[4:04] Good evening, it is now 6:00.
[4:06] I call this a special meeting of the pittsburgh city council to order.
[4:10] madam city clerk, will you please call the role?
[4:14] >> councilmember craft?
[4:16] >> present.
[4:17] >> councilmember killings?
[4:18] >> present. >> councilmember banales?
[4:20] >> present.
[4:21] >> vice-mayor scales-preston?
[4:24] >> present.
[4:25] >> mayor white?
[4:27] >> present.
[4:31] >> would you please introduce the first item?
[4:33] >> yes, and good evening. Good evening, mr. Maher and members of the city
[4:36] council. Tonight's appeal is regarding the planning commission's decision
[4:38] to deny a use permit design and review for upgrade,
[4:44] remodel, and improvements to an existing gas station and construct
[4:46] a 1600 square foot commercial convenience store at 1005 railroad avenue.
[4:51] john thunderbird, assistant director of planning, is here with a presentation.
[4:56] john?
[5:04] >> good evening, mayor white, vice-mayor scales-preston,
[5:08] and city council members. City manager, city attorney, and stakeholders
[5:12] in the public, assistant director of planning.
[5:16] this is a staff presentation on the appeal of the planning commission's
[5:20] determination for the remodel and upgrade project for the existing
[5:24] valero convenience store.
[5:27] before I begin with my presentation, I would like to
[5:32] outline the format of the appeal hearing
[5:34] to ensure the public and anyone wishing to speak in favor or against
[5:37] the project understands the procedures after staff's presentations. First,
[5:41] the mayor will open a public hearing.
[5:48] hear a presentation from the appellant, hear from members of the public,
[5:51] here rebuttal, or concluding response from the appellant.
[5:57] close the public hearing, and ask questions, if necessary, deliberate
[6:01] and act on the appeal.
[6:05] also as a quick note of mention for the council, staff has received
[6:08] numerous letters and emails in regards to supporting an opposition to this
[6:10] project. Both from the original meeting, and when the notice went
[6:12] out for the appeal hearing tonight.
[6:14] these letters and emails have been provided to you, and are available
[6:19] to the public, as well.
[6:26] by way of project background, I would like to provide the council
[6:29] with an outline of how we arrived here tonight. And then, they will
[6:32] present the project. The project outline came out on june 15th, 2021,
[6:37] for planning application, requesting a use permit and
[6:43] removal.
[6:47] on june 14, 2022, the planning commission voted 3-2 to adopt a
[6:50] resolution denying the use permit and design review approval. On june
[6:52] 23rd, 2022, the applicant filed an appeal
[6:59] on the planning commission's denial of the use permit and design review
[7:02] approval. On november 10th, 2022, and pursuant to pmc 18.18.060,
[7:05] public notice was provided for tonight appeal hearing.
[7:11] project location -- the project is located at 1005
[7:15] river avenue in the downtown commercial zoning district,
[7:20] and is located in the southeast corner of railroad
[7:23] avenue and east 10th street. The site is surrounded by residential
[7:26] and commercial uses, and surrounding uses include the market to the east,
[7:30] the city of pittsburgh housing authority, pittsburgh chamber of commerce and
[7:33] gateway apartments to the north, the old riverside high school to
[7:37] the west, and vacant land to the south.
[7:43] this is a current photo of the site, and
[7:45] the existing valero pumps, and 300 square-foot kiosk. The applicant
[7:51] tonight is requesting approval of the use
[7:59] permit and design review again to remodel and upgrade the existing
[8:00] convenience store. A convenience store falls under the use classification
[8:03] of grocery and is defined in pittsburgh code as a convenient store that
[8:08] sells general merchandise incidents the
[8:13] food and beverages. The proposed hours of operation, if approved,
[8:16] would be from 5:00 a.m. To 11:59 p.m. With an estimated six employees.
[8:23] safety measures -- as discussed in the planning commission staff
[8:25] report, the applicant met with the staff and the chief of police and
[8:28] will be providing additional safety measures to the site,
[8:34] including no outdoor storage of materials. So, there is a clear
[8:37] view of the site outside at all times. Maintaining a surveillance
[8:40] camera system that will operate 24 hours a day and will provide
[8:43] pittsburgh police department access to video surveillance, if needed.
[8:47] posting signage prohibiting loitering and the consumption of
[8:51] alcoholic beverages on site, installing high tape
[8:58] next to the exit, and also will provide public safety measures,
[9:00] if needed, and if determined by the chief of police. Also, as additional
[9:03] safety measures, the applicant will provide for, again,
[9:11] responsible sale of alcohol including limiting alcohol sales to the hours
[9:14] between 9:00 a.m. And 10:00 p.m., and outside of these hours, the
[9:17] cold boxes where alcohol is stored will be locked. The applicant would
[9:20] install buzzers on the doors of the alcohol cold boxes, so that
[9:23] someone the clerks would know when somebody removes
[9:28] an alcohol container, multiply her, or beer.
[9:37] in limiting the shelving space to no more than 25 linear feet in
[9:40] the store. Although these are safety measures proposed by the applicant,
[9:42] they have also been made into the conditions of approval for this
[9:47] project.
[9:53] abc. Regarding alcohol sales at this site, staff has been
[9:55] in communication with the licensed representation department of abc,
[9:57] alcoholic beverage control, and received information that the premises
[10:02] is located on census tract number 3100. In this census tract, three
[10:05] off sale licenses are allowed. There is currently only one active license,
[10:09] and it is for la raza market.
[10:15] abc would review this proposal for alcohol sales at the
[10:18] site, and would have ultimate say on issuing the license, or not.
[10:22] additionally, on may 19th, of this year, city staff wrought this item
[10:26] to the two by two meeting of the school board of
[10:33] the pittsburg unified school district to request feedback and comments
[10:36] on the item. The school board did not raise any concerns over the
[10:40] proposed project.
[10:43] as discussed so far, this has been in relation to the
[10:46] use on the site. Now, we are looking into the physical changes proposed
[10:48] to the site, with the desire to review the application. As shown
[10:51] on this side, the project consists of demolishing the current kiosk
[10:53] building, reducing the length of the existing fuel
[10:57] island canopy from approximately 2000 square feet to 1400 square
[11:01] feet, removing two fuel pump dispensers, and expanding the convenience
[11:06] store, with 200 foot trash enclosures, along
[11:11] with parking lot improvements, including a secure bicycle locker,
[11:14] and capacity for two standard bicycles.
[11:20] landscape upgrade projects to the site include
[11:25] upgrading climbing vines on the western side of the city, as shown
[11:29] on this slide. A new landscape strip along the western
[11:35] property boundary line, and along the southern property line,
[11:41] this would include new landscaping, and also to maintain the existing
[11:46] landscaping. Property development regulations. The proposed
[11:52] project is subject to the cities adopted development review design
[11:56] guidelines.
[11:58] as shown on this slide, the proposed project is consistent with the applicable
[12:00] design guidelines sections, additionally, the proposed project meets or exceeds
[12:05] the csd district zoning.
[12:08] property zoning regulations, which includes
[12:11] high floor to air ratio, lot coverage,
[12:15] lock setbacks, landscape coverage, and parking for both cars and bicycles.
[12:25] as shown on this slide, staff believes the proposed project would improve
[12:27] the neighborhood by developing the lot with the well-designed building,
[12:29] updated parking lot and landscaping, the building's design materials
[12:33] earth tone colors would be compatible with the other commercial
[12:35] buildings in the area, including la raza market located just east
[12:40] of the project site.
[12:42] findings -- staff believes that the council can make the required
[12:47] findings to grant the use permit and
[12:53] have approval for the remodel and upgrade of the
[12:55] valero gas station which will allow for the construction of a new and
[12:58] improved commercial building and related site improvements. And
[13:04] for the approval for alcohol sales,
[13:06] and along with the other recommended conditions, including an attached
[13:08] resolution, the existing use would continue to provide a commercial
[13:12] business within a city, at a currently underutilized site.
[13:15] despite the planning commission's decision
[13:17] not to approve the application, staff also believes that all the
[13:22] use permit findings, design review findings, and plant
[13:25] policies can be made in the affirmative for consistency of the project is
[13:28] conditionally approving use in the csd zone, has been categorically
[13:30] exempt from sequence. Also, the project forums with good taste and
[13:33] design, as the exterior appearance is
[13:37] of high quality, and the project will be in harmony with the surrounding
[13:42] uses. Recommendation -- as such, staff recommends that
[13:49] the city council moved to adopt the resolution, upholding an appeal
[13:52] by the applicant, and approved planning application number ap-21-1572,
[13:58] subject to conditions.
[14:01] thank you mayor, vice mayor, and councilmembers.
[14:03] also, with the conclusion of this presentation, I, again, would like
[14:06] to outline the procedures to allow for tonight's appeal hearing to
[14:11] proceed. Again, staff present it,
[14:15] in the staff presentation. The mayor will open a public hearing.
[14:23] we will hear a presentation from the appellate,
[14:25] hear from members of the public, here rebuttal or concluding response
[14:29] from the appellant, close the public hearing, and ask
[14:32] questions, if necessary, the deliberate and act on the appeal. Additionally,
[14:38] I would like to mention as a quick mention, staff did receive a late
[14:40] request today from the adjacent neighbors owners attorney, for la
[14:44] raza market, asking for continuance of this item to a date not specific,
[14:48] but not to exceed four weeks. With that being said, I would like to
[14:51] now turn it over to the mayor to open up public hearing
[14:59] and also, staff is available for any additional questions. Thank
[15:00] you, mayor pete
[15:02] >> thank you, john. Do any of my colleagues have questions for staff
[15:04] at this time? All right. If there are no questions, I will know
[15:13] open the public hearing. I will call
[15:16] for the applicant. As steph indicated, per city council policies and procedures,
[15:18] the appellant will have five minutes to speak, and all members of the
[15:21] public wishing to speak will be limited to three minutes. Will the
[15:23] applicant please come forward? The public hearing is now open.
[15:28] >> good evening, see councilmembers.
[15:31] my name is diane kinderman.
[15:32] I am an attorney with the law firm of abbott and kinderman.
[15:38] we are located in sacramento, and I
[15:40] represent the appellant in this matter. We appreciate the few minutes
[15:43] that we have to speak on this appeal.
[15:44] before I say anything substantive, I want to mention that I just received
[15:52] 77 letters of support that I would like to present, should I provide
[15:55] them to you, mayor? Or, to the city clerk? A few of these are already
[15:58] in the record, but not all of them are.
[16:04] does that mean I am speaking too close to the mic?
[16:10] no? We are okay? Okay, good. All right. Good. Okay, before I get
[16:15] started, I want to let you know, our entire team is
[16:17] here. We had submitted a letter in support of the project that outlined
[16:20] significant legal technical design and other issues come
[16:25] and we have our architect here, we have our economists here
[16:31] and anyone who can answer questions within their
[16:33] purview, if you have any questions a little bit later on. So, everybody
[16:36] is here, if you would like to speak with them or ask any pertinent questions.
[16:49] as indicated, we did submit a letter on november 7th, and we submitted
[16:51] it a second time to city council.
[16:53] so, it should be in the record.
[16:54] hopefully, you have had an opportunity to review it. I'm going to mention
[16:57] just four key points from that letter today in my few minutes here. And
[17:00] they are kind of prisms through which typically city council members
[17:02] look at a project, and whether or not they should approve a project
[17:06] or uphold an appeal, perhaps.
[17:08] the four key points that I wanted to raise, many of these were mentioned
[17:13] by staff. Oh, and I want to make sure that I think staff.
[17:21] they were extremely helpful and patient, as
[17:23] we ask a lot of the questions, both through the application process
[17:27] and during this appeal. So, I wanted to make sure to acknowledge
[17:30] them and thank them, we appreciate their expertise and their patience
[17:34] with us. So first, as mr. Thunderberg indicated, the
[17:44] project is consistent with all of the planning documents. The general
[17:46] plan, the zoning, and any community plan related to the old town area.
[17:54] and I just wanted to mention that that is very important
[17:56] from a legal standpoint, that the project be consistent with those
[18:00] documents. The second prism that typically council members might
[18:02] look at a project, is economic.
[18:03] and that is very important here because we have many letters in
[18:05] which people are concerned about the economics. Not only of
[18:10] a neighbor, but of other businesses in the downtown area.
[18:16] in old town and in the community at large, if this small
[18:18] shop were to expand from its original size of 300 feet to 1600 feet,
[18:24] square feet.
[18:32] so, with that, we have retained economic planning systems, they
[18:34] are also referred to as eps, we have retained them to prepare an
[18:38] economic analysis and provide an opinion. And I had a quick summary
[18:40] here of their findings. And if we go to the next powerpoint? The key
[18:45] finding here -- and ms. Lapin is here to discuss
[18:52] this further -- is that the project will not result in a negative financial
[18:55] impact to any markets in the city, including the la raza market, as
[18:57] there is sufficient demand in the downtown area to sustain the proposed
[19:00] convenient market expansion. And in fact, if we look at
[19:06] the next powerpoint, the sub findings, there are going to
[19:10] be 2600 households in the downtown area. And what
[19:16] the finding was that, in fact, there are probably not going to
[19:18] be enough convenience markets to satisfy the demand.
[19:24] so, these sub findings are interesting on the amounts spent.
[19:29] if we go to the next page, it talks about household demand
[19:35] and spending, it will exceed the existing convenience stores downtown
[19:39] by over 10%.
[19:40] so, even with this little expansion, there is going to be
[19:46] -- there will not be sufficient convenience
[19:48] markets with all of the approved development that is anticipated
[19:52] in the city. So, once again, there will be no significant
[19:56] economic, or any economic impact to any market,
[20:03] including the neighboring market, the la raza market. And I know they
[20:05] were very concerned about that.
[20:08] so, that is why the applicant decided to retain someone with
[20:12] that expertise, to determine what was appropriate here. So, once again,
[20:16] that conclusion is that there will not be any significant, or any impact
[20:19] to the la raza market, or economic impact to the la raza market or
[20:23] other convenient markets, convenience markets in the downtown
[20:28] area of the community.
[20:31] the third point I just wanted to make, quickly, is just kind of the
[20:35] design prism, as mr. Thunderberg explained,
[20:46] there is going to be quite a bit of enhancement at that corner which
[20:48] is --
[20:49] >> please, wrap up.
[20:50] >> it is a defective gateway. Thank you. I appreciate your time. Are
[20:52] there any questions at this moment?
[20:54] be met we will ask questions at a later time. Thank you.
[20:57] >> thank you. I appreciate your time.
[21:02] >> madam city clerk, do we have any public comment?
[21:06] >> yes, terry brewer.
[21:10] >> good evening, councilmembers.
[21:15] what I would like to start off saying is that
[21:19] I represent la raza market, recently, I just came on board.
[21:27] today, I received voluminous documents regarding this meeting. Number one
[21:31] was as -- what was her name? Ms. Kinderman
[21:37] had explained is that there is a 48 page letter
[21:47] with exhibits that were attached to it. I am going
[21:49] to need extra time to rebut those attachments, because as she was
[21:53] talking about, these attachments are based on
[21:56] an analysis of the company that I would like to at least engage
[22:01] in an rebuttal analysis.
[22:04] so, if I could at least get a 3 to 4 week continuance
[22:10] so I could follow up and read the appropriate documentation and
[22:13] be prepared for an opposition?
[22:19] >> are you done with your public comment, ma'am?
[22:23] >> well, I -- you know, the things I wanted to
[22:28] point out are -- you know, the -- the eps, there
[22:34] is no information in here regarding
[22:37] how they came up with the independent analysis on how it is going to
[22:43] enhance the place.
[22:48] in fact, it is -- the biggest issue, really, is the fact that this is
[22:51] going to impede on the economic business impact for the la raza
[22:55] market.
[22:57] and the market has been there for 20 years, or more.
[23:02] we would like to at least see the, you know,
[23:07] I would at least like to get a continuance so I can better prepare for an opposition.
[23:09] >> thank you.
[23:11] >> thank you.
[23:14] >> madam city clerk?
[23:20] >> wolfgang cropsey?
[23:26] >> good evening, mayor, vice member, counsel. All right.
[23:32] cropsey, ceo of the chamber of commerce here in pittsburgh.
[23:38] it is not often that we get approached by two businesses that are seeking
[23:43] our help with the chamber in accomplishing
[23:45] their goals. In this particular case, there is an opportunity here
[23:48] to enhance customer experience.
[23:50] and that is something that has been talked about from our big
[23:55] box retailers all the way down to our small businesses. How can
[23:57] we extends the experience that our customers have in pittsburgh
[24:03] when they go to shop and spend money, and
[24:06] go out to eat? You have a gas station that is owned by a family-owned
[24:09] business that is trying to improve, and enhance the experience. Not
[24:11] only for the customers, but every single person that drives into old
[24:16] town pittsburgh.
[24:22] and to enhance one of the last corners of that intersection
[24:24] that could use some improvement, and also used the improvement of
[24:27] safety. You also have la raza market, another family-owned business that
[24:29] fears that this business is going to impede. And I would say that
[24:33] rising tide lifts all boats. That when a business improves its infrastructure,
[24:37] improves its systems, improves its experience, more people
[24:43] will come. That is more people that will stop there, that will probably
[24:46] spill over into la raza market.
[24:48] la raza market also has an asset that is going untapped. That is
[24:51] its market that is -- if you went to high school here, you probably
[24:54] have lunch there. That is an asset that valero does not have that
[25:01] I feel is untapped. So, it is very understandable that counsel and
[25:04] city members want to have compassion for a
[25:10] small business, and I totally understand that. Maybe there is
[25:12] an opportunity here for either agencies, or even the city, to look at doing
[25:15] underwriting of a pretty desirable loan, that maybe la raza market
[25:17] could benefit from to enhance its exterior. But also, to bring that
[25:23] restaurant cafe part online, and generate another revenue source
[25:27] for them.
[25:30] so, I feel that there is an opportunity
[25:33] here to enhance the experience of customers, and to enhance
[25:43] the experience that people have, coming to old town. But, there is
[25:46] also an opportunity here if we think creatively to help la raza market,
[25:49] to diversify the revenue stream, and provide something that valero
[25:53] can't provide.
