City Council - Regular Meeting

I still have a minute. 7 o'clock. Call to order the April 27th meeting of the Lafayette City Council. Let the record show that all council members are present. Can I have a motion for adoption of the agenda? So moved. A second. All in favor say I. I. I. It's unanimous. Please join in the pledge of allegiance.

Aliance. which stands one nation indivisible with liberty and justice for all.

Right. This is an opportunity for public comments. If anyone would like to address the council on an item that is not on tonight's agenda but is within the purview of the city council, you have uh three minutes. City clerk Robbins, are there any speaker slips? Mayor Anduri, I have no speaker slips for persons in the Don Tatson community hall and I have no hands raised in our virtual audience. Okay. So, we will move on to item number six, the city manager update.

Thank you, Mayor Anduri. And this is an update from the city departments. Uh the spring visttors uh is has been mailed to all households. I'm assuming you've all received your copy. This edition covers the city council's top priorities, ongoing challenges in maintaining public infrastructure, including our aging community center. It also introduces the Mount Diablo Boulevard corridor multimodal mobility plan, which you will discuss later this evening. from parks. Registration for afterchool awesome is complete and we have a record number of children enrolled this fall helping address the ongoing shortage of afterchool care for elementary students. The parks team is making strong progress on fire abatement work across our parks, trails, and open spaces hoping to meet the June 1st deadline. Assistant Chief Bachmann and the public art committee held the third annual poetry for the ages last week and more than 30 attendees enjoyed the readings. This is to celebrate National Poetry Month each April. Next up is a reception for the spring exhibitions at the community hall gallery from uh on May the 11th from 5 to 6:30 p.m. From the police department, the uh police department has finished its springtime citizens academy and the crime prevention commission will present uh the certificates at an upcoming city council meeting. Our emergency services

personnel will take part in the beacon exercise this Thursday simulating an 8.8 San Andreas earthquake that will disrupt all communications. This is a drill drill that's designed to test our radio-based communications and our coordination and to gather damage reports and resource needs from the community, from public works and from the schools and then we relay that information onto county EOS. So, it's an annual ritual to test our communications. And finally, if you're curious about the future of BART service in La Merinda and wondering how local stations will be potentially impacted in the years ahead, the Lafayette Homeowners Council is hosting an informative community meeting featuring a presentation by Matin, who is our representative on the BART board, followed by an open Q&A session. It will be held in this room on Wednesday, May the 6th at 7 p.m. And that's the end of my update.

Okay. Thank you. Are there questions? Okay. Is there any public comment? No public comment. All right. So, we have two presentations this evening and we will start uh with U. Assistant Fire Chief Chris Bachmann. Welcome.

Uh thank you uh uh Mayor Anduri, um council members, city staff, uh residents, and community members uh that are watching this evening or here present. This is a update that we like to provide for um all the cities we serve. I'm the liazison chief for the city of Lafayette. Um so I'm here to provide the update uh April 20 26 for the first quarter of 26 and a little summary of what um we experienced call call volume-wise last year and what's new coming forward. So for 2025 accomplishments, we did uh Rodeo Hercules annexation that was July 1 of last year. We have uh a new fire district website that we have rolled out. We have our just recently uh finished our fire academy 61 and paramedic training. We're currently in the process of remodeling the communications uh center. It's almost done and ready to go live. And we had a station 94 groundbreaking ceremony out in Brentwood. What's upcoming in 2026 is we have the hazmat program expansion that's going to include um our merger now with uh uh county health and hazmat. Um the hazmat team um or our hazmat team and county uh health and hazmat um uh will be um forming or annexing in under uh country county fire. So, um that's more on the inspection side and we're meeting with the fire prevention bureau, our inspectors. Um it'll the hazmat program for uh what's currently with county health will be under the community risk reduction. So, both fire prevention and uh the hazmat program will be under uh community risk reduction moving forward. Um we have new fire stations um that are going to be starting in station 90 and

94 in Brentwood. We have two new traffic safety units. They're pictured in the bottom right hand corner. These are old reserve apparatus uh that were not being utilized front line anymore. And uh they have a great need uh with um an additional um uh safety piece on the back almost like what you'd see like with with um uh CALR where they it goes down and has a sign board on it uh warning you that there's an accident ahead and a lane closure. If someone were to strike the uh the rear of the apparatus, it's got that uh extended bumper and cushion uh to help absorb the blow. And we did this because we've we've had numerous occasions where our aerial uh uh ladder trucks or our um engines have um been struck on the interstates. So uh between the additional signage, the cushion, uh the lights, um we're hoping this uh will reduce those accidents um on our freeways and we have two more of those uh traffic safety units that will be placed in service. Uh we also have the uh seasonal aerial firefighting helicopter coming back again. Uh contract begins on uh May 1st and we'll be doing a a ceremony also um next week uh for that uh helicopter um coming back uh to our jurisdiction. As far as a summary for 2025, total incidents uh for 2025 were 131,286. When you look at the breakdown, our fires were roughly 3 and a.5% of that. And that's structure, vegetation, vehicle, and other totaling 466. All our other incidents such as alarms, public service, hazmat, rescue, vehicle accidents approximately 15% um totaling just over 19,000. And then EMS, which is

both medical and ambulance only. Um we're 81% of our calls totaling uh just over 107,000 along with a breakdown of what that was uh per month. And then we'll um jump into what we're seeing in the first part of this quarter just for the first two months uh of January. We're at 347 um of which you know kind of consistent with what we see uh even across um our entire jurisdiction. Over 80% of our calls in Lafayette are associated with medical uh ambulance only um at 10 alarms at 15 public assist 11 vehicle accidents at 21. Vehicle accidents are usually a little higher um not necessarily in Lafayette but in your close proximity to 24 and 680. the apparatus from Lafayette do respond to those along with uh the hazardous uh conditions at 28 and that's because uh station 15 houses one of our hazmat units. So they're responding countywide to those hazmat uh incidents. So uh it isn't that the hazardous conditions are occurring in Lafayette, it's the uh personnel and the resources from Lafayette do respond um to those hazardous condition calls. Rescue's at seven, structure fire is at two, and fire vehicles at one, and other fire is at two. Did do a deeper dive into the structure fire since we usually only have one or two a year. One of those was a um uh an assist to a um a neighboring city. Um whereas the other one did occur on March 17th as a structure fire on Hazel Court. did uh look into this call and it actually was just a it did do some smoke damage, but it was more of a smoke investigation. Um house was filled with smoke, but it was uh due to um an air fryer. So, didn't really have much

fire, not uh really no fire damage. Uh did receive smoke damage. Um but uh uh that was our one, we'll say, true structure fire that was paged out in Lafayette in the first quarter of this year. And then wildfire preparedness. So we're wanting to make sure that everyone uh is with um has this message of making sure they're protecting their home from wildfires. This includes home hardening, making sure they're creating defensible space, they have an evacuation plan. Um if they're not already firewise, looking into becoming a Firewise community and understanding what Ready, Set, Go is. If you scan the QR code, uh this will take you to a Google folder that has all this information from home hardening, defensible space brochures, um uh making sure you know your zone, how to sign up for the community warning system, all the information is in that Google folder, uh if you scan that, um QR code, uh via the electronic versions. So, in addition, what's new? Um uh we're mapping all of our fuel brakes. Uh we've been mapping our fuel brakes for several years now, but the mapping was really only utilized internally by by us and it was to help keep track of where we're putting the fuel brakes in. Most of the fuel brakes that are are being put in are either being done through a CalFire grant which we had to upload via Cal Mapper. Um when we did that, the Lafayette Walnut Creek Shaded Fuel Break uh is in that system of Cow Mapper. we had to report out on. In fact, we just closed that uh finished that grant um actually uh just under budget and did a few more acres than we had originally committed to. We committed to doing uh roughly 190 and ended up just over 200 acres that we completed. Uh so that was a success and um where the the cost savings that we had, we ended up doing a few more acres uh for that treatment.

But with the mapping of that, uh, we we found that incredibly important to also map all the the Measure X projects and locally funded projects that we're doing. Um, and as I've given demonstrations around the county and talk about all the all the great work we're doing with uh with Contraost County Wildfire Mitigation Program and Crew 12 and our and our contractors, everybody keeps saying, "Why can't we see these fuel brakes? Can we make them public facing?" So, um, we're going to do that. We're uh we're planning on making that public facing on June 1 and uh it'll also have a dashboard. So with that, we're following the cow the new cow mapper uh format which includes a uh data set that will be uploaded uh by Landfire. So Landfire is a is a um a data source that collects information of of where these fuel breaks and where mitigation um projects are occurring really nationwide. uh this uh data set then is open and a lot of insurance companies will then pull that information into their catastrophic models. So by make by uploading this and making this available to landfire now it's being incorporated into catastrophic modeling from the insurance companies. So, uh, it took a a few extra steps of tracking some information that was necessary for it to accept that upload into Landfire that we weren't doing, but, um, we have, um, all that information now in our system. And, um, it'll be available and you'll be able to see the information, uh, when you click on the fuel break similar to CMapper of what year was it um, was it done, how many acres is it, and what treatment type was it along with the funding source. Was it is it a grant? Is it local funding? Is it measure X? What the the funding source is? Um, so this is something uh that we've been doing, but we we'll say we're expanding the service of of making that information available to insurance companies along with making that in that information available for

residents to see. In addition, we're implementing an ambassador program. And uh this is a pilot program that's going to occur in Lafayette and Brentwood. We were just approved um last month and then earlier this month uh by our fire board who is also our board of supervisors um to enter into contract with two companies. One is Zylo plan and the other is fireside. So, Zyo Plan is going to do a fire pathway modeling of the areas we're looking at, which identifies this is um the most likely areas that are going to if a fire were to occur from an extreme wind event um where would they enter the community. So, that's why we're going to focus on the north side of Lafayette um in specific areas to do that evaluation. Then, with the assessments, we'll be using a software platform called Fire Aside. Um the assessments will be both for um home hardening and for vegetation, not just what's a defensible space again because these assessments are done by us and by residents. We'll be training residents, firewise communities how to assist us in doing these assessments. The reason we're using the wildfire prepared standard versus defensible space is the majority of these areas are not in the very high. So the very high fires and severity zone, you're required to do the defensible space inspection. that's done by our inspectors, different program, but if we're gonna the whole purpose behind assessments with ambassadors is to educate the community. What we're hearing is that um insurance companies identify the wildfire prepared standard as the gold standard and the standard that they're trying to convince residents to go to. So, with the insurance crisis we're in, if we're going to educate residents, we want to educate them not to what's required by uh CalFire or the state or local uh requirements for defensible space, that only applies to the very high, but we want to educate everybody on what is that standard to be wildfire prepared. And that way the residents know should

they decide to do that or should their insurance company request that of them, they're already going to have that assessment that's going to identify here's the areas that they would need to to receive that standard with that. Then every house would have a score. We're not going to share those scores individually. Um that was part of the uh with insurance companies. Um that was part of the legal piece that we wanted to make sure we went through that this was going to be our data. Um to be able to then go to insurance companies and say this is the community score for the area that we've assessed. um because we don't believe they know that specific uh data set and um we want to um educate them on the um how we have that uh score for a community to compare it to what they're scoring along with the Landfire information that we're uploading. hoping to get more insurance companies to uh not be afraid to insure in these zip codes, not not be um afraid to look at this and to take a second look and do the underwriting and come in or go out and evaluate these communities to assess them um appropriately. Uh we are going to start in Brentwood out in the Trilogy um area because we've already have a group of we'll say um from the HOA and from the firewise a group of ambassadors that are ready to be trained. We're just setting up the um uh the programming and what that's going to take for the training with fireside. Um I am meeting with the um Lafayette Emergency um preparedness commission um uh next week and we'll be discussing this further on the specific firewise communities we're looking at and start identifying some of those ambassadors uh that are interested in this concept. So um the idea is we do want to have this done within a year. We we have a a one-year subscription that we've been authorized to pay for for both of these services. And we feel that uh with our motivation, with our residents motivation, um that we'll be able to do this because this isn't an entire we're not doing all of Brentwood,

we're not doing all of Lafayette. It is limited to 2500 homes um between the two communities. So, we're anticipating between 1,000 to 1500 homes. Um but that'll give us a good assessment of both of those communities to identify how does the wildfire prepared standard or score um uh um play out in both of of these communities and how does that relate to what the insurance companies um are currently using. Uh next the weed debatement deadlines. So Lafayette um is June 1, 2026. Contraosta County Fire Protection District um has established our uh minimum weed abatement standards. You can scan the QR code to get more information about this. Um should you feel that extension um is needed, it must be uh can only be submitted after a final notice has been issued and requests will not be accepted after July 4th. Um July 4th is always, you know, we identify uh the June 1 deadline so we can get out, start doing the inspections, issue the notices if we need to. The goal is um we you we always see an increase in our vegetation fires on and around the July 4th weekend and that's also usually the time of year that things are really cured out and from that point on is when we're experiencing our larger fires. Uh if you need to report a weed abatement violation, please visit our website and uh or you can scan the QR code for all the information. And I'll be happy to answer any questions. Again, reminder, make sure you're staying connected with us on Facebook, Instagram, um or you can email our PIO should you have any questions and I'm happy to answer any questions this evening. Hey, well, thank you very much. Questions? Keith, thank you for coming. We really always appreciate the work that Confire does in keeping our community and the whole area safe. Um, if you could go back to the slide that had the ambassador program on that. And this is something I know has been talked about the emergency preparedness commission. It's great you guys are

moving on this as a way of maybe leveraging your staff with citizens who are engaged and informed and trained by you. Um, so I got I one question on the um the assessments. So you said the idea was that you you'll keep the assessments uh to Confire will keep the assessments. You're not going to share a score a homeowner score with that that homeowner. Is that No, no. We're not going to share individual homeowner score with insurance companies. Okay.

We don't want this this information. So, the ab the information will absolutely be shared with every homeowner that agrees to an assessment. Um it also this the reason we chose fireside is it will map out every parcel and be able to show us a color-coded map of the areas that we've identified. um how many were open to this concept of letting um neighbors assess their home um to score it to the national standard of a wildfire wildfire prepared standard. Um, we recently attended uh ambassador training um at MOFD to look at how they're doing it because they're doing it to the to the defensible space standard. And I know their concern is that they don't share with the fire department and they're and they identify that their concern is that they don't want the residents to feel that it's being shared with the fire department to call it violations. But the great thing is about the areas we're inspecting or well I should say doing the assessments are not not areas that are being inspected because they're not in the very high. So it truly is an assessment piece only because inspections aren't required for the very because these areas are not very high. They're high and moderate. Um but still we feel very um is still very important. It doesn't mean they don't have any risk. It doesn't mean they're not exposed to wildfire. So, we want to make sure we're taking that opportunity to educate um all the residents in these areas that back up to the open space.

So, when I sign up and I someone comes over and checks my house out, I'll get a sheet telling me things I should probably do or

it it'll give you both the assessment of how your house scored uh both in defensible spa or defensible space and vegetation management along with home hardening. Again, none of these are going to be required to say you have to do any of them. It's just an assessment to say if you're ever asked by your insurance company to say they would give you a discount or maybe to prevent a non-renewal notice um that we've heard that insurance companies have done that. That way residents will already know this is what that wildfire prepared standard is and this is the the things that I would need to complete should my insurance company uh ask me to do it or should you decide to slowly work towards that knowing there's potential insurance savings down the road. And the idea here is to get enough of a sampling that's statistically significant or significant enough to pass on to the insurers to say, "Look, here's what the score is. We've got out of the 2500 homes, we got 2,200 inspected." I mean,

yeah, that's that's why our goal is to try and get at least a thousand in one community, 1,500 in another or 1250 1250. Um, we want over over a thousand at least in each community. uh with our cap being at 2500, we feel that will give us a very good sample to be able to identify and say this is roughly what the community risk score is based on the standard that you're asking that would be ideal for you to um have all the houses. We know it's not realistic that everybody's going to have um 100. We've seen this um down in Southern California, a new development called Dixon Trail and where the entire community did receive that certification because it was all new construction. But the interesting thing is four insurance companies went in there and have insured those $ 1.5 million homes for less than $1,000 a year. So, we know that insurance companies recognize this standard and they're given huge discounts if everybody met it. My thought is what if your community score is a 70 or an 80? It's not a 100, but it's still worth something. I think the problem is we don't know what they're estimating the community risk score based on home hardening and vegetation management towards this standard. So, if we're able to provide them that score of it's a 70, it's an 80, whatever it is, um we're hoping that that's probably better than what they're estimating it at. Um uh I think it's going to be a great pilot program to evaluate the two uh the two areas and we're hopeful we do need the community's assistance with this and we're hoping that um based on the input we've already received from these firewise communities that we're going to have the initiative to keep this moving forward to come up with at least a thousand a thousand assessments in both communities.

Thank you.

Um thank you very much for uh for the briefing. It's always great to to hear from you. Um I ju just a question I know it doesn't directly apply to most of the homes in Lafayette, but there's there's we're hearing in the news this new zone zero or now it's one foot instead or two feet instead of five feet of of clearance. I don't know if you can give us an update on where the state's still trying to figure out what the standards are because I just been in the news. I don't know if there's anything you can kind of provide some clarity to us about that. So they've updated the draft document to identify and reduce the um reduce what the I'd say with the true zone zero of no vegetation uh no mulch uh nothing has been knocked down to one foot and then the uh vegetation um would be limited to the distance of the eve or up to three feet. So it's reduced by a couple feet. the the fence requirement is still listed, although their current proposal is instead of having the three-year um implementation um uh timeline. The proposal does push the fence requirement back to five years. Um again, this is all draft. Uh still hasn't been voted on, but uh they're basing it off of public comment and there was a lot of public comment about the the concern and the the cost and giving enough time. So they've taken a phased approach of saying um would the board of forestry uh would the state and would the community accept a phased approach of reducing that down to absolutely nothing in this in the 1-T area within the uh roof overhang or 3 feet uh reduced um uh vegetation or what's allowed. there's certain types of of ground cover and uh potted plants that are allowed and then um in that 3 to 5t then you could have um shrubs or vegetation along with uh the fence is still not required or not allowed within the 5t but giving a

greater time. The original proposal was three years the new proposal was to go up to five years but it does fall back and say it's up to the local jurisdictions to adopt that timeline. So, it would be one that we'll definitely if that's the way it moves forward, um we recognize there'll need to be a lot of town hall meetings, public comment, listening to um input from residents, um taking res uh recommendations from staff and elected officials of what kind of timeline they think would be acceptable for their community. Great. And do you have an idea what time what time frame we're talking about?

So, I I I think we're um I'm not sure the the next date. We we believe we'll know more um going into June when they set the next date of the the meeting. Um I there was still a lot of public comment. It went on for over three hours after the presentation. Um along with people were still able to write in. So, I think they're still tallying kind of all the public comment to see does this seem like the new draft is going to be acceptable and um communities uh citizens, elected officials, everybody are going to stand behind it or do they still need to make some more modifications? So, uh more to come. Great. Thank you.

Just a clarification, we're talking about the very high fire severity zone here, right? Or high fire. Yes. that that is only in the uh the very high for the local responsibility area. That's right. And just in my purpose of doing I think because it's I agree most Lafayette's not going to be bound by it, but I think still people look at as a best practice and so I think it's kind of has it has like a has guidance value if even if it's not mandated for most of us. Thank you. So to follow up on the ambassador program, um are you going to bring that back after you guys have tallied all your stuff? Are you going to bring that back to us or at least to our emergency preparedness commission kind of what your results are?

Absolutely. Because if if this is successful, it's something that we want to do it um in phased approaches in other um areas of our jurisdiction that are in the that have areas in the in the very high um and that are experiencing issues with insurance, especially if this helps. We're um we think at a minimum we know it's going to educate residents. That's the whole idea of an ambassador program. But we're hoping that by tracking the data, tracking the results, it has another positive out um outcome on maybe providing a little bit of relief on some insurance premiums. Thank you.

