July 6, 2010 > Union City City Council Union City City Council City of Union City June 29, 2010 The meeting opened with a flag ceremony by Troop 20 Cub Scouts of the San Francisco Bay Area Buddhist Church. Consent Calendar Appropriated funds and awarded contract for pavement repairs at railroad crossings - Union City Blvd. near Whipple Rd. and Whipple Rd. near Central Ave. to McGuire and Hester, Oakland - in the amount of $111,500. $130,000 will be taken from the State Traffic Congestion funds to help cover costs. Applied for Used Oil Payment Program, Cycle I Funding. Funds will be used to educate the public about the program. The city will receive roughly $18,000. Declared certain vehicles and equipment as surplus. Two police vehicles will be replaced by two hybrid sedans from Melody Toyota, San Bruno, at a cost of $56,800. The other items will be sold at auction and receipts deposited in the Vehicle and Equipment Replacement account. Declared certain transit buses as surplus. All items will be auctioned and the sale proceeds paid into the Transit Vehicle Replacement Account. Set the Paramedic Special Tax for FY 2010-11. No adjustments will be made this year. At $15 per single family residence, it has reached the maximum allowable. Union City voters approved Measure K (Paramedic Special Tax) in 1997 which contributes toward the total cost of providing paramedic service in Union City. Public Hearing Approved an agreement that provides for an agency loan to Abaxis Corporation, adopted findings in accordance with Health and Safety codes, authorized Agency counsel to create an agreement with these terms, authorized the redevelopment Agency Executive Director to execute the agreement, and authorized a transfer from the Horner/Veasy Project and from the Union Square Office Project to provide funding for the loan. Abaxis Corporation would receive up to $1M to buy new equipment and develop or rehabilitate property for commercial purposes. Funding will be obtained by using $600,000 from the Horner/Veasy Project and $400,000 from the Union Square Project. City Manager Reports Approved 1-4 unit business licensing flat fee at $111 and suspended the Annual Rate Adjustment (API) for one year. Previously, landlords, who owned up to four units, had to purchase a business license for each unit at $111 per unit. The suspension of the API will result in a decrease of $5,000-$6,000 per year, while the business license change will be a decrease of $50,000-$75,000 per year. Will Fuentes was recognized for his work during the city's financial system transition. His efforts helped the city win the Government Finance Officers' Association Distinguished Budget Presentation Award for the Biennium budget. Amended General Fund appropriation and revenue estimates for FY 2010-11. Among other cuts, it was suggested that a number of police positions be eliminated. Council voted to use $30,000 from the General Fund to avoid the elimination of a prisoner transport officer position. They also agreed to include a rescission clause in the 30-day layoff notices scheduled to be issued. A final decision will be made at a later date. Appointed representatives for the Alameda County Transportation Commission (ACTC). Mayor Green already having been chosen as Union City's representative for the ACTC, Carol Dutra-Vernaci was chosen as his alternate. Oral Communications Barbara Uhlig thanked the Mayor for quelling rumors of a proposal to close the Ruggieri Senior Community Center. Barry Ferrier mentioned ACTIA's South County Transportation Forum at 6:30 p.m. on July 15 at the Ruggieri Senior Center. Mayor Mark Green - Yes Vice Mayor Richard Valle - Yes Carol Dutra-Vernaci - Yes Manny Fernandez - Yes Jim Navarro - Yes