[25:58] they are currently already serving snacks and drinks, just looking
[26:01] to expand that. And to ask a business to improve its facade, provide a
[26:03] safer experience, and to cooperate with pd, but not provide them the
[26:08] opportunity to generate revenue to offset those expenses, that
[26:17] is a tall order to fill. So, I think we could create a triple win here,
[26:20] but a win for the city, by having that intersection improved. A win
[26:23] for valero, allowing them to generate revenue to make their enhancements
[26:25] with solar, ev charging, et cetera.
[26:27] but also, look at a way that we could help la raza market take an
[26:29] untapped asset in their property, and turn that into a revenue stream,
[26:32] so they can enhance the business.
[26:34] because they are, you know, with the tobacco measures that the state
[26:36] has passed, they have been hit with that, as well. So, I think there
[26:39] is a way we can come together to create solutions, so that every
[26:42] single stakeholder in this is winning.
[26:44] but, I definitely would like to see a more beautiful intersection
[26:46] to the gateway of old town. Thank you.
[26:50] >> thank you.
[26:54] >> sean dooley?
[27:08] >> I thought I put on here that I wasn't going to speak, but I will
[27:11] say a few brief things. I just think it wouldn't be fair, considering
[27:16] the last things we have been through economically,
[27:18] to allow them to put a store right on, pretty much, the same sidewalk
[27:21] as them. I guess the attorney was saying, I don't know who came up
[27:24] with these analyses and stuff, I am not a professional in that area.
[27:29] but, it sounds like there might be a little bit of bias
[27:32] in there. Also, I think in the matter of -- they want to remove
[27:40] two fuel pumps from the premises.
[27:42] but, that is the only gas station we have down there and it already
[27:44] gets pretty wild during, you know, rush-hour and stuff. So, I
[27:49] don't know if anybody wanted to maybe bring some attention to that
[27:52] aspect of it, it might make a little bit of congestion and stuff down
[27:54] there. But, yeah. I just came to opposed simply because of the moral
[27:57] fact that they have been down there for a long time, and, I don't know.
[28:00] in my opinion, I think it would hurt their business. Especially
[28:02] because they are kind of offering almost the same kinds of products.
[28:05] like, what would they offer that is new?
[28:13] and you brought up the cafe -- I don't think anyone has even -- they
[28:15] are not getting any revenue from that. There was a different business
[28:18] there. I don't even think they operate out of there anymore. So, I don't
[28:21] know. I will just keep it brief, and that is just the reason I wanted
[28:24] to oppose it. Thank you.
[28:25] >> thank you.
[28:28] >> jimmy dorsey?
[28:38] >> good evening, all elected officials and everything like that.
[28:43] the la raza market has helped our church out a lot.
[28:49] they donate a lot of food, and both say, jimmy, we have
[29:00] something for you. So, I will take it down to my church and we feed
[29:02] the homeless on tuesdays and wednesdays.
[29:04] that is a big help to us, because that is money we don't have to take
[29:08] out of our church budget to do things.
[29:09] and I love helping the homeless, and well, I really love feeding
[29:13] people when I don't have to use my money, I like that better. And
[29:16] I know a lot of people that have helped me to do that, and
[29:21] I have been in pittsburgh at least 22 years. And before that,
[29:28] it was -- I don't like to say "ethnic" but it was a chinese
[29:32] lady and a chinese man that had a restaurant there. So, that restaurant
[29:36] has been in business in pittsburgh for a long time, and that has been
[29:41] a tax base for the city, which keeps
[29:48] the streets going, the lights paid, and things like that. The bottom
[29:50] line, you can't go anywhere without electricity or gas. And that is
[29:54] the bottom line. Me, myself, I am not no attorney, or anything like
[29:57] that. But, this lady that came up with
[30:02] the analysis of the neighborhood, I don't think she lives in this
[30:05] neighborhood. And I don't have a degree in that area. But, that story
[30:08] has helped the community a lot.
[30:10] and the people that owned it before, the way they sold it -- I'm trying
[30:14] to be nice, grab my tongue, I do not think the deal was right.
[30:20] I will put it that way.
[30:23] because my friend of them, paid double for that property when
[30:28] they have been leasing it at least 15 or 20 years.
[30:39] so that is like, you are renting a house and you tell the owner,
[30:42] I want to buy. And he says, I will agree to sell it to you. And then
[30:45] he turns around and sells it to someone else. That is not fair.
[30:48] so, I understand what is going on.
[30:49] we want to make pittsburgh look good. And y'all make pittsburgh
[30:51] look good. I'm not kidding. I'm not just saying that to say that.
[30:59] you go out, and come back to pittsburgh,
[31:02] look how different it is. Our friends come from brentwood and all that
[31:04] and they see the lights and stuff, and they say, how did your city
[31:07] get through this? That is all I have to say, thank you.
[31:09] >> thank you.
[31:12] >> carol dooley?
[31:18] >> I'm not going to read all this.
[31:21] so, good evening. I just want to say
[31:25] thank you for allowing me to speak tonight.
[31:32] I was trying to put my thoughts down on paper and I was really having
[31:35] a hard time, because as the stillman just mentioned, I could not get
[31:38] past the way the steel came to fruition.
[31:41] I think it is really -- I think it is
[31:45] something that should be discussed with you because I am not privy
[31:48] to all of the details. But, that really sits really hard with me.
[31:51] we are pushing all of these small businesses out.
[31:56] we are pushing them out of business, that have been there 20, 30, 40
[31:59] years. These guys are like the only store in town where you can walk
[32:02] in and say, I don't have any money, can I pay you tomorrow? Sure.
[32:08] not that I would do that. But, I have
[32:10] been extended that opportunity on many occasions. There is no other
[32:13] store that is going to do that.
[32:14] they watch out for our safety, they take care of our families, they
[32:17] are something that is not there anymore, that we have lost over
[32:20] the years. And I am not even going to bring up the stuff about the
[32:23] security, because it just gets shoved under the rug. I don't know why
[32:26] it is being worried about now. I have to kind of wonder about the
[32:28] school board, though. That school is directly across the street and
[32:31] we have had two shootings that in the last six or seven months. Where
[32:34] shots are fired, and they are flying all over the place. I have to wonder
[32:37] if they are only about the business and the funding it is going to bring
[32:40] to the city. My granddaughter attend that school. I want her to have
[32:42] to worry about getting shot. It is not so much the gas station's
[32:45] fault, but, it is the kind of clientele that hang around there. La raza
[32:49] market has been working for years to clean it up, and they have their
[32:52] side okay. I am sure these are nice people, really nice people.
[32:56] but, the way they went about getting everything here today, was really
[32:59] despicable.
[33:02] >> thank you.
[33:07] >> oliver kilo?
[33:14] >> good afternoon, counsel.
[33:16] I want to bring up that point about the shooting. I
[33:21] was actually there at the shooting when that happened. Now, that shooting
[33:26] is not caused by the gas station or any
[33:35] other things like that, you brought it up as if the station --
[33:38] >> sir, please direct -- please direct your comments to the city
[33:39] council. >> okay.
[33:40] >> thank you.
[33:41] >> what is wrong with improving our city? The things that we are
[33:46] going to sell are not going to
[33:50] put anybody out of business. We simply want to improve the area.
[33:57] if something is wrong with that, would you guys please explain that
[34:02] to me?
[34:04] the store has been looking the same over, what, 30 years? Just
[34:07] a little box in the corner over there? They stopped making those
[34:11] a long time ago, I'm sure.
[34:14] why can't we expand that?
[34:16] it is not going to put anybody out of business?
[34:21] I think they are kind of afraid of that, but that is not going to
[34:25] happen. We are not going to be able to sell the stuff that they sell.
[34:27] so, for the neighborhood, like I said with the gunshots and this
[34:30] and that, well, we've got our bad spots here and there. Not just at
[34:34] the station. La raza market, the store down the street,
[34:42] we would do everything we try to do, you know, to keep everything
[34:45] clean and straight. Now, my thing is, let us grow.
[34:50] just like this new building that we've got and everything.
[34:56] I remember when it was here, I have been living
[34:59] here for 35 years. Pittsburgh looked like a -- oh, my god. Downtown was
[35:01] really bad. But, everything got cleaned up. That has continued to
[35:06] improve.
[35:09] that is not holding the business back, because the business is afraid.
[35:12] that doesn't even make sense! Right?
[35:15] that is all I'm going to say.
[35:18] >> thank you, sir.
[35:27] >> harkam il-sing?
[35:36] >> good evening, city council.
[35:41] I would like to say, in support of the improvement of that gas station
[35:44] right there, even looking at those pictures right now, you know, with
[35:47] that box sitting right in the corner, to me, I think, like, getting a
[35:50] better building or a new building over there will give us more opportunity.
[35:56] like, or safety while pumping gas. If
[35:59] it is going to have more employees sitting in there with the view.
[36:02] that is one thing. And then that entrance to the old city hall. You
[36:06] know, we would like to see something, like,
[36:11] a really good-looking gas station when somebody is really going to
[36:14] the old city hall. You know, that makes the old city look better.
[36:17] it is for the improvement -- I do really support that project. We
[36:21] will be looking forward to hearing from
[36:24] you guys. That is all I wanted to say now. Thank you.
[36:27] >> thank you.
[36:30] >> rodrick coleman?
[36:44] >> hello, mary.
[36:47] vice mayor, council members, my name is rodrick
[36:51] coleman. I moved here two years ago.
[36:57] my block was nothing but have experience shootings,
[37:01] drinking with young kids, and I took the time to clean it
[37:05] up. I started a boys and girls club.
[37:08] I don't want to see it go back. Because
[37:14] by putting this here store, this gas station, into a convenience
[37:17] market, you have a bunch of kids that go to pittsburg high school,
[37:21] they passed by there every day.
[37:24] and I have seen a lot of stealing, a lot of stealing liquor
[37:27] out of these stores. Are they going to be able to secure the stores?
[37:30] when it comes to our youth? That is the question we should be asking
[37:33] ourselves. How is it going to affect our community? Our kids ain't got
[37:38] nothing to do.
[37:41] so, I provided a safe haven for them to come to my home, to have
[37:46] something to do.
[37:49] now, when it comes to la raza market, I want
[37:54] to thank them for contributing to help me get this program on its
[37:59] feet.
[38:01] I wanted to thank golden star for helping me get my program off of
[38:05] its feet.
[38:11] these people give back to the community.
[38:12] what is this gas station going to give us back? What are they going
[38:15] to give our kids, our youth, our community? Those are the questions
[38:18] that we need to ask. Because the way that they got people standing
[38:21] out there right now, it is going to be worse. And all we are doing
[38:24] is just not helping the community.
[38:26] so, I just wanted to share that with you guys. Thank you.
[38:30] >> thank you.
[38:33] >> cynthia walters?
[38:42] >> good evening.
[38:45] thank you.
[38:51] I just want to say I am in favor of la raza market. I have lived
[38:53] in the neighborhood for 25 years.
[38:56] and that store has given me so much, more than I could ask for.
[39:05] they are from me. And like the other lady was saying, if you needed credit,
[39:08] they would give you credit. Not that I ever asked for it, either.
[39:11] but, they have everything I need and -- also, it is mostly working,
[39:15] poor people that live in that neighborhood.
[39:24] people on their way to work, go to the
[39:27] gas station, sure. But, their prices are going to be twice as high. But,
[39:30] the main concern is, they are going to be taking business from la raza
[39:34] market. It has been there for so long. And like you said, helped
[39:36] the community. And it is attached to la raza market. How fair is that?
[39:41] that is so wrong.
[39:42] and so what if they haven't changed the front of it? They have always
[39:46] been kind. And I have never been scared at night to go
[39:49] over there, because they take care of us.
[39:54] and they make sure that we get in our car safe, and everything
[39:57] else. If anyone bugs us, they are on it. And they will call the police.
[40:01] in a heartbeat, to come.
[40:05] I am just in favor of la raza, and I
[40:09] just hope that this gas station doesn't go forward, because it
[40:13] would be hurting us working poor, thank you.
[40:19] >> thank you.
[40:22] >> peter klink?
[40:28] >> good evening, council. My name is peter
[40:33] klink. I am a concern homeowner and citizen of pittsburgh. I have
[40:36] lived in this community for 27 years.
[40:44] la raza market on east 34th and 10th street has served as a clean,
[40:47] reliable, and family save establishment that I have shopped there for years.
[40:50] it has come to my attention that valero gas station next door wants
[40:54] to install a minimart store in their parking not. My major concern
[40:58] with valero is the lack of safety, enforcement,
[41:02] and danger, annoying thugs, and homeless people, that just hang
[41:08] out there on a daily basis.
[41:13] this, alone, has led my wife and I not to purchase fuel from this
[41:15] location. In doing so, finding a safer alternative. It is my belief
[41:19] that adding a convenience store here will simply amplify the problems
[41:24] and create unwanted havoc and crime in our beloved neighborhood.
[41:28] in the past 20 years, pittsburgh has
[41:32] taken back and renewed its downtown area, which has become a
[41:38] triptych and safe place to live for all of us. My
[41:41] point tonight being, a convenience store here
[41:45] would put a negative mark on the future of this lovely town. Thank
[41:47] you very much.
[41:50] >> thank you.
[41:54] >> debbie b -- I'm sorry, I can't read your
[41:59] last name.
[42:05] >> hello, everyone. Sorry.
[42:11] I think the gas station is a plus for the community, because
[42:14] where else are you going to get glass? They don't know that they
[42:18] aren't going to provide safety.
[42:21] people are just assuming, that they are changing things,
[42:27] that it is going to be bad for us, or whatever. They are not trying
[42:30] to take away business for la raza market. They are just trying to
[42:33] make a business. You know? And I think it is equal opportunity
[42:35] for everybody. They should be allowed to do it. They should be allowed
[42:38] in the area. That is all I have to say.
[42:42] >> thank you.
[42:46] >> bruce olsen?
[42:49] >> good evening.
[42:55] bruce olsen, pittsburgh's mr. Bicycle.
[42:58] pittsburgh's bicycle community has one small request for a mitigation,
[43:04] and that is to widen railroad avenue at the railroad avenue frontage
[43:13] of this property, by four feet.
[43:16] that is, move the sidewalk closer to the building, by four
[43:21] feet.
[43:24] the reason is, on northbound railroad avenue, we have existing
[43:28] bicycle lane from highway 4 all the way to
[43:35] the south edge of this property.
[43:37] but, there is not enough room in the intersection to install a bike
[43:40] lane. In fact, it is pretty tight.
[43:44] we are asking only for four feet to put a bike lane between the dedicated
[43:47] right turn lane and the dedicated through lane.
[43:53] I would point out, also, in addition to the existing bicycle lane from
[43:57] highway 4 to the south edge of this property, extending south
[44:02] from highway 4 all the way to the east bay right away, we have
[44:08] a marked shoulder lane.
[44:11] on the east bay right away, we have a bicycle path.
[44:20] so, we are talking about bicycle facilities from an existing
[44:23] bicycle path, down past bart, and all the way stopping at the corner
[44:27] of this property.
[44:33] we want these people to be good citizens. We want four feet of their
[44:37] property to be dedicated to bicycles, so we can safely have
[44:43] bicycles approach the limit line of 10th street, and safely continue
[44:48] north into the old town or the downtown.
[44:51] thank you very much.
[44:54] >> thank you.
[45:04] >> nazar abed?.
[45:13] >> good evening, everybody.
[45:18] the reason I am here about the gas station, of course, everything is
[45:20] turning from gas to electric cars.
[45:22] what about if we are improving the gas station,
[45:26] we make this smaller, and put another ev supercharger in there?
[45:31] if you are removing two gas tanks from there, you can put two
[45:36] ev chargers there. That would be great for downtown. Otherwise, the
[45:39] people of downtown, there is only three ev chargers.
[45:43] there is the supercharger by 50th street and railroad. If you do that
[45:48] instead of extending the store, I would appreciate it.
[45:51] that is all. Thank you.
[45:54] >> thank you.
[45:57] >> terrence brewer?
[46:04] >> good evening, counsel. Thank you for your time.
[46:09] I just wanted to quickly say that we all know what this
[46:15] is about.
[46:18] it is very plain to see that valero is attempting to
[46:24] savagely kick out la raza after 20 years,
[46:29] or more, of being in this community.
[46:34] they have a really good standing relationship with the community.
[46:38] just like what
[46:44] the gentleman before me -- I believe he was in support of valero
[46:50] -- he said, "let
[46:55] us grow, let us grow this city." and I am proposing that
[47:03] instead of making a redundant convenience store, in direct competition of
[47:09] la raza, which we all know which way that
[47:15] is going to go, how about a
[47:21] grocery store?
[47:27] I mean, the closest grocery store,
[47:29] safeway, that is all the way down on bailey road and it is -- you
[47:32] know, you have to deal with traffic, you have to deal with all of that.
[47:37] not to mention, traffic in that immediate area, when school
[47:40] is in, it is already chaos. It is chaos to get in and out, and to
[47:45] have, you know, more -- to have an additional store
[47:51] with more promotions, and things like that. And I mean, you can see
[47:54] the support that la raza has right here. I mean, I have already seen
[47:59] things on social media about, you know, a
[48:05] possible protest if this happens.
[48:11] and that is one thing that I don't really want, you know? I
[48:14] don't want to have a bunch of group protests and crazy things happening.
[48:21] but I think I stated before in a letter to you guys previously,
[48:26] that during the pandemic,
[48:35] valero seemed to have -- well, in my mind, I reached out
[48:37] to the attorney general about this -- seemed to have been price gouging.
[48:45] I don't know if any of you have had
[48:48] the time to look into this. But, their prices -- of course, all of
[48:51] the gas prices are sky high -- but, there is were skyhigh before anybody,
[48:57] before any action was ever taken.
[48:59] so, I would just take that into consideration. Thank you.
[49:02] >> thank you.
[49:05] >> marta wolf?
[49:15] >> good evening.
[49:23] I am the owner of not nothings.
[49:25] can you hear me? It is at 274 east 10th street. About two or three
[49:29] doors down from la raza, and my perspective is
[49:35] I am not opposed to a new store in pittsburgh. But, I am opposed
[49:41] to a new store in pittsburgh at this location.
