February 15, 2005 > Newark City Council Meeting

by Susana Nuñez

The meeting began with the approval of the minutes of the regular city council meeting of Thursday, January 27. Under Written Communications, an Architectural and Site Plan Review for sign modifications at Papˇ Machinery located at 38600 Cedar Blvd. was approved. Also approved was a one-year renewal of a conditional use permit and a planned unit development for a five-lot single-family residential subdivision of the property on the north side of Jarvis Avenue at the intersection with Lake Boulevard.

Under the Consent items, the city manager was given the authorization to confirm the city of Newark concurrence of expenditure of Alameda County Transportation Improvement Authority (ACTIA) funds for the Dumbarton Corridor project. In addition, specifications, acceptance of bid and award of contract to Bob Dron Harley-Davidson for the purchase of one police motorcycle was approved. The allocation of anticipated Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) jurisdiction improvement project funds for Fiscal year 2005-2006 was approved as well. The $255,146 expected represents a decrease of about six percent from the $271,092 received for the 2004-2005 fiscal year. $50,000 will be allocated to the rehabilitation of the Second Chance shelter, $53,934 will be allocated to the down payment assistance program, and $76,562 will go to the site acquisition fund. The funds are the last the city has received from the federal government and no further funding is expected.

The City Attorney Reports included a single claim. On November 23, 2004, the city received a claim for $190 from Wahid Mirza for alleged damage to his windshield when his car was parked at the George M. Silliman Activity Center. The claim and all relevant information was forwarded to the ABAG Plan, the city's insurance administrator, who recommends that it be denied; the council followed through and denied the claim.

There were three items under the Closed Session. A conference with legal counsel pursuant to Government Code Section 54956.9 (a), Existing Litigation, City of Newark v City of Fremont at Alameda Country Superior Court was held. Also, conferences were held with legal counsel pursuant to Government Code Section 54956.9 (a), Existing Litigation, Workers Compensation pertaining to Shaunacy Nauroth and Denise Simmons.

The meeting was adjourned in memory of Officer Hector Cornejo Jr., who died on Jan. 27 in his home in Dublin. He retired from the Newark City Police Department in 1996 after being diagnosed with cancer, and his last goal was to celebrate his 25th wedding anniversary on Jan. 26. Cornejo achieved his goal, and died the following day. The council offered their condolences and Councilmember Johnson added that, being a cancer survivor herself, she was personally touched to hear of someone who lost their battle with cancer.