Gina Anderson

The meeting of the Audit & Fiscal Sustainability City Council Standing Committee included the presentation of the Annual Comprehensive Financial Report (ACFR) for Fiscal Year 2024-2025 by the Finance Director and the auditor. The auditor confirmed an unmodified (clean) opinion on the financial statements, noting no material misstatements or weaknesses. A significant discussion occurred regarding a prior period restatement of $482,000 related to old payroll clearing accounts from the 2018 software implementation, which required adjustments to reconcile fund balances, although it did not represent a loss or gain of actual cash. The committee also discussed substantial transfers in the report related to this cleanup, which affected the general fund balance. Additionally, the committee discussed differences between the government-wide statement of activities (which includes non-spendable items like depreciation and pension requirements) and the general fund financial statements, which focus on spendable resources.

The meeting began with roll call and a land acknowledgment statement recognizing the Confederated Villages of the Ohlone Tribe. Following the approval of minutes, public comment was opened and closed without speakers, followed by committee announcements regarding past and upcoming community events, including Independence Day celebrations and the Solano Stroll. The committee then deferred discussion on a potential ballot measure to update the business license tax to await the presentation from staff. The main focus was the presentation on the revised draft guidelines for the Long-Term Parklet Program. Key revisions included specifying requirements for three-angled parking spaces, stricter guidelines for perimeter barriers regarding maximum gap and sturdiness (250 pounds of force), and the addition of a new section on materials, referencing city design guidelines. Signage on the parklet structures was explicitly prohibited, excluding instructional signage. Committee members discussed the ambiguity of testing for 250 pounds of force, the prohibition on branded signage, and the existing 14-day appeal period with associated fees for permit denials or appeals. There was also discussion regarding implementing more visible notification practices, such as posting notices on the parklets themselves or utilizing e-notify lists, to proactively gather community feedback prior to finalization.

The meeting commenced with the establishment of quorum and reading of the mission statement and meeting norms, noting significant technical difficulties that prevented Zoom participation. Key discussions included the annual reorganization of the board, resulting in the election of a new President (Josh Mahoney) and Vice President (Trustee Inklas), and the appointment of Superintendent Stone as board secretary. Student trustees reported on their attendance at the California School Board Associations conference and the introduction of a preliminary design for a new Superintendent Student Advisory Committee aimed at strengthening student feedback. Labor partners presented concerns: the Albany Teachers Association expressed solidarity with neighboring locals seeking fully staffed schools and competitive wages, while the California School Employees Association (CSEA) reported extreme frustration over eight months of stalled contract negotiations lacking a full proposal from the district, delays in HR processing volunteer applications for months, a critical incident involving an expired student medical plan where staff could not assist during a seizure, consistent failure by the district to respond to information requests in a timely manner, the delay in receiving the mandated annual seniority list, and retroactive issues with processing sick leave bonuses. CSEA concluded by linking these administrative issues to the need for the district to effectively administer negotiated agreements.

The meeting included a roll call and recitation of the mission, vision statement, and meeting norms. A significant portion of the meeting was dedicated to a presentation by the principal and intervention teachers of Cornell Elementary School regarding their intervention programs for struggling students, including curriculum, assessment data analysis, and service delivery models (pullout vs. push-in). The Board also addressed the agenda approval, moving several items for later discussion. A resolution supporting the City of Albany's proclamation of November 17th through 23rd as 'United Against Hate Week' was read and discussed, focusing on opposing hateful and racist discourse and promoting inclusivity.

The meeting, which included a work session, focused on reviewing and potentially revising the City Council Policy Manual, which includes rules of procedure, administrative policies, and governing policies. Key discussion points included updating policies to incorporate electronic meetings, removing the term "retreat" when discussing annual work sessions, and proposals to change the start time from 7:30 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. or 6:30 p.m. Further deliberation covered procedural matters for calling special meetings, specifically debating whether two or a majority of members should be able to issue the call, and ensuring notice requirements explicitly included email delivery. The council also discussed the provision for providing a meal (light fare) during special closed sessions held before the regular meeting time, agreeing to adjust the cutoff time to align with the new 7:00 p.m. meeting start time. There was also discussion regarding the existing policy on an August recess period.