Yeah, thank you very much for this presentation for all of these updates on really really good work. I have a question for the traffic safety units. How will they be dispatched? You have two, you said, but they're to cover all the freeways.

So we we have three now. So we already had one, we had two more that we've implemented. The ideas that we would have um one in central, one in west, and then one in east. So the idea of the corridors that they would be provided on are 24, 680 and um um highway 4, and then I80. Um, and as far as, you know, the exact station they'll be placed in, when they're called out, like we're still working um, uh, through that and trying several different models um, to what works what works well. Um, but we have had a very positive um, result so far. When it is out there, we'll say slowing the traffic down, providing that notification of of what's ahead. And we've received a lot of public com uh comments back um from communities on social media. We're making posts about it along with uh other fire agencies reaching out to us asking us how how we did it, what did it cost, um kind of tracking our success with it as well, considering doing something similar.

Well, that's great. Yeah, I think it's a fabulous program and we want to keep your crews safe. That's the really important thing while you're keeping other people safe and helping them. Fabulous. Um one question um for community warning system. I'm wondering when when the um evacuation notices are put out if they're just a warning, do you send a CWS push the subscribers?

Yes. When whenever there's a change? So, um, because the idea of if we have a fire and we're going to put a, um, a certain zone and warning, that's kind of the heads up of you're probably seeing smoke. You're probably hearing a lot of sirens going off. There is a fire in this area and stay tuned, but be prepared to evacuate. along with that notification should um let residents know should they have mobility issues, should they have um uh concerns about um are they going to be able to, you know, how long is it going to take for them to get their pet, grab their medication, get that's the time to be doing all that. So, um in the event that that does come out, they're ready to walk out the door. If residents aren't comfortable, they're seeing the smoke build, they're still hearing uh agencies respond, we always say, you know, respond, respond before that notification goes out if you'd feel more comfortable. We'll keep you informed when we feel it's necessary to respond. Um the idea is that then when it's that transparency countywide, because we tell people when you sign up for CWS and then you go to the alert wild wildfire cameras, you're going to see how big the column of smoke is. Um, when you uh go to Genesis, you're going to see what zone has been put into warning. Where is it at in relationship to where you live? Has it grown? Did you now see that one zone has went from warning to now evacuation and three more zones are now in warning? A lot of these things are going to provide, we'll say, situational awareness to residents of what's going on.

Okay, great. Thank you.

Okay. Is there any public comment? At this time, the city council is taking public comments on item 7A and we take public comments for persons in the community hall first and then persons in our virtual audience. I have a speaker slip from Brian Parsons and you'll have three minutes. Yeah. Great. Cool. Um, I'm Brian. I'm Lafayette resident. Thank you for everything you do. I actually ran into a fire department con fire person. He said the saddest thing about his job was not being thanked enough. Um, so everyone if you meet someone, they really appreciate it. Um, I I was kind of blown away by the numbers. Um, and I noticed u you had six fires this year and I was wondering what the value is, if there is any to have more smallsized vehicles to be more mobile versus the large pumper trucks that you have. Um, I don't know if that's ever come up, but it it just kind of blew my mind that you guys respond to a wide variety of things and you know, three to six% was actual fires. So, yeah. So, um, yes, that that is uh that is evaluated. And uh the other thing you that is kind of you always have to keep in mind is when you're out on that call and you look especially some of our our busier stations that you're not back to your station yet when you receive the next call and it's kind of those the overlap of you need to be back in your

station back in service then to have the right apparatus for the incident. Um, we also see this with our type uh three or type six, which is a wildland engine, which is going to be four-wheel drive versus your standard fire engine, which is a type one. So, if they're out on a medical call and they're in their type one engine, um, and then all a sudden there's a wildland incident and they need the wildland engine, they got to make that determination of am I going to go back to my station to get the wildland unit or am I just going to go ahead and go to the incident in the type one because maybe structure protection is needed. But that communication is done with dispatch. It's done with their battalion chief, you know, as they're responding of I'm going to go ahead and respond uh so I can get there in less than five minutes uh to the incident. Um knowing that maybe we need to now request one additional type three or type six wildland engine from another station. So we have that full response that we normally get for a wildland unit. But the idea is that um we want to keep our vegetation fires um small because the smaller we can keep them uh whether it's a structure fire or whether it's a wildland incident, if we can keep it small, you knock down a residential structure fire immediately, you keep it to room of contents. Same with a wildland incident. You knock it down immediately within uh the first 10 minutes of the incident. It's very manageable that uh a single or a double alarm, a two alarm response of resources can handle that. We notice that once you get past that 30, 40 minutes and it starts growing and then now that third alarm, fourth alarm, you start out the resources start getting outpaced by the fire and that's when it takes more helicopters, more airplanes, more and you're tied up then um at incidents longer along with when you know you show you see that we run over 100,000 calls a year. Even when we're on those wildland incidents, we still have the medicals,

the car crashes, the hazmat, the alarms happening still on that regular routine basis that they're responding to. And it's making sure you have enough resources to cover the emergency response that we have districtwide. So, it is evaluated, but that's one of the reasons because of that overlap and the call volume we have is why we do run with our larger apparatus. Thank you. Yeah. Thank you. Thank you very much. Also, thank you for coming to the Cub Scouts things. It was the best adventure we had. All the boys loved it. Okay. Is there any other public comments? No additional speakers at this time, Mayor Andury. Okay. Thank you very much. Very helpful. Thank you for having me.

Our second presentation is from our environmental task force. Good evening, council and everyone. Um, my name is Nicole Ziddle. I am the city staff liaison to the environmental task force and I am joined by a few of our task force members. I'll let them introduce themselves.

Hi, good evening. I'm Ashley Louisiana. I'm the current chair of the Lafayette Environmental Task Force. Hello. Good evening. Derek Siver, a new member to the Environmental Task Force.

All right. And in this presentation, I will be going we will be going through the 2025 2026 annual update on our goals and our accomplishments. So in 2025, the ETF was very busy. We were awarded from Cal Recycle the beverage container recycling city county payment program in 2025. These funds were used um were reimbured to the chamber of commerce for their recycling activities during the art and wine festival. These funds are available um to the city and ETF for any sort of activities that promote um you know beverage container recycling programs. In 2025, um, Cal Recycles construction and demolition waste diversion monitoring. Lafayette diverted 85% of all constructed construction debris from our landfills. Of that, 1,679 tons were recycled materials and 104 tons of debris were either reused or salvaged. Um, we use a green halo tracking system and this past year they recognized Lafayette as an exemplary city for our accurate reportings of our recycled materials during construction activities. Continuing on to some of our accomplishments last year, the ETF started researching our state and local res regulations regarding single-use food wear and plastic waste. They investigated looking um to create a draft ordinance on singleuse food wear and plastic waste. We created a survey to gauge um kind of information and interest from local restaurants and businesses on what this could look like. Um, we began collaboration with the city's chamber of commerce on that effort and through conversation and meetings, we really wanted to initially

begin looking and shift towards providing restaurants and local businesses the education and resources of what currently exists and what um, existing resources and things they can utilize to further reduce the use of single-use foodear and plastic waste. We also continued to monitor our gas powered leaf blower ordinance through 2025. The electric leaf blower lending program was available to all residents. We maintained our published um information on the ordinance on our websites, provided lawn signs for residents interested in promoting the ordinance as well as um spreading just more information about the ordinance through our city weekly blurbs, chamber of commerce email blasts. And we also attended various community events such as Earth Day and the white the wine and art festival where we had resources available for residents to read read about and talk with us about. And now I'll go to Ashley Louisiana to discuss our 2026 work plan. Um the electric leaf blower ordinance passed in July of 2024. So it's been about a year and a half. Um it's still one of our highest um code enforcement complaints that we receive every year, which is encouraging because there's a lot of residents that are interested and support this requirement and want their neighbors to make this transition, but it means that we still have a lot of work to do to spread, you know, information and get the word out and get the resources out about making that transition. So, it's still going to be a goal over the next year to get more information out into the community. And then we want to work with our local um organizations. We have some amazing organizations like Sustainable Lafayette, the Chamber of Commerce. Um we want to hopefully align our goals. Um a couple of members from each of those organizations have been attending our

meetings for maybe the last six months. Um in the last month, I was able to go out with the Chamber of Commerce to support their Taste of Lafayette event that is coming up in May. and we were able to walk all of downtown Mount Diablo and talk to almost all of the local food generators and restaurants about different food wear, um, waste prevention, um, composting, recycling. So, it was a great opportunity to collaborate with them and get information out to that sector. Um, and then we want to work with the city. We want to support Mayor Anduri and Council Member McCormack's two-year goal of encouraging more residents to get um food scraps into the green cart. This is one of the easiest things that residents can do to have a real impact on our climate and reduce methane emissions. Um so I'm sure that there will be a place for the ETF to help support that messaging over the next two years. And then we still want to continue our work to reduce single-use plastic food wear in our community. Um we worked on a new brochure which is the photo you see at the right um that we will be using throughout the next year to provide information again to restaurants about reducing waste. Um resources available such as funding to transition from single-use plastic foodear to reusable washable foodware. There's funding from Recycle Smart, which manages the waste and recycling programs for Lafayette. So, we want to make sure that restaurants are aware of that funding. Um, we are updating our website right now. Uh, we still have a community survey going for residents if they're interested in providing feedback about different initiatives that they might want to see to reduce plastic waste in Lafayette. And we of course want to continue to work with the chamber And that concludes our presentation. Thank you.

Right. Well, thank you very much and thank you for all the work that you do. But let's see if there are any questions at this point. Just briefly. Yeah. Well, thank you very much. Uh the ETF stuff is very exciting. I I definitely applaud your the work on the single-use foodware and um plastic waste. Again, I'm not knowing I think ordinance is probably far, but I think education is just like a tremendously great way to do it. And I think anything that we can do to help help with that, obviously as city council, you should let us know because um you know, our restaurant, we have so many restaurants, which is great, but also means it's kind of a we can we can probably make a big impact if we get everybody uh towing in the same direction. So, thank you very much.

Yeah, thank you. Very, very good presentation. It's great to see all of the work that you've been doing and also what you have upcoming. Um I think it's great to hear about your partnership for the Taste of Lafayette restaurant. um participants and reaching out now in advance of the the event. That's just perfect. Really great. So yeah, thank you for everything you do. We look forward to continuing to work on this. Great. I did also I forgot to mention Derek Siver is here. He's our newest member, but we do have a se seven member committee. Um we have four members right now, but we have three vacancies that we would love to fill. So, if you have a passion for the environment with interests such as um water, energy, climate, waste, and recycling, um if you want to volunteer your time in your community, um we would love for you to visit the Lafayette Environmental Task Force web page, check out our goals, and hopefully apply to be on our committee for the next year.

Is there any public comment? The city council is taking public comments on item 7B and Mayor Anduri, I have no speakers in the community hall and I have no speakers in our virtual audience.

Okay. Thank you. And uh just u I thank you very much for mentioning the uh um mayoral initiative to uh get more of the food scraps into the green cans. Our residents will be hearing a lot more about that and look forward to working with the environmental task force on that. So, thank you very much. Thanks for all your work and thanks for all your future work, Derek. Welcome. All right, we're on to the consent calendar. Would anyone like to remove an item from the consent calendar? Jim, I'd like to pull I'd like to pull E, please. Which one? E. Okay.

Plan Bay Area 2050 plus. Okay. Any I I do not want to pull item 8 D, but I just want to note that my um my vote on that will be abstain. No, I do not have I do not have a conflict or recuse myself, but uh it's out of personal interest. I just want to make my uh abstension and I check with the city attorney and this is the right way to do it. Right. Any other items? Is there any member of the public who would like to request that an item be removed? Uh, Mayor Andury, we've seen no requests. Okay. So, can I have a motion for approval of items 8, A, B, C, D, and F? So moved. Is there a second? Second. All in favor say I.

I.

All right. So, we will cover E under item 14. Okay. We're on to item 12A. Patrick Golia, you're on the downtown parking management study which we have been eagerly waiting for. Good evening. I am excited to discuss with you tonight the results of our very robust downtown parking management study. This study was funded by MTC and has resulted in a suite of strategy recommendations that are meant to help Lafayette more efficiently manage our overall supply of on and off streetet parking. Tonight I'm joined tonight uh with uh by Cien Yei and Ben Miller from Alta Consulting. Ben is here remotely and what we'd like to do is take you through a highle overview of the study, the process, and the findings and how they led to the strategy recommendations. Then I'll discuss with you what my recommended next steps will be in implementing a phased approach towards improved parking management in our downtown and how they respond directly to the findings of the study. And I'll pass it off to Cing.

Good evening, mayor and council members. This study builds on LA 2016 parking management strategy. Since then, we have seen changes in travel behavior, state policy, and new development patterns in downtown. So, this study is an update to previous work. The study focused on publicly accessible parking along the Mount Diablo Boulevard corridor, adjacent streets, and the mixeduse area south of downtown. as Patrick mentioned, is funded by an MTC parking management planning grant. And our study area provides nearly 5,000 publicly accessible parking spaces, including 1,800 on street parking, 1,600 off-street parking, and 1500 bar parking spaces. And one key point up front, this study is not about building new parking. Is really about managing the parking system we already have more effectively. Next slide, please. Our work followed a five-step planning process. We started with outreach and policy review, then move on to data collection and demand modeling. So our recommendation you'll see later are grounded in both data and community input. Next slide, please. The engagement include business and community workshops in this very room last year and the online survey. We heard from business owners, employees, residents and visitors and we saw a lot of consistent topics across these groups. Next slide please. From businesses, we heard a strong need for employee parking, clear rules, and maintaining short-term parking for customers. From the broader community, there was more emphasis on safety, walking and biking, signage, and communication. And across all these groups, share parking and better

management was a key. Next slide, please. And with that context, I'll briefly summarize what we found in terms of existing conditions. Next slide. Overall, the data shows that parking supply in downtown is generally adequate. systemwide occupancy is below the industry standard 85% threshold and typically indicates a shortage. So what we are seeing instead are localized hotspot near popular destinations such as Lafayette Plaza Center, Diablo Foods and Fiesta Linen area. So the challenge is less about how much parking exist but more about how it's distributed, managed and understood by users. Next slide please. We also look like uh how system will perform under future conditions. Next slide. For future conditions, we accounted for housing pipeline projects, regional housing needs allocations and potential parking losses due to those new projects. And even under the most conservative assumptions, the system continues to perform well, meaning there's still enough capacity to meet the demand in the future. So this reinforce that the focus should be on better management and shared use rather than building new parking. Next, please. Parking decisions are also shaped by broader policy context at state and regional levels. Lafayette has already been moving towards a more balanced multimodal approach. State policies like AB2097 and regional policies like MTC TOC policy limits new parking requirements especially near transit. So overall the policy direction supports demand management mod multimodal accessibility

and share parking. Bringing all of that together, here are some key findings. Next, please. One of the biggest issues we found is ex employee parking, there's a mismatch between where long-term parking is available and where employees need to be. And that leads to employees using customer spaces or create safety concerns when employees need to walk longer distance, especially at night. So the key solution is coordination not new parking supply. Next please. Another key issue we found is fragmented management. Parking is managed by multiple entities with different rules and systems. In fact over 75% of off- streetet parking in downtown Lafayette are owned and managed by private entities. From a user perspective, unclear pricing, time limits, and regulations creates a lot of confusions and frustrations. A more unified approach would makes the system feel more predictable and easier to for users. Next, please. We also see inconsistency in regulations and enforcement. Different time limits and rules across blocks complicates decision making for users and simplifying and standardizing those rules can improve improve compliance and make enforcement much more efficient. Next, please. Related to that, many users simply don't understand where and when they can park in downtown. Signage can be confusing and there isn't a clear unified identity for parking in downtown. So improving communication and wayfinding is one of the fastest way to improve the user experience. Next, please.

Finally, we found that parking is significantly underutilized. Overall peak occupancy is only around 55%. Which means there are thousands of spaces available even at peak times. So what people experience at a shortage is really a perception issue driven by uneven demand and limited information. Next, please. Lafayette is really a dynamic small city with historic walkable downtown and great mo momentum to support a clear vision statement. Next, please. The goal here is to create a parking system that is predictable, fair, and adaptable. And importantly, parking management works together with improvement to walking and biking. So, it's really about access to downtown, not just parking itself. Next, please. Walking and biking connections such as the adequate uh aqueduct pathway makes it easier to park once and access multiple destinations without moving your car. And improving lighting and safety really helps both customers and employees feel more comfortable using those connections. Next, please. These guiding principles shape how we evaluate strategies. Our parking system should be equitable, easy to understand, and adaptable over time. There's also a strong emphasis on supporting local businesses, optimizing existing supply, and reinforcing a park's downtown environment. Next, please. To organize the recommendations, we group them into five areas: policy, management, operations, supply, and communication. This helps translate the big ideas into

specific actions. Next, please. So, from there, we identified a set of near-term next step for the city. Those top 10 actions really focus on coordination, short-term parking, employee parking, regulations, signage, expanding share parking, and better public facing information. They're intentionally practical and designed to be achievable in the near term. I'll pass over to Patrick. Thank you. So, um, shifting now from the findings and the recommendations to implementation. This is where we translate the study into the next steps and action. And the key takeaway here is that this plan is focused on managing what we already have um not manage not building new parking. So as a next step, we're prioritizing foundational high impact visible actions. So visible improvements that'll immediately improve how the system functions for users among other things. That means focusing on clarity, coordination, and utilization, making it easier for people to understand where to park and making better use of existing spaces. And this is uh implementation is being structured as a phased approach so we can remain flexible and adjust over time based on real data and real experience. So phase one is about getting the found fundamentals right and we've organized this into four key areas. First parking data and inventory. So understanding what we have and how it's being used. Second employee and shared parking. This this directly uh addresses one of the biggest issues we heard about which is the issue of long-term employee parking as well as identifying opportunities for opening up additional parking supply through shared parking agreements. Third, rules, enforcement and

governance. So this is simplifying and making the system more consistent. And then finally, information and wayfinding, helping people actually find available parking and understanding how the system works. To make this more concrete, these are the types of actions we'd be making in phase one. Um, and this includes developing a comprehensive inventory of both public and private parking supply. Um, incomplete. So, not just what's currently publicly accessible today, but the complete uh amount of public of parking supply and establishing a basic data program so that we can track performance over time. On the employee side, it means identifying and facilitating expanded long-term parking options often in partnership with private partner private parking owners. It includes initiating shared use agreements to unlock underutilized parking and then simplifying parking rules, improving enforcement consistency and developing clear maps and public facing uh information. So this slide gets at the outcome of phase one. What will actually be different? So by the end of this phase, the parking system will be better understood through a complete inventory and ongoing data tracking. It'll be easier to navigate, clearer information, and improved wayfinding. It'll be more predictable because we'll have more simplified and more consistent rules across downtown. It'll be better balanced, particularly by expanding and organizing employee parking options. And finally, it'll become more adaptable because we'll have the tools and the data in place to adjust the system over time based on how it's actually performing. Um so stepping back for a moment this is why we're recommending starting with those actions. Um first the action the approach directly reflects what we heard from the community and the businesses particularly around employee parking

confusion about rules and difficulty finding available spaces. It also focuses on improving how the system functions without requiring new construction. Um it prioritizes visible practical improvements. So things that users will see uh and notice on their day-to-day experience and it sets us up for better decision-making in the future by establishing a datadriven foundation so that additional strategies are based on how the system is actually performing. In terms of implementation um I'm envisioning that phase one is designed to be primarily staffled. uh we would be uh using targeted consultant support for more technical components primarily the data collection and wayfinding planning. Um with an estimated cost over a three-year period of approximately 80,000 to 160,000 a year. Um so this is a a relatively modest investment focused on improving how the system functions rather than building new infrastructure which is much more costly. And many of these actions can begin incrementally using existing staff resources. So in terms of next steps tonight, we're looking for direction from council to receive the study findings, affirm the overall strategic direction, and provide input on phase one priorities. Thank you.