[49:48] it is already one of the busiest intersections, I believe, in pittsburgh.
[49:57] and they, of course, already use it as a freeway half the time. I
[50:00] see cars speeding every day. It is already unsafe.
[50:07] and also, the traffic flow within the gas station is, like, yeah,
[50:11] many chaos.
[50:20] even though I am only two doors, or three doors down, I only use
[50:23] that gas station as a last resort, because I don't feel that it is
[50:26] safe. I don't feel that it is safe going into the gas station, I don't
[50:29] feel safe within the gas station.
[50:31] so, I think adding a store to this would just create even more gridlock,
[50:37] honestly.
[50:39] I don't see how it would improve this intersection, at all. Last
[50:44] week, there was an accident that took out a fire hydrant.
[50:48] fortunately, no one was injured.
[50:51] but, it just created chaos.
[50:57] and I am not sure what is the connection between a convenience
[51:01] store by valero to old town pittsburgh?
[51:07] that doesn't seem to make sense to me, that is not logical how that
[51:10] would contribute to old town pittsburgh.
[51:11] which, I love old town pittsburgh.
[51:14] I don't see that connection.
[51:16] so, I disagree with this feeling that it would be a
[51:24] safer intersection, and that it would improve this intersection.
[51:26] because I feel that it would make it more dangerous, and I don't think
[51:32] that there would be any improvement, whatsoever. It would just make things
[51:35] a lot worse at that intersection.
[51:37] and I am coming from the perspective of safety. I think it would be very
[51:41] unsafe. Thank you.
[51:43] >> thank you.
[51:46] >> dominique
[51:51] kalija??
[51:54] >> good evening, councilmembers.
[52:00] I am in favor of la raza.
[52:09] I have been a member of this community for the past four
[52:12] years, coming from l.a. I am a part of the pittsburgh historical society,
[52:15] and a part of the pittsburgh italian-american club. From them, having support
[52:18] for la raza over the past four years since I have been a community member
[52:21] here has made a world of difference.
[52:23] I was highly disappointed in the city's effort during covid,
[52:28] to help small businesses, coming from a family of small businesses
[52:32] in l.a. For the past 76 years.
[52:34] and seeing how different communities have come together, I have never
[52:36] seen a community come more together for la raza.
[52:41] when there is a shortage of food everywhere else, I was a manager
[52:44] at trader joe's for three years up here. When we ran out of food,
[52:48] they were the ones to go to. They stayed late, there was no time difference
[52:52] for them. They opened up early to help anyone out.
[52:59] and if the gas station was that concerned about business, why, now,
[53:03] to remodel?
[53:06] why haven't they done that before?
[53:07] if they were really worried about the community, why haven't they
[53:10] cleaned up? Why haven't they made an effort? Even now, to keep their
[53:14] area clean?
[53:19] clean, complete, tidy, safe for kids across the street, for the
[53:21] community. There has been no effort, whatsoever. I do not believe that
[53:24] adding a convenience store in lieu of elrosa next door, to help their
[53:28] business, I do not think that would help the business by
[53:31] making it look better, or to even bring in more community.
[53:40] so, doing that now, what is the difference? Why now? Why try to
[53:42] put a small business who is supposed to help the community out of business?
[53:45] it just doesn't make any sense.
[53:47] along with safety, I have used that gas station once in the past four
[53:52] years.
[53:54] when I did, my card was scanned, so it doesn't seem like there is
[53:57] an up-to-date safety feature on all of the pumps, as well. And for
[54:01] any of the kids -- I don't even deal safe for my kids -- when I
[54:08] do have them -- to go anywhere near there. I can barely go there if
[54:11] I don't see any cars, because I have seen cars there that are not
[54:14] doing -- pumping gas. I don't see anything differently. But, there
[54:16] has been no security. There has been no any type of way to help
[54:21] your parked patrons even be safe pumping
[54:26] gas.
[54:35] so, I guess if there is an update, I am not against that. But, I am
[54:38] against them putting in a convenience store that is not going to help
[54:40] their business. It is just going to hinder small businesses in that
[54:43] community that have helped our community for the past however long they have
[54:45] been there. Thank you.
[54:46] >> thank you.
[54:49] >> sikander -- I'm sorry, I cannot
[54:56] say your last name.
[54:59] >> good evening, counsel, and everybody else that came today.
[55:05] one thing that was mentioned a lot here
[55:08] was about the future of pittsburgh, and how we need advancements, et
[55:13] cetera.
[55:15] it is hard to imagine a future without kids. Who and with that
[55:21] being said, kids nowadays, especially high
[55:27] schoolers, they like to go out, have fun, they do their things.
[55:31] most them -- some of them might not make the
[55:35] best choices, and others do their best to make as good of decisions
[55:39] as they can. And when they see gas stations, they
[55:45] see it as hot zones, so
[55:49] they can get some things that they aren't -- that they are not able
[55:52] to get yet. For example, alcohol, vapes, things like that.
[55:56] and they might have either their older siblings, or they might steal
[55:59] it themselves. Which, is not very good for them or society, as a whole,
[56:04] as alcohol is known to alter their minds, and make them make poor decisions.
[56:10] with that being said, if a gas station would to be made, would they be
[56:20] able to stop that from happening?
[56:21] because things like this do happen.
[56:22] and when kids make bad decisions, it gets worse and worse. There is
[56:25] no positive outcome if something bad were to happen, due to that.
[56:28] thank you, very much.
[56:31] >> thank you.
[56:42] madame city clerk, do we have any additional public comment?
[56:44] >> no, I have no more speaker cards.
[56:46] >> all right. If there are no more members of the public wishing to
[56:49] speak, per the city council policies and procedures, I will now invite
[56:51] the appellant back to the podium, and allow them an opportunity to
[56:54] respond. Any comments that I made tonight. The appellant will have
[56:56] no more than 10 minutes.
[56:59] >> was that 10 minutes?
[57:05] excuse me -- thank you. Diane kinderman,
[57:08] again. Thank you, mr. Thunderberg, I appreciate that. So, I do want
[57:11] to raise a couple of points here that were raised by members of the
[57:14] community. So, if we could bring up the next powerpoint? Is that
[57:18] possible? The picture will be helpful. But, I
[57:21] wanted to show you is that the new design is going to have glass walls
[57:26] that is going to eliminate a loitering on that portion of the property,
[57:28] hopefully that is helpful. Thank you so much. I appreciate that.
[57:39] so, all of those glass walls will help to eliminate loitering. And
[57:41] it is important to remember that la raza is right next to the store.
[57:44] so, the loitering isn't only on this property. It is also elsewhere.
[57:46] so, the applicant has attempted as much as possible to
[57:52] secure the area. But, with the improvement, these glass walls are
[57:54] going to help eliminate loitering.
[57:55] there will be more lighting, what have you.
[58:01] at that point, they will help install all of the sophisticated
[58:03] surveillance equipment, and all of the other measures that have
[58:07] been mentioned, both by staff, and in our letter to actually improve
[58:09] the health, safety, and welfare of the community, and of that area.
[58:14] we also understand competition concerns. Of course, the applicant
[58:20] didn't purchase this property with the intention of putting anybody
[58:22] out of business. He simply wanted to enhance this.
[58:28] and the expansion from 300 square feet -- well, 200 square feet to
[58:32] the 1600s square feet, only 900 square feet of that is
[58:38] going to be retail.
[58:40] the rest is storage. So, it is not like there is going to be 1600
[58:50] square feet of retail. There will only be 900. So, it is a very small
[58:53] increase. But, we understand the competition concern, which is why
[58:56] we had an empirical study done on the economic study.
[59:04] on the issue of the accident, and the concern about circulation on-site,
[59:07] one of the pumps is going to be removed, and there will be an ev
[59:11] charging station there.
[59:14] so, those are some of the concerns that I
[59:16] heard from the community. Also, the gentleman talking about the
[59:19] boys and girls club, and participating in the community, feeding the homeless,
[59:21] the applicant looks forward to being able to enhance his opportunities
[59:24] to do that. And he looks forward to being able to be a good member
[59:30] of the community.
[59:33] and thus far, he has already partnered
[59:36] with other local businesses to feature local food and other products at
[59:40] his location.
[59:42] so, if this gets approved, he has already worked with other members
[59:45] of the community to do that. He has also spoke with rosemary
[59:51] of the pittsburgh arts and community foundation.
[59:57] if you look to the right of where the bicycles
[59:59] are, they would like a miracle to be painted there, and to feature
[1:00:04] local artist.
[1:00:05] maybe the mural could stay there for a year, and then sunday takes
[1:00:08] a picture of it, and then sell the picture, perhaps. And then the artist
[1:00:11] would benefit from that. And the next year, another artist gets to
[1:00:14] do it. So, the artist is working with her to identify local artists
[1:00:17] that would like to feature their works on that blank wall there.
[1:00:23] so, he is trying to be a member of the community, and would like
[1:00:27] to continue to do that.
[1:00:36] and then, I also wanted to speak about -- well,
[1:00:39] let's look at the next slide here.
[1:00:40] yeah, it is just another viewpoint of the improvement here and how
[1:00:43] all of this class is going to keep people from hanging out and loitering
[1:00:47] along a wall.
[1:00:50] it is going to be well lit, and it certainly is going to deter crime.
[1:00:53] one other item -- we can go to the next slide -- this just kind of
[1:00:56] underscores many of the points that we raised as to why the appeal should
[1:00:59] be granted. And the entitlement should be approved. I wanted to
[1:01:02] mention the request for additional time.
[1:01:10] I understand, as a lawyer, I have had clients call me at the last
[1:01:12] minute. My problem with the request here, is that we have in the record,
[1:01:16] a letter from december 14th of 2021, from this attorney, where she talked
[1:01:19] to the city, where she talks about economic concerns. At that time,
[1:01:21] she could have chosen to obtain an economic report, to
[1:01:25] substantiate her arguments about economic damage to her client. She
[1:01:28] failed to do that. It doesn't seem fair that
[1:01:31] the applicant and appellant should be penalized, because they didn't
[1:01:34] take care of supporting their statements in a letter submitted on
[1:01:38] december 14th of 2021, opposing the project.
[1:01:46] so, I would oppose any extension of this. Although, I emphasize with
[1:01:48] counsel in this circumstance. I do not have the same level of empathy,
[1:01:56] and I would request that there be no continuance. What is happening
[1:01:59] is, there is an issue with -- everybody knows how the economy is going.
[1:02:01] interest rates are going up. The cost of building materials are going
[1:02:03] up. Availability of building materials is becoming more scarce. So, we
[1:02:07] would like to just -- if you were going to approve this, we would
[1:02:12] respectfully request that
[1:02:22] you deny an extension. And so with that, I don't know if you have any
[1:02:25] questions. If, perhaps, the architect would like to come up and speak
[1:02:28] about additional items? Or, if you want to hear from our economic consultant,
[1:02:32] if that would be helpful?
[1:02:34] if she wants to speak on those items?
[1:02:35] >> after your comments, I will close the public comment, and bring it
[1:02:38] back to the council for deliberation.
[1:02:39] >> thank you. I do not have any further comments at this time.
[1:02:48] we just look at the last point as to why this should
[1:02:51] be approved, and you can read those right there. I do not want to take
[1:02:54] up your time repeating those.
[1:02:55] >> thank you.
[1:02:56] >> thank you. Any questions for me?
[1:02:57] >> not at this time.
[1:02:58] >> thank you.
[1:02:59] >> thank you. All right. I will now close the public hearing. And
[1:03:03] I will bring it back to my colleagues for deliberation. Do any of my colleagues
[1:03:06] have any comments or questions they would like to make at this time?
[1:03:12] councilmember banales?
[1:03:15] >> yes, mayor, thank you.
[1:03:18] this is going to be for staff, just some
[1:03:20] questions. Can you confirm the existing number of parking spaces and the
[1:03:24] proposed number of parking spaces?
[1:03:25] >> well -- >> not including the gas pumps.
[1:04:16] >> thank you.
[1:04:19] a couple more questions.
[1:04:21] just to confirm that the number of gas pumps are,
[1:04:26] is currently six and the proposal is 4 so to reduce by two?
[1:04:32] thank you.
[1:04:34] in terms of the sales area I noted 903 903 ft.2.
[1:04:40] of those 903 how many of those
[1:04:49] will be dedicated to alcohol sales?
[1:05:02] >> good evening councilmembers.
[1:05:04] to answer the question, we are allowed 25 linear feet of shelving,
[1:05:10] so in a walk-in box there might be 4
[1:05:16] let's say, 4 shelves.
[1:05:19] we would probably have
[1:05:25] oh, six?
[1:05:34] 6 ft.2, I don't know probably like 10 ft.2,
[1:05:40] it's a very small, an area like this.
[1:05:47] >> so would be six of the cases or six
[1:05:50] shelves?
[1:05:53] >> it would be 4 shelves that are 3 feet wide.
[1:06:01] that's the footprint we are talking about for alcohol.
[1:06:06] the rule is 25 linear feet so you have 4, 8, 12,
[1:06:12] if you had that many, it's a small space.
[1:06:19] >> one more question and this would be to staff. There
[1:06:24] have been mentions of gas stations, could you
[1:06:28] remind me the nearest gas stations in the old town area other than
[1:06:33] this one?
[1:06:34] >> that would be a good question councilmember banales.
[1:06:41] I would think the nearest gas station would be in old town, if
[1:06:46] I'm not mistaken,
[1:06:52] >> through the mayor, the answer to the
[1:06:56] point of your question is there is not anything remotely proximate
[1:07:01] to this gas station.
[1:07:04] we don't know the exact distance to the next one but
[1:07:06] it's a fair distance away.
[1:07:08] >> thank you. I will reserve the rest of my comments for later.
[1:07:12] >> councilmember kraft.
[1:07:15] >> so in the first part of the presentation
[1:07:19] where they talked about removing 2 of the pump stations,
[1:07:25] then the gentleman came forward and said, okay but we
[1:07:29] are moving now into the future which would be ev. Discharging
[1:07:36] stations. Now it is mentioned that there will be one station,
[1:07:41] was that even a part of the presentation or a part of your plans beforehand
[1:07:45] or was it just with the comment that was made?
[1:07:50] >> thank you, that was part of the presentation. It's in the materials
[1:07:55] already. I didn't get to it in the light of the short time to
[1:08:02] speak. It is in the materials that there would be one ev station.
[1:08:06] >> thank you. My next one would be the community benefit.
[1:08:11] so community benefit is important in a small community.
[1:08:17] so that's nice about a mural but a
[1:08:20] mural is one thing that's a benefit but then when we talk about community
[1:08:24] benefits typically, we talk about one of our star examples happened
[1:08:29] to be called star market.
[1:08:31] they were instrumental in getting food our seniors and to our community
[1:08:35] during the pandemic. They have been a part of our planning
[1:08:41] for different special events or whatever. I would say they
[1:08:47] are the goldstar when we talk about community benefits. This market
[1:08:52] la raza also does things in the community as well.
[1:08:57] so when we say community benefit we are not just talking about something
[1:09:00] we are looking at but actually making a difference in someone's life.
[1:09:05] I just wanted to make that a clarification as to when we talk about benefits
[1:09:09] and what you are claiming is a benefit.
[1:09:12] the other thing, I like the
[1:09:18] concept that, that
[1:09:22] gas station is an eyesore in our community. It really is. That
[1:09:28] corner is an eyesore.
[1:09:30] that is the gateway to our downtown.
[1:09:33] we put a lot of money into the old town so
[1:09:37] to say that we continue to look at it as this is the way it was
[1:09:41] this is where we are and this is how it stays, that's not acceptable.
[1:09:46] at some point we do have to look at what
[1:09:50] is best, and that may be a combination of things.
[1:09:55] I would like what the chamber of commerce said,
[1:10:01] how do we look at both to improve the area. For me, looking at
[1:10:07] it as competition and that sort of thing, a convenience store is
[1:10:11] typically that. You walk in and walk out. It's convenient and right
[1:10:17] there.
[1:10:20] I'm going to get marketable things that I need for my house because
[1:10:23] I'm planning a meal. That's a difference.
[1:10:25] so I have a different philosophy about that from business.
[1:10:31] again one of my concerns would be,
[1:10:35] the fact that you have a business that has been doing good business
[1:10:39] here in our community. We don't want to penalize that business.
[1:10:45] how we look at this and say, what can we do? How do we say, both are
[1:10:50] important. We need both.
[1:10:53] for me it's not one or the other it's both. How do we make
[1:10:59] them coexist. How do we do what's right for the downtown
[1:11:04] corridor. So that's a question for staff that I'm going to throw
[1:11:08] the ball over to staff and asked that question.
[1:11:12] >> thank you councilmember kraft. Councilmember
[1:11:17] killings?
[1:11:20] >> so I just have a few specific questions to go through.
[1:11:26] is there a difference between the use designations for the convenience
[1:11:30] store as opposed to what's next-door at la raza. Is
[1:11:35] there a difference in the use designations?
[1:11:38] >> through the mayor, there is
[1:11:53] in particular the use type classifications fall within the
[1:11:57] same use so there is no real distinction. But the convenience
[1:12:02] store itself, the gas station is the main use and the
[1:12:07] convenience store is accessory.
[1:12:11] >> so the second one, I just want to confirm that in our
[1:12:16] municipal code, we don't have any prohibitions on distances of similar
[1:12:20] uses within our code currently.
[1:12:25] >> through the mayor, there is no existing provisions
[1:12:29] that imply.
[1:12:32] >> the next question, I think a lot
[1:12:36] of the sentiment tonight and overall in terms of as we are looking at
[1:12:40] the design of the project, it's been around safety.
[1:12:46] . I just want to hear from staff's perspective,
[1:12:51] as well as with pd, how this improved design would
[1:12:56] impact public safety.
[1:12:59] I did hear miss kinderman definitely sharing in terms of
[1:13:04] the glass, we want to hear from staff as well as pd,
[1:13:09] because as we are going through this I think one thing I've heard
[1:13:14] consistently throughout was around safety.
[1:13:19] so really wanting to get to the core of that.
[1:13:24] hearing about solicitation, loitering, cleanup,
[1:13:28] if there is a legitimate concern about safety I have my notions about
[1:13:32] how this may improve but I want to hear if there's anything from
[1:13:36] design standard or pd if you want to chime in as it relates to calls
[1:13:41] of service.
