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City Council · Wed Mar 6, 2024

City Council · Regular meeting

Key decisions

PassedMid-year budget changes

The council voted to change the mid-year budgets for the budget year from July 2023 to June 2024 for its main day-to-day account, its water account and its management-information account, let it spend $55,210 from American Rescue Plan Act money as the report describes, and let staff make the needed budget changes.

Yes
Howard, Ross, Zorn, Malhi, McKillop
Context

Why The city reviewed seven months of actual revenue and spending for the budget year and is asking for adjustments to its budgets, including tracking American Rescue Plan Act money in its own separate fund.

Motion
Malhi, seconded by McKillop

PassedMarina Trust land use plan

The council voted to approve the Waterfront Marina Trust Land Use Plan as written and have staff submit it.

Yes
Howard, Ross, Zorn, Malhi, McKillop
Context

Why The State Lands Commission granted the city the Martinez Marina and nearby land in September 2014, and it requires the city to submit this plan.

Proposed Hear from anyone who wants to speak, then approve the Waterfront Marina Trust Land Use Plan and have staff send it to the State Lands Commission.

The minutes do not say where staff will submit the Plan.

Motion
McKillop, seconded by Howard

PassedSoto Street right of way

The council voted to hear from anyone who wants to speak, then give up the public's 20-foot-wide right of way for access at 706 Soto Street (Parcel 372-252-006), finding this is in line with the General Plan 2035.

Yes
Howard, Zorn, Malhi
Stepped aside
Ross
Absent
McKillop
Context
Motion
Malhi, seconded by Howard

PassedCarquinez Drive night closure

The council voted to hear from anyone who wants to speak about a temporary nighttime closure of a 200-foot section of Carquinez Scenic Drive, in line with state traffic law Vehicle Code 21101(a)(1), then approve that nighttime closure (from the city limit to the city/county limit line), and let the city manager sign a license agreement with East Bay Regional Park District for a gate there, worded as the city attorney approves.

Yes
Howard, Ross, Zorn, Malhi
Absent
McKillop
Context
Motion
Howard, seconded by Ross

PassedHome accessibility law

The council voted to take the first of two votes on a new city law adding accessibility rules for new homes (its Chapter 15.34, Universal Design and Accessibility), with these changes: leave out single family homes; reduce from 30% to 15% the share of homes that must meet the Universal Design standard in projects subject to that rule; round up any fraction; and have staff look for other ways, under the housing plan, to encourage this kind of building.

Yes
Howard, Ross, Zorn, Malhi, McKillop
Context

Why About 8,439 Martinez residents have a disability and 21.6 percent have conditions that may affect their ability to live independently, and the city wants new homes built to work better for them.

Proposed Hear from anyone who wants to speak, skip reading it aloud, and take the first of two votes on adding new accessibility and universal design rules (Chapter 15.34) to the city's laws.

Motion
Howard, seconded by Ross

Also approved, in one vote5 items

Yes
Howard, Ross, Zorn, Malhi, McKillop
Motion
Howard, seconded by McKillop

PassedStorm drain fees

The council voted to set the fee each property pays per Equivalent Runoff Unit (ERU) for the budget year from July 2024 to June 2025, and ask the Contra Costa County Flood Control and Water Conservation District to set a yearly charge on properties for cleaning storm drains and for the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) Program.

Context

Why The fee pays for the city's Clean Water Program, which federal and state stormwater rules require Martinez to carry out.

PassedCannabis rule changes

The council voted to cast the final vote on cannabis rule changes (5.29): tighter site security; required diversity, equity & inclusion steps; no billboard ads; no temporary events; required on-site health postings; no on-site use; changed sensitive-use distance buffers; delivery businesses need a permit; and no deliveries to parks, playgrounds, daycare centers, school-campus homes, trucking/transport workplaces, or transit centers.

Context

Why The city updated its cannabis rules, including requiring on-site security after business hours, to help ensure cannabis businesses operate safely.

PassedCarquinez Shoreline agreement

The council voted to let the city manager sign a new agreement with East Bay Regional Park District that updates and rewrites the operating agreement for the Carquinez Straight Regional Shoreline, worded as the city attorney approves.

Context

Why The city and the park district want to keep working together on this land now that their earlier 25-year agreement has expired.

PassedMarina seawall repair

The council voted to let the city manager sign a first change to its contract with AnchorQEA for design work and help getting permits for repairing and replacing the Martinez Marina Seawall and Breakwater (Project C8018), for a new total of up to $250,000.

Context

Why The city's budget set aside $250,000 for design of the Marina Seawall and Breakwater repair; this change adds to AnchorQEA's initial $75,000 contract so it can keep doing that design and permitting work.

PassedMarina Dock B repairs

The council voted to let the city loan $59,500 from its main day-to-day money reserves to the Marina Enterprise Fund, then pay $59,500 from the Marina Enterprise Fund to Almar Marinas for emergency repairs to Dock B of the Martinez Marina, subject to the terms and conditions of Section 2.6 and Section 14.1 of the 2005 Martinez Marina Operating Agreement between the City and Almar Marinas.

Context

Why Dock B's entrance at the Martinez Marina needs repair because its bridge supports and landside foundation are in bad condition, and the work is beyond what on-site staff and normal marina operations can handle.

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