All right. Thank you very much. I I really appreciate the precise way that you uh presented that. Thank you very much. So, what we'll do is uh take questions from council members and then we'll have just questions and then we'll have public comment and then we'll bring it back to the council for discussion. So, uh question time. Uh yes, just just questions uh for now and really thank you and that I will say the fantastic nice succinct presentation is terrific. Um I'm curious that you're leading with the kind of more data acquisition because it feels like we've had multiple reports lately. I mean I'm kind of curious why you would prioritize that in phase one. The other items seem I understood but that more more data study more kind of evaluation. Do we not have everything already?

Well, we've got a lot great data collection effort done in 2024 by this by Alta. Um what I want to do now is is expand that and identify all the parking in downtown. So that would be parking that's currently not publicly accessible that we may want to open up for potential new uses or shared uses. Okay. So those that phase one you had then are those sequential items? Do you need to complete the data acquisition or the data kind of thing first before you do steps two through five or do you measure them? It can be and no it can it can happen in alignment with the other with the other steps. Thank you.

Well just a followup given what you have now the last few years how much more work do you think it would be to get a complete inventory? Yeah. Okay. So basically the study was done 10 years ago include a broader inventory of the downtown parking spaces and that study counted over 11,000 spaces and all of them about like 5,000 are publicly accessible meaning like a little bit over a half are not publicly accessible. They're are completely private.

Okay. But you're you're talking about being very granular about identifying the property and the number of units on each property. Is that what we don't have? And that's what you want to do? Yes, that that's what we want to do. So, um, we want to understand the total parking supply, not just the 4,500ish that are currently publicly accessible. Right. Okay. I think we make comments afterwards, but thank you. Mhm. Okay. Other questions? Okay.

Thank you. Um I I agree with what you guys are trying to get here and I the data collecting is excellent. Um my bigger question is I thought we had we we in order to be able to develop a transit oriented development on BART, we had to have this parking study done as part of a transit oriented community. And and part of me seems to see this as, you know, I I thought I thought our parking um management was going to go more in the direction of if we get a development on BART, how are we going to survive that if they have no parking? And so, so I know this is a phase one, but I think it's actually part of the requirements. I mean, Greg could probably say if I'm wrong, but I thought that was part of the requirements for us to be able to do. And I was just wondering when that is going to be coming into this parking management study if not in phase one.

And just as a correlary to that and you can build this in. I was going to ask how the BART lot situation was factored into this. Yes. All that

because if the BART lots were to be developed, what would that mean for our downtown? I understand. Well, I guess a preliminary question is I understand you took into account our housing element and the arena numbers and you took that into account. You looked at the spots we would lose and you concluded we still had enough space. But I didn't see an explicit recognition of the BART lot situation, what that would mean if we didn't have BART lots and people who were taking transit were then looking for spaces. Um is Ben Miller Ben is the one that did the the future um parking demand analysis.

I can also briefly talk about the high level numbers. So our assumption include like 12 different housing project that totaling over 300 housing units plus the over six uh00 units under the regional housing needs allocation. So those two combined we have over 900 units. That's like all over the downtown area, not just uh BART parking lot. And currently BART occupancy is that does not include the BA parking lots. That does not Just want to make sure that's clear that it clearly does not include the parking BART parking lot. That's why we're asking was 2000 not include BART parking. That's why we're asking though that's why we're asking the question that fits in. Yeah. Thanks.

Occupancy is currently at about 53%. Bership is still recovering from CO but not there yet. So 53 is what we have now. Meaning they do have like enough capacity to to lose to build new housing. Yeah. I guess my part of the question was I understand what the current situation is, but looking to the future, how did you build in I understand how you built in the our next our current cycle, Reena cycle, but I didn't see building in what might happen with BART parking because if the entire all the lots are developed, there's going to be zero parking. That's also where walking and biking connections kicks in.

Yep. But the the future analysis did not did not assume any loss in BART parking because we don't have anything concrete from BART yet. It was focused on the Reena allocations and the housing element. Okay, good. I just want well I want to make sure I hadn't missed anything but then I also wonder then where well yes we we'll talk about it. I have one more. Yeah.

Um so can we I don't know if this is the right place to add this but I mean I've seen a lot of big charging station you know like the ones over in Lunardis and stuff like that. Is this the kind of study that should include banks of charging stations? Um, to answer the question, we did not we did not consider EV charging stations, but could it be?

Um, I I see that as a tangential issue. This is parking supply and demand and balancing parking supply and demand and um uh not different uses for parking. Okay. Thank you. As of now, the EV requirements is more like a building level especially for new development. During the permitting process, they need to like provide adequate EV parking spaces, but it's not like the focus of this particular study.

Yeah, thank you very much. This is an very helpful and comprehensive study and I appreciate all the work that went into it and the public engagement and the data collection. Um I have a question just a detail about C2 create an exception process for non-standard time limits. Can you clarify that one and and why is it in your in your phase one? So, the idea behind the exceptions um would be as an example um if we had a standard of two-hour parking throughout the core of downtown and we have a new land use that um where the parking uh demand is more for 15-minute or quick parking in and out. Um setting up a process to evaluate those types of requests for changing the parking to a different use. Um, so we want to make sure that it's based in data and the data that we're collecting on how those each space is being used and the occupancy and the occupancy time. Um, but we want to make sure that the process that's established um, uh, a is data driven but also accommodates the or is fair to the land uses that are around it.

Have you been getting requests for changing? Yes. the time yes limitations, but they're one-offs and they and I don't um I don't have a a process for considering how would I consider that versus the land the business owner that's next door to it that wants longer term parking as an example.

Yeah. Okay, I understand. Thank you. Um I think I know the answer to this, but there's no recommendation for a parking structure, a municipal parking structure further out. Um why is that? Um I I think because the conclusion from the data collection is that we have enough parking. Parking structures are uh very very expensive to construct and maintain. Um so um the conclusion was that uh with better management um and identifying hotspots and underutilized areas we can better manage uh demand over the whole system.

Okay. Okay. And my last question, um I noted that you talked about um changing behaviors to a park once walk. Um how what are the possible approaches for making that change in behavior? How would you go about that?

So I think um I see this study as being a foundation to the multimodal study that I'll be talking about next. Um so that we've got the infrastructure both the urban design and the the walking and biking infrastructure that can help to make the entire network feel more comfortable so that people don't feel like okay um I'm going three blocks I'm going to get back in my car and make a very short trip and circulate through the system looking for more parking. Um, so the idea is to have the systems and and the network in place to make people want to just park once and then walk from destination to destination.

Okay. Yeah, I I understand that. I mean, we do have sidewalks in downtown, which is really great and a large part of it. Um, and so they're a facility that exists. And so that's where I was thinking that, well, if people aren't using them and they're driving from lot to lot, how else could you incentivize or encourage, right? We know that the crossings are uncomfortable. Many of the crossings are uncomfortable for people. Um um being on a bike is not comfortable for many people and in uh in in a lot of streets on downtown. So um it's looking at the whole network. Okay, great. Thank you.

Thank Thank you both very much. It's a really thorough presentation and great staff write up. So I have a baseline question. I was frankly taken aback by the occupancy figures for parking. 52% on weekdays, 55% on weekends. I thought it'd be higher than that, like I guess most of your public comment included. How did you validate that? I mean, is that a good number?

Yeah. So basically that's overall number you are saying like 50 or 50 uh 5% are the entire downtown including downtown core and east west and the mixeduse area south of downtown core. So that's basically everything but if you look at just downtown core for off street that overall occupancy will be 70% and for on street that 50%. So 50% for on street that's still like low. And another reference is that we have about half meter spaces and have unmetered spaces. So you know it's fair to assume people just prefer unmeter spaces over metered. And uh we do have some hospital nearly 99 or even 100% occupied for example the Lafayette Plaza Center the Diablo Foods and some little u private laws. Um yeah, near the Fiesta Lin area, but you know just across the street or next door we have Safeway parking lot only 50%. Or Wells Fargo across the street just 20%. So that you know combined we have 70%. There's still space available just not in front of their destinations.

Okay. Okay. And and then in terms of the data collection process I'm thinking you got almost 5,000 parking spaces in the downtown. That seems to me like a big number. How is is there how do you can you actually track that? Can you put it is there a system you could put it in GIS or whatever that where you could really put all the the raw data in and say look here's our output in a way that we can understand that I I don't know this space but I'd be curious like can you really manage that process?

Yeah. So we have different data collection methodology for different areas. for private lots we we actually got some other data firm providing that data to us on an hourly basis. So that is pretty accurate and also very frequent and for other areas we collected data through a data wonder they do like four times a day on both weekday and weekends. So we also did some spot check using the near map data basically is a aerial photo um taken by you know just planes airplanes. So we can just zoom in and and count parking occupied parking spaces um for some locations. So we we believe that's a pretty accurate data set.

Okay. Okay. And I may be jumping the gun on this so please tell me. But one of the key elements is the employee parking part. Are there strategies that are being thought of to for outreach to businesses for that or is that really coming later and you probably best not answer that now? Um, well, we want to uh facilitate existing relationships with the Chamber of Commerce. We want to ultimately reach out to some of the larger employers in the in the city. Um, we've already made a lot of those connections through this uh outreach that we did um where we sent postcards to every single business um in downtown. So, um, those relationships have been made, but we want to start to, um, uh, find some of the underutilized parking, uh, today where we can perhaps expand, uh, employee permit parking program. So, that would include both public and private lots.

Okay. Okay. And my last one is I in the staff report, I mentioned uh, under strategy areas, demand responsive management tools, which went right over my head. What is a demand responsive management tool like in a late lay person's term?

Uh so basically it means using realworld data to adjust parking rules over time rather than just setting a regulation and letting it be. So if we if we are collecting data over time um if we see certain areas that are consistently full um and others that are underutilizing underutilized that maybe we change our wayfinding plan maybe we over time we raise the rates in the higher demand area and lower the rates in the under demand area. Um it's responding to real world conditions to make decisions about what happens next.

Okay. Interesting. Also want to mention this strategy is very commonly used in some other cities like San Francisco. They do that on a monthly or semionthly basis and we have other cities like Austin, Texas or Milwaukee, Wisconsin. They do on a real time basis. We're not there yet but we can certainly just check the data and adjust pricing strategies. Yeah. Time to time. Okay. Thank you.

Yeah. I have four questions with the first one relates to this. If we're concerned about people being confused because the rules change, how do we make them less confused by having demand pricing? So, they don't know until they get to the meter what they're going to be paying for their parking. Yeah. We're not there yet in terms of doing demand-based parking. So, we're not That is not one of the recommendations.

Is that what Austin is doing? Is that what you're referring to? And some other cities they have this online GS based database uh for public facing information. So basically public can check you know pricing and rules information online and just zoom in and zoom out on an interactive map. Okay. So before you get in your car to go downtown you need to Well, we can talk about this later. Okay. Other there's also apps or you know software can do the same thing.

Yeah. Okay. Um, on page 12, I note that several commissioners noted that bicycle parking should be considered as part of the broader parking management discussion. And I understand that wasn't part of the survey, but can you confirm that the multimodal mobility study that we're going to be looking at? Just this is for the public. You can confirm that that's going to look at bicycle. It will be. Yep.

Okay. And then I was in intrigued um when you were showing bullet points under the forums because under the the business uh local business forum item number four was downtown shuttle. Was that something that was mentioned by more than one person or business person as something they would like to see? I'm just wondering how much support there was for a a downtown shuttle. Um, I recall at least one person mentioned that during the business workshop, but it's more suitable for, you know, a standalone parking structure at the edge of downtown so that we can transport people from that parking garage to the rest of downtown, but it's not the case for our recommendation.

Okay. Yeah. Just wondering. Uh and then uh you just mentioned the uh well the the example of you have public parking and then across the street you've got Safeway or you got Wells Fargo. What do other cities do? If you can just give an example of coordinating um you're let's see where is it um one of the yeah manage downtown parking as a coordinated system is one of the top 10 items here. What's an example of how is that done? How do you coordinate the downtown parking as a coordinated system? Go ahead.

Okay. I was going to say that could mean a number of different things. We could align signage um across public and private parking lots. Um clarifying rules and time limits. Um improving public facing information like maps that would include both public and private publicly accessible parking. um and working with property owners to coordinate access and use. So um it's a number of things to try to make the system feel like one system to users rather than um disperate.

Okay. So just as an example, would that mean maybe working with Safeway or Whole Food? Well, the this the center across the street so that they would uh tolerate or allow shoppers who are going to the south side of Mount Diablo Boulevard to park there and do their shopping. I'm seeing it more as making sure that the enforcement hours are consistent, that they're clear. Okay. Well, there are no enforcement. No, I know, but the paid private lots are a different time than the public um enforcement hours. Um No, no, I understand. I'm just trying to

figure because a lot of the the chart that showed the the private lots were these lots along here. I'm just wondering right now they're they're free. You go in, you get a spot. Um how would that be more coordinated in a system and how would that help? How would it help? Uh it well how would it first how would it be coordinated? What or what are you

I'm envisioning uh trying to bring the city and and the private uh lot owners together to try to make it feel more uh like one system. I'm not sure if it's achieve fully achievable because the city doesn't have any jurisdiction over the private parking lots, but um we want to work together to make it to the greatest degree possible feel like one parking network. Okay, great. Thank you. Okay. Oh, further questions?

One last one. I'm sorry. So, uh, it's I have this down as like up to three years for this phase one because this is going to come up later. So, by like July one of next year, the end of the next fiscal year, where do you think me might be? We'll have the data collected, I would think, but we wouldn't have recommendations by that point. Is that fair? Are you talking about 26?

I'm talking about July 127. Um, at by July 127, yes, we'd like to have a parking inventory complete. Uh, I'd like to be on my way of setting up a a more robust employee parking uh, permit program in the city. Uh, identify opportunities for shared parking, have a process in place for that. Um, and, uh, start to think about wayfinding and branding. Okay, great. Thank you.

Okay. Well, then final question on the timing. Your recommendation number four is direct staff to return to council with a detailed implementation work program. When do you anticipate that could be done? Um where are we? April. Uh June. Great. Yep. Great. Okay. Is there any public comment?

Yes. The city council is taking public comment on item 12A1, the downtown Lafayette parking management policy. We have two speaker slips for persons in our community all and I have one hand raised in our virtual audience. The first speaker is Kirk Wandi to be followed by Sebastian Valerig. And if I mispronounce your name, please correct me when you get to the podium. Am I good?

Yes. Yep.

Hooray. Thank you. Um and you pronounced my name correctly. Thank you. Um thank you for all these insights. Um my question really pertains to what um council uh sorry mayor actually uh Carl Andori was talking about in terms of coordination between public lots and the private lots. It seems to me um just as a resident and someone who's talked to a lot of business owners. Um the biggest issue with parking is Park Smart and the practices that they've sort of employed around I would say it's uh predatory in terms of uh meter maids coming out like right at 10:00 ticketing people. Um it kind of feels like when you go into these private lots, you're immediately on the clock, right? and it doesn't allow for um the walking experience that you're sort of describing in terms of parking and staying and um browsing and exploring our downtown. Um so one of the things I wanted to ask is what leverage do we have really and like how can we strengthen the relationship with Parks Smart to do better because I think that that is the heart of our downtown is people come here and then they have a negative experience. I know talking to um the bicycle shop owner for instance, you know, you have a kid riding his bike around, comes and get a ticket, dad's upset, walks out. Um you're getting an ice cream cone with your kids, you get a ticket, it sour the entire experience. And so to me, I don't really see the public managed lots as the problem. It's really the private lots. Um I know uh for instance in the Lafayette Merkantile Parks Smart has done different things where they have the QR code appbased system which allows you to extend parking on your phone so you at least get a notification and you can stay longer. You're not sort of like checking your watch the entire time. Um, another thing I wanted to throw out is some of

the businesses in Lafiesta Square are plugging meters for their customers, which is sort of a sad statement for what the parking situation is doing to them. Um, so I just, you know, I I know it sounds great that we need to coordinate parking, but I think it's actually quite complicated to do that and I just want to understand better what the plan is to do that. Okay, we'll take we'll respond to questions at the end of public comment. Okay, thank you very much. Thank you. Go ahead. Next speaker.

Hello. This is uh Sebastian Volering, 953 Hawthorne Drive. Uh maybe a a twofer for me and and um I'm actually going to draw on my European sensibilities here. I I have a Dutch passport and travel a lot to Europe. And one goes all the way back down memory lane to 2022 when I emailed this council uh inquiring about the COVID parklets along Mount Diablo Boulevard. They were actually wonderful in in my wife and my family's experience. I shared photos from Helsburg. If anyone have been there, they've made them permanent and they're a wonderful public space to enjoy. So, while we didn't love the the look of the orange barriers, we're sad to see that they eventually were removed, I guess, in favor of bringing that street parking back, which we would have made that trade as a family any day. So, curious what went to that into that decision-making maybe on the parking side. And then second, um, a little bit to the earlier question on the private public relationship of the Lafayette Circle area. So, the Fiesta Lane and that parking lot. I understand they're both privately owned. Has the city ever uh contemplated um reuse or zoning that would get that closer to a plaza, say like it functions during the uh wine and art festival, for example, to again engender that outdoor living plaza experience that you might have in a European city. Um, again, doesn't have to be the whole location sensitive to the the parking needs there, but even just that side piece uh of Fiesta Lane as an as a starting point. So, curious what the the boundaries are or the considerations on on those two points. Thank you.

Okay. Thank you. Next speaker in our virtual audience, Rob Lavoy. Give him a second to hook in here. Rob, you can unmute yourself, please. Yes. Uh, can you hear me? Yes. Welcome. Thank you.

Um, yeah, I attended several of the uh public uh hearings and uh and I I'm I'm sort of in the camp with uh I think it was Jim that said that the 50% sounded a little low and then they said that they used the averages. So, I think uh a lot of things can be a lot of problems can be hidden with with averages. Um I'm concerned that there's no interest in trying to find more public parking um while we're still not as dense as we're designed to be. Um for instance, we just lost the space for 959 949 Maraga Road for the uh housing project, which is great. Uh, but that was purchased for a parking space and a lot of employees use that and uh it's it's not perfectly downtown so it's not something you're going to park there and go grocery shopping in, but it's great for for employees that are working nearby. Anyway, the longer we wait, the more difficult it is to get land, the higher the land values become when the when there's more density applied to that land. and we could really be in trouble in 10 years if BART picks up again when the AI picks up downtown and people start commuting again and we get all the development going on and all the vacant lots picked up. So, that's that's a big concern I have. Um, I did have an idea. I don't know if you guys have considered figuring out a way to revenue share with private businesses who want to preserve their their parking spaces for their customers or their employees or themselves. But perhaps um you could figure out a way to share revenue so that maybe the businesses have a permit so they can always park there but um they can allow certain spaces that aren't needed uh to be used by the

general public. Um, another thought was, um, you know, just because, um, Wells Fargo has some vacant spots, those people across the street at Trader Joe's and, uh, Diablo Foods are never going to go park over there and go shopping. I just I just don't think that's a solution. So, I think, you know, I I agree that we should study this and try and work it out. Maybe some employees are parking in the Diablo Foods parking lot and and if we get them out of there, there'll be more room for the customers that are lugging the groceries, but uh um the a lot of the the shopping and parking and stuff is specific to the location and it's not going to be pushed out. Nobody's going to go down by Ace Hardware and park down there. So anyway, that's some thoughts. Thank you.

Hey, thank you. Other questions for the speaker? Nope. Thank you very much, Rob. Mayor Anduri, we have no additional speakers on this topic.