[1:13:44] I've heard a lot about, are we receiving calls of service in this
[1:13:48] area. I just want to be able to substantiate some of the claims
[1:13:51] that we are hearing as well is just from a professional standpoint.
[1:13:56] how the improved design will improve public safety in
[1:14:01] the area.
[1:14:04] >> those are good questions.
[1:14:06] in conversations with the police department and with the former police
[1:14:09] chief, we did meet on a few occasions.
[1:14:12] we had two meetings in regards to the conditions. One of
[1:14:18] the concerns raised was surveillance and the
[1:14:22] installation of cameras that needed to be included with the conditions
[1:14:26] of approval. The project applicant did agree to that and I believe
[1:14:29] it was one thing that was really going to make sure, it enhances
[1:14:34] the safety of the property.
[1:14:37] the other was, the applicant is
[1:14:43] really keen in a sense of loitering.
[1:14:46] we did put conditions of approval for the project where the loitering
[1:14:51] would be enforced.
[1:14:53] they have a real strong kind of commitment to making sure there
[1:14:57] was no loitering if this project is approved.
[1:15:01] that is another condition of approval for the project site.
[1:15:06] in regards to the office door and how they will be able to kind of
[1:15:12] view the site, with this glass, will actually
[1:15:17] enhance to be able to see what's going on.
[1:15:22] these are things that we have talked about in the design and
[1:15:27] talking about how we wanted to move the project forward at the
[1:15:31] planning commission stage. These are things we did discuss during
[1:15:34] the early stages of the project.
[1:15:40] >> through the mayor, I wanted to add on, everything john
[1:15:46] said is absolutely correct but I wanted to highlight,
[1:15:51] there are 12 specific conditions of approval in the resolution that
[1:15:56] are being applied.
[1:15:57] it's everything from requiring video surveillance to requiring
[1:16:01] graffiti is removed within 24 hours.
[1:16:05] several were regarding abc licenses or transfers,
[1:16:10] but it's gotten granular enough to even require that height tape
[1:16:15] placed at entry points.
[1:16:17] this is well thought out by the police department. Perhaps
[1:16:21] the overriding condition is condition 26, it says if the chief of police
[1:16:26] determines any additional safety measures are needed
[1:16:30] they will be implemented at the sole cost of the operator of this
[1:16:33] business. So at any time if the police chief or capt. Gaylor or
[1:16:39] any of the designees determine something is needed at
[1:16:43] this site, to improve public safety, even frankly reducing the hours
[1:16:51] of operation or the hours of alcohol sales, the chief of police can require
[1:16:55] that without going back to the planning commission or the city council.
[1:17:00] I wanted to highlight those in addition to what john said.
[1:17:06] having the big windows and allowing that visual in and out
[1:17:09] and requiring that as part of the use permit this applicant must protect
[1:17:14] against loitering. If there is loitering,
[1:17:19] it is the responsibility of the operator to post signage and also
[1:17:22] to notify the police department and not just to let it happen.
[1:17:26] they risk losing their use permit if they don't hold up their end
[1:17:31] of the bargain.
[1:17:32] that's not currently something that is required of the operator and
[1:17:36] it will be as part of this.
[1:17:40] >> thank you.
[1:17:43] >> vice mayor scales-preston.
[1:17:46] >> yes, I have another question with regards
[1:17:51] to security.
[1:17:55] I understand there will be glass walls but often times, when you
[1:18:00] see convenience stores or liquor stores, they have posters
[1:18:06] all posted up. So you know, that is a big part of security
[1:18:11] as well as having young people walk past that convenience store.
[1:18:17] I just wanted to look into that, ensuring that's
[1:18:22] not the case.
[1:18:23] especially since if they are on the corner, and safety happens to
[1:18:28] be a concern.
[1:18:31] 2, in terms of the cameras,
[1:18:36] do we happen to know where the cameras will be facing? Since there's
[1:18:40] a lot of traffic at the market, how many
[1:18:45] cameras will be put out at the gas station.
[1:18:49] >> vice mayor scales-preston that
[1:18:52] is something that would be as included in the conditions of approval.
[1:18:57] the project applicant is willing to work with pd as to how
[1:19:02] they should set up that live feed.
[1:19:05] and how they should set up the monitor and the cameras.
[1:19:10] I believe they may have already reached out to them so I don't want
[1:19:13] to speak on that unless the applicant, and I'm pretty sure they've been
[1:19:17] in touch. You did. Yet. If you could speak to that.
[1:19:31] >> I don't think I introduced myself.
[1:19:34] iv architect for the project.
[1:19:39] we did meet with the police department on more than one occasion. The last
[1:19:42] time we met with the police chief and the city manager. We requested,
[1:19:48] what do we do?
[1:19:51] now and in the transition and after if the project is approved
[1:19:55] and constructed. With regard to the camera we offered to the police
[1:20:00] chief we would provide them access under whatever terms they
[1:20:05] deem necessary. However we accomplish that.
[1:20:09] the police chief and I think the city manager was there, the police
[1:20:13] chief was very forthcoming and very collaborative. I think
[1:20:19] we have a good rapport.
[1:20:22] I think the specific question is about access? So we are providing
[1:20:27] them access. I don't quite know how that's going to happen just
[1:20:32] yet but the police chief seemed to have something in mind and we
[1:20:36] said we would be happy to comply with whatever process works best.
[1:20:42] even if it's a dynamic process, does that answer
[1:20:45] the question?
[1:20:48] >> if I might add one thing to that.
[1:20:53] the video will be available to the police department upon their
[1:20:57] request.
[1:21:00] >> my next question is in regard to the gas pumps.
[1:21:06] so if you are removing two of the gas
[1:21:09] pumps, do we have concerns of the flow?
[1:21:15] that's the only gas station, we are removing two gas pumps.
[1:21:21] I do understand ev charging stations and I know we have talked about
[1:21:26] installing more, in old town pittsburg
[1:21:31] so I'm just concerned about reducing the amount of gas pumps.
[1:21:42] >> through the mayor, vice mayor, that is the only
[1:21:46] gas station for quite a distance.
[1:21:55] regarding the circulation of the site, as it currently stands,
[1:22:00] it was reviewed years if not decades ago.
[1:22:05] this site plan was required to be reviewed by our traffic and engineering
[1:22:09] departments to make sure there was adequate traffic flow.
[1:22:14] to the question regarding whether or not cars will be able to get
[1:22:18] in and out, we are satisfied and we do have the city engineer here
[1:22:22] but we are satisfied that cars can come and go from the site adequately.
[1:22:26] regarding the reduction in pumps which I will note, it is being reduced
[1:22:31] by a third but you have stations and each one has two pumps.
[1:22:36] really we are going from 12 to 8.
[1:22:39] there is no requirement for a minimum amount of pumps. If they
[1:22:43] wanted to remove to tomorrow, they could. It boils
[1:22:49] down to a business decision.
[1:22:52] if we feel it will create an undue traffic issue
[1:22:54] that's another story but as I mentioned, we have reviewed the project and
[1:22:58] we don't see that becoming a traffic concern in fact we think the traffic
[1:23:02] will be able to circulate through the site adequately.
[1:23:07] since I have the floor I do want to speak to your previous question
[1:23:10] about the signage. There is a requirement in our municipal code then
[1:23:16] no more than 15%, be covered by signage.
[1:23:22] we are getting much more proactive about
[1:23:27] that and we are trying to enforce that. I would also point to condition
[1:23:32] 24 a which states that signage advertising the availability
[1:23:37] of alcohol for purchase from the store including the display of corporate
[1:23:40] logos of alcohol vendors shall not be posted to be
[1:23:44] visible to any individual positioned outside of the store.
[1:23:50] >> thank you.
[1:23:53] >> councilmember banales.
[1:23:56] >> my biggest concern with this project
[1:24:02] is the proximity to the school which is right across
[1:24:06] the street. And the fact that alcohol sales will be available at this
[1:24:12] convenience store.
[1:24:15] I guess I would ask the applicant
[1:24:17] if they would be amenable to
[1:24:25] eliminate alcohol sales from their project.
[1:24:38] >> may we step out a moment so I may speak with my client?
[1:24:43] >> that's fine.
[1:26:58] >> may I please ask staff to ask
[1:27:00] the applicant to return to the chambers.
[1:27:42] >> I apologize, we are trying to understand
[1:27:48] what your concern is in light of the conditions of approval, the
[1:27:51] fact that the school district supported this.
[1:27:55] we are trying to understand what your concern is and if it is a decision,
[1:27:59] we are trying to understand how to make this decision right now.
[1:28:04] what is your concern in light of the various conditions of approval
[1:28:07] and the fact that the city has the authority to withdraw the permit
[1:28:11] if there is an issue.
[1:28:14] we don't anticipate any issues because the team will be
[1:28:17] properly trained to ensure they are not selling to underaged people.
[1:28:24] is there anything else you can add.
[1:28:30] >> I appreciate the ask for clarification but I think
[1:28:35] I've been very clear.
[1:28:36] the proximity to our school in terms of alcohol sales being available
[1:28:40] is something that, I as a councilmember cannot support.
[1:28:46] I know and understand there exist current uses where alcohol sales
[1:28:50] are available but those were not made, those decisions were not made
[1:28:54] while I have been on the council.
[1:28:57] so I think we need to do better. In terms of
[1:29:03] serving our youth. And making healthy communities. Placing
[1:29:08] a alcohol use in terms of sales, right across the street from our
[1:29:15] schools is not appropriate.
[1:29:18] that is how I feel is a councilmember, I'm not
[1:29:21] speaking for the rest of my colleagues.
[1:29:23] >> we are trying to be respectful of everyone's concerns, is there
[1:29:26] a way that a sunset provision could be placed on it, it could
[1:29:31] be issued and within a year or six months if there's any violations
[1:29:34] that have been found they would have to come back and defend their
[1:29:39] right to maintain it?
[1:29:42] I know in certain circumstances there have
[1:29:46] been provisionals for a period of time.'s
[1:29:51] >> I think my ask was very clear, it's either a yes or a no.
[1:30:05] >> what I've been told is they are willing to withdraw the request,
[1:30:11] they are willing to withdraw the request with the right to come back
[1:30:15] to request the pcn in the future without having to come back for
[1:30:18] another conditional use permit, and we do that? Or would we
[1:30:24] have to request a cup again.
[1:30:30] would it need to be requested again in
[1:30:33] conjunction with the pcn.
[1:30:34] >> I will ask the city attorney maybe to respond to that.
[1:30:38] >> that's something I don't know off the top of my head, I would
[1:30:42] have to review that.
[1:30:45] >> it would just still be another entitlement, it would still be discretionary
[1:30:49] and we understand that. We would like the denial of that component
[1:30:53] to be without prejudice to come back and request it at a later time.
[1:30:58] >> just for clarification you are saying the applicant is willing
[1:31:02] to not do any alcohol sales and come back in a year and make the
[1:31:04] request.
[1:31:07] >> perhaps yes.
[1:31:10] >> through the mayor, looking at the municipal code,
[1:31:17] the requirements for abc require you need a use permit application
[1:31:21] before you can use the area
[1:31:25] because you need to inform the public of any alcohol sales going on in
[1:31:30] the area.
[1:31:31] I believe the requirement would be that they would have to come
[1:31:34] back to get a new use permit for any alcohol sales.
[1:31:36] >> or modify the underlying to add the pcn.
[1:31:40] >> I believe that's correct but I would turn to the city attorney.
[1:31:45] >> I think it might be a matter of semantics whether we call it
[1:31:49] a new use permit or a restated use permit.
[1:31:52] >> it would be discretionary.
[1:31:55] >> that's right it wouldn't be ministerial, there would be suggestive
[1:31:58] judgment.
[1:32:01] >> so all the record the applicant
[1:32:04] has agreed they would withdraw that request for alcohol sales.
[1:32:09] >> thank you.
[1:32:12] >> that superseded what I was going to say.
[1:32:18] so with mine, my concern was not the alcohol
[1:32:23] sales because we already have one that's already doing that as well
[1:32:27] and at the other end so within that radius it's already there.
[1:32:33] so if there's a violation or there's a concern and
[1:32:37] we already have it in place, so I didn't see it as something that
[1:32:40] was a concern for me. However, what my concern is,
[1:32:45] going back to removing the two pumps, adding one ev station,
[1:32:50] would you consider adding a second ev station, yes you would. Going
[1:32:56] for three? Just getting.
[1:32:57] kidding.
[1:33:00] >> as long as it would not impact circulation
[1:33:04] on the site, we have to have so many parking spaces. I don't know
[1:33:09] if the city engineer can speak to that. If that would impact circulation
[1:33:13] on the site I don't know.
[1:33:16] >> through the mayor, the project was exempt
[1:33:22] because it is existing use on-site.
[1:33:27] the actual footprint of the site will remain under the threshold
[1:33:30] to make a determination that would cause any potential significant
[1:33:34] impacts.
[1:33:36] circulation was reviewed and we did talk with the city
[1:33:41] engineer in regards to circulation to make sure there wouldn't be any
[1:33:44] impacts of the existing traffic.
[1:33:59] >> councilmember craft did you have any additional comments or remarks.
[1:34:03] >> know that was it.
[1:34:09] >> do any of my colleagues, councilmember killings?
[1:34:13] >> thank you, through
[1:34:17] the mayor, as we deliberate I want to say thank you to everybody for
[1:34:20] coming out and expressing your views on the project, your commitment
[1:34:24] to the community, and how we are developing here in
[1:34:26] the community because this impacts us all. In terms of where my thoughts
[1:34:31] and ultimately what's coming before us as counsel,
[1:34:36] is to remain once again objective.
[1:34:39] we know that as a city council and as we set policy
[1:34:43] it creates the landscape in terms of how people come to do business
[1:34:47] here and our community.
[1:34:53] where I see this is that we have to understand
[1:34:57] the application that is before us, everything is consistent with our
[1:35:02] general plan, our zoning regulations, our design review
[1:35:06] standards. Why is that important?
[1:35:08] because that's essentially what we are telling the world, if
[1:35:13] you want to do business here these are the metrics you need to play
[1:35:17] by. If you come and submit an application and meet these standards there should
[1:35:20] be some level of certainty in terms of getting across the finish line
[1:35:24] without goalposts being moved.
[1:35:26] I really want to highlight that as we go through this process. The
[1:35:30] second is dealing with the matter of the goals that we have is a city.
[1:35:35] I think we have heard consistently here, development is a good thing.
[1:35:42] seeing private investment to improve
[1:35:47] the entrance of our downtown, or to address what many have considered
[1:35:51] here, and I think we have all kind of expressed a general eyesore in
[1:35:56] the city in terms of that being cleaned up. Addressing public safety
[1:36:01] measures.
[1:36:03] so that's also a big aspect of that I am weighing as we look at
[1:36:07] this project. While I can appreciate the applicant and those who are
[1:36:11] filing the appeal bringing forward the information regarding the economic
[1:36:16] study, the truth is, it probably wasn't even warranted
[1:36:20] for the decision we have to make.
[1:36:22] the economic conditions in which a private person is getting ready
[1:36:26] to invest capital, that's their risk,
[1:36:30] that's the risk they are willing to take in a business endeavor in
[1:36:33] our city and if it pencils out for them, that's something that is
[1:36:38] kind of a win-win for all of us.
[1:36:44] but I do want to pivot and understand the community aspect of this because
[1:36:47] it is very real and it is very important as we talk about building
[1:36:51] community and the impact of business here locally. I am under
[1:36:56] the thought in terms of, looking at providing the options,
[1:37:02] the competitive nature of business itself and understanding
[1:37:05] that and allowing us to have this discourse in our city but understanding
[1:37:10] the value that we do have in a long-standing
[1:37:13] community business that has been here. So as it's already been shared,
[1:37:19] these types of decisions shouldn't be viewed as a this or that or this
[1:37:24] business verse that business, this is continuing to add to
[1:37:29] the makeup of our community to be able to provide options and beautification
[1:37:32] opportunities as well as opportunities for growth. Not only for
[1:37:37] valero but all the businesses in the corridor.
[1:37:42] we know we have a number of other businesses as well as potential
[1:37:45] uses coming down the pipeline as far as residential use. I do want
[1:37:49] to lift up in terms of the comments, I think that's very thoughtful
[1:37:54] and it's something we have to really look at as a community in
[1:37:59] terms of the opportunities and how we can support one another.
[1:38:03] we have heard in terms of something that we have been looking at so
[1:38:08] we are talking about the only gas station in this area and in old
[1:38:12] town. But in the same breath the terms of the need for groceries
[1:38:17] in the old town area. I think
[1:38:19] it's a real potential competitive advantage.
[1:38:22] not to go off on a tangent, that may be able to come to the
[1:38:26] surface with the adjacent business.
[1:38:29] with all of that I do want to once again acknowledge though, the
[1:38:31] comments that were made by my colleague counselor banales. With that,
[1:38:38] although the objective this in terms of
[1:38:41] what we currently have in place in terms of policy is really where
[1:38:46] I'm falling on my decision.
[1:38:47] I know that being put on the spot kind of with the question, regarding
[1:38:51] the alcohol sales and I appreciate the willingness to forgo the alcohol
[1:38:56] sales, the reason why is because this specific counsel
[1:39:00] and I think my colleague expressed it correctly, we can't go back in
[1:39:06] time in terms of businesses that have been grandfathered in.
[1:39:10] but this specific counsel has made a decision in terms of developing
[1:39:13] healthy policies for the community.
[1:39:18] we have a ad hoc subcommittee looking at tobacco, alcohol and cannabis
[1:39:22] policies within our community and how we are addressing it to ensure
[1:39:26] we have a community that is not preyed upon and that we are getting
[1:39:30] healthy outcomes in our community.
[1:39:32] I don't want the applicant to feel this is slated towards their business
[1:39:36] but my colleague did bring up appurtenant point that we have been mulling
[1:39:43] over as it relates to proximity to sensitive uses. Whether it's
[1:39:47] schools, churches, youth activity centers or things of that nature.
