cal Student Store. Worthington

3. Patrick Kennedy, transmitting newspaper article re various developments.

4. Bill Hughson, President, A.G. Ferrari Foods, regarding enforcement of sidewalk signage regulations. Maio, Woolley, Dean

5. Tim Cannon, Chair, North Berkeley Merchants Assn., requesting payment of the $20,000 allocated to the Association in the City’s budget. Olds, Woolley, Dean, Spring

6. L.A. Wood, regarding hazardous waste incineration. Spring, Dean

7. William Dale Crist, President, Board of Administration, California Public Employees’ Retirement System, regarding retirement credit for Peace Corps and Vista service. Dean, Woolley.

8. L.A. Wood, regarding Work Group minutes and facilitation. Breland

Adjournment

The meeting adjourned at 11:51 p.m. in memory of Charles Brown, Marjorie Farquhar, Margaret Owings, Trevor Thomas and Myrtle Wright.