Okay. Uh then we had some questions. Uh Patrick, do you want to answer Kirk's question about what possible leverage we might have with uh uh Parks Smart? Parks Smart is uh a a partner of ours. We've engaged them as part of this study, but we don't have leverage over how they manage the private parking supply. Um, I'm happy to hear that the speaker acknowledged that uh improved technology helps to um make it easier to park and not overstay your your um your spot or your your um parking meter. Um but we have limited leverage over Park Smart.

Okay. All right. And then Sebastian's uh first question was about the uh Parklet decision and we had exchanged some emails during that that process. I think it's fair to say that the council um was liked the parklets liked having them there. Uh along um well there are two factors involved here. One is that we are not able to indefinitely maintain parklets under under state law. And so we ran into some issues there. We kept them as long as we we could. But the with respect to the Mount Diablo uh Boulevard parklets, uh the merchants uh did not want them and so we could not maintain the parklet if the merchants adjacent to the parklets did not want the parklets. Um, and then with respect to, uh, Lafayette Circle, uh, it was split 50-50 with one not wanting the parklet and the other then opting for what I think is a pretty nice solution of, uh, basically the parking was converted on a temporary still temporary basis uh, to uh, outdoor dining. So that's a story and if you want to discuss it further, I'd be be happy to to talk about it uh, offline. And then uh with the Lafiesta and the ability to reszone the city attorney like to address that or Patrick, do you want to talk about that?

I wasn't quite sure if it was reszoning the property for public use. Is that the understanding? It wasn't quite clear to me, but my understanding was could we do some sort of reasonzoning with Lafiesta parking lot and Fiesta Lane parking lot uh in order to get some sort of uh of use other than uh parking. Those Yeah, those projects did require a certain level of parking. So, I I would be concerned about reszoning it um and and mandating that they not be used as parking. If there was an interest, I think in working with the property owner, if they were interested in doing something, I think it would be something we could look into. Yeah.

But, well, it'd be fair to say that the city could not do anything without the cooperation. we wouldn't be able to just unilaterally reszone it and and expect the parking to be removed and operated in a in a plaza-like fashion.

Okay. All right. And we can talk more about that offline if you like. Okay. So, uh we'll bring it back to the council for discussion. The there are four recommendations. Uh number one, we can immediately agree to receive the downtown Lafayette parking management study. Again, this was an excellent piece of work. Just fantastic. Really a lot of good information, but the way it was analyzed, it's good and gave us a lot of information that we didn't didn't have. So, it's great. Uh, and then the second uh recommendation is affirm the study's strategic direction emphasizing improved management, coordination, and communication of existing parking resources. Um, I'm trying to think if if that the third one then is provide direction to staff on the proposed phase one implementation work program. Why don't we just take comments on both of those because I think where we're going to end up is to well unless I just want to test this on number four is direct staff to return to city council with a detailed implementation work program in any associated budget. I think we're going to want to do that.

Oh, we are definitely going to do that. Okay. So um let's have comments then on two and three uh focusing well on direction to staff right. So who would like to go first?

I have some thoughts I can start if you don't mind. So uh it was great. No I think it was terrific. I did attend several of the workshops um as business owner downtown and kind of in the chamber. Um I thought it was done. It was well done. You know you've got you got a lot of different um opinions. I will say in the report and we heard from the public comment as well. I mean there is this kind of still confusion about the business owner versus the property owner and a lot of times the business owners may want something a property owner who's one actually hiring parts smart has a different kind of idea and so it is difficult because we hear from business owners who are frustrated you know but in fact they they actually have very little control because the property owner is the one who actually owns the parking lot so it might be it might make sense at some point in this to kind of clarify that a little bit because it's confusing who actually has control over it. Um, I did want to kind of point out because this was mentioned several times in passing. Um, but I know it's an I'm just going to say it's a point that that the chambers advocated before about standard the standardizing of the hours of the spots um of the of the on street off street parking between Parks Mart and the city to make sure the hours are consistent and the rules are consist and the signage is consistent. It doesn't feel like that requires a whole lot more analysis other than I think there there's there real concerns about um about uh staffing of the parking and how that works because that the timing that Parks Smart has doesn't align with our staffing of our parking attendants. But I think that one I would love to see that really kind of pushed up. That feels to me like a relatively easy win to at least get this consistent uh customer uh visitor experience. uh because right now we have heard oh it's confusing sometimes you get a get a um a ticket sometimes you don't whether you happen to park on the street or on a lot and when you're just parking you don't think the difference so that would be just a thought um I also want to echo I think Rob's point Rob Lavoy's point on the calling was quite good that in fact we are going to be losing um both 949 Moraga parking um as well as you know Campana we know there's changes there both those are used as kind of semiofficial employee parking lots so those are going to go away And so it

does just make that employee um need that much greater. So I thought his points were well served and those were not really in um the report directly, but those are those are going to happen much quicker than the reena implications are. So that might be something to really uh uh to really hone in on. Um but I did like I like I think your personally I can leave it I thought your phase ones um work great. I I'm I'm worried about too much analysis beyond doing some stuff that seems like we kind of know common sense to do, but um I liked your phase one um ideas and I'd love to see it in fewer than three years.

Yeah, I I think you guys did terrific work on this. I learned a lot. Um and I personally like the approach of trying to manage it better as opposed to building more parking. I mean, 20 years ago when I last dabbled in that, it was a $20 million plus number for a public garage. We just don't have that money. So, making best use of resources to me just seems smart. And there may be some lowhanging fruit in all this in terms of coordinating with some of the private entities. Um, I'm probably downplaying some of the complexity of that, but that just seems like a smart way to go. I mean, I I thought this is a really intelligent, thoughtful way to try to better approach all this and improve the experience. So, we want to encourage people to, you know, shop in downtown the downtown and take advantage of what we have. I saw some public comments with people going to Walnut Creek because they thought it was better, which frankly confounded me. But, uh, I think we ought to have this perception that, oh yeah, Lafayette, it works. I want to come here and eat lunch or buy something. So I think this is a great approach.

I have one follow-up comment on that one just to so it's interesting because ParksMart, which I mean we're speak of this frustration with Parks Smart, but I think the good news through all this is really we only have one vendor we need to work with a lot because Sparks Smart because they own or manage own they manage a lot you know and they've been it seems relatively cooperative. So I think we really but luckily there's only one entity. It isn't like a more complicated city where you have about dozen entities. And just as an aside, they are also the ones that manage the the parking in Wana Creek. And so leaving Lafayette to go to Wana Creek, it's the same oversight. Yeah.

And I I just want to quickly follow up on one comment that Rob Lavoy made about the averages. My understanding of the report was that you concluded that even at the high point uh there was still adequate parking not the average but at the high point right so we didn't really average over time so we average you know like geographically and we also have the like detailed data for each single lot and even then the private law shows 70% peak occupancy on weekends around noon time. Okay. Yeah, we do have some full loss from Yeah, like the the places I already mentioned. We definitely acknowledge that.

Okay. I also want to mention the future condition analysis already accounted for parking losses. For example, the 949 Morocco Road. Thanks. I I still want to get back to the BART issue we we will be facing. I mean, it is something that I I I would hope that there is at least some thought about if we lose all those parking lots because it really honestly could happen. I do have a question just I guess more to to everybody on the part thing. So, I wonder if there's a scenario on BART parking. I think you're right that we should model this out, but is the is the realistic thing that we would lose all the parking or more like they would just take one of the lots and do a development? I've always had

2923 says that they do not have to replace any I know and that we have reszoned all the law. I think we have to plan for having no law. No. Yeah. Well, that would be an interesting Yeah. And I'm curious in their current situation and how the directionally the ch things change in their current financial situation. Yeah. Worthwhile getting a BART

just looking at how bad things can well I mean how different things can be is that we've reszoned the BART parking lots for 75 dwelling per acre. They could develop each lot and it could be developed. So you think, okay, it's going to be developing, but all the parking will be on site. But as you point out, not necessarily the case. So they could be developing all the parking, taking away all the transit parking, and people who live in the units will need to find additional. I think the question I have or maybe this is for Patrick analyze I mean it's at some point I mean how much do you like do you how do you hack into this kind of discussion though right of trying to get something within the next two or three years versus a longer term thing I just don't know how to I mean I I agree it's like it feels like parking Armageddon if that happens but I don't know how you what do you do with that

but if we've got the data I just see some analysis of it obviously we don't have a solution for it no we don't we don't have a solution for it man but at least at least acknowledge it, at least say we did this or we didn't do this, right? So we know where we stand after this. Well, this this is I think something to consider because we will be having discussions with BART

and this gives us a really good basis to think, okay, when we talk to BART, if we could do some further analysis that uh would look into what it would mean if the BART parking lots were gone, what would that do? And at least we'd have some numbers when we're talking to BART to say how that would impact our downtown situation.

One more thing, at some point, East Bay Mud on the aqueduct, all this lovely bike lane that we're doing on the Aqueduct, they had said that we could have parking there. I remember that. Remember that New Bright? There may be spots on the east aqueduct that we don't use for the bike route, but could be for employee parking. It was something that came up a couple years ago. That's that's

Yeah, I I support the data collection. I think we have to have it as a foundation, as a baseline for further analysis and decision making. Um I hope that with the shared parking arrangement investigation, you are also looking at ways that um customers can can avail themselves of potentially shared use agreements because you know we have some parking lots where the businesses are like it's mine and then others where no it's mine but you would be customers would be better served if they could just park in the one and then potentially go and use some other visit some other businesses in the area. Um, and so I don't know how you'll be able to incentivize or encourage businesses that own lots to share. Um, but I think it's a good goal.

Yeah. I'd like to follow up on that and ask Miss Lee if you're familiar with situations where that's happened, where there have been understandings or agreements among private parking lots that uh customers of other businesses can park there. sort of the the one one one stop and then go shop approach. Well, we we do have that to some degree at um Chase Bank and Merkantile where it's um business use during the day and it opens up at night for public use and weekends. So, we do have that um to some degree. I don't think that's exactly what you're hitting on, but but we were partially there.

Yeah. In terms of those agreements. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah, I guess I'm thinking about some of the small bit small parcels we have on Mount Diablo where there's even a barrier between two businesses and the lots and if the barrier just weren't there and then that could be pulled and shared, um it would just be more functional so that a person might not drive into the one little lot, do their business and then drive out of it to then go to the one next door for example. So my colleague online Ben Miller mentioned both WA Craig and Railway City have this shared parking program between businesses. So it's certainly possible. We'll look into that in the next phase.

Okay. All right. Any other comments? Do you feel you have sufficient direction? I do. Yep. Okay. Question for the city attorney. Do we need a motion? I don't think we do, unless you prefer. Okay. And thank you very much and we'll look forward to the detailed implementation work program with the uh funding request. Thank you very much. Mr. Golia, you may continue.

Okay. Um, tonight's second item for me is about establishing a new committee to help coordinate a significant body of transportation planning and urban design work that is either underway or about to begin in and around downtown Lafayette. As outlined in my staff report, the city is advancing several overlapping projects, including the Mount Diablo corridor multimmoal study, the aqueduct pathway design, the BART access circ access and circulation study, and a number of other related corridor and policy initiatives. So individually, each of these projects is important to the city, but taken together, they represent a coordinated multi-year effort to shape how people move through downtown, whether walking, biking, or driving. So one of the challenges and opportunities is that these efforts overlap geographically, thematically, and in timing. And decisions made for one project can directly influence another, particularly when it comes to how we allocate limited rightaway and how we make decisions about a variety of potential trade-offs. So at a high level, this is about coordination and making sure that we're looking at all of these projects together rather than one at a time. So the intent here is to create a structured way to look at these efforts collectively rather than in isolation. And so to support that staff is proposing the formation of a multimodal mobility advisory committee. This would be a time limited advisory body meeting over the next 18 to 24 months aligned with key project milestones. And the committee's role would be to provide early stage coordinated input across all of these efforts, hoping to identify connections, trade-offs, and align strategic direction before recommendations are brought forward to the various commissions and to the city council for formal action. This group would not make decisions or

take formal action. It's intended to strengthen and refine the work as it develops and help establish a framework. In terms of composition, the committee is intended to be a working group that brings together a mix of multidisciplinary perspectives. And this would include uh council members with one serving as chair, a representative from the transportation and circulation commission, a representative from either the planning commission or the design review commission, and three at large community members for seven total members. And the structure is intended to balance policy, technical, and community perspectives while still being small enough to function effectively. The goal is to align input across all of these studies and projects, resolve conflicts early, improve efficiency in decision-m, streamline our public engagement, seek consensus, and ultimately produce stronger and more implementable outcomes. So tonight we're looking for council direction on three key items. One is confirmation of the committee's advisory role and the overall structure. A direction on the makeup of the comm committee and direction on whether staff can begin to recruit for the atlarge committee members.

Okay. Thank you. Other questions? We'll use the same format as for the previous item. Questions, public comment, and back for discussion. Are there questions? Yep. Thank you very much. Uh I appreciate the thoughtfulness going through all this work. Um is there a tie or an overlap with the discussion we just had? I mean the parking seems to be part of all this in a big picture way. Is there overlap here that this

I think there is I'm I'm seeing the parking study as kind of being a a foundation. Um so if we are moving towards a park once approach as an example um as uh council member Witherspoon mentioned you know what would help to facilitate that and the answer the answers might come in from the multimmoal study and some of these other studies. So um I think we've got a foundation here in the parking study and I think these other studies are going to help to build on top of that. Okay. And my next question is kind of having having sat on another city committee on a private in my prior life. Um my question was like could we fit this under transer? I mean it seems like a lot of what's going on here is something that's in the purview of the transer commission. Is that is that thought about?

It has been thought about. Um we're seeing particularly the multimodal study as being u multiddisciplinary you know combining transportation planning urban design land use and so we want to make sure that the uh proposed committee is multiddisciplinary and representing the different um areas of expertise from the different commissions and bringing on uh um at large community members who have a particular interest in this type of work. Okay. And and is the thought here that on a there's two ways to do this. I guess you committee gets underway and at the end of whatever time frame it is there's a big report to the council which to me is a huge data dump. Is there thoughts like there'd be periodic checkin so council has a sense as to what's going on or what direction y'all are heading in even those council members on this? Yep, I think that's a great idea. And as I'm setting this up, the the committee um I would uh want to come back here quarterly or um um at project milestones as an example to provide information so that the entire council is getting um uh periodic information and and status updates.

That's helpful. Yep. And I guess we'll talk about like composition in the discussion part. Thank you. Thank you very much.

Yeah, thank thank you Patrick. Um very helpful overview. Um so there there was significant public outreach and engagement for the parking study that you just told us about. um numerous meetings, online survey um and in this um in this M3 or the umbrella um the committee will be looking at there's at least four major studies um that I see and so I'm wondering will there be substantive or substantial public outreach and engagement in this? It looks like a really aggressive timeline for two years because I think the parking study was probably almost two was about 18 months or so. Yeah.

Yeah. And yes, so each of the studies will have um uh significant public outreach. We're seeing them kind of um coalesing under the advisory committee. But the M3 study as an example, we are um now interviewing consultant teams. But what we've proposed is uh surveys um workshops and a an actual design chet um with the advisory committee. Um all of these would be you know publicly noticed and um we want to make sure that uh our our communication is um clear because it is confusing how many studies we have and how they all um come together. So that's still a work in progress but we do want to make sure that yes there's a very significant and robust public engagement and that it's communicated very clearly.

Yeah. Thank you. I think it's really important because if you're going to be going out to the public asking them uh you know different angles on essentially kind of maybe the same question at different times I think it might get pretty confused. Um so thank you for that. And then um can I follow up before you move on on that? But you don't anticipate this advisory group carrying out public outreach, right? No. No. Yeah. I just want to make sure this is not an extra level that's going to be carried out in as part of these studies. The advisory group can advise on maybe how the studies can um jointly seek public output, but this group would not be independently seek

No, but I'm but the the advisory committee would be subject to the Brown Act as an example and so those meetings would be public. Yes. Like Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Understood. But I think my my main concern was just so many different balls in the air and um limited very limited time duration for this. So um let me see if I have any other questions about I think that that would I think that's it. Thank you. Um will I guess the details of this would you make these u more of a hybrid meeting? There might be a lot of interest in them. I'm just asking a hybrid meeting so that people can participate remotely. Yeah. Yes. I I think that's a great idea. Okay.

Yeah. Thank you. Um, one question. This is more for Mala kind of because Stella and I are on, you know, TransURC and we are CCTA and, you know, the Lumber School bus and SWAT and LFA and we often have meetings with you and and Mike and Matt and can those continue? I mean, okay. So, we can like we'll be talking about exactly the same things. you you can continue to have those discussions. Obviously staff would not be able to get your thoughts on items that would be per se going to this new committee but

Patrick for instance could present you know what they are coming out with you information exactly and update you on things we'll keep it clean public comment yes we have public comment we're taking public comment on the multimodal mobility advisory committee recommendation here. Our first speaker is Brian Parsons to be followed by Max Hener to be followed by David Clark. Three minutes each and if anyone in our virtual audience wants to speak, raise your hand now.

Okay, welcome back.

Yeah, I got to get it all in one night. Um, first of all, thank you for having me and also thank you for having do you have parental obligations? Um, that's new this year. So, as a parent, we really appreciate that. Um, it's hard to get our kids in here and participate and it's hard for us to make the time to come here. Um, thank you, Patrick. Um, you won us $3.7 million for that grant. It was one of only three in Contraosta this cycle, so great job. Um, but I'm here from Vibrant Lafayette. Um, we heard about this study. We want to be a part of it. I know there's three open seats. Um, we advocate for downtown specifically. We advocate for pedestrians and walkability. Um, we talked to a lot of people. We've run two free bike safety courses in the last month. We've met we've taught over 35 kids biking. We've talked to their parents. We're listening. We've also gone to two different swell appointments um or hangouts down at the library um on Tuesdays the senior wellness stuff to get their feedback. Um we feel like we align perfectly with this um and yeah we would love to be considered to be part of the study in any way we can. So that's all.

Thank you. Other questions for the speaker? No. Thank you very much. Max Hener to be followed by David Clark.

Hi, good evening council. Um, my name is Max Henninger. I'm a Lafayette resident and I'm a board member of Inclusive Lafayette and I'm here to express my strong support for the M3 plan. Um, personally, I was fortunate to grow up in a neighborhood um where I could bike to school from kinderg kindergarten through 8th grade. And that independence was only possible because of protected walking and bike lanes much like the ones that you'll be uh reviewing tonight. And I think that was a big part of um developing as a person, having a sense of community that there there was a world outside there. And I would love for my two young girls to one day have that opportunity too. We know that the status quo is unsafe. We see it every day when we see kids um riding ebikes on sidewalks or more realistically uh not biking at all. The default too often is a parental shuttle across town, even in neighborhoods like the one that we live in that are essentially part of the downtown itself. Our kids are still very young, but we already know how important it is that we teach them that the world outside is more interesting than the world on a screen. And that starts by creating the built environment here in Lafayette where they can navigate to school safely. I urge a vote in favor of staff's recommendation to create the M3 advisory committee and I applaud your leadership in creating this essential infrastructure for the next generation to grow and thrive in Lafayette. Thank you.

Okay. Thank you. Other questions? Hey, thank you very much. David Clark.