[1:39:52] so counselor banales I agree with the
[1:39:54] sentiment you brought up in that regards. I appreciate the applicant
[1:39:59] for being willing to bend and make that concession in terms of
[1:40:03] the alcohol sales at this point in time.
[1:40:08] that's really my thoughts in terms of where I'm at in deliberating
[1:40:12] and I definitely want to hear from the rest of my colleagues as we
[1:40:15] prepare to potentially make a motion on this item.
[1:40:20] I want to appreciate the applicant who has come forward with this
[1:40:24] project to improve a corridor of our community. I want to thank those
[1:40:29] who are here in support of la raza.
[1:40:32] a market that has been here for many years and I believe will
[1:40:35] continue to be here for many years.
[1:40:38] and finding a way that we can make this not only work but once
[1:40:41] again be objective in understanding the policies we have set here in
[1:40:45] the city and making sure we are being fair and applying that policy
[1:40:48] consistently across the board. Those are my thoughts and where I will
[1:40:52] end my comments for now.
[1:40:55] >> thank you.
[1:40:58] do any of my colleagues have any other comments they would
[1:41:02] like to make at this time. If not, vice mayor scales-preston?
[1:41:08] >> I just want to thank everyone who came out on
[1:41:12] behalf of la raza. It really shows the importance of community and
[1:41:17] coming together to support each other.
[1:41:21] I think it's important that as we look at businesses, that are
[1:41:26] willing to expand as well. How do we coexist together. How
[1:41:31] do we continue to build and work together. I would look at valero
[1:41:37] to see how will they work with the community that has
[1:41:42] so much support for la raza, how do you all work together and
[1:41:45] coexist together to build that community in that area. It's really needed.
[1:41:52] I want to thank councilmember banales for bringing up the alcohol sales.
[1:41:57] if I'm not mistaken, I believe about two years ago we were
[1:42:02] looking at, something came before us. A market,
[1:42:07] sales of alcohol and tobacco and we didn't approve it because it
[1:42:10] was on 10th st. We didn't approve it because it was on 10th st. The
[1:42:13] same thing we thought at that time was not to bring another store selling
[1:42:17] alcohol and tobacco sales because that's already there.
[1:42:23] that makes my decision feel much better
[1:42:27] knowing that this is directly across the street from the school and
[1:42:32] the one we denied a couple years ago was down the street and wasn't
[1:42:35] even as close. As we mentioned we want to build healthy communities.
[1:42:39] we want to build up that area down there. So we want to
[1:42:43] see improvement in how our communities can continue to work together in
[1:42:48] that area.
[1:42:51] >> thank you.
[1:42:54] are there any other comments.
[1:42:57] I will entertain a motion, if not,
[1:43:03] councilmember kraft?
[1:43:07] >> yes.
[1:43:09] just one statement and that is, I am
[1:43:13] pleased with the outpouring from our community in support of la raza
[1:43:18] , also with valero for making these concessions.
[1:43:23] the fact that each one should be able to make each other better.
[1:43:29] this is what our community is about is working together so
[1:43:32] I appreciate both sides and I thank you for that. With that I will move
[1:43:35] approval of the appeal at the planning commission's decision to deny use,
[1:43:40] permit and design review for upgrade, remodel and improvements to an existing
[1:43:45] gas station and construct a 1600 ft.2 commercial convenience
[1:43:48] store at 1005 railroad ave. Convenience store at 1005 railroad ave.
[1:43:52] that would be including the new conditions that were just added
[1:43:57] tonight.
[1:43:59] I want to make sure that as part of the motion.
[1:44:04] >> I think we are both going for the
[1:44:07] same thing which is much clarity.
[1:44:12] to try and clarify I think what we are doing here is a motion to
[1:44:15] grant the appeal and deny the appeal in part. The denial would
[1:44:20] be having to do with the alcohol sales, without
[1:44:29] prejudice to come back in one year to request the
[1:44:33] alcohol sales.
[1:44:36] and also modifying, instead of the one ev
[1:44:42] station, 2 ev stations.
[1:44:48] >> just a question on the alcohol, can that be a final decision or
[1:44:55] are we, is the one year required in
[1:45:01] terms of...
[1:45:10] it just allows us to apply.
[1:45:11] it's like a minimum of one year, you can deny it again. It
[1:45:17] just gives us the ability of one year before we might come back
[1:45:21] and ask if we ever did write? Based on your comments we understand
[1:45:25] what you're saying about the importance of having a healthy community. We
[1:45:30] understand that they are just acknowledging that
[1:45:33] we would possibly but maybe not come back but it wouldn't be sooner
[1:45:36] than a year.
[1:45:38] >> my understanding was the question was put to the applicant, would
[1:45:42] you be willing to not sell alcohol, and the applicant came back with
[1:45:47] we are willing to not sell for a year, and we would like to be
[1:45:52] able to come back in one year to attempt to
[1:45:58] receive that approval.
[1:46:03] and that's discretionary, just to be clear.
[1:46:08] is not a suspension for one year and then they will sell alcohol
[1:46:12] it said at least one year goes by and then they can come and request
[1:46:17] and go through the process for the body to make a determination
[1:46:19] on that.
[1:46:22] >> I will defer to councilmember banales.
[1:46:29] >> I think that's an opportunity
[1:46:34] that's available to any business to apply for the sale of alcohol
[1:46:38] at any time. As long as it's within our municipal
[1:46:43] code. Now we have some work to do as regards to our municipal
[1:46:46] code and as councilmember killings has alluded to, I would mention
[1:46:50] that there is a subcommittee on that. I don't have any issue as
[1:46:55] to the one year timeline as long as they are coming back to the
[1:47:01] discretionary review.
[1:47:16] I would say just prohibition on alcohol sales for
[1:47:20] one year, I think they would need to, I'm
[1:47:25] sorry, prohibition period.
[1:47:31] if they want to come back in a year we would
[1:47:34] need to manage that with the one year period and maybe that's the
[1:47:37] staff report. I want to make it very clear that they don't have
[1:47:40] the authority to start selling within a year. That they would have to
[1:47:43] come back for that discretionary approval.
[1:47:47] >> I do recall there is a provision
[1:47:53] in the municipal code where if something is denied you can't bring it back
[1:47:56] for a year anyhow so it would not be possible to bring it back before
[1:48:01] then.
[1:48:07] >> one follow-up question, the discretionary comes before the council or just
[1:48:08] planning?
[1:48:10] >> it would be just planning commission.
[1:48:13] the use permit application, allows for that.
[1:48:21] >> can we request that it come back
[1:48:26] to the city council?
[1:48:28] >> I recommend we put the question to the applicant.
[1:48:34] are you willing that the use permit application
[1:48:36] go directly to city council rather than first to planning commission.
[1:48:40] >> I wouldn't oppose that. I think that would be efficient. If we
[1:48:46] even do it. We may not do it.
[1:48:54] >> I think that's all.
[1:48:56] so we have a motion and a second?
[1:48:58] >> I will second the motion.
[1:49:01] >> mdm. City attorney did you want to summarize
[1:49:07] ?
[1:49:14] >> I think we have enough information to revise the resolution
[1:49:18] based on what city council has said.
[1:49:21] >> it would be the removal of conditions 19, 24,
[1:49:27] and 25.
[1:49:29] and then we would revise the resolution to include the language that would
[1:49:33] allow, sorry, would not allow for alcohol sales.
[1:49:38] then we would review the actual language in regard to allowing
[1:49:46] them to come back to the city council if they would decide to
[1:49:51] move forward with alcohol sales.
[1:49:58] >> and 2 ev stations.
[1:50:03] >> please cast your votes.
[1:50:09] the item passes unanimously. Thank you.
[1:50:15] >> thank you very much we appreciate your time.
[1:50:31] >> the city council will soon resume our regularly scheduled city council
[1:50:40] meeting in five minutes.
[1:51:36] '>> city clerk would you please call role.
[1:51:40] >> councilmember kraft.
[1:51:43] >> present.
[1:51:44] >> councilmember killings.
[1:51:46] >> present.
[1:51:47] >> councilmember banales. Present.
[1:51:50] >> mayor white.
[1:51:53] >> please join me in the pledge of allegiance.
[1:52:09] >> we have three proclamations this evening,
[1:52:21] the first one is for dell to view cats.
[1:52:28] >> thank you. I will be reading the proclamation
[1:52:32] honoring delta view cats.
[1:52:35] whereas community cats are unowned cats that
[1:52:41] live outdoors in the community and include friendly
[1:52:43] and unfriendly cats born outdoors without a guardian as well as lost
[1:52:48] or abandoned pets, and whereas east contra costa county has
[1:52:53] historically housed disproportionate numbers of community cats with this
[1:52:58] disparity increasing since covid-19. And
[1:53:04] whereas delta view cats led by linda rogers and
[1:53:08] peter wilson is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit.
[1:53:11] organization consisting of volunteers dedicating
[1:53:18] over 5700 hours annually to promoting and delivering humane care and management
[1:53:22] for our abandoned cats in pittsburgh. And
[1:53:28] delta view cats, their ultimate goal is to reduce the
[1:53:32] number of abandoned community cats outdoors to decrease risk and harm
[1:53:38] to cats.
[1:53:43] delta view cats firmly believe in trap, neuter, return
[1:53:48] as the method proven to be compassionate in controlling
[1:53:53] community cats overpopulation.
[1:53:56] trap, neuter return is a technique where
[1:54:00] cats are trapped, neutered and vaccinated than adopted
[1:54:05] by responsible homes for return to their community after recovering.
[1:54:11] where caretakers provide food, water, shelter if feasible monitoring
[1:54:16] injuries and illness and medical treatment if possible.
[1:54:21] delta view cats has trapped and neutered over
[1:54:27] 800 cats and aided in the adoption of over 300 cats
[1:54:31] throughout pittsburgh and has responded over 650 resident
[1:54:36] requests for help with a population with most notable efforts occurring
[1:54:44] in the marina, oak hills and riverview park neighborhoods. Whereas
[1:54:50] delta view cats feeds 50+ community cats daily,
[1:54:55] generous donations ensure the food pantry is stocked and available
[1:54:57] for these abandoned community cats each day.
[1:55:03] over 16,000 cans and 2400 pounds of dry food per year are needed
[1:55:08] to achieve this goal. Now, therefore,
[1:55:14] on behalf of the city council of the
[1:55:18] city of pittsburg, we hereby honor delta view cats.
[1:55:26] >> thank you vice mayor scales-preston.
[1:55:42] >> thank you mayor white,
[1:55:58] vice mayor scales-preston, councilmember killings,
[1:56:09] councilmember banales, councilmember kraft. City manager
[1:56:14] garrett evans. Thank you very much, I want to thank you on behalf of
[1:56:22] of the 30 volunteers that we currently have in action as well as dozens
[1:56:26] of pittsford residents and associated cat rescuers working
[1:56:31] with us in east county with whom we have partnered over the years
[1:56:36] for this recognition of their efforts to humanely manage
[1:56:41] some of the abandoned cats in the city of pittsburgh.
[1:56:47] >> what started out when we first moved in 2017
[1:56:53] as a short-term project to deal with the abandoned community
[1:56:58] cats on our street turned into something much bigger
[1:57:04] then linda and I ever anticipated or imagined. Two things come to
[1:57:08] mind that make all of this possible. The first
[1:57:14] is the volunteer cat rescuers that
[1:57:19] have stepped forward because they cared about the cats and the city
[1:57:24] of pittsburg. The second is the ongoing support of the city
[1:57:28] of pittsburgh in the form of the commitment early on of
[1:57:36] time and for the last four years, sarah belafonte's,
[1:57:42] time is our liaison to the city.
[1:57:45] both are exceptional liaisons and you should be proud
[1:57:49] of them. Sarah was with us as we struggled to continue to operate
[1:57:54] during trend 20.
[1:57:57] -- covid and admits the shutdown of services in addition
[1:58:04] , the funds set aside to pay for spay and neuter surgeries, when
[1:58:07] we were able to schedule them were essential.
[1:58:12] there is no city in contra costa county, no city at all
[1:58:18] that has stepped up in the way
[1:58:24] pittsburg has.
[1:58:27] thank you very much on behalf of us and our volunteers
[1:58:32] and on behalf of the cats that we have helped. We
[1:58:36] wouldn't have been able to help without you and I sincerely mean
[1:58:40] that. Now let me turn the microphone over to the other cofounder,
[1:58:45] linda rogers who asked me in 2018 if I was willing to help with a
[1:58:48] little cat rescue and whose energy, creativity and willingness
[1:58:53] to stick to it are the foundation for the success we've had. Linda.
[1:59:04] >> so it's all my fault![ laughter ]may I just ask
[1:59:08] quickly for some of our people who are here, I'd like
[1:59:15] the volunteers to stand up.
[1:59:21] if you could please recognize our volunteers.
[1:59:32] >> peter and I are really followers
[1:59:37] and we try hard to get in front of our dedicated volunteers and
[1:59:40] the many city residents who are devoted to the humane care of their
[1:59:44] backyard colonies. They always seem to stay a step ahead and in
[1:59:50] front of us. I'd like to recount a couple of examples that I think
[1:59:54] are very memorable.
[1:59:56] one is about what our volunteers have been doing at the city's riverview
[2:00:01] park. We strive over there to manage the
[2:00:06] park and from 2017 when we first came on the scene until
[2:00:12] may 2021, we had no cats abandoned at the park which
[2:00:17] was great. We were also able, when cca asked was helping, we
[2:00:21] were able to pull about 12-15 cats out.
[2:00:27] we were able to get them through to adoption.
[2:00:32] it has been a really popular jumping ground for many people since about
[2:00:36] 2005.
[2:00:39] there have been 40 kittens dumped at or near our
[2:00:45] feeding stations, all have been either starving and
[2:00:48] ill but friendly for the most part, but dumped and abandoned.
[2:00:54] when it comes to abandoned kittens our volunteers are on top
[2:00:57] of catching these. We have 12 adults in our colony, we don't intend for
[2:01:02] that to be a sanctuary in the hope is there will essentially be no
[2:01:05] cats therethrough just what happens with cats and we provide their end-of-life
[2:01:09] service when it's time.
[2:01:13] when it comes to catching them, our volunteers
[2:01:17] have been right there, they have caught trapped or even netted these
[2:01:22] kittens.
[2:01:24] they will intake the kittens because they have been abandoned and it's
[2:01:28] against the law.
[2:01:30] some of our volunteers have been able to foster some of the kittens
[2:01:34] along with peter and myself.
[2:01:35] we have moved these fosters into the adoption program because
[2:01:41] delta view cats does not have a foster
[2:01:44] network or an adoption program.
[2:01:46] all of them have found there forever homes without the diligence of our
[2:01:51] park colony caretakers.
[2:01:53] the city would easily have about 150 cats at that park today and
[2:01:58] that's just with 40 kittens, none of them spayed or neutered
[2:02:03] and left there to breed.
[2:02:06] so is dodging a large bullet.
[2:02:09] the other story I'd like to share with you is about
[2:02:11] one of your residence in pittsburg. We were approached during trend
[2:02:15] 20 by a family in the oak hills area. We call it
[2:02:21] the oak hills gang. It took us two years to finally capture the
[2:02:26] mom cat they named cleopatra.
[2:02:29] a tiny little black thing no bigger than 7 pounds.
[2:02:34] we began with those residents and their two children.
[2:02:38] nicholas, their youngest son became quite the expert at socializing
[2:02:43] cleopatra's kittens. He would be very kind and give them
[2:02:48] treats.
[2:02:50] he dropped trapped more than one of the men became very good at being
[2:02:54] one of the people to monitor the traps. The family adopted one of
[2:02:58] her first litter, peter and I fostered one with an eye injury, and we got
[2:03:03] him into a loving home.
[2:03:07] we caught several adult male cats so we thought we were getting close
[2:03:10] to stopping the breeding and of course the six kittens she had had
[2:03:13] in 2020. Then came the next litter.
[2:03:15] the family worked diligently to catch the kittens but cleopatra
[2:03:21] remained elusive.
[2:03:22] as we were sure her next litter would be born in may of as we were
[2:03:25] sure her next litter would be born in may 2022, dean managed to capture
[2:03:30] cleo. In a little shelter they had made out of a carton with holes
[2:03:34] in it. She went in and they were able to close at both ends. She
[2:03:37] was already pregnant so we would've had even more per kittens.
[2:03:42] this family has turned a shed into a
[2:03:47] kitty condo so cleo and her remaining adult kittens and one of the adult
[2:03:50] males can live their lives in comfort and safety.
[2:03:56] cleo has a couple of little stuffed toys she's been given so that she
[2:03:59] may take them out during the day for sunshine and then she brings
[2:04:01] them back into the condo at night.
[2:04:04] ever the cat mom.
[2:04:07] this incredible family in oak hills has done a wonderful thing
[2:04:13] and they kept one of our traps over
[2:04:16] there for two years because they just constantly tried to trap.
[2:04:23] we think delta view cats is blessed to have amazing volunteers and our
[2:04:26] city is fortunate to have so many residents who care, are ready,
[2:04:29] willing and able to step up to help the city humanely manage our escalating
[2:04:33] overpopulation of community cats.
[2:04:36] delta view cats speaks for the pittsburgh abandoned
[2:04:38] community cats that have no voice.
[2:04:41] thank you for this proclamation to honor these often forgotten cats.
[2:04:55] >> we will now move on to our second
[2:04:59] proclamation, small business saturday.
[2:05:07] >> proclamation for small business saturday.
[2:05:14] whereas the city of pittsburg celebrates our local small businesses and the
[2:05:17] contributions they make to our local economy, whereas according
[2:05:20] to the united states small business administration there are
[2:05:26] 35 small businesses in the united states. They represent 99.7%
[2:05:31] of firms with paid employees.
[2:05:37] small businesses employ 46.8% of the employees in the
[2:05:42] private sector in the united states.
[2:05:49] whereas 79% of consumers understand the importance of supporting the
[2:05:51] small businesses in their community, on small business saturday 70% report
[2:05:55] the day makes them want to encourage others to shop
[2:06:00] small.
[2:06:02] 66% report the day makes them want to shop small all year long.
[2:06:07] whereas 58% of shoppers reported they shopped online,
[2:06:14] with a small business and 54% reported dining or take out
[2:06:16] from a small restaurant, bar or cafe on small business saturday
[2:06:20] in 2021. Whereas pittsburg supports our local businesses
[2:06:25] that create jobs, boost the economy and preserve our communities, and
[2:06:29] whereas advocacy groups
[2:06:33] and private organizations across the country have endorsed the saturday
[2:06:35] after thanksgiving a small business saturday, now therefore,
[2:06:39] holland barrett white on behalf of the city council of the city
[2:06:42] of pittsburg, we do hereby proclaim november 26
[2:06:47] we do hereby proclaim november 26, 2022 as small business saturday
[2:06:50] and urge the residence of our community to support small businesses and
[2:06:53] merchants on small business saturday throughout the year.
[2:06:59] [ applause ]
[2:07:08] >> I'd like to introduce our recipients here tonight.
[2:07:12] these three women only company missed,
[2:07:18] they were the first participants in our downtown pop-up program.
[2:07:24] [ applause ]
[2:07:29] >> we won't take too much of your time. I hope you can hear me. Hi
[2:07:35] community! My name is amanda doss. We are the
[2:07:41] owners and creators of misc which stands for motivating,
[2:07:45] inspiring and servicing the communities.
[2:07:48] our main initiative is to help fill the
[2:07:54] gap for financial literacy. When it comes to our youth between the
[2:07:58] ages of 10-17. What we have done is created a product that
[2:08:02] we are really loving right now.
[2:08:05] it is our and poured candles, they
[2:08:09] are organic and we tried to make them with the least
[2:08:15] toxic ingredients. The proceeds go towards building our youth initiative
[2:08:19] which is discussing the basics of finance. So when our kids
[2:08:24] get to learning and work and get a paycheck, what is coming out
[2:08:28] of that paycheck and why? What they can do, to invest and save
[2:08:34] at an early age to build their future in a nutshell so that's what
[2:08:38] we are doing and we are very excited about it.
[2:08:42] we appreciate the opportunity that the city has given us to be able
[2:08:45] to continue to build our network and grow and make a presence in
[2:08:48] pittsburg. Eventually we want to take over the
[2:08:54] whole of contra costa county and beyond. So thank you so much for
[2:08:58] this opportunity and we will be looking forward to the future.
[2:09:10] >> many of us has purchased her candles and I recommend them.
[2:09:16] moving on to our next proclamation for homeless
[2:09:20] awareness month. This proclamation will be read by councilmember kraft
[2:09:26] for the bay church, new destiny church
[2:09:32] ,
[2:09:35] >> thank you. Whereas the month of november is recognized
[2:09:38] as homelessness awareness month in the united states
[2:09:43] and there are approximately 3093 homeless individuals in contra costa
[2:09:47] county based on the 2022 point in time count. 764
[2:09:53] sheltered and 2329 on sheltered.
[2:10:01] pittsburgh had 221 people who did not have shelter. The primary costs
[2:10:09] causes our cost of living, job loss, eviction, separation,
[2:10:12] divorce, violence mental health,
[2:10:16] caretaker, medical issues, landlord and roommate dispute, incarceration.
[2:10:20] whereas the city of pittsburg is dedicated to assisting
[2:10:22] the most vulnerable population in the community through community
[2:10:27] collaboration, partnerships and planning and implementing solutions.
[2:10:31] whereas the month of november is designated
[2:10:34] as homeless awareness month to educate the public and bring awareness to
[2:10:38] the needs of the homeless and the coordinated efforts of the bay church,
[2:10:42] new destiny church, and providing
[2:10:48] the shower program.
[2:10:51] they are able to shower, received clean clothes and receive a meal
[2:10:55] and restore their dignity. That is my addition to that.
[2:11:02] therefore, holland barrett white on behalf of the city council of
[2:11:05] the city of pittsburg, we hereby proclaim november 2022 as homelessness
[2:11:10] awareness month and recognize st. Vincent's paul to addressing
[2:11:15] this in pittsburg.
[2:11:18] we also recognize the bay church and new destiny church.
[2:11:23] so.[ applause ]
[2:11:29] >> as you can see I'm very excited about this
[2:11:33] project.
[2:11:36] >> before we take comment.
[2:11:39] councilmember kraft, did you want to add anything additional
[2:11:43] in terms of the work you and like -- you have been doing?
[2:11:49] >> we learned the true meaning of
[2:11:53] a village when we started coming to the shower program and some of
[2:11:57] the people that we helped. Some of the people we saw there.
[2:12:03] when the addition of the bellows barbershop, when this one
[2:12:07] guy walked in, he was all out there and everything
[2:12:11] else. And afterwards we were talking, jerry and I were talking and
[2:12:19] this guy walks up and said I feel like $1 million. I'm looking and
[2:12:23] I'm like, was that the same guy?
[2:12:26] very handsome.
[2:12:31] and he said, it restored him. He felt rejuvenated and ready to start
[2:12:35] the next week. It's just that we take advantage, we sometimes forget
[2:12:39] what it's like to not have and to be without. So, to see
[2:12:44] this one simple act change a life at that moment, at that time,
[2:12:50] it speaks volumes but it means so much to them,
[2:12:55] but it means so much to those who are providing it.
[2:13:01] roland who is one of the biggest troublemakers in our community,
[2:13:04] is now a part of that program and he is a volunteer that's
[2:13:09] out there all the time. Roland thank you. He makes
[2:13:13] a point to make sure I come and visit periodically and chanel. You
[2:13:18] guys do amazing work.
[2:13:21] I cannot say enough about the work that you do and the
[2:13:26] commitment that you have. For that I am thankful and I am blessed to
[2:13:30] be a part of this with you.
[2:13:33] >> thank you so much.
[2:13:38] >> I know there are other volunteers out there so if you all can
[2:13:44] stand up.
[2:13:47] if you volunteer with the shower program because you deserve to be
[2:13:51] recognized as well.
[2:13:54] [ applause ]
[2:14:00] >> it does take a village and councilwoman
[2:14:05] kraft and I we are always talking about the
[2:14:09] shower program and all of the humanity partners and just
[2:14:13] the importance of having this in our city.
[2:14:17] there are many cities in contra costa county that do not do anything
[2:14:22] for their own housed community.
[2:14:25] community partners are coming together to
[2:14:29] get this done.
[2:14:35] we have 6-7 community partners to have
[2:14:37] this program every saturday. We appreciate your compassion, your
[2:14:42] time, councilwoman kraft and I were
[2:14:48] out there one time, there were no shoes at st. Vincent so
[2:14:55] one of the volunteers went over to walmart and got him a brand-new
[2:14:59] pair of shoes. That is really important when you are
[2:15:02] homeless to make sure your feet are warm. We are always trying to
[2:15:06] get socks.
[2:15:09] we were talking about how we will collect more stocks -- socks. So
[2:15:15] for those watching, it's every saturday, at st. Vincent,
[2:15:21] get a shower, get a meal,
[2:15:25] they can take another meal with them to go. They can go inside for
[2:15:31] a clean pair of clothes.
[2:15:32] sometimes the dental clinic is open so they can get services through
[2:15:37] dental care.
[2:15:40] there are tons of services so thank you so much
[2:15:42] for what you do.
[2:15:45] >> and
[2:15:50] I had one thing? In the conversation that we were having and I also spoke
[2:15:53] with jerry because I was out there saturday at the program. One of
[2:15:56] the things that we know, the biggest need is socks. For keeping their
[2:16:01] feet warm.
[2:16:04] so the vice mayor and I had talked about doing a drive and asked
[2:16:08] in the community to help us donate socks and we are talking about white
[2:16:14] men's crew socks. You are not
[2:16:19] trying to find a size or color or whatever. Speaking with the city
[2:16:24] manager, asking if we could put a been or something so that if
[2:16:29] anyone in the community wanted to donate socks they could do so
[2:16:33] here at city hall and we would be willing to pick them up and take
[2:16:36] them over the program. So if you are listening
[2:16:42] . Please note, it's a simple request and we are
[2:16:46] hoping you will help us fulfill this need.
[2:16:51] >> councilmember kraft if I could add, women's socks as well.
[2:17:01] >> did we have a presentation?
[2:17:05] >> it's going to be like 50 minutes or so just getting. We
[2:17:10] will keep it brief.
[2:17:16] thank you, it means a lot.
[2:17:21] I think sometimes the issue of homelessness can seem really daunting. It's a
[2:17:24] very big and complex issue that traverses the population.
[2:17:30] I think one of the biggest errors people can make is to assume
[2:17:33] that everyone who is homeless is dealing with the same issues. As
[2:17:37] we know it's a very diverse set of issues and a diverse set of people
[2:17:41] faced with homelessness. I think because the issue can seem so daunting,
[2:17:44] sometimes people don't even know where to get started.
[2:17:50] I think it's been so great to work together with the city and
[2:17:52] then with our partners here, to take this on with the idea that
[2:17:55] really teamwork makes the dream work. So our partners here,
[2:18:00] so the city of pittsburgh again, we run the shower trailer in a
[2:18:10] few other cities and we've gone to some other cities and not all
[2:18:13] cities have always been is welcoming.
[2:18:15] a week ago we celebrated our annual one-year mark.
[2:18:21] so there is our church, the bay church.
[2:18:30] new destiny church has been a great opportunity for us to partner together.
[2:18:40] we can't say enough.
[2:18:43] they have really helped us with haircuts
[2:18:49] .
[2:18:52] the back of our trailer folds out and allows us to give haircuts
[2:18:55] and it really is a beautiful thing to watch someone who's been facing
[2:18:59] the elements of the street come get a warm shower, and get their
[2:19:03] hair cut. We have had quite a few people who actually go directly
[2:19:08] to a job interview after. They will come in and shower, get their hair
[2:19:13] cut and go in for a job interview.
[2:19:16] so we provide hot showers, we have a picture of our showers
[2:19:20] here in a moment. We have a toilet and we do haircuts.
[2:19:25] we do clothing at this site thanks to claudia and team. We have hot
[2:19:29] food thanks to loaves and fishes, and really
[2:19:34] I think the biggest part of the biggest service we provide is a
[2:19:38] sense of community. We tell all our volunteers that at the end of
[2:19:43] the day, you just come and have one conversation
[2:19:47] with somebody who was on the street.
[2:19:50] I am a physician by background training and something
[2:19:53] I think about a lot, our medicines we give are only so good if someone
[2:19:58] means to be loved. A 15
[2:20:04] minute conversation can go a long way so we really
[2:20:10] try to emphasize that.
[2:20:12] again as we think about such a challenging problem we hear about
[2:20:15] it all the time, what's the best way forward? It's certainly not
[2:20:19] to stay in our homes and think about milton mullen dollar initiatives
[2:20:28] , there was recent controversy about a bathroom in san francisco and
[2:20:31] the budget made statewide news.
[2:20:32] here's an opportunity to think creatively about this problem.
[2:20:40] the idea that we all come together to do this and lifted up. Lift it
[2:20:46] up. Here's a picture of our showers. One of the things
[2:20:50] we have enjoyed about our shower trailer, and it
[2:20:55] was a core group at the bay church that built this. The trailer came
[2:20:59] from colorado and we brought it over and refurbished it. These are
[2:21:02] really good showers. We are not just trying to provide access to
[2:21:07] water, but people come out of they are
[2:21:10] happy with the quality of the showers.
[2:21:12] we make sure to clean these showers after every use.
[2:21:18] the team on their knees just cleaning it and making sure it's ready for
[2:21:21] the next person to use. I think somebody used the word dignity.
[2:21:27] they trust us and they are using a bathroom we are providing and
[2:21:30] we want them to feel safe and we want them to feel dignity in that
[2:21:34] space. Here's someone cleaning.
[2:21:37] we run every saturday, we pride ourselves on making sure that we
[2:21:42] show up no matter what.
[2:21:44] I think one of the biggest ways,
[2:21:52] this is a community that has been let down and disappointed along
[2:21:54] the journey so we know us showing up is extremely important. So we
[2:21:58] are there from 10 am through 12:30.
[2:22:01] loaves and fishes opens up at 11:00.
[2:22:05] someone will register in and then we will walk them over to where
[2:22:11] we can get clothing.
[2:22:14] and then we come back and use the showers and go get hot food
[2:22:20] or maybe they will get hot food beforehand. I would also like to
[2:22:24] give a shout out to the city water.
[2:22:27] I don't know city water people I guess, but they are
[2:22:32] terrific.
[2:22:36] you can tell when someone has been tasked with doing a job and when
[2:22:39] someone really wants to be part of the team. I love each and everyone
[2:22:42] of them. I have their cell phone numbers and they are great.
[2:22:46] so this is a display of how the whole setup looks like. We are in
[2:22:52] simpson court right there.
[2:22:58] we were thankful enough for someone to gift us a new truck.
[2:23:04] so that is our ford f3 50 that can pull this trailer. For the sake
[2:23:07] of time because I know we are rounding it out
[2:23:12] there are two types of people in life, people who care about data
[2:23:15] and people who don't. So if you don't you can cover your ears. I
[2:23:19] think the most important thing to say is that we have a diverse age
[2:23:23] range that centers around 41-60.
[2:23:25] we do provide showers for children, and families.
[2:23:31] and I think our oldest, I want to say
[2:23:35] 98.
[2:23:36] >> 93.
[2:23:39] >> I was cheating there little bit.
[2:23:41] and then a gender breakdown, more males than females but 2/3 to
[2:23:47] 1/3 about.
[2:23:50] so the number of showers we have provided in the last year is 553.
[2:23:53] so that's an average of 10.6 showers every saturday.
[2:23:59] if you look at the trend line starting in 2021 all the way till october,
[2:24:04] it's upward and I think it took us a while to build trust in the
[2:24:07] community for people to know of the resource. If you take our average
[2:24:13] weekly showers it's nearing 13 showers.
[2:24:16] is not uncommon for us to have 20 people.
[2:24:22] we break it down with encounters because there are people
[2:24:25] we can serve who don't necessarily come shower.
[2:24:30] we have had 647 encounters over the last year.
[2:24:36] a big question for us is how often do people return to
[2:24:39] the showers, we have different groups.
[2:24:42] we have people we meet once and maybe they
[2:24:45] are moving through town and we don't see them again, there's a lot of
[2:24:48] people you can see have used our showers twice. Then we have this
[2:24:51] group on the far right that we get to know really well. These are people
[2:24:56] who are coming quite often, in our first year nearly 42% of
[2:25:02] our guests visited our showers three or more times.
[2:25:06] so there's quantitative data and there's really the stories behind
[2:25:11] what we are doing. I think it's being able to bless a mother
[2:25:15] and daughter who are homeless, we were instrumental in helping with
[2:25:19] supporting a mother and daughter that were
[2:25:22] out using our showers and helping them get jobs and housed. Bob wasn't
[2:25:28] able to make it here today, but if you want to learn
[2:25:34] about how to be resilient in life come hang
[2:25:36] out at our shower trailers. People like bob
[2:25:41] who ran marathons in his life, a world-class artist,
[2:25:47] he's traveled. He taught martial arts.
[2:25:53] a wonderful beautiful man and sadly entered homelessness
[2:26:02] when his boat sank.
[2:26:08] but, bob is resilient and doesn't feel
[2:26:12] sorry for himself. I have learned more from bob than I think
[2:26:16] he's learned from me. I think that's part of how we approach this. It's
[2:26:21] a handshake model of service.
[2:26:24] we value the idea that this is not a one-way street of the service,
[2:26:27] that we are gaining and it's okay to say that. I think sometimes we
[2:26:32] feel the need to overemphasize the all true mystic nature of services
[2:26:37] but it's okay that we are all taking care of each other and I think that's
[2:26:41] the core essence of what we are doing. So where we've come,
[2:26:46] I think we have started to build trust in the community, we have
[2:26:49] strengthened our partnerships and bonds,
[2:26:55] I know the people we serve alongside of become close friends. Where we
[2:27:00] hope to go we plan to continue to keep showing
[2:27:05] up.
[2:27:07] we don't plan on going anywhere as long as you will continue to
[2:27:10] have us in your city doing this work. As I think about maturing
[2:27:13] as a program, where we fit in the spectrum of things, there are
[2:27:18] so many programs doing larger numbers and other things.
[2:27:22] I think we build relationships with people and what we would love
[2:27:26] to be able to do is launch those relationships with people to be
[2:27:30] able to have access to some of the resources. Whether it's getting
[2:27:34] people into detox or housing, of course there are challenges
[2:27:38] and barriers but we would love to be able to streamline some of the
[2:27:41] processes as we get to know the specific needs of people. We have
[2:27:45] some immensely talented people on our team and people who have come
[2:27:48] with skill sets and abilities to be able to do it. We would
[2:27:52] love to partner with more and more people as we think about trying
[2:27:55] to get people from where thereat to where they want to be.
[2:27:59] a few of you who are standing in front of me, this is some of our
[2:28:05] vibe.
[2:28:07] last christmas we had a microphone out so if you have a good singing
[2:28:11] voice come join us around the christmas season. You can compete with my
[2:28:15] four-year-old daughter. Thank you. Really.
[2:28:22] it's a true honor to stand here before you and receive an award
[2:28:25] for the recognition from your city.
[2:28:28] thank you.
[2:28:32] >> thank you.
[2:29:53] >> moving on to the city manager reports and remarks.
[2:30:03] >> this will be quick. I'd like to wish the
[2:30:07] staff and the community a safe and happy thanksgiving.
[2:30:11] >> thank you. Do we have any public comments?
[2:30:17] for items not on tonight's agenda?
[2:30:33] >> first I want to congratulate all the candidates
[2:30:37] who just won the most recent election, I would like to tell you guys
[2:30:43] about some of the events that have transpired since I was last here.
[2:30:48] today I just got one of my first donations from mr. Willie moffat
[2:30:52] who donated $600 to split between the three schools.
[2:30:57] and a letter that I sent you guys requesting
[2:31:01] a certain amount of money for us to get.
[2:31:08] oh my gosh it's late and I'm exhausted.
[2:31:14] I went blank. Oh my goodness.
[2:31:18] I just want to thank you guys for being here tonight and listening
[2:31:21] to me. I want to thank you for everything that you have listened
[2:31:26] to me talk about and things in general.
[2:31:29] have a good night.