Hi, good evening. I'm Dave Clark. As you know, I'm on the creeks committee, although these comments are mine and not the creeks committee. But I I I didn't know I was going to say this until I got here tonight, which I think is a good advertisement for showing up at the city council meetings. But in any event, uh, Patrick, I think what what I what I think I think there's an opportunity here to include the Creeks Committee. And one of the problems that we have had collectively on the committee and I've had personally over a number of years, maybe a decade, has been trying to keep track of everything that's going on with that that that touches or involves um, in a multid-disciplinary sense in in the city. So it it requires that somebody a lot of times it's been me which is fine but somebody attends city council meetings obviously but also park track and rec PTNR meetings planning commission meetings design review committee meetings trying to figure out which of those meetings make sense to attend. So we have to you know monitor those things. here's an opportunity you to include someone from the creeks committee and I I can speak for the committee on this point that I'm sure there is someone on the committee who would be happy to attend these meetings but nevertheless that would be able to uh participate as a participant in this project uh as a direct member assuming for example that it's not included under the uh transur umbrella um I think that makes sense for um a lot of reasons one of we have 16 milesi creeks in in Lafayette. And a lot of the planning that we've been looking at is to try to incorporate uh pathways, trails along alongside of creeks through various parts of Lafayette. And that fits right into this a lot of the multimodal um concept that we're talking about because it gets back to mayor your comment about park in one place and walk to the rest. Well, if we've got if we've got trails, this is long term, obviously, but trails of parallel creeks that uh do that, then

this is a good place for the creek committee to creeks committee to be represented in reaching those decisions. I I'll be honest, we're going to try to cover this anyway, but it would be a lot easier if uh there were a a member of the creeks committee as a participant on on this on this new um committee. So, I'm going to leave it at that. Thank you. Thank you. Questions? Nope. Thank you very much. Is there any other public comment on this item? Rob Lavoy and if you would unmute yourself please.

Good evening again. Um, I just wanted to ask Patrick if he could clarify again the expertise um for this committee that wouldn't be on the transer committee cuz just thinking about you know one more committee and all the busy things people are doing it just seems like if we can work within the existing structure um that would make more sense but thank you that's it. Okay. Any Well, that was a question. Okay. So, is there any other public comments? No additional public comments. Okay. Patrick, would you like to respond?

Yeah. So, the M3 study as an example, we're seeing as having strong transportation elements, but also strong urban design elements as well. Um, so, uh, as well as it's touching land use, it's touching housing development. These are kind of all coming together. We want to look at everything holistically. And so while the transportation commission has expertise in transportation, it doesn't necessarily have expertise in the others. Um we're also hoping um that um for example that each of the commission um members that sit on the advisory committee can go back and report out to the uh to their respective commissions and committees um to help get the word out about what is happening and decisions that have been made and um what's been discussed at these at these advisory committee meetings.

Okay. And I I just might add to that that I I see this as an urban planning exercise and since advocating for this since the priority meeting in 2022. Um this the reason we're doing this is because of our arena allocation and the fact that we'll be building a lot more housing. And so really all this is being done so that we can reach the goal of people who are moving in to this new housing that will be developed in the downtown. We recognize people are going to have a car, but we want to make sure people don't have to have two cars because if they do, it's just not going to work in our downtown. So, it really is an urban planning measure to set up our downtown. So, it is a walkable, livable, vibrant, pedestrian friendly, bicycle friendly downtown that is not built uh to service cars.

Right. I I will say also um this is this is not exactly the same, but I was like so encouraged by the expert committee that was brought together for the tower and and all that and uh the the expertise we have in the community for for things that aren't ne that um go beyond who who's on commissions also. So um I think having people with expertise in that area uh would really add a a great it would add a lot to this thing. And I I also want to point out I'm thinking um this commission or this committee um is it will be public. I mean this would be a place for people to come and kind of get this kind of nexus which is it's hard to keep all these the studies in in in place and the commissions you know committee that trans we only hear them at certain stages and I think for this to be the kind of the clearing house of all going so I would expect that um even if you're not on the com the committee you you could come and participate and uh and learn a lot. So I think it's got I think it's got a lot to uh be said. Yeah, I think this is a great idea. Um, my question was like why not fold this under trans circus plus creating a new committee, but I get the argument. Um, and um, yeah, it is an urban design kind of a question as the mayor said. I think it might be helpful. Um, I know we'll have someone on transer on it as per the structure, but maybe have one of our two Transer reps on it also. So, we've got as a council some tie into this as well in in addition to the two likely the mayor, I guess, or vice mayor. Anyway, just a thought.

Yeah. Um, thank you Patrick. You mentioned um the urban design, urban planning part of it and other council members did and the mayor did. Um there's no question transportation and land use planning are inextricably linked. Um so I'm glad to see this holistic integrated approach, but I'm just wondering um which of the studies or projects will be focused on the urban design? Is it the is it the the M3 study? Because most of the others, if not all the others, are pretty much just transportation. Yeah. M3 which is the I'm considering is the parent study. Okay. So, that will get into the urban design, streetscape, the

the feeling. Yes. Design for the streets. Okay, that's helpful. Um, I have a couple other questions, but on different Oh, go ahead. different thread if

Yeah. Yeah. Okay. Um, so one thought that I had as I was thinking about the GPAC experience, um, which I had being a representative from Transir was that I was also with a bunch of neighborhood representatives who were bringing their perspective from their locations. Um, and so because the idea here is to perhaps reform downtown to make accessibility better for people from neighborhoods, I wonder if you've thought about I know we're talking about now we got lots of different parties that want to be part of the committee, but um, neighborhood representation. I had not considered searching for geographic representation more than just um making sure that the the committee is balanced in terms of areas of expertise and interest. But um I can add that as a as a factor

maybe just something to consider. Um okay and then

um let me see now I've got a couple things. So, you know, I guess I'll just be frank. The the some of the words in the document streamline public engagement, stakeholder input, support efficient decision-m, they can be read as reducing duplication in the context of so many different studies going on at the same time. But they also, I think, could be read as compressing or substituting a small committee process for broader, excuse me, broader study specific public outreach. And I know that you've you've addressed the the public outreach will be a robust, but I did just want to put that out there because in the report you don't specify the public outreach component. The only the only written information is that streamline public engagement and stakeholder input. um

that the advisory committee is not intended to um replace uh public engagement, but it's meant to be kind of a clearing house for not a clearing house, but to to roll everything up, right? So that um if the public's only paying attention to one thing, it might be this study that or this the work that's going in front of the advisory committee because everything will go through that advisory committee. Okay,

does that make sense? Um so that the public is not hearing about eight individual um different studies that are confusing because they do overlap, but if they're paying attention to just one thing, it's okay. We're we're going to be talking about holistically what's happening downtown and how people are getting around.

Okay. Okay. Um, yeah. I mean, I guess I just felt like the the to me when I was reading the report, it loo sounded like the committee could potentially become a kind of filter through which some pretty major policy recommendations and design choices would be shaped before the broader public had a opportunity to meaningfully engage. But that's probably because I'm not really clear about the the process that you'll be going through for each of the studies outside of the committee. So it sounds like outside of the committee work, you'll be running the studies as you would with many others like the parking study. Yes. Then bringing that back to the committee. That's right.

Okay. Okay. That that's really helpful. Um I think it's just it's really important you know since working with TR on transer since 2019 been involved through four contentious projects really contentious projects. I think a common thread for them was that there wasn't substantial engagement with the community. start, right? And then we kind of brought them in later and it made the whole process very long and and difficult for everyone, right?

Um so that that's my my concern. Um and then I guess the last thing, let's see. So I'm still not clear on the governance issue part of it that that council member Kandell raised. Um, so as she mentioned, we're liaison to a bunch of the transportation focused um, areas and groups and we meet sometimes with Patrick and um, Matt and Mike about projects. And so it's still not clear to me how this that this structure won't create kind of two overlapping council transportation tracks. Um, and so, you know, I could just I guess I just need clarification. And so maybe if Mala could maybe make a written um communication about how this process will will work um because I just don't want you know kind of four we can't have I think four council people all engaging on these topics with Patrick and I mean you had mentioned keeping it clean but I guess it's just still unclear to me So

I think like with everything staff can give updates to council members and you can still engage with staff on questions you might have but the specific purpose and topics that'll be covered by this commission would then not be within both of your subject matter is is what will be the issue. that'll be for this this committee or this commission to discuss and obviously come back to the council at these periodic points and that would be an opportunity for you to discuss it as a whole as a council. Um you can you can always as I said any of the council members can ask staff questions but um I think staff won't be trying to create a serial meeting where they're getting your input on issues. That's the cre the critical brown act component.

Right. That's what that's what I'm concerned about. Yeah. Yeah. Okay. Okay. Um well, I do think that that the suggestion to do more frequent um report outs to the council at milestones is really really important then um so you mentioned I think quarterly or at milestones but yeah I'm thinking maybe every three committee meetings or whatever you know kind of the demarcation that makes sense is um I definitely agree with the hybrid so that there's YouTube recordings so that also the wider public can get access um to the conversation. Um see if there are any other before you move on for that.

Can we do that under our existing We were just talking about it. I think we would bring back an update to that policy because I believe it's only the big four that has the hybrid meetings. So if you wanted to add this, we would have to update that which which we could do. Okay.

Okay. And then I do have one last thing. So, so last thought, um, so in here, not sure exactly which page. Okay. It's in your appendix or attachment two in the additional planning efforts and it mentions the um pedike access through the state route 24 interchange and I think I've made this comment before to council when I was member of the public. Um I just would so appreciate if that study and work could look at just a even small analysis of what would be the process just the process for pursuing changes to the ramp configuration. Um because you know that historically was built that that interchange the full Cloverleaf interchange was built with the intention of supporting two freeway um interchange. it would be the 24 with a freeway that never happened which was the highway 77 that thank goodness maybe it didn't happen because it would have run right through Burton Valley. Um and the termination of that project really resulted in Calrans right ofway becoming city property. So that's community park down at the um community center um Pleasant Hill Road south of 24. The reason why it's so wide is because it was intended to be a giant freeway. Um, and so I just think that Pleasant Hill Road between Mount Diablo and Deerhill, um, just should it really keep that six to eight lane configuration, um, should freeway traffic flow at freeway speeds off of the highway onto Pleasant Hill Road? Um, I I don't think so with purely school, recreational, and residential land uses on either side.

Um, so I would just ask if that's an area that you can at least do some analysis on just what are the what would the process be?

Thank you. And I'd be open to adding a creeks commissioner um only because the land use and the knowledge of our creeks and what might be available along our creek lines if that's going to be part of the study. Right. And I and I think it is right. The thought is that we would always want a pathway along our creeks. And so, I mean, if they're always going to be there anyway, I don't know, just having them be a voting member and and somebody on your side. I at least I'd be open to that because I know how involved they've been on every single land use decision we have near a creek.

Yeah. Well, just an immediate response to that. I think we want to have at least three at large community members. And if one of those is a creeks committee member then yeah it doesn't preclude that. Okay. Any other and we are um confirming these are happy Lafayette residents. I didn't see that in the uh little write up I don't think but you said community members but I just want to make sure we're saying that Lafayette members or residents. Yeah. Yeah.

Okay. And uh one specific question under the recommendation is whether the committee should include a representative from the planning commission or the design review commission. Um the implication maybe there being two. I I think it's clear that we just have one from design re taking design review and planning there be one of them would be on this commission. No, that's I think that's a mistake to to me because I think that the the creativity of the design review commissioners is a very different skill set than the planning commissioners. I think it's the planning commissioner skill set that we're looking

it is the urban planning. I agree. So, you definitely need a planning commissioner. But if you're saying that this is going to include some design elements or something to it, which is kind of the words you were saying, maybe that's not true. But if there are design elements that coming in there, I think that's what our design Yeah, most likely that's going to be a secondary element though.

Then you would be down to six people and then you don't have an odd number and that would be a No, you're not really taking seven. No, it's seven. Oh, it's still seven. Okay. I mean, three. Yeah. Two council members, um, transer. Okay. Planning, right? And then three, um, at large community members. I mean, the alternatives you add um, some for, some of that mission. I think that starts just better experience with GPAC. Yeah. How big was GPA? That was bigger. That was Yeah, it was 11. It was

Oh, actually it's more than that. Large. It was large and a lot. Yeah. Keeping it seven would be the sweet spot. Yeah. Yeah. I I I I feel like Council Member Randell does have a good point about design review and I I understand the the issues with the number quorum um and keeping it small, but I mean that is the group that took the lead on the objective design standards which were very much an urban design um project. So I don't know I'm not sure how you how you circle as far as I maybe design review and not planning. Oh the planning fields

the primary element here is urban planning. Yeah. And actually this well I think if we decide tonight that there's one then the decision as to which commission might uh depend on who the three uh community members are because we might find somebody in the community who fits design and brings in other elements or somebody past urban planning experience and so we get it that way. Do you want do you want to wait on that one then?

I'm not sure how we would source these anyway. We let the commission well choose their own like their own person. I'm not sure how we so that we can have a sevenperson committee because I think it's going to be very important that it be seven persons uh that we say now that it's going to be one from that one of those commissions. Is that acceptable? We just need to figure out do we do we do the atlarge committee member get picked first and then we figure out I mean is that I'm just kind of curious if that's how you're thinking do that and put it together that way we can do the three we can I can do that becoming more complicated than the NFL draft.

Yeah. Um I think what I would drop on this would be if it's the commissions I think planning I would definitely want to ask some planning commission on this transfer because I mean um design review would be great but if given a choice I think I'd take planning.

Okay but we can hold that decision until we see who the three at large. Okay. So as I understand the proposal before uh the council now is to approve the role and membership structure as presented for the multimmoal mobility advisory committee that the direction to the staff is that the committee include uh well as laid out here but one uh representative of planning or uh design review and as to the two city council members members. The staff report recommends the mayor and the vice mayor, which frankly that's really what I would like to do. Um, and then, uh, the next step is authorize staff to advertise and recruit for three at large community members. So, that's, um, we have that in the form of a motion.

And to clarify, the the three at large members will be Lafayette residents. Yes. Okay. Um, how would we Well, I I'll go ahead and do it. I I move that we approve the proposed role and membership structure as presented to the council, that uh one of the members be a representative of planning or design review, that the two council members be the mayor and vice mayor, and that we authorize staff to advertise and recruit for three at large community members who are residents and trans.

Yeah. Well, that's it's in there. It's in the recommendation. So, yes, transer. Before we actually get a second on that, there's a question on the motion because I just wonder if it would be helpful to have one of our two transfer um representatives on this as well because this I don't know. I think it's it's an urban design exercise. I totally agree with that. I mean, that the transportation component is a big part of it. So, I don't know. I mean, maybe put a motion up and just where it goes. So, yeah.

Uh, it feels pretty big for I mean, I do think the mayor should be on it. I will be mayor next year so we could rotate it, but um I guess I would not stand the way if if someone transer really wanted to do it, but um I would be happy to serve in that capacity. I would not recommend, if I could just say, I would not recommend a rotation of the mayor, the current mayor and then the potential new mayor because then you can have another serial meeting problem with three council members since this is intended to to go for 18 months if not 24 months. So, I would, you know, if if you are picking the current mayor and vice mayor or whoever you're picking, it's it's those actual council members. I would suggest continue for the duration of the committee.

Okay. Okay, I second. Okay. Is there any further discussion? All in favor? Oppos? Okay. It's unanimous. Thank you. Okay, Patrick. Thank you very much,

Patrick. Okay. So, we're on to item sweet. Yes. We'll break for uh five minutes and we'll be back at um 9:35. Sorry.

Yes. I know everybody to be done. Well, that's Yeah. Well, Oh yeah.

Oh yeah.

everyone to uh take their seats. We're on item 12B and with the consent of the council, what I'd like to do is start with public comment from those who are not able to stay uh later at the uh at the at the meeting who need to give their comments before the uh the staff report. Are we okay? All right. I'll ask the city clerk to call the Okay. So, we have uh speaker Chris Treat to be followed by Lillian Callahan Klene.

Welcome. Thank you for the accommodation.

Go ahead. Hi, my name is Chris Treat and I have lived in Lafayette my whole life, 32 years. Like all my neighbors with garbage, taking their cans out to to the curb and returning them after the garbage trucks come. I work at the Queen of Heaven Cemetery in Lafayette doing filing there. I was happy to be on TV talking about Sunflower Hill. I wanted to live at Sunflower Hill in Lafayette. I attend an adult day program locally when I'm not working which I want to continue. My parents live in a Lafayette neighborhood and I would like to visit as I am very comfortable there. Thank you so much. Thank you very much.

You did a great job. Thank you.

Hello. Good evening. My name is Lillian Callahan Klein. I am an adult with autism. I have lived at 3316 in Lafayette with my family since 2005. I'm here in support of the project. This project is important to me because it is very difficult for people with disabilities to find and obtain highquality affordable housing. People with disabilities struggle to obtain and retain their jobs due to their disability. So, this project will be affordable, which will allow people with disabilities to live in highquality housing at an affordable rent. Earlier this year, I went to Herby Ranch in Pleasanton, which is a beautiful community that is built for people with disabilities. So, I'd like to ask for your strong support with this project. It will help make a difference in the lives of people with disabilities. I what I loved what I saw there during my visit to Herby Ranch. As a longtime resident who lives nearby the project site, I would love to be able to live at Sunflower Hill in Lafayette because it will be close to my family and my community. I would like to thank you for taking the time to allow me to speak with you tonight.

Thank you very much. Is there anyone in our virtual audience that is not able to stay until after the staff presentation? Okay. And just give me your name and I'll pull your speaker slip.

Paty Mickens, you have three minutes.

Okay. Thank you. Thank you. Hello, council members. Um, my name is Paty Mickens and Noah Mahaney is my son. Noah is 26 years old and has Down syndrome as well as autism. We have lived in Lafayette for almost 20 years. Noah currently attends the day program at Lust Trumpus in downtown Lafayette. Lafayette is Noah's home. It is the town and community he's grown up in. One where he is recognized and loved by many, where he can be safe and have the most independence possible. It is a community in which he feels he belongs and he does belong. As a parent, I think a lot about Noah's care, quality of life, and safety after his dad and I are no longer here to care for him. There is a huge need for places where adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities can live independently in supportive environments and in community. I had the opportunity to visit Sunflower Hill at Irby Ranch in Liverour two years ago and I was so moved by what I saw. It was so well thought out, beautiful, cheerful and um calendar full of on-site activities for its residents. Uh, if Noah were to have the opportunity to live in Sunflower Hill, Lafayette, it would be a dream come true for him and for so many other adults and their families who um think about their children and and where they'll be able to um grow old. Uh Noah and many of his peers would be able to walk from Sunflower Hill to Lasas for his day program and then come home in the evenings and do activities with friends. Our adult children deserve to live and grow old in the communities in which they are already beloved members and where they feel safe and at home. I completely trust Sunflower Hill to build housing in a community which not only the residents and families will love but the whole city would love to and be proud of. Thank you.

Thank you very much. Mayor Anduri will hold the other public speakers till the end of the meeting. You will we will we be holding all the other public speakers? Yes. Until after the staff report and and questions. And so there are no others who no need to speak before. No. No others who have indicated they need to speak now. Okay. Miss Vantis.

Name again? Anna. Anna T. Okay. Thank

um I'm Anna Tagan. I'm a 30-year Lamarinda resident and a parent of a 22-year-old with special needs. And I'm speaking as a supporter of Sunflower Hill, having visited Obie Ranch and all the way back when you first came when that was just a dream. And it's a dream again for a new community. Um I believe people are what make a community. Um, when I reflect on my years here and the relationships I built, I feel very fortunate and love looking around the room and seeing the community that my daughter has helped our family build. Um, many of the people I know are a result of her role in our lives and um, I think what she's done for our community as well is very important. When those of you who have met her and see her smile and realize the gift she's bringing is a gift that we should not be overlooking and forsaking in our community. So I think to Psy's point of her son being a contributor in ways that maybe the common thought isn't, oh that's a contribution when I think of the manager at Safeway calling her by name and saying well come to my line or the others at the uh Lafayette car wash saying you know come on in and standing and watching the cars go through with their bright rainbow colors of favorite outing or all the people at the reservoir who know her. Our community has grown to love our children and I don't think it should be turning the back on them.

Thank you very much, Mr. Vantes.