[2:31:36] >> if there are no additional public comments we will now move to committee
[2:31:41] reports. Do any of my colleagues have any reports they would like
[2:31:45] to make at this time.
[2:31:48] councilmember killings?
[2:31:51] >> through the mayor, last monday the economic development
[2:31:56] subcommittee met, a few of the items we discussed,
[2:32:01] we discussed an update on the letter m funds and their allocations.
[2:32:07] also what would be coming before us tonight regarding public art
[2:32:09] here in the city and the program that will be on the agenda tonight.
[2:32:14] another presentation that we received was about a program which is a community
[2:32:19] gift card program and really in an effort to
[2:32:25] try to support local businesses we gave some feedback in looking
[2:32:34] to see how that develops.
[2:32:37] we also discussed an item on the agenda which is the
[2:32:40] expansion of the contra costa ferry and the study that is taking place.
[2:32:47] one item we had some discussion around was the green empowerment
[2:32:52] zone that was just created by state law under a bill by assembly member
[2:32:58] grayson.
[2:33:09] so there was some discussion around that in terms of trying to understand
[2:33:12] the specifics around the board, the specifics around
[2:33:18] the zone and the process regarding identifying
[2:33:20] of projects and staff was going to be following up and involved
[2:33:23] in some meetings regarding that.
[2:33:27] so something related to that green empowerment zone and the potential
[2:33:29] for the city's participation will be coming forward at a per
[2:33:37] future date. We also received some updates from the chamber of commerce
[2:33:39] and the work they are doing in the community and supporting businesses
[2:33:42] here in our city. With that, that ends my report.
[2:33:48] >> thank you.
[2:33:52] we had both land-use and finance subcommittees that met on this past
[2:33:57] friday. For land-use we had a consultant update
[2:34:01] on the work that has been ongoing surrounding objective land-use standards.
[2:34:10] we also had a conversation and update on downtown pittsburg and which
[2:34:15] uses outside of retail should or should not require use permits
[2:34:20] .
[2:34:23] that is still an ongoing conversation just to build on the work that was
[2:34:26] done a number of years ago. They are on land use and zoning.
[2:34:33] for finance we got a budget update and continued the
[2:34:35] conversation around zero-based budgeting.
[2:34:41] >> councilmember kraft.
[2:34:46] >> along with the vice mayor, the
[2:34:51] pacs subcommittee met with the strategic planner to come up with the strategic
[2:34:56] plan for the foundation, part of that includes revenue identification,
[2:35:01] structure, and more. So
[2:35:06] there are meetings that are set up for the next four months
[2:35:15] , and that recommendation will come back
[2:35:19] to counsel at that time.
[2:35:20] I will leave the community services sub committee report
[2:35:27] to the vice mayor.
[2:35:34] >> through the mayor our community service subcommittee met last week,
[2:35:38] we went over the fund allocations as well as our budget
[2:35:44] and approved that.
[2:35:47] then, we are looking forward to
[2:35:54] moving forward with some of the things that we are looking into
[2:35:57] with regards to small businesses and how we can help them through
[2:35:59] a small business program and that's the end of my update.
[2:36:05] >> thank you vice mayor scales-preston.
[2:36:08] we will now move to our first consideration item.
[2:36:18] >> thank you very much.
[2:36:19] the first consideration item is, authorizing the
[2:36:25] city manager to execute a memorandum for understanding of
[2:36:28] a feasibility study for expanded ferry service in contra costa county.
[2:36:34] this is a study that many members of council have commented on and
[2:36:38] I'm very glad that sarah is here to present this.
[2:36:43] >> tonight we will be discussing
[2:36:47] the proposed memorandum of understanding for expanding ferry service to east
[2:36:50] contra costa county. So there is regional interest
[2:36:56] from antioch, hercules, eastern contra costa county transit authority
[2:37:00] and the contra costa county transit authority to
[2:37:02] expand existing ferry service to east county. You will see here the
[2:37:08] map of current routes.
[2:37:11] for those of us that don't or haven't ferried, some stats.
[2:37:17] it's affordable, the average cost on these current routes
[2:37:20] as you see here are free for passengers under five, discounted for seniors
[2:37:25] and disabled, up to 11 for some.
[2:37:30] 10 minute routes being about $.50 to about a dollar and $.25.
[2:37:36] the average trip length range from 10 minutes to about 60
[2:37:41] minutes.
[2:37:43] typical operation hours are used for both transit commute and recreation,
[2:37:48] 6:30 in the morning through 8:25 p.m. 6:30 in the morning through
[2:37:53] 8:25 p.m.
[2:37:56] other bay area ferry routes include treasure
[2:37:58] island ferry service, golden gate ferry, angel island and alcatraz
[2:38:04] ferry services.
[2:38:20] this study identified potential benefits including the seven on
[2:38:32] your screen and in some cases called for further investigation into feasibility
[2:38:36] of realizing these services in east county locations. The potential
[2:38:38] benefits include affordable and efficient transit option so in 2015
[2:38:42] affairs topped out at about $15 and the
[2:38:47] trip length between 40 minutes between sound -- downtown san
[2:38:53] francisco to hercules.
[2:38:55] another benefit is connectivity.
[2:38:58] east contra costa -- would connect
[2:39:04] to alameda county in san francisco.
[2:39:06] another benefit is accessibility and convenience.
[2:39:11] these fairies are ada accessible vessels. Tickets are sold online
[2:39:17] and trip planning resources are available.
[2:39:21] there are restrooms on board and there are wi-fi available as
[2:39:26] well. The fleet is fairly young, the study discussed new vessels,
[2:39:31] there have also been nine new fairies purchased since
[2:39:36] 2017.
[2:39:39] another benefit is traffic alleviation.
[2:39:42] in 2017 there was 411 daily weekday riders.
[2:39:50] over 1000 would use the antioch martinez hercules system. Job creation
[2:39:56] is another potential benefit.
[2:39:58] besides creating jobs for operation of these routes, it's possible a
[2:40:02] terminal could have positive economic multiplier effects. Although
[2:40:07] further study would need to happen to confirm potential economic impacts
[2:40:12] relative to other development opportunities and/or activities. Regional
[2:40:17] economic development could manifest as people use the ferry for the
[2:40:22] concord pavilion, the center for the arts, theater downtown and etc.
[2:40:28] on the weekends.
[2:40:31] environmental benefits, fewer cars on the road, and alternative
[2:40:35] transit options. Lastly the potential for the nexus of emergency response.
[2:40:42] so recognizing the dual mission as provider of transit and emergency
[2:40:45] services. Providing water access for emergency personnel if and when
[2:40:48] land or air transportation are not feasible, and
[2:40:53] commute or emergency transportation relief, if for while the bridges
[2:40:58] are inoperable.
[2:41:03] >> the 2015 study also had some financial
[2:41:07] conclusions. The first, only one of the four proposed routes
[2:41:11] could operate under existing funding that aims for 40% of
[2:41:17] revenues recovery.
[2:41:20] in 2015, numbers between 20 and 61 million revenues would
[2:41:26] be required to fund direct route services. The number
[2:41:31] ballooned to 55 million or 87 million for interline routes between the
[2:41:36] two or three remaining cities. A second conclusion is initial expenditures
[2:41:41] and capital replacement expenses.
[2:41:46] ranging across the four city study.
[2:41:52] and operational feasibility is also
[2:41:54] affected by policy considerations not addressed in the report. Like
[2:41:57] allocations of regional measure to funds.
[2:42:10] a good example is of another creative funding source.
[2:42:20] richmond currently uses the measure j sub regional program to subsidize
[2:42:22] its operations and the city of richmond also contributed to the improvements
[2:42:26] of their ferry terminals.
[2:42:29] other funding sources are expansive.
[2:42:37] lastly, the 2015 financial feasibility study prompted for more studies.
[2:42:42] which is why we are here. Recommending the authorization, to
[2:42:48] authorize the city manager to execute between the cities,
[2:42:52] county and expand studies to evaluate
[2:42:56] the feasibility of expanded ferry service. The bullets on your screen
[2:43:00] are the main tenets of what they would study.
[2:43:09] >> thank you staff, do any of my colleagues
[2:43:13] have questions for sarah regarding the feasibility study.
[2:43:21] >> all right. I see none.
[2:43:23] I'd like to start off by thanking staff for putting all the hard work
[2:43:31] and trying to figure out how to get the most out of this for the
[2:43:35] city of pittsburg. As you stated, a similar feasibility study was
[2:43:39] conducted in 2015 and pittsburg at the time was
[2:43:45] not a participant.
[2:43:48] about four years ago,
[2:43:54] we were both at a cctv interview for
[2:44:00] us running for city council,
[2:44:05] they asked us what our major initiatives were. Chanel at the time said we
[2:44:11] are going to improve congestion on highway four and I
[2:44:14] thought in my mind, how will we do that? But lo and behold
[2:44:19] I thought all of the things this counsel has really been doing both
[2:44:23] as a member of the city, counsel but also
[2:44:31] members of auxiliary boards and other bodies, to really improve
[2:44:36] mobility for east county and the region, I
[2:44:41] think it's all added up to things like this being possible right?
[2:44:45] so I think that when we look at the funding availability at both
[2:44:48] the federal and state level, there are unprecedented dollars to
[2:44:54] help us see something like this into fruition for our community.
[2:44:58] I think the hardest thing is being centrally located around water,
[2:45:02] the other thing is having the infrastructure for a boat
[2:45:07] to actually be able to dock and it seems like we are well positioned
[2:45:11] in both of those regards.
[2:45:16] I hope this doesn't just stop at a feasibility study but actually
[2:45:19] turns into an opportunity for us to open up new pathways of travel
[2:45:25] for the people that live in our community but also want to visit
[2:45:29] for recreational and other things that most cities
[2:45:33] benefit from in terms of tourism here locally.
[2:45:39] my ask would be, if we do move forward with the
[2:45:44] feasibility study, we take a serious look as
[2:45:49] an alternative mode of transportation for those folks who live around
[2:45:52] the region and are trying to commute.
[2:45:55] and do not see car travel is the way to go.
[2:46:01] this is a vmt reducing project and I think it will further our
[2:46:04] sustainability goals as we think about growth.
[2:46:10] I will also say that, as we think about this we should
[2:46:16] also think about it in a way that doesn't make us contingent or reliant
[2:46:20] on some of our neighboring jurisdictions right? So if we decide
[2:46:25] to move forward how do we do it in a way where we are able to stand
[2:46:30] alone but of course, if antioch or martinez want to
[2:46:35] move forward it just makes the pot sweeter, if they choose not to move
[2:46:38] forward we should still work to create a pathway to make this happen
[2:46:43] because I think it's, it's...
[2:46:49] it's overdue. I want to thank all of my colleagues for being
[2:46:54] supportive of this to date, and would love to hear from you
[2:46:58] if you have anything to add, I would also entertain a motion is anyone
[2:47:03] would like to make one.
[2:47:14] >> we have a motion.
[2:47:17] >> I will definitely just, I will share thoughts
[2:47:23] as we consider this motion.
[2:47:28] I definitely want to appreciate in terms of the effort that you
[2:47:31] have put forward mayor in keeping this conversation alive. I think
[2:47:35] something that's been on the community's mind, is a fairy possible in our
[2:47:41] community? I think the effort in not only understanding
[2:47:43] the feasibility and everything that it was going on in 2015, jumping
[2:47:49] in on this study, I want to thank staff and thank you for thinking
[2:47:53] about putting pittsburg in this joint study because I think there
[2:47:58] is definitely cost savings there in terms of doing this on our own.
[2:48:02] but at least looking into what the feasibility is along with martinez
[2:48:04] and the established routes they were looking at.
[2:48:09] but once again to do our due diligence in terms of what would it take
[2:48:13] for a fairy to be operational on our marina and on our waters.
[2:48:20] and then figuring out the chart or the path in terms of getting
[2:48:23] there but I think this study obviously is the first step in understanding
[2:48:26] and showing the community in terms of questions that
[2:48:31] I'm sure a lot of us get in terms of wanting to see a fairy and being
[2:48:34] able to point to something specific in saying this is what it would
[2:48:39] take to get there. With that, I definitely want to support
[2:48:41] in terms of this motion for the adoption of this mo you for the
[2:48:46] city manager to go ahead and enter for the xp's ability
[2:48:52] -- for the feasibility study.
[2:48:57] >> do we have a second?
[2:48:58] >> I will second.
[2:49:01] >> we have a move and a second, please cast your votes.
[2:49:09] the item passes unanimously.
[2:49:10] I would also like to take a moment to thank supervisor glover for
[2:49:17] also being a champion of this.
[2:49:20] as a member of c cta and the county supervisor.
[2:49:24] because when I called and asked why we were left out of the 2015
[2:49:28] feasibility study he simply noted, at that time,
[2:49:36] maybe the city didn't have an express interest but if there is an interest
[2:49:38] now I would be happy to champion that, so I really appreciate supervisor
[2:49:42] glover pulling together all of his cities that he represents
[2:49:48] the touch the water to see if this was still
[2:49:53] a feasible opportunity in 2022.
[2:49:56] moving on to our next consideration item. Mr. City manager.
[2:50:00] >> thank you very much mr. Mayor.
[2:50:03] the second consideration tonight, to adopt a pledge to address
[2:50:09] persistent opportunity gaps experienced by young men and
[2:50:12] women of color. This is another step building from the youth and
[2:50:15] young adult services master plan.
[2:50:18] colette simonson is here with a presentation.
[2:50:23] >> good evening mr. Mayor, council and members of the dais.
[2:50:28] tonight I will talk to about the adoption of the
[2:50:30] city council resolution to adopt a pledge to a dentist
[2:50:36] address persistent opportunity gaps experienced by young men and
[2:50:40] women of color.
[2:50:48] in 2019 the city of pittsburg hired hpc international to develop a conceptual
[2:50:50] framework in relation to youth services.
[2:50:52] by means of stakeholder meetings and planning sessions.
[2:50:57] in march 2019 the city hosted a kickoff workshop to discuss the
[2:50:59] most critical needs. Representatives included the members of the
[2:51:06] city council, board members and staff from pittsburg unified school
[2:51:09] district. A board member from mount diablo school district, the city
[2:51:13] manager, city staff and the pittsburgh police department.
[2:51:21] hpc completed the framework in july 2019 and worked alongside staff
[2:51:24] to develop the draft plan. On june 20, 2022, the city
[2:51:30] council approved resolution that adopted the youth and development
[2:51:36] master plan with programs and funding specific
[2:51:40] to pittsburg youth and young adults.
[2:51:48] implementation strategy 2.2 of the youth and young adult services
[2:51:51] master plan is to establish local branches of youth support initiatives
[2:51:53] and collaborate with youth mentors, to increase the number of at risk
[2:51:59] and minority youth with positive and professional role models. In
[2:52:02] spring of 2022 and in alignment with mbk, the city of
[2:52:07] pittsburgh joined hundreds of cities and tribal nations across the country
[2:52:14] engaging in cross sector citywide collaboration to create critical
[2:52:16] and transformational systems, to address disparities for pittsburgh's
[2:52:21] youth and men of color.
[2:52:29] it's beneficial not only to the youth and men of color but to the
[2:52:31] economic viability and overall health of the residents in the city of
[2:52:36] pittsburgh. In spring of 2022 and in alignment with mbk, the
[2:52:41] city of pittsburg joined hundreds of cities and tribal nations with
[2:52:46] the effect of us in this effort, underway
[2:52:52] .
[2:52:55] additionally in partnership with improve your tomorrow, the pittsburg
[2:52:59] unified school district is now providing mentorship for young men
[2:53:02] attending martin luther king jr.
[2:53:04] high school, pittsburg high school and black diamond
[2:53:10] high school.
[2:53:13] the city of pittsburg has a population of
[2:53:18] 76,544, with 23.44% under the age of 18,
[2:53:22] 43.3% identifying as latin acts, 34% white,
[2:53:31] 19.4% asian, 13.6% black or african and.9%
[2:53:37] american indian a percentage
[2:53:48] of male youth meet eligibility requirements.
[2:53:54] females graduate meeting uc eligibility nearly
[2:53:59] 20% more than their male combined,
[2:54:03] they represent about 80% of the
[2:54:07] linear rest of you thunder the 17
[2:54:10] across the county. In other words, racial disparities
[2:54:16] -- on june 20, 2022, the council requested staff to work with the
[2:54:18] unified school district to develop a joint resolution to further the
[2:54:21] work and commit opportunity expressed specifically and women of color.
[2:54:25] the other was brought before the board of trustees as an information
[2:54:31] item on november 9, 2022. The word unified school district and the
[2:54:35] city support my brother's keeper of pittsburgh emphasize the commemorative
[2:54:38] partner on closing opportunity gaps for all young men
[2:54:42] and women of color with an overall goal of ultimately ensuring all
[2:54:45] were supported as they pursue a promise with a promising future
[2:54:50] and promising healthy life. Staff is recommending tonight that the
[2:54:53] council adopt a resolution a pledge to address opportunity gaps expressway
[2:54:57] young men and women of color and what with the pittsburgh unified
[2:55:03] school district.
[2:55:05] that's all I have for my presentation.
[2:55:07] I am ready for questions.
[2:55:10] >> thank you. Dave our colleagues have any questions or
[2:55:12] comments they would like to make at this time?
[2:55:18] councilmember?
[2:55:23] >> I would like to think collect, staff, for all of the work we are
[2:55:28] doing on this. I want to thank as we
[2:55:33] have in the conversation as we created the mbk ad hoc, this
[2:55:37] is one of the items during back resolution and so definitely looking
[2:55:41] forward to the continued partnership and working with the school
[2:55:45] district in terms of holding ourselves what we are laying out with resolution.
[2:55:50] it is in general, in terms of the commitment to address
[2:55:55] these disparities through the identified
[2:55:57] programs that we have looked like did and continue to look like in
[2:56:00] terms of those targeted results.
[2:56:03] I know that they there is definitely a sentiment
[2:56:06] and I want to think staff even when we heard in the presentation,
[2:56:10] those that care about data and those that don't and so I think that one
[2:56:15] of the things that we really want to do in terms of this
[2:56:20] effort we are leading into is really looking not only at the data that
[2:56:25] the impacts and the allocations of the dollars
[2:56:28] for none of that we are spending as a city but leveraging with all
[2:56:30] of our community part nurse. I'm going to steal this from our ceo
[2:56:36] at the chamber of commerce.