Thank you. Good evening. Stephanie Cvantes with the planning division. I will be presenting um the density bonus application uh 01-26. Great. So, um the application before the council today is a density bonus request to allow construction of 48 units um that will be 100% affordable. The units will house individuals with intellectual and de developmental disabilities or ID. The project qualifies for ministerial review under the Lafayette Municipal Code. Thank you. Um under the the Lafayette Municipal Code and the Assembly Bill uh 2162. Uh however, per the uh Lafayette municipal code, the city council has final decision-making power on waiverss, concessions, or incentives on density bonus applications. The project proposes uh to demolish the existing public parking lot for the residential development. Uh the 949 Moraga is on the west side of Moraga Road between Moraga Boulevard and Brook Street across the street from the Lafayette Elementary School. The site is so multifamily residential professional office or MRO and has a land use designation of downtown retail. The site was also included in the city's six housing element as opportunity site number 36. As you can see from this exhibit, the site is in odd shape. Uh the site plan, this site plan shows the building footprint, location of retaining walls um and landscape areas and storm water management areas as well. It also shows the vehicle access and the parking configuration. Here we see the first floor plan. The first floor will contain no residential units. Most of the shared amenities can be found on this level, including the bike storage, mail room, teaching kitchen, fitness area, multi-purpose space, and access to the outdoor courtyard to the rear of the property.

This floor will also contain office areas and um the main trash room as well. The second to fourth floors uh will contain all the residential areas. Uh the floor plans for uh these three levels are very similar. um and that they will all contain one and twobedroom units with the exception of the three bedroomedroom unit on the second level. The second floor will also have access to the um center courtyard. Um all levels will also contain uh caregivers offices, storage and trash rooms. Uh the second level will also contain a resident lounge. The third level will contain a caregiver lounge and the fourth level will contain a laundry room and resident lounge. Uh here you see the elevations. This is what you would see from Moragago Road. These are the uh west um rear elevations and you um these will not be shown as you can see here there is an existing hill that will be blocking the back portion of the building. Uh this is what you will see from the south side and uh to the left of the screen you can see where the outdoor courtyard area the exterior access to that to that courtyard area will be. Um and this is the north elevation. I'm sorry this slide seems a little off. Um apologize for that. So uh here you'll you do see the main lobby area on the left side of of the screen with the hill towards the rear of the property. Uh these are renderings that were provided by the applicant. Um as you can see there is roof uh the roofs have been pitched. There is articulation and the fourth floor is also uh stepped back.

The applicant has also worked uh very closely with the referral agencies and um has heard you know responded to comments from DRC and has planted additional trees along the streetscape in order to uh really screen and make the area very green. All right. Um, going to the zoning code analysis. So the first column that you see there, those are the zoning code requirements for the MRO. Um, as you can see on the proposed side, the project is at requesting waiverss from many of these zoning development standards that I will explain in a later slide. All right. Um this table explains the density. Um the site per the area and per the 25 dwelling units per acre for the MRO zoning, it allows a 29 base density. The project as a residential project is required to comply with the city's 15% inclusionary housing ordinance which would require the project to provide five below market units. The project is a 100% affordable unit um project and thus qualifies for an 80% density bonus through state law loss. Um they are providing 47 below market uh units to meet that provision. The project also meets um the criteria under housing element program E-1E which is a lot consolidation. So they are allowed 5% additional bonus units above the base density which equals two additional units. Uh when you combine all that, the project itself is allowed to have a maximum of 55 dwelling units. They are proposing 48. All right. The this table shows uh the waiverss that are being requested. The applicant is not requesting any concessions or incentives. These are all waivers. Um the zoning district does require a

maximum 35 ft and also requires that portions um for the third story be set back a minimum of 50 ft from the public rightway of Maraga Road. The project does not comply with either one of those provisions and is thus requesting a waiver. They are proposed at 54t 6 in and have portions of the third and fourth story within 50 ft of Moragago Road. They're also requesting waiverss from all setbacks. So from the front yard setback, they are required a 20 foot setback. They are requesting an eight a minimum of 8 ft 7 in. The sideyard setback is set to 10. Per the zoning district, they're requesting a 3-ft setback. The rear guard setback is required at 15. They are proposing a 10-ft setback. The project is also requesting an increase above the floor area ratio to go from 1 to 1.6. Um the open space waiver the minimum requirements uh percentage- wise for the site is 30%. The project is providing 30 30% open space. However, that open space is on the second floor. They are using that second level courtyard to be included in that space. And our ordinance also requires that the open space have a minimum dimension of 10 feet. At least one side has to be minimum 10 ft. The project is using areas of uh open space that have less than a 10-ft dimension. Similar with landscape space, uh we do require the minimum 10 the 10 foot minimum dimension. Um they meet the minimum 20% but they're counting that reduced area space as well. They're also requesting for um two waiverss from our objective our downtown objective standards. The first is from the landscape. Um the objective design standards require that the front yard area have a minimum of 40% landscape and a minimum of one tree per 200 square feet. They are proposing roughly 33% of the landscaped

area and they are providing the seven trees. The second objective standard that they're requesting waiver from is bulk. Um this provision is intended to um essentially create a tier building effect almost like a wedding cake that tears up and this requires the second and third story to be smaller than the ground floor. Um due to the slope the ground floor is smaller than the second, third and fourth floor and thus they're requesting a waiver. Uh they are also requesting a waiver to reduce the number of replacement trees from 26 to 21 and a waiver from the drive aisle. Our stony ordinance requires a minimum of 26 ft. They're requesting a drive aisle of 24 ft. This has been reviewed by our engineering department and uh 24T is sufficient for vehicles to pull out of the parking spaces. And before you go on, could I ask the city attorney to evaluate the ability uh of the city council to uh deny any waiver?

It's incredibly challenging to deny any of the waiverss unless the city can make specific findings that we have yet to be able to make. So I think as you all are aware um in the past the the council has approved um density bonus applications and waiverss and concessions that have been requested by applicants. Okay. Thank you.

Um so in terms of general plan zoning and other governing plans, the project is ministerial and does this only required to comply with objective standards. However, the project generally complies with our general plan zoning downtown specific plan phase one objective design standards and downtown design guidelines and that it creates a project that is pedestrian friendly and produces multif family housing in our downtown area. It also um helps us achieve uh some of our housing element program implementation actions. The project is categorically exempt as an infill exemption project. the project was noticed. Um, there was a notice that was sent out to property owners uh within 500 ft and I'm sorry those dates are incorrect. The notice was sent out um on April I forget the exact date but it was sent in April. Um, we did receive one notice prior to agenda publication that was included in the um, staff report that was published last week and we received one additional comment that was uh, forwarded to the commissioners this afternoon. Staff recommends that the city council hold a public meeting um, and adopt resolution number 2026-30, finding the project is exempt from SQA and approving the project with conditions. That does conclude my presentation and I'm available for questions as well as the applicant.

Okay. So, we'll have uh questions and then we'll hear from the applicant and then we'll open it for uh public comment. So, other questions. Uh thank you very much for a good thorough report. Um I got a few questions. The first is really a math one. So, as I understand it, 35 units an acre is the zoning. It's a smaller parcel than that. So it would allow for 29. We're doing 48 here. So by my math, we're like at 166% of what the zone capacity would be. That sounds like the right number here, right? Yes.

Yeah. And I'll just say parathetically there's other parties that have said we should we're at 88% is the realistic number. We're almost twice that, but that's for another discussion. Um on the waiverss, the one I was wanted to understand a little bit better was that um building design wave bulk because I think you said it's an awkward site. I think we all have been by it. It's sort of an inverse wedding cake because the ground floor is smaller than the others, but that's just a reflection of the topography here. Is that right?

Yes. Um so at the site as you're moving west towards the rear of the property does slope up and so in order to reduce cost the applicant is trying to minimize grading as much as possible and that's why the first floor is not built out. So I can go to so you see um it's really this kind of long shape and then there's a small um building to the side. It's it's all connected, but a small area to the side that's going to provide um storage and access to the upper levels. Okay. The rest of that is going to um be retained using retaining walls underneath the building. Okay.

And another question, there were a couple of items. There's a comment. Confire had some uh they wanted submitt of alternative materials and methods to address fire safety concerns. Is that something that gets addressed at like in this stage or is that like more at the building permit portion of it? Yes, that's at at the building permit portion. Okay. And uh our engineer Matt Lothro had some pretty detailed comments in an email um March 30th. Are those the kind of things to get addressed at the building permit stage also? Yes.

Okay, that's helpful. Um, and my last question is that there's a reference in the waiver in the package to fees and extractions uh from different public agencies. I I think Lafayette we've wave aspects of that. Um, could you clarify that because I guess there's others jurisdictions that even though this is 100% affordable, they're still charging the project. Is Could you clarify that for me please?

Yes. To my knowledge, there's no state or local mandate that automatically waves development impact fees of affordable housing projects. Um, so the city does not have any ordinance or policy that would allow us to automatically wave those fees. Um, the city the city council did approve the waiver of the planning application review that was approved in February, the second meeting in February. And so the applicant has not been charged any uh fees for the planning application review. Um, beyond that, there's no additional waiverss that uh staff is recommending. Okay. Right. Well, thank you.

Um, so one of the um I keep this picture up. Um, you said one of the setbacks on the side is three feet. Which which side? It is the um north side. You can use your mouse. It's essentially the second, third, and fourth building or I'm sorry, story. So on the on the first floor, it's very diff difficult to see, but you can see the building outline um up there. Right on that. Okay. It's that side because the hill is going to be right there. Yes. Right. And so obviously the fire marshall will make sure that you're safe even with that small setback. Yes. Cool.

Yeah. Thank you for this report and um describing this project really well. I'm curious about the parking lot. Um will those is it safe to say those will be primarily staff parking? Yes, the um according to the applicant, it's very unlikely that they'll any of the tenants will be driving vehicles. Most of this parking will be reserved for staff. Um that's the tantum parking will be used for staff and then the open spaces uh closer to Marago Road will be reserved for visitors. Okay, thank you.

Um, thank you. Uh, a question. I'm just more of a thing on the the below market unit below market units. I see both 47 and 48 in the counts and I'm confused is are we because one I understand is for the manager. Yes. Does that necessarily have to be below market or is that below market or how is that working? Uh, no. It does not necessarily need to be below market. So, uh, state density bonus law has a caveat for projects that are 100% affordable. It does allow for one on-site manager, okay, unit. So, um, it would be up to the applicant to decide if there's going to be like a reduced rent for that unit. Um, to my knowledge, there they haven't proposed for it to be considered a below market rate unit.

Okay. Just because the staff report is is mentioned as a below market rate unit. I believe it's mentioned as a moderate uh just a stole project BMR units. He's got says threebedroom one. I mean it's not it's I'm just more curious to how that how that would work. It makes sense that I mean maybe below market because you're making offsetting rent or whatever. Second, um I was just and again that the pictures are a little opaque, but the the there's one picture where we have the 3D view looking at the thing and it looks like there's trees in the middle of the sidewalk and I'm just I don't am I looking at that incorrectly?

Uh no, that is accurate. So, one of the modifications that was made to the project after the design review planning commission joint meeting was additional trees along the street. Um and so there are two street trees that are proposed in wells in the sidewalk. Okay. Okay. And how wide is the sidewalk at that point? Is there there I'm assuming there's ADA access around those. Yeah. So the sidewalk um is roughly about six feet wide. Where the tree wells are, it does uh shrink down to about 4 feet. Yeah. Ju just to follow up on that. I thought you said it was 6 and 1/2 ft when we talked this afternoon. I'm just I'm coming from the position that every extra inch of sidewalk help.

Yes. Thank you. Yes, it was about four feet and then the street well is about two and a half feet wide. So, it's about six and um and a half feet tall total. Okay. And and just a clarification because I just learned this this afternoon. Rather than going from 10 feet in the south to 6.5 ft, it'll be 6.5 all the way along now. Yes. Okay. Any other questions? All right. And the applicant uh will have uh 10 minutes to present. Let's see. And if you could use the the podium that would be Yeah. Yeah.

Hi, good evening. Um, I'm Rosemary Kerbach with Sunflower Hill. I I know all of you, so it's great to see familiar faces um with council and staff. So, uh I'm a longtime Sunflower Hill board member. I'm chair of the land committee and I'm project lead for this 949 Moraga project. I want to thank Kathy Layman who's been working with me for over seven years on getting a Sunflower Hill in Lafayette, as well as our Sunflower Hill uh board president and founder, Susan Hton. So, um via Zoom is Jonathan Aspman, our wonderful partner at Saha, um for any specific uh questions. Um and uh really quick before I turn it over to Py talk, I first wanted to thank the city um and in particular Naru for filing an application for us for a congressional earmark. It was so prestigious for us to even be advanced um by uh Congressman Mark Dnier and we're very very grateful for the city for that. And then I also have some very exciting news and that is on Thursday evening we found out via the um county measure X staff agenda report that they are recommending um that we our project be awarded 5,467,400 and $333 in Measure X funds with an addition additional $644,285 if that is recaptured. So it would be a total of 6,1 611781. Um that is not official. It goes to the county affordable housing finance committee on Wednesday and then it would go to the board Contraosta County Board

of Supervisors um on May 19th. But I just wanted to read quickly the rationale for the recommendation. The project addresses regional affordable housing shortages, provides deeply affordable units for ID households, demonstrates feasibility, and has strong community and municipal support. So that is everybody in this room, the city council, city staff, everybody that is just really really uh embraced this. So I'm going to turn it over. I know we're on a short time. I'm going to turn it over to Py talk, but I'll be available to answer any questions. Thank you, Adrienne. Yeah, thank you, Rosemary. Uh Adrienne Stiken, Py Talk Architects, uh the architect for 949 Moraga Road. Uh if you want to advance some slides. Um Sunflower Hills mission is to create places and spaces where adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities live, work, learn, and thrive as part of a greater community. And this resonates so deeply with the work that Pyotech Architects does. Uh you can keep going. So a lot of this data you've already heard. Um we're proposing a 48 unit project predominantly below market rate in a combination of one and two bedrooms. Um and a three-bedroom manager's unit that is on the second floor. Uh it is four stories and at the peak of the sloped roofs, it's about um 54t 6 in. Uh, as you've already seen, we're uh proposing 25 surface parking spaces. Um, some current site photos just uh if for some reason you're not familiar with the site. Um, and some of these are hard to see. It's a little dark, but you can see the sloping away from Maraga Road, uh the hill up, and uh we've talked uh you've already heard from Stephanie about the uh intent to reduce cost on the project and uh keep the project uh affordable in its construction by

reducing the excavation and the impact to the um not our part of the site hill uh that exists. Continue. Um, we've looked around uh Lafayette for examples of uh residential or residential like architecture um to give us inspiration. Continue. Um and some examples of some of our work, some of our friends work um talking about mostly pitched roofs, trim, grouping of windows, simple forms and simple materials. Um we submitted our original entitlements at the end of January of this year. Uh received comments from design review committee and uh based on that feedback uh provided an updated entitlements resubmitt at the end of March. Um and that is what has been put in front of you. Uh as was mentioned uh you can see we've added trees. Um we made some adjustments to um color and material. uh as well as um the stepbacks and um sort of window grouping and sort of fenestration detailing. Um a closer look at the updated proposal with the new street trees, um the revised parking and um updated fenistration and colors. Um so those elevations that you've already seen in color um demonstrating sort of the massing breakdown um and sort of repeating forms and colors around the building. Um the if you go back most of these uh facads a you will never experience in this direct form um but also are uh deeper back in the site and harder to see. Um what you will mostly see is um the view from the

rendering that we've we've provided. That's going to be the most prominent view of the project as you uh come down Morocco Road. Uh so again, these are the um west and north elevations with the hill. Um we've not shown you the hill so that you can actually see the building that we're proposing. Um exterior design will include some asymmetrical roof shapes. um so that we can predominantly slope towards the south and capture as much roof area for solar uh photovotayaic panels as possible. Um treatment these will be selfrescepted windows which means that um we don't have to add framing and add cost. We can create depth in the plane of the window from the glass to the facade material just with the window frame itself. um as a also as a cost reduction strategy. Uh the facade materials will be a combination of cement board sighting in varying widths. Um we will have some limited accent tile around the front entry of the building really to help with wayfinding and also create some um color opportunities. And I think you've seen the color variation across the elevations. Um, in landscape design, this is maybe a helpful uh view to see the footprint of the building and the landscape uh with uh outdoor uh quiet and somewhat I would say soft activated um spaces outside of the fitness and the community spaces on the ground floor. um the ground floor uh parking and landscaping in front and then the second floor uh courtyard for residents. Some examples of what the bio retention plants, furnishing, bike racks, etc. that will be um provided. Uh you've seen this level one plan

already. perhaps a little more helpful to see how the hill um slopes down into the building and why we're trying to reduce the footprint of the ground floor. Um the second floor and third floor we've colorcoded so that you can see the yellow are um the one and two-bedroom apartments and the manager's unit is a slightly darker yellow. the resident amenity spaces um in the sort of soft purple and the caretaker or caregiver lounges offices, excuse me, are um in the dark orange. And I think we have do we have anything more there, Stephanie? On the next slide, um some close-up views of the typical one and twobedroom plans. Um so full kitchens, full U-shaped kitchens, um private bedrooms, and access to the bathroom from the the main living spaces. The twobedroom is a very similar expansion of the one-bedroom apartment. And then lastly, the manager's apartment um because of its location gets a living room on the corner. Also gets the U-shaped kitchen. Um we're considering an in-unit washer dryer for that particular unit. Um but otherwise a three-bedroom, two bath, full bath apartment. And that's it. Thank you very much.

Okay. Thank you very much. Are there uh questions for the Yes, John. Um, thank you. I do have a couple of questions if you don't mind. Um, one I think uh it's just more I was intrigued looking at your the top view which I guess in the staff report there lots of solar panels kind of throughout. You mentioned that you're really leaning into that with the asymmetrical roof design so you really capture the south sun. Yeah. Um are you is um I just want to kind of point out I guess that solar only solar plus battery is really the modern kind of way you do it. I don't know if you're kind of if there's room for batteries or how much there's a lot of solar panels. Yeah,

you might need a lot of fairly I just don't know if there's been kind of carve out for where the batteries might be because solar by itself is not that interesting unfortunately anymore. It's really solar plus battery is how you know it's going to make the biggest impact. Yeah, the building code obligates us to identify um a solar access area for the roof. Um and we're really trying to maximize that solar access area. Uh I think that that is all detail that we have to full develop as we you know engage our electrical design. Yeah. Um we do have a preliminary layout that um this is based on from a solar manufacturer but our solar provider but we still have more coordination.

I just really I just um again I just think the battery is is incredibly almost as important as the solar itself is making room for the battery. I would just just highly suggest um you plus there's um awards you can get when it's a solar battery combo that you are not available for solar only.

Um the second uh question I had was we're reflecting on our visit when council member Kandell and I visited Herby Ranch um and we looked at what was called the caretaker lounge areas there and they seem very kind of repurposed. They weren't intended to be lounges and they were just making them lounges. I was just questioning because I can't really the design these are so vague. Yeah. Yeah. Um, are the caretaker lounges really now being made to be with an actual sleeping area and a bathroom and things like that or are they still more I just didn't know if you there's learnings from Rancho you translate to this or how the caretaker lounge uh setup was being done?

Yeah, I mean they're they're really caregiver nooks. They're they're break areas for caregivers. Um they are office space for caregivers. So they are there are opportunities to to take this break um away from their clientele if a clientele is doing something else at that moment um that doesn't need them to be present for. Um and that's that's really what the caregiver offices are for. And then there's also their own lounge um that where they can gather, they can take a shower, um you know, have their lunch, etc.

Okay. All right. Yeah, it's fine. It's all good. I was just kind of thinking it could be there was areas for improvement what we saw in Nurby Ranch just because I think you learned what the caregivers need. So I was just questioning how that was incorporated. So yeah, I appreciate that feedback. We are um constantly referencing Sunflowers experience both at Herby branch and in other opport.

Thank you. Okay, other questions. Thank Thank you for the overview. Sure. U, I know you're trying to squeeze this into kind of a difficult site, which may be an understatement. U, we did get one comment respect to the rear setback, which is in this scheme at 10T, I gather the code would be at 15. So, just to play it out, if indeed there was a 15oot setback, not a 10-ft setback, what does it do to the project?

I would have to chop the rooms in the back. Yeah, it it chops. I mean, you see there, the light blue dashed line is where that 15 ft is. Um, so it cuts across four units uh times three. Uh, so that's 12 units. The only way to keep them would likely be to push the building more towards Moraga Road, which we have heard through feedback with departments um less desirable. Uh so that has been a strategy for us is to give as much space as possible back there um to both provide air and light for the residents of this project but also to provide relief to neighbors.

Thank you. Yeah. Other questions? Yeah. Could you just clarify that sidewalk width again? Is it six and a half foot but then goes down to four and a half? Uh just at the tree well for the length of the tree well it would be narrower. So 4 foot by by the tree well and and so just looking at that that bird's eye view. So the the parking lot I mean the trees on the street couldn't be moved into the into that green band that's adjacent to

yes to the sidewalk.

So the darkest green that you're seeing are bio retention planters and trees don't do well in bio retention planters. the zone at the front of the parking along Moraga is predominantly bio retention for the surface parking. Um and so one of the um things that we've done is to try and balance to provide some landscaping at the rear of the parking lot to screen and and um landscape the rear of the parking lot. So the distant view has some landscaping as well, but also balance the need for screening at the front um along Moraga Road. So there's a lot at play in the landscaping there that we're trying to balance. Yeah, I appreciate that. Um I I definitely like the rendering with the the trees added compared to the before case. Um but

4 foot is a very narrow sidewalk. Um especially in our downtown area where we would hope to be having a bunch of foot traffic. Um so it's a trade-off, but yeah, but I do I do think the screening is important and the trees are important as well. And I believe we're looking at um tree grate covers that would allow for some additional experience of width, right? So, we'll look into how can we help that feel like there's more space for people to walk. I I think that would be great if if it's actually traversible. Yeah, we will look into that. I I think I don't have those details at my fingertips, but we will we will consider that as a way to improve that pedestrian experience. Thank you.

Following up on that topic, um just setting the basis for my question. I I agree that it's critically important uh that these trees have been added. I think that makes a huge difference to the way this project is going to be received and perceived by the the residents. And I just want to confirm my understanding, the two trees that are shown there in the wells are intended to be London plain trees, I believe. So,

okay. And my understanding from the uh arborous uh report uh that we received, there was a recommendation that there be a third London plane tree uh in the comparable sidewalk area uh to the south outside the the building. And my understanding is that um there could be an issue given what needs to be undergrounded with respect to utilities in that area. But I further understand, I just want to confirm this is that if it can be accommodated, you would put a third London plane tree in that spot if it can be done uh with the uh undergrounding. And I'm asking that, yeah, that would be critically important in terms of screening the project. We we understand the critical value that trees have to both cooling our urban environment and the experience of Lafayette and the downtown nature of of Lafayette. I think that we will look into that. What we have discovered so far is that we need about that much width in front of our building to get all of our various utilities of firewater, domestic water, electrical, irrigation, etc. which are complicating that. I I understand that. I'm I'm saying if you can do it, would you do it?

Yes. Okay. Thank as I look to the client. Thank you very Thank you very much. Thank you. And I just want to confirm just following up because my understanding um that this design has changed from the last one and the uh bio retention area uh that's in the middle of the parking lot on the the west side that does include the landscaping strip. There is a landscaping strip along the sidewalk, correct? And it's intended to be three trees planted in that landscaping street strip. Um, it's on the plan. I just want Yes. Yeah. Well, I just because you had said there wouldn't be I I my understanding is there is there are three trees. They're not of the same size as the London plane trees,

right? But but uh I understood there would be a Right. We we are there's a there's a strip there that is not bio retention so that we can get those trees in. But the darkest green is bio retention. So that is the plan to put those three trees and then the two trees in the Yes. Just a little further back. Okay. I just wanted to confirm that. Thank you. Okay. And before we um open to public comment, I just want to say Miss Kerbach, the last time you were here, you also had a very pleasant surprise. And I was wondering, would you have one today? And you didn't disappoint. So I look forward to the next time you're at the council. And actually, that does remind me, if you don't mind, one more question. I'm actually kind of curious. So where does this put us then? Where where do we stay? Where do you stand on the overall kind of funding stack?

Guess with or without the measure X funding so we can kind of understand the implication of that,

right? So, this puts us on a in a great position to apply for um low-income housing tax credits. So, we were initi we couldn't apply for round one in 2026 because we were waiting on the county money uh because the application was in was in early April. And again, it still has to be approved by the committee and and the board of supervisors. Um, but this will give us a clear path to applying for uh the 9% round two. And I'm going to put a tiny little asterisk on that. And this is um last week HCD announced a new MHP NOA for projects that have already received state funding. So that would be us because we got the, you know, 19.6 six um MHP funding and for those projects they are opening up a new NA due June 5th with for kind of like gap financing with the understanding and the commitment that you would then apply in September for the 4% tax credits. And obviously there's a there's a gap between a 9% credit and a 4% credit. So we even had our financial consultants California Housing Partnership run models in January of a 9% and a 4% and we didn't think we'd be able to apply for the 4% because we wouldn't have had enough enough money. So we are in the process right now of analyzing that with California Housing Partnership. Um, but it looks like we will be able to apply for the June and request some additional funding so that

we're in a position to apply for 4% credits instead of 9% credits because the um uh under the one big beautiful bill that 4% my understanding is is the pool essentially doubled for long low-income housing tax credits. So, I think your odds increase for the 4% versus the 9%. But I'm I'm not an expert, so I I know Jonathan's on Zoom, so if I said anything correctly, I was just really kind of wondering how clo I mean, this is great. I mean, are we are you halfway there? Twothirds there? I mean, I just don't can you give us an idea just how

we're definitely over 50% of of the way there. So the the the um tax credits, whether they're the 9% or they're the 4% combined with this MHP gap funding um would essentially, you know, there's always a few little things out there. We have an AHP application outstanding for 1.4 million. There's some other potential things that we have to look at. And obviously, you know, we've talked about the congressional earmark because there's cost escalation come, you know, 2027 and all that, but if if we got the tax credits, um that's typically the final piece. And indeed, when you get tax credits, you're required to start construction within 180 days. So that's why it's always the the last piece of the capital. So this could be

soon. This could be. Yes, we hope. Fingers crossed. And our our intent is certainly with this county money we're positioned to go for TCAC and if awarded start construction within 180 days. Okay. Any other any other any other questions?

What do you need us to do 102 for measure? Do you need us to do anything for the county like or letters or have support or anything to help this that along or has already been done already? It has already been done by by um so many at the city as well as some council members and um mayor former mayor Kandal and yeah, we have we got great support across across the board and and and Councilman Cervantes also um got got us some a lot of um letters from electeds. We know we were supported by inclusive Lafayette um lost Trumpus. So it it really is a wonderful thing. So thank you. So f fingers crossed. Um but we're we're excited. This county was was exciting. Really exciting for us assuming it happens.

Great. Great. I think it's fair to say that affordable housing finance is is head spinningly complicated. Yeah, we got a taste of it here. Okay. Any other questions? All right. So we'll open for public comment.

Okay. Okay. The city council is taking public comments on item 12B, the affordable housing at 9 what? 959. I'm too tired. Okay. Our first speaker is Ruben Galvin followed by Susie O'Brien. and you'll each have three minutes and then we'll go to the persons in our Zoom audience when we're done here.

Good evening, uh, Mayor Anduri, council members, staff, and members of the public. My name is Ruben Galvan. I'm a field representative with the North Coast State's Carpenters Union Local 152 covering uh Kakasa County. I'm here tonight to ask a simple but very important question. Will there be strong labor standards on the Saha Sunflower Hill project? By strong labor standards, I mean fair wages, quality health benefits, real opportunities for apprentices from state accredited programs, and clear enforcable labor compliance measures. Labor compliance is critical. Without it, we too often see unsafe job sites, workers being paid low, low below industry standards and in some cases serious violations like workers mclassification or even wage theft. These concerns are serious. They directly impact the safety, stability and dignity of the people building projects like this. There are concerns with bad actors. Saha has contracted before like Huff Construction, Midstate Construction and Brown Construction just to mention a few. Bank construction and it subcontractors have faced multiple legal actions and penalties for unpaid wages on public works projects. Don't take my word for it. You can verify on constructionwagewatch.org. That's why transparency and accountability here matter. We had yet to com to get a commitment from Saha to use responsible contractors. The lack of commitment is concerning especially given its importance the

importance of the development. I want to be clear. I support affordable housing. This project serves a vital need for the community, especially for individuals with intellectual and development disabilities. But supporting affordable housing should not mean lowering expectations for those for these projects. We should be able to do both. Provide housing for those who need it most and ensure that jobs created are safe, fairly compensated, and held to high standards. This is an opportunity for the city to set clear expectations that this project will be built right by responsible contractors with strong oversight and accountability. So I ask again, will the Saha San Flower Hill project include strong enforcable labor standards that ensure fair wages, health benefits, safe save safe job sites, and real compliance? Thank you for your time.

Okay, thank you. Other questions for the speaker? Okay. Thank you very much. Susie O'Brien to be followed by Rebecca Callahan Klene.

Okay. Uh, good evening, mayor and members of the city council. My name is Susie O'Brien and I'm a resident of Moraga. Um, raised in Arinda and I've raised a family of four. Um, I'm here tonight to express my strong support for the proposed 42 unit affordable housing community for adults. Um, as a as a parent of a daughter in her mid20s who was born with Down syndrome, this project is deeply personal to me. In our area, there are incredibly few housing options that allow adults like my daughter Fiona to live independently while still being part of a supportive communityoriented environment. This development represents something truly meaningful. It offers the chance for individuals to live alongside their peers, build friendships, and participate in social activities that enrich their lives. Just as important, its downtown location provides access to shops, restaurants, and everyday experiences that many of us take for granted. For families like mine, proximity matters. Knowing that my daughter could live nearby, close to her parents, her extended family, and the community she has grown up in brings a sense of comfort and possibility that's hard to put into words. Lafayette has always been known as a welcoming and inclusive community. Approving this project in the heart of downtown sends a powerful message that this is a place where everyone belongs. I respectfully urge you to support this development. It's not just housing. It's an opportunity for dignity, independence, and connection. Thank you.

Okay. Thank you very much. Other questions? Thank you, Rebecca Callahan Klene, followed by Nancy Wallace.

Good evening. Thank you so much for all of your support for the Sunflower Hill Project. Um, I'm Rebecca Callahan Klein, otherwise known as Lillian's mom. And I just wanted to say, um, we love living in Lafayette in part because it's such an inclusive community. And, um, to be in a place where every member of our family is welcome and supported is really important. As a resident, I also think there's three reasons I wanted to say in addition to the possibility of Lillian um maybe living at Sunflower Hill sometime uh in the future, there's three reasons I think we should support this. The first one is this is genuinely affordable housing for people who have the least means and figuring out that magic of how to make it all happen is very hard and I just want to really compliment the whole team for pulling together the kind of financing that supports long-term affordability. Second thing is I think the most important thing is connection and this physical location and the programming that's in a Sunflower Hill development allows the residents to connect with each other. the physical location allows them to connect with the community and also with jobs and with other programs that allow them to contribute their skills every day. And I can't underscore that because that's what makes life have purpose. And the last thing is I really want to tip my hat to the program team for sustainability in all of its aspects. the sustainability of this physical space, the financial sustainability of it, and the long-term environmental connectedness is really important. And I just think this is going to be around for a long time. And when we're dead, as Lillian calls it, when the day of doom happens, um, we know she's going to be supported and be in a community that's going to be able to sustain her life and sustain the community life. Thank you.

Thank you very much. Nancy Wallace to be followed by Brian Winter. Hi, my name is Nancy Wallace and I am a longtime resident of Lafayette uh and also the mother of a 25-year-old with uh level three autism. Uh, I have been an advocate for the special needs community here in the Lamarinda area for over 20 years. Um, I'm the founder of SEED, which is a local nonprofit that supports the education of students with special and diverse learning needs for the last 20 years in Lamarinda. I'm also vice president of the Lost Trumpus Board. Lost Trumpus has been serving individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities uh since 1958 here in this community. Um I'm also I want to share that um Dan Hog who is our executive director had also hoped to be here tonight in support of this program uh project but unfortunately he is homesick but he did want uh to send his support and I know he's written to you previously about that. Um I'm here tonight obviously to encourage you to support this project. Um, you know, being a member, being so active in this community, uh, I've really gotten to see sort of what a special place Lafayette is for those with disabilities. I've served on the school board and gotten to see the way that our community really embraces our children and has allowed them to be part of this community. I've also had the privilege of watching them grow into young adults. And so I think that gives me a special appreciation for how important it is for us to allow them to age in place in the community where they belong, where they've made friends,

where they've met other people in the community, where they they have um people that they belong have attended programs with. And that is sort of what this project offers them is the opportunity to live in the community that they've always lived in, you know, alongside their peers where they can enjoy a lot of the activities that Sunflower Hill offers and then also where they can be near their families. The Lanterman Act, you know, was developed to to really put a special emphasis on the importance of continuing to get support from your family. And so having housing available for our children near where their families have have raised them is really critical. I think I've previously spoken here before about the incredible shortage of housing there is for those with uh disabilities. There are 190 uh adults with disabilities in the Lafayette community. According to the last report, uh at least 50% of the clients of the regional center are adults still living with their parents. 67% of Lust Trumpus' um clients still live with their parents. There is no other adult community where such a high percentage is still living at home and our our children deserve the same opportunities other adults do to live independently in their own homes. So I hope you will support this program.

Okay. Thank you very much. Okay. Before we have our next speaker, I need to get advice from the uh city clerk and the city attorney. Uh we will need to extend the time beyond 11 p.m. Is that correct? Yeah. So it we need to extend at 11. So we can't go beyond 11 without extension and we can't open a new matter after 11. Let's call our next speaker and I'll look at the Okay, good. Because we're going to have to do something dramatic here in order to get what done what we need done. Okay, Brian.

Good evening. My name is Brian Wel uh and I live here in Lafayette. For 16 years now, I've been a volunteer and the program director of the East Bay Sea Serpents, a Special Olympic swim team affiliated with Special Olympics Northern California that operates here in our larger community. Every Sunday, our team brings together more than 130 swimmers with intellectual and developmental disabilities along with an incredible group of over 160 volunteer coaches, many of them high school volunteers um and students in our community. We're a 100% volunteer-run program focused on building confidence, independence, and community through sport. I'm here tonight to strongly support the development of housing in Lafayette for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities because here's what I see every single week. I see athletes who are capable, motivated, and eager to be part of their community. I see friendships forming between athletes and volunteers that go far beyond the pool. I see families doing everything they can to create stability, stability and opportunity for their loved ones. And I also s see a looming challenge that many of these families face. What happens next? Where where will their son or daughter live as they grow into adulthood? Will they be able to stay in the community that that they know? Will they have access to the same networks, relationships, and support systems that help them thrive? Right now, too often that answer is no. Without local supportive housing options, individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities are frequently forced to move far from the communities where they grew up. This means losing access to programs like ours and losing friendships, losing a

sense of belonging that is incredibly hard to rebuild. This project is about changing that. It's about giving people the opportunity to re remain part of Lafayette, not as visitors, but as neighbors. It's about creating pathways to independence while still providing the structure and support that many individuals need to succeed. And it's not just um it's not just about residents themselves. The impact ripples outwards for our volunteers, many of many of whom are students at Akalani's Camp Orlando are shaped by these relationships. They learn empathy, leadership, and inclusion in a way no classroom can teach. When our athletes remain part of the community, those connections continue, and that matters. Housing like this strengthens the fabric of Lafayette. It reflects a community that doesn't just have that doesn't just value inclusion as an idea, but builds it into the way of life. I encourage you to support this project and to help ensure that Lafayette continues to be a place where everyone has a place. Thank you for your time.

Thank you very much. Okay. Mayor Anduri, no council meeting should adjourn at or before 11. Majority can agree to extend the meeting, but no new item may be taken up after midnight. Oh, okay. Okay. So, you're safe. Yes. I I'm hoping so. Yes. Okay. Uh do we have additional speakers?

Yes, we do. Kirk Wandi and then if all anybody else in the community hall would like to speak, fill out a speaker slip if you have not already spoken and then we'll go to our people in the Zoom audience. And just uh about how many are there in the Zoom audience? Okay, thank you. Welcome back.

Oh, I do. Um, I'm very excited about this project. Um, I wasn't even aware this was on the agenda for tonight. So, this is a I'm just going from my heart, but um, I have a 34 year old brother who's severely intellectually disabled. He lives in South San Francisco, and I've watched my parents um, watch him get kicked out from home from home because the landlord sold the property or it wasn't the right fit. And um it's very hard. It's extremely stressful watching um someone who needs consistency and needs relationships be moved and moved and moved again. Um so the prospect of even my brother being able to come to something like this, I don't know if he qualifies, but um is just so heartwarming to me. Um, so I, you know, just from a personal standpoint, I wanted to say I really appreciate everything that you all have done to to further the project to this point. My question really was what can we do? And it sounds like everyone has already leaned in to to get it to where it is today. But, um, if there is anything that residents in the community can do to push it forward, please, um, let us know. You know, and the last thing I wanted to say that's been said, I guess, is the physical location of this place is just amazing because so often people are pushed out, right? They're not in the heart of a community. And this is right here. It's right across the street from where my kids go to school where they kids have to learn to interact with people who are different from them, see them on the trail. We I live right next to the trail. I love seeing the people from Lost Trumpus every day. It warms my heart and so just having this right here um in the center of town is there's something just so special about that. So, um I really hope that we all

continue to support it. And I know there's sidewalk things and trees and all of that and I don't want to diminish it, but um in the spirit of what you know this means to the community, it's just really important. So, thank you. Thank you. Okay, our speaker in our virtual audience at this time is Robert Lavoy. Please unmute yourself. Hello again. Welcome back.

Thank you. Um I know I don't need to really voice my support for this because I know you guys are all in uh support and uh so am I. Um so this is just a minor little uh tweak. Um, as a person that rides my bike downtown on that sidewalk regularly, uh, and if any of you have, you know that it's, uh, probably about four feet in a lot of places and a lot of little street signs and other just, uh, you know, things to run into. So, it it would be a great opportunity as we're redeveloping this site to make sure that we get enough u width on the sidewalk. Um, I thought I read in there that it was mostly 10 feet wide, and I I would encourage you to make sure you design it that way. Um, and if the trees are um the trees just shouldn't be in the middle of the sidewalk. I looked up the uh the London plane tree and it says it grows up to 130 ft and the circumference up to 10 m. That's 3 and 1/2 mters. That seems a little big, but anyway, that would take up the whole sidewalk. Um, I think something uh that can live in the bio retention pond is what you ought to consider and get the trees out of the sidewalk. Um, it's it's just really important. This is a great opportunity. That's one of the busiest sidewalks we have and we should make it as wide as possible there. Um, and I love trees, but I would say don't put a tree there. It's going to lift the sidewalk and block the traffic and um just get something that can live in the bio retention pond that gets wet has wet feet for 3 months and I think that's it.

Thank you very much. Thank you and I support the project. It's great. Okay. Thank you. Is there any other public comment? No additional speakers at this time. Mayor Andy. Okay. The applicant has an opportunity for rebuttal if you wish to take it. you'd also be an opportunity to respond to the question that was asked if you wish to respond. Um the applicant would like to speak.

Just a quick statement and that is that the project is absolutely paying prevailing wage. Um and we did ask our general contractor. We have selected Sincerity and about any claims including wage lawsuits, anything like that. And they have sure assured us that they have never had a claim filed against them. I'm not exactly sure how long they've been in business, but I know it's over 20 years. It might even be like 40 years. Um so anyway, that's that's all I wanted to say on that. Thank you. And also thank everybody, thank all of you for your time. Thank you.