[2:56:39] he shared the specific sentiment a number of times around
[2:56:42] the booking window with you ray.
[2:56:45] and so when we see the disparities in terms of young men
[2:56:50] of color and we are seeing in terms of academic outcomes
[2:56:53] and engagement with the justice system, and a number of other things,
[2:56:59] this isn't to overlook anything else in the
[2:57:04] city or any other subgroups, but it does say there is a specific
[2:57:09] need that is having a tremendous impact, a negative impact
[2:57:11] in our community and a focused effort to address it. That will really
[2:57:16] stem the tide in terms of what we are seeing
[2:57:20] communitywide. So I really want to lift that up because it is
[2:57:24] not, once again, even as we have the conversation before with different
[2:57:28] policy matters with the us versus them,
[2:57:32] but as we look at the specific framework and look at this resolution, it
[2:57:34] is more so identify that there is a specific problem we are trying
[2:57:39] to address and trying to have the right partners, stakeholders at
[2:57:43] the table in order to address it because when we look at some of
[2:57:47] these disparities, what it ends up poring over to in terms of where
[2:57:50] looking at trying to address whether it is crime or we look at safety
[2:57:55] comments in our schools or things that can go across the board. I
[2:57:58] think strategic focus on areas like this will help us address
[2:58:03] a lot of these common issues we are seeing in our community. And
[2:58:07] then be able to create a path forward in terms of, once
[2:58:12] again, I think the adoption of the master plan, that really looks to
[2:58:14] see all of our youth involved in the
[2:58:19] community regardless of the barriers they are facing. I am definitely
[2:58:23] in support of this effort on the resolution and the
[2:58:27] continued effort that we have with our partners that is being led by
[2:58:30] colette in these efforts. We are really trying to make sure that
[2:58:33] this is done in a strategic action, that
[2:58:37] all of the right stakeholders and partners are at the table. But once
[2:58:40] again, getting the outcomes that we desire as a counsel, as these
[2:58:43] that he, to really see better outcomes overall for our youth here in the
[2:58:47] city. With that, I will definitely support the motion to adopt this
[2:58:51] resolution moving forward, unless there is some other comments
[2:58:55] by councilmembers?
[2:58:57] >> are there any other comments that my colleagues would like to
[2:59:02] make at this time?
[2:59:05] >> I have a question for staff. In terms of
[2:59:09] the youth services master plan and the youth and young services
[2:59:13] master plan, would you mind sharing how much has been allocated toward
[2:59:21] automation realizing this plan?
[2:59:24] >> directly through the aarp surplus major I'm finding
[2:59:30] 875,000 dollars just for the youth and young adult
[2:59:34] services master plan, plus an additional $750,000 for
[2:59:40] mbk and another $750,000 on top
[2:59:46] of that for women of color.
[2:59:48] >> so in total?
[2:59:51] >> in total, that is what? $2.3 million plus the other programs
[2:59:55] that this counsel also did on top of that, but those are the three
[3:00:00] major ones.
[3:00:01] >> thank you. The reason I asked you to share that for the public
[3:00:05] is that that level of investment could not and would not be
[3:00:11] possible if it weren't for the commitment and the partnership
[3:00:15] of this counsel. I think when we first started, we talked a lot about
[3:00:19] seizing an opportunity because we are
[3:00:25] a minority counsel. We are the first minority counsel.
[3:00:31] and this is a strategic intervention which is something well know in
[3:00:38] our community as being an issue, a chronic issue point and so I think
[3:00:41] if any of you leave tonight, I hope you leave with the desire and ability
[3:00:44] to pat yourself on the back point I truly believe that the beneficiaries
[3:00:50] of the strategic action and this thinking are going to be
[3:00:54] the ones that will benefit from programs like the my brother's
[3:01:00] keeper initiative and the my sister's initiative. The other things
[3:01:03] we have developed are within the youth and young adult services
[3:01:09] master plan.
[3:01:11] it has already been stated that there are several programs in our
[3:01:13] community that currently work with youth and young people today.
[3:01:19] but never in our city's history have we been able to identify
[3:01:24] a subgroup of young people who have been disproportionately
[3:01:29] impacted. We have actually
[3:01:34] passed a strategic and to help improve outcomes as they work through
[3:01:39] the school district and move into building healthy
[3:01:44] lives for themselves. I also want to say that never in the city's
[3:01:49] history has the city and the school district signed a joint
[3:01:55] resolution on any strategic imperative that although we have
[3:01:59] had a two by two subcommittee, I hope this is the beginning and a
[3:02:04] testament of hopefully what can happen if we continue
[3:02:09] to work together. The school district and the city, to help
[3:02:13] move our community forward. We understand the city has a job.
[3:02:18] and the school district has a job.
[3:02:20] I think it is really cool that we can look at our community and say,
[3:02:24] you know, we both are here to serve our community
[3:02:29] in this way and are we committed in this way to actually seeing that
[3:02:32] to fruition. We have had some tough dialogue, but I want to thank
[3:02:38] each and everyone of you for showing up and not checking out of the discussion.
[3:02:43] I am completely convinced that your desire to stay in the discussion
[3:02:49] is because you understand, because you either have children or you
[3:02:53] have family in the school district and you have been a young person
[3:02:57] of color in this city before. You understand the need.
[3:03:03] I just want to thank you all for continuing to move this
[3:03:07] forward. Much like I reminisce on the story of
[3:03:13] shanelle scales-preston and
[3:03:18] I and the tv interview, I also remember asking you, councilmember
[3:03:24] , jelani killings, at the time before I was elected, what can I
[3:03:27] do to be helpful? You told me youth services is the most important thing
[3:03:31] on my mind. And so I hope with this, we
[3:03:37] have you in the community and everyone else
[3:03:39] appear, that we bring you justice.
[3:03:42] councilmember merl craft?
[3:03:48] >> yes, you are absolutely right.
[3:03:50] this is an amazing time in pittsburgh and that we are prioritizing our
[3:03:56] youth. Our youth of color, our youth of all
[3:04:01] colors. And so, making sure that everyone understands that we
[3:04:06] are prioritizing right now because when
[3:04:11] there is a burning building, you put the fire out first and then
[3:04:15] you move forward.
[3:04:18] that is to continue to accomplish the goal you want. And so
[3:04:22] understanding that right now, that is the priority now. There is a
[3:04:25] fire and we are putting out fire out and we are moving forward with
[3:04:29] this pledge. But that does not mean that that is at the exclusion
[3:04:34] of every other youth in our community. And so
[3:04:37] we want people to understand that this pledge that this counsel made
[3:04:41] in setting the dollars, setting those aside for our youth,
[3:04:46] we plan on moving that forward with
[3:04:51] our youth and moving all of our youth forward. Thank you.
[3:04:54] >> thank you, councilmember merl craft. If there are no further
[3:05:00] comments, I will entertain, there is a motion, a second?
[3:05:08] >> yes, I will make a motion to
[3:05:12] adopt city council resolution to adopt a pledge to address persistent
[3:05:14] opportunity gaps six variance by young men and women of color.
[3:05:19] >> thank you, vice mayor shanelle scales-preston.
[3:05:22] >> yes, I would like to second.
[3:05:25] >> please cast your votes.
[3:05:28] all right, motion passes unanimously. I'd also like
[3:05:32] to thank our consultant for being
[3:05:36] here. It is a far trek from where you live and it is late and I appreciate
[3:05:39] you committing your heart and your mind in your resources to help with
[3:05:43] these meetings.
[3:05:52] moving on to consideration item number
[3:05:56] seven. Mr. City manager?
[3:05:58] >> thank you very much, mr. Mayor.
[3:06:00] it is the third consideration item is a consideration to hire a retired
[3:06:05] annuitant with government code sections
[3:06:11] 7522. 56, 21221 and 21224.
[3:06:19] the resources director is here for the presentation. Jennifer?
[3:06:33] >> the director of records and counsel services intends to
[3:06:46] retire effective december 29, 2022.
[3:06:55] the employee, alice evenson, has opportunities serve as a retired
[3:07:00] annuitant on a temporary basis so operations
[3:07:05] can continue moving forward.
[3:07:08] in order to maintain
[3:07:14] a seamless -- over 25 years as institutional knowledge
[3:07:19] has been integral to city clerk operations, serving as an executive
[3:07:23] leader as well as a city clerk since 2006.
[3:07:32] calpers has a 180 day waiting period for government
[3:07:36] code sections and that section can be made for critically needed positions
[3:07:41] sooner than 180 days.
[3:07:44] this section applies to alice evenson's
[3:07:50] as a retired militant due to technical skills and knowledge needed to transition
[3:07:53] the scope of responsibilities during this period.
[3:07:57] alice evenson will work as an extra help, extra help, retired annuitant
[3:08:02] with the city clerk office to transition the director of counsel services
[3:08:06] such as maintaining the city's estate of history and providing
[3:08:09] assistance to the public and other departments and outside agencies
[3:08:13] effective january 9, 2023.
[3:08:21] that is the end of my presentation.
[3:08:22] are there any questions I can answer for you?
[3:08:25] >> thank you. And if my colleagues have any questions or staff? If
[3:08:29] not, I will entertain a motion.
[3:08:44] we have a motion.
[3:08:47] >> yes.
[3:08:49] on the motion of a city council resolution for consideration to
[3:08:54] hire a calpers retired annuitant in accordance
[3:08:58] with code section 7522 point 156, 2221
[3:09:03] and 21224.
[3:09:06] >> and a second?
[3:09:10] >> I will second the motion.
[3:09:13] >> please cast your votes.
[3:09:19] motion passes unanimously. Moving on to consideration item number
[3:09:21] eight, mr. City manager?
[3:09:24] >> thank you very much, mr. Mayor.
[3:09:27] as of the city council, for the consideration item is
[3:09:33] the authorization to the city manager to know shape and execute
[3:09:35] an agreement with local addition creative for eddie wide are planning
[3:09:38] and neural installation services. Jordan davis, director of
[3:09:44] development is here with the presentation. Jordan?
[3:09:49] >> thank you, mr. City manager. Good
[3:09:52] evening, mayor, vice mayor, and members of the city council.
[3:09:56] this item was first brought before the economic development waterfront
[3:10:00] development committee in august of 2021. At the time, the discussions
[3:10:03] centered around opportunities to improve aesthetics of the city as
[3:10:07] well as to drive tours and celebrate the city's immense history and diversity.
[3:10:12] in may of this year, 20 50,000 was earmarked for public art
[3:10:17] installations and this returned to the waterfront subcommittee
[3:10:22] in september of this year and then again just last week as councilmember
[3:10:28] jelani killings mentioned earlier. The purpose
[3:10:33] of this project is to create a blueprint for
[3:10:37] the city's approach to creating public art into activities and developments
[3:10:42] that are going to be coming to the city. This is
[3:10:47] more than just murals. This is place making. That is what we are
[3:10:50] focused on achieving as part of this. Are looking at having morals,
[3:10:52] but also sculptures a potentially even an immersive art experience.
[3:10:57] think about those who travel throughout
[3:11:00] the country this year. Something emma may be on a smaller scale,
[3:11:03] but along those lines where folks will come and visit and, you know,
[3:11:07] take place or participate, I should say, in an immersive
[3:11:12] art experience and also shop and dine. Any of those types of things
[3:11:17] in our city. We are hoping to send her this around events. We are
[3:11:23] you want to meet people where they're at, as the saying goes.
[3:11:27] and also clued folks like the pittsburg high school marching
[3:11:31] band for that is one of the feathers in the cap of the city, if you will.
[3:11:34] and a group that we have already had discussions with this contractor
[3:11:38] about incorporating. This also would potentially include film and photography
[3:11:43] services added dedicated website if you so choose.
[3:11:48] and mainly, or perhaps most importantly, I should
[3:11:50] say, project managers. This is somebody was not a track record in doing
[3:11:55] these types of implementations throughout cities. This company worked
[3:12:01] on the creative concord initiative last year and is also worked in
[3:12:04] the city of the creek and other private firms to enhance public
[3:12:08] art in those areas.
[3:12:11] this is the proposal from local addition creative that we
[3:12:16] are working on. And we are proposing to allow the city manager to negotiate
[3:12:21] a execute a contract consistent with this proposal includes installation
[3:12:26] of five murals as well as
[3:12:32] the renting of a home and a scissor lift to
[3:12:37] get to some of those tough to reach areas. The uv protective coating
[3:12:40] for all of murals and the coating.
[3:12:42] this also includes the anti-graffiti coating
[3:12:47] that is going to be necessary for some of these this proposal also
[3:12:50] includes sculpture installation of one large sculpture that will
[3:12:55] provide some examples of what I can look like for a six to eight
[3:13:00] month period.
[3:13:01] that includes all of the logistics.
[3:13:03] and then alteration organization and facilitation of this project
[3:13:09] . We have also noted on there, while it is not included in this
[3:13:14] because we have to financial scope and location
[3:13:17] or duration of the immersive art experience, but we have sort of
[3:13:20] identified $20,000 as being an approximate amount for what something like that
[3:13:26] might cost us.
[3:13:28] as mentioned, staff is receive the promotional from local edition.
[3:13:33] 20 $50,000 was allocated for public art by the city council earlier
[3:13:38] this year. At this time, staff is requesting that city council allocate
[3:13:43] $200,000 for the contract, including phase
[3:13:45] one. So the initial contract would be for
[3:13:49] $147,500. The remaining funds would be available for the city manager
[3:13:54] to execute additional work orders and task orders for perhaps more
[3:13:59] murals along with our installation or
[3:14:04] that which can grow in size to also the count for that. The
[3:14:10] euro location, artist, and final designs would be selected in coordination
[3:14:15] with pacf. And the final approval would be by
[3:14:21] the city council. I will pause there and say the reason
[3:14:25] I am bringing this before you tonight is because we don't just want to
[3:14:28] select a few errors in point murals appeared we want to work
[3:14:32] to identify the best location and figure what the process is going
[3:14:36] to be. A lot of the girls are going to be on private
[3:14:39] property and so we are going to need to record it with the property
[3:14:41] owners to talk about maintenance and getting the proper permits in
[3:14:45] place to handle that. But the final approval of all locations, mural
[3:14:50] designs, and artist will be at the approval of the city
[3:14:53] council. Artist preference is to be local, but as was mentioned earlier,
[3:14:57] are economic meeting last week, we don't want to exclude the potential
[3:15:02] for notable artists who might be able to do one of these murals
[3:15:05] to drive more visitors to the city of pittsburgh. So
[3:15:10] we have identified just kind of for the purposes of --
[3:15:16] getting a feel for what this could look like. A few locations
[3:15:20] in downtown and a few outside of downtown that might make good
[3:15:25] backdrops for some of these murals. So here,
[3:15:34] you can see five locations in downtown.
[3:15:36] I want to be clear, we have not talked to these property owners.
[3:15:38] we would need to talk with the property owners and identify what
[3:15:41] our requests are going to be and what the requirements are going
[3:15:44] to be for installing and maintaining these. And getting those access
[3:15:47] agreements. But these are five locations that
[3:15:52] local addition actually identified as being prime for potential murals.
[3:15:56] and these are a few, not downtown locations. Probably
[3:16:02] buried in their difficulty to work with the agency or the folks that
[3:16:05] have jurisdiction over some of these areas, like the b.a.r.t. Station
[3:16:09] . But frankly, a big link campus that would be
[3:16:15] a real key entry feature to the
[3:16:20] city of pittsburgh. There are also some areas that would have some
[3:16:25] entry signage., for example, the bottom left-hand
[3:16:28] corner, you'll probably recognize the terminus of the eastbound
[3:16:34] harbor railroad offramp.
[3:16:37] there is sort of a litany of signs, if you will,
[3:16:41] that are haphazardly thrown together.
[3:16:44] we have actually coordinated with the developer of
[3:16:50] outlook storage who is hopefully going to be redeveloping the property.
[3:16:54] we will get into some conversations to actually contribute to the
[3:16:59] installation of a wii finding feature as you enter the city. This might
[3:17:05] be an opportunity to combine that with some art really create something
[3:17:08] that is special as folks get off one of our most frequently used
[3:17:12] offramp's.
[3:17:15] these are some sculpture ideas. I selected these two because
[3:17:20] these were on the island. Where the pittsburg power company --
[3:17:26] operate.
[3:17:27] those islands, two years ago, underwent a similar type of contract
[3:17:33] with local edition creative to install
[3:17:37] murals but also to bring some of these cultures and for a limited
[3:17:41] period of time and they drove tourism as folks came to some of those juries
[3:17:46] or some of the other shops on their island, they stopped and
[3:17:48] they took pictures and they work really stick him at nighttime so
[3:17:51] they could take a picture of this dr. Who looking circle thing. At
[3:17:57] nighttime. So that is the idea, to drive tourism, give people
[3:18:02] a reason to come to different areas of pittsburgh, then
[3:18:07] hopefully, when they are here, to shop, eat, do that type of thing
[3:18:15] . But also to invest in our community and make it more aesthetically pleasing.
[3:18:17] make the residents of the city also proud to live here, to have these
[3:18:20] murals and to have the things that make people want to be downtown,
[3:18:24] to want to be out and about. And not just sitting at home. It really
[3:18:27] adds to the flavor of pittsburgh and it is something we think will
[3:18:31] go a long way in really making pittsburgh the home of art
[3:18:37] and across the county as a whole. With that,
[3:18:42] the staff recommendation is to adopt resolution authorizing the city
[3:18:45] manager to negotiate and execute an agreement with
[3:18:51] local edition creative for public art installations but I would be
[3:18:53] happy to answer any questions you have.
[3:18:56] >> thank you, jordan. Do any of my colleagues have any questions
[3:18:59] for staff? If not, I will entertain a motion.
[3:19:12] councilmember?
[3:19:14] >> yes, I just wanted to add some comments in discussions we had on
[3:19:18] the economic subcommittee meeting.
[3:19:20] I think jordan, through his presentation, really covered it well. Looking
[3:19:24] at this to the lens of place making. I know we have had
[3:19:31] a