Okay. Thank you very much. All right. We'll close the public hearing, bring it back to the council, and um discuss well, we'll go to the resolution. Uh before we do that, just one quick response to Mr. Lavoy. Uh, London plain trees are all up and down Mount Diablo Boulevard in the median on each side, particularly in the block Trader Joe's. They do not grow to that height in Lafayette. They do not have a a diameter of 10 feet. They may have a circumference of 10 feet. Um, but they don't quite take the whole sidewalk. Okay. So, um, are there any particular points? We we have a resolution and then we have the conditions of approval. Um are there any comments? Um shall we go right to the resolution? Is there any issue that someone would like to address?

No, I don't have issue. I just like a comment that um I I this is the I just I want to appre appreciate express my appreciation on the design changes. The last one I saw, you know, at least I the January version I didn't see. I guess I just saw the original one which is very blocky facing uh Mount D. I just want to express my appreciation that I think you've really captured um the spirit of uh a lot of the buildings we love around Lafayette.

And if I could echo that, I mean, when I saw this new schematic, because I think I missed the January one, I was two thumbs up, especially relative to the the earlier one I saw. The the people engaged on this, I think, did a great job. Uh the other comment I want to make because we did get a comment on this on the setback. It's helpful to understand that if you took instead of a 10-ft setback, it was 15, which would be the standard, you chop up 12 units or you shove the whole building up 5T, which you'd be right into where all the utilities are coming in. So I it's a tough site. I get it. I think that sometimes you just have to sort of like make the best compromise you can, which is what I I look I look at this. I think that's what what's been done. So, thank you.

Just agreed. And it's a it's really a very attractive building. It'll be a real asset in Lafayette. And I'm just so happy that that you're working on it to serve that population.

Okay. Are there any specific comments on the two-page resolution? Okay. And u we'll go through the conditions of approval. Any comments on page one? Two. Does anyone have any comments on the U entire conditions of approval? Okay. Then uh could we have a uh motion? I I move we approve the resolution. Okay. Resolution number 202630.

I will second that motion. All in favor? I. It's unanimous. Thank you very much.

Thank you guys. Okay, we're Stephanie, thank you very much for all your work on this. Okay, we're on to item 12 C. Monica, the floor is yours.

Thank you. Uh, good evening, mayor and council members. Um Um, today I'll be presenting an overview of MTC's updated TOC incentive program. Since the council last reviewed this item, MTC has significantly revised the TOC policy. The program has shifted from a mandatory compliance framework to a voluntary incentivebased program. Importantly, the city's eligibility for general OBG transportation funding is no longer tied to TOC performance. Instead, TOC now offers access to a separate 45 million funding pool for the city. That could mean approximately 1 to2 million in additional funding if the city chooses to participate and meet the scoring threshold. This slide summarizes the work that the city has completed over the past year to evaluate the TOC policy. We began in May 2025 with a comprehensive analysis across the four TOC categories. Over the summer, we had several planning subcommittee meetings to discuss strategies, trade-offs, and potential approaches and completed a self assessment using MTC's draft evaluation framework. In the fall, we coordinated with MTC and other East Bay jurisdictions, including a check-in with me check-in meeting with MTC and participation in regional discussions. City staff received direction from city council to submit comments to MTC requesting that the mandatory TOC requirements be replaced with voluntary incentive base guidelines. As the policy evolved, staff continued tracking updates and reassessed the city's position based on the revised framework. Most recently in March, we

reviewed the final OEAG 4 framework and the adopted TOC incentive program. Overall, this has been an an iterative process to ensure the city is well informed and prepared to consider its options. At the October 14, 2025 meeting, the staff identified several key concerns with the original TOC policy, including the funding structure, feasibility for smaller jurisdictions, and the administrative burden. These concerns were shared with MTC and regional partners. On January 28, 2026, the commission approved the OAG 4 funding framework, including the 45 million TOC incentive program and 5 million North Bay set aside. There are no requirements for TOC consistency for remaining OEAG funding dollars. The incentive program addresses the city's concern regarding previous mandatory approach. A minimum of 85 points is required to be eligible to participate in the TOC incentive program. Jurisdictions below 85 remain eligible for all other OEC county and regional funds. Funds could be used towards any project eligible under the OBEC 4 county program, including planning and capital projects across roadway, transit, and active transportation. The submission deadline has been extended to July 1st, 2027. The city previously raised concerns about increased density, particularly in areas with evacuation constraints, as well as concerns about mandated housing policies. The revised program addresses some of these concerns. MTC's updated administrative guidance allows jurisdictions to satisfy minimum housing funding commitments through a mix of current year budget allocations, and it

removes restrictions on specific funding sources. Protection policies are now in alignment with state law, eliminating the need for jurisdictions to adopt duplicative local ordinances. Jurisdictions may receive TOC credit for one or two required housing protection policies. The city also raised concerns about commercial office intensity standards, which could result in development that is out of scale with Lafayette's character. MTC has responded by reducing the weight of these standards in the scoring system, acknowledging that office development is less predictable in the current market. While the weight of this standard has reduced to achieve the points required for eligibility, it is likely that the city would still need to increase the minimum F uh for office commercial office to 2.0. The TDLC's parking requirement presents both trade-offs and benefits. The parking maximums may not reflect local conditions where many households rely on multiple vehicles. This could lead to spillover parking in nearby neighborhoods. There are also concerns about reduced flexibility for larger households and compatibility with the city's semi-ural character. MTC's MTC responded by reducing the scoring weight for residential parking minimum, reducing the need to set a residential parking maximum for eligibility. On the benefit side, reduce reducing parking supports transit use, aligns with state law like AB 2097, and can lower development costs. It also encourages more efficient strategies like shared and unbundled parking, and it helps the city earn points towards TOC funding. MTC also made changes to reduce administrative burden. The deadline has been extended by approximately 18

months, giving cities more time to evaluate and implement the policies. The requirements to adopt a formal resolution has been removed, and some standards can be met simply by demonstrating compliance with existing state laws. With that said, pursuing TOC eligibility would require meaningful commitment of staff time. This includes policy analysis, preparing zoning amendments, assembling the documentation needed to demonstrate consistency with TOC framework. That effort would need to be balanced against other council priorities, including ongoing housing element implementation and other policy initiatives already underway. It could also impact the day-to-day processing of planning application, potentially slowing timelines for current development projects. In addition, TOC participation would involve ongoing monitoring and reporting requirements. The TOC program uses a 100 points scoring system across four categories: land use and density, housing policies, parking management, and station access and circulation. The city's current score is approximately 43 points. To qualify for funding, the city would need to reach at least 85 points. Based on the feedback staff received during the city council planning subcommittee meetings, a consistency strategy has been identified to reach the target score. The city would need to make several policy changes. Um so um in the land use and density category um the city would need to increase the minimum F to 2.0. And then under the um housing and stabilization category, um the city would need to fasttrack several of um

the housing element programs. And under the parking management category, the city would need to remove all of the um minimum parking requirements within the TOC area. And um the city would also need to amend to set the maximum um parking maximum to 2.5 spaces per 1,000 square ft for commercial and amend and amend the code to set the bicycle parking to one space per dwelling unit. And um the city would also have to um allow unbundled parking and adopt a TDM policy. and under the station access and cl circulation area. Um these projects are currently underway. The primary benefit to access to access um the primary benefit is access to additional funding for planning and capital projects across roadway, transit and active transportation. Another benefit is that many of the required actions align with existing state mandates and housing element programs, meaning the city can

Excuse me. I move that we extend the time of the meeting until midnight. Second. All in favor? I sorry for the interruption.

No, that's that's okay. Um meaning the city can receive credit for work it is already uh planning to complete. There are also important trade-offs to consider. Achieving the required score would likely involve zoning changes that allow increased commercial office density and adjustments to parking standards, which could raise concerns about neighborhood compatibility and parking spillover. Additionally, the work required to implement these changes would compete with other city priorities over the next 12 to 18 months. So therefore, staff recommends that the city council receive the report on the M MTC's transit oriented communities intent incentive program and direct staff not to pursue eligibility for the TO TOC incentive program based on the considerations outlined in this report. Thank you.

Okay, thank you very much. Are there questions? One, it was just Yeah, thank you. Great board and my recommendation is um well um understood the uh just and just to clarify we say that it's you know eligible for 1 to2 million but that only means we're like we're we're eligible we're like this 85 points just to even get in the game and then we're still competing against 30 other communities in our level right plus all the other all the other ones for out of a total pool of 45 million am I understanding that correctly it's not like 85 points gets us 1 to2 million It's just 85 points allows us to play in the game and then we still have to be we still have to be selected. Is that correct?

When I looked at the table, it's my understanding that if you if the city is has the 85 points, the city would be eligible and receive a minimum of 1 million because it says a minimum. That's the way the math works though. I mean, again, I'm conscious of the time, but I just I I well that that might be the case and that would probably be the best case scenario. by when I add up all the potentials that that adds up to more than between the the all the different levels adds up to more than 45 million. Right. So I'm not sure how that would Yeah. Or to put it another way if every city qualified there's definitely not enough

enough money. Right. Maybe the assumption is that so few are going to qualify that they can kind of guarantee it. Maybe I can think about it that way. But it certainly seems like right the pool is not that big if everybody qualifies. But okay. Okay. Other questions? My my question was related. So it sounds like to game it to game this right, you might need to have a something more than 85 to to get to win. Is that how they would score this? Like that's the threshold that that's your anti-in, so to speak, but you've got to have some other cards to play to be able to to compete effectively. Is that a fair way to look at this?

I mean, it says that um you need a minimum of 85 points to be eligible. And again, when I reviewed the table, it says a minimum of 1 million and a maximum of two billion. And so it's yes, okay. Um but yes, um 85 to be eligible to receive.

Great. Other questions? Okay, I've got two questions. Uh in the materials that were publicly posted, the recommendation is for the council to decide and in um what you just presented, the recommendation is uh direct step not to pursue eligibility. What changed the recommendation? Um, as staff considered um the administrative burden of um of all of the amendments needed to um get into consistency and weighing that against um you know current planning project and other city council priorities um it just the trade-off doesn't seem to be um worth it.

Okay. And second question, how much assurance, if any, do we have that when the remaining $720 million is allocated, there won't be somebody saying, well, this city got 85 points. They qualified, they didn't get money here, or maybe they only got a little bit money here. They should be more eligible uh for the $720 million pot. um the being eligible for the TOC incentive program. Um doesn't I mean you're you're regardless or I know what it says. I know what it says. Yes.

I'm just asking if you have any idea how that might work in reality. Um no. Okay. Okay. All right. Public comment. I have no public comments on this item. Mayor injury. Okay, we'll bring it back to the council and any comment or do we just have a motion to adopt the staff recommendation? I think this is one of the worst ideas ever. So I I I would move to approve staff's recommendation to pass on this one. Correct. And I just want to add, wow, did we ever dodge a bullet? Unbelievable work by meak9. Yes. And so thank you for all the MTC people

Senoak and all Senoak especially. Yeah, we should write her a letter. But I agree. Okay, you second. You second. I second. Okay. All in favor? I very much. Yeah. Thank you for the report. This is one where I think people do not realize how close we came to a real real problem.

Yeah. Yeah. Okay. So, we're on to Well, um, Council Member Sio, do you mind if we move items B, C, and Ahead of, uh, 14? Okay, so we're on to Is everyone else okay with that because I want to get the thing so we don't have to the people involved. Okay, so we're on to 15B pointing member to the senior services commission. actually it's members um council member Witherspoon and I um together with Chair Federigi interviewed uh three candidates for the two positions. One of the candidates was uh Chair Black who wants to be reappointed. We had uh obviously chair black has done a great job during her time on the commission and we had two extremely qualified candidates who we interviewed. Uh we are recommending with the first slot on the recommendation here. Jennifer Paul for the position that expires June 30th, 2027 and then the reapply date is 2031 and a reappoint of Chair Black uh for the term a new term that expires June 30th, 2028 with a reapply date in 2032. So, I don't know if you want to say anything else.

Oh, well, just I really appreciate all of the applicants who put their their names in. Um it was a very very good pool. Um, would you like me to make the motion, please? Sure. Um, let's find it. So, I move approval of resolution 2026-31, appointing members to the Senior Services Commission. Okay. Specifically, specifically, um, Jennifer Paul and Terry Anne Black. Okay. And I'll second that. All in favor? Is there any public comment, Mayor? Public comment. Oh, public comment. We have none.

Thank you. Okay. Thank you very much. All right. And I say again, we had very good applicants, so we're very fortunate. Okay. 15C. U appointing members to the planning commission. Vice Mayor McCormack, you are the primary lead.

I just so I'll just outline. So we had um we actually have three slots open on planning commission but we have two we had two uh applicants that uh mayor and I interviewed along with the chair and um staff lison. Uh one is Vincent Seli and Tom Snyder. Uh both applicants were um tremendous um relevant applica experience. Uh both um I think will um in different different ways and I think will serve uh serve Lafayette well. They're both excited, bring energy and lots of good ideas to the the council and or to the the commission. So, I we um I think we wholeheartedly support their uh their the recommendation.

I I will certainly move that we that um we uh we adopt resolution 25 26 2026-35 appointing Vincent Sley and Thomas Snder to the planning commission. Second that. All in favor? Oh, public comment. Slow slow learner. We have none. Okay. All in favor? I

I thank you. Okay. We're on to 16A of the email from Larry Blahett requesting a proclamation with respect to the Lafayette Rotary Club's 80th anniversary. Um, and you have the proposed proclamation in your materials. Council member Cervantes, do you want to speak to this?

I'd love to. Thank you very much. So, I've been a member of Rotary for the last five years, I think, since the pandemic. I can't replicate what Larry Blahett said, but it's it's striking to me how in this community Rotary is and the other service organizations that make up the fabric of this community. So, 80 years is a long time. uh it's decades of service to this community by people who are with us now and have been with us in the past who made a difference. So I think it's just really appropriate to um recognize the contribution that Rotary's made and I move we approve the proclamation. Is there a second? I will second. Is there any discussion? Is there any public comment? None. Okay. All in favor? I

I Great. Okay. So, we're back to item 14, which is items removed from consent. And what was removed was 8E. And I think that was council member Cervantes that wanted that removed.

Yes, I can make this real quick. I uh this is we went through this MTC report back in October. City wrote a letter. One of the items we highlighted was we really questioned their underlying demographic projections because their population projections drive everything. And I just wanted to highlight again, they didn't change those in this current version. MTC is assuming a 23% 24% increase between in population in the Bay Area between 2020 and 2050. Department of Finance is assuming 5% over that same period. This a difference factor of like four and a half times

times. And um all this in the context of a time when the Congressional Budget Office is pointing out that we're likely to be at a point in this country in a few years where deaths exceed births and only immigration is keeping the population going and the Congressional Budget Office projects that sometime in the 2050s will go into decline. So all the MTC uh population projections flies in the face of all this. who knows what the right answer is, but um they received our comments and others and basically decided to just pass that and it drives a multi-billion dollar program. So I I just wanted to flag that and for the good of the order. Thank you.

Okay. Any comments on that? Any public comment? No public comment. Greg, thank you very much for staying for this. Great. Oh, sorry. My eyesight's also going. Okay, we're on to 15A. Any council member reports?

Yeah, super quick. um CCTA is going to have a TE meeting in midMay where they're deciding to go to a ballot measure and um and they want to discuss the priorities and so there's I can't go for both days and so thankfully council member Witherspoon can go to both days of this and um we're going to have a presession with Patrick uh like this week um talking the last time this happened I just remember when they came out with the possibility of a um another sales tax um it fell flat on Lafayette because it did nothing for our area. And so this is the remedy to that is that we're going to try to prepare and then make sure that all the things that we are looking to do which are so great and fabulous um get into the planning process early.

Great.

I I just this is not official city business but a note of appreciation. and my family spent a fair amount of time at John Mir Hospital on a family health issue and I just want to say that we are blessed in this area to have such great healthc care facilities an amazing uh facility at John Mir but the people who man it I think really do something special for our community. So I just want to close on that just as a thank you to John Mure. Um, I could just mention briefly, uh, Mayor the East Bay MUD, um, we attended, the mayor, uh, and I attended the East Bay Mud War 2 briefing last week and, um, nothing particularly new other than we got more solidity around the Lafayette tower work. Their their permit allows them to start kind of the deconstruction on May 1st. It's going to start soon thereafter. Um, I know it's getting like next week. And so they are sending out notes to basically say if you want your last picture of the tower as it is do it this week because soon it will be covered. The barge will be on the water scaffolding will start going up and the tower will start coming down and everything has to their their permit ends um October 31st and so everything will be done. That's what they're saying before October 31st because that's when the permit uh permit expires. So they'll be motivated to get this thing done by then. So it's going to be fairly quick. Um and then uh just very briefly completed the citizen police academy uh this past week which was uh a lot of fun. Highly encourage everybody to do it. It's great. And um I did attend a 4-day um economics of energy and the environment seminar put on by Hos Berkeley um at the behest of MCE who who paid for it. Um and I think it's going to be coming to all the board members of MCE to kind of give everybody a little more grounding in the economics of energy. And it was uh it was uh pretty intense but it was good.

Great. Uh yeah, I just want to report that um two weeks ago I met with Julia Mates of the Jewish Community Relations Council. Um she just wanted to introduce their group and uh say that they were a resource to the community if we have any questions about matters pertaining to the Jewish community that they're there for us. Um also attended the Spring Hill Neighbors emergency preparedness meeting that was very very good. Um full house I'd say for that library. people were squeezed into all the different aisles um at the Spring Hill Elementary Library and Andy Connley did a great presentation. A lot of really good questions and um one really cool thing is that one of the officers I think secretary um Marissa Silva um of the homeowners association, her daughter is setting up the um the w the weather radios and the emergency alert. Yeah. The Yeah. NOA um radios for folks if they need help programming it, which is great because I can say I have one and it's not easy to program. So, it's a really great service. Um last I attended Earth Day. Um yesterday.

Yeah, it was yesterday. Um it was great. There were so many people there. Um the booths were just fantastic. It was really so wonderful to see all of the Lafayette groups um committees, but also people in the community who were coming out with all of their different um projects that they were sharing and offerings. The Project Earth kids who are now Campalindo students, so they're very soon not going to be kids anymore, were there and they just they're so impressive um with the work that they do. So, it was a really great great event and uh yeah, hats off to Sustainable Lafayette for for coordinating that.

Right. Since the last meeting, I was able to be with uh Troop 402 for their Eagle Court of Honor. That's one of the largest uh uh scouting BSA troops. That's uh all girls. And they had 12 Eagle Scouts, which was very very good. This is overwhelming. And uh then on Saturday was the um Lafayette Library and Learning Center Foundation's night at the library. Council Member Weatherspoon was there as well. That was a very high energy event. Uh had a lot of uh younger people who were there. And uh yeah, very very good uh evening. And um uh then Earth Day, I just want to echo that. Sustainable Lafayette did a great job. There were more people there than I remember in in in past years. So, it was a very successful Earth Day. And then I got to go to Troop uh 219's Eagle Court of Honor and they came through with 12 male Eagle Scouts. Joanne has been turning out the proclamations and uh well to on uh Wednesday is uh the Girl Scout um they don't call it Court of Honor but award program but there are there are cere awards and then there's a total of 22 proclamations to be handed out to gold silver and bronze award

be there too and it's troop 303 382 with the two golds,

right? Uh and then this morning was a a ribbon cutting for 925 Dance Collective, which is down past the city offices in the space that has multiple had had multiple restaurants in there in the in the past. It's next to the Benjamin Moore uh paint store. And then finally got a communication from uh the folks who are promoting measure uh H uh saying that they're they're encountering some confusion among voters with the city's measure H and their measure H. And so it might be useful to refer to our measure as the successful 2024 city tax measure uh at least for the next couple of months so that we don't confuse anyone. Okay. Anything else before we adjourned? All right. We are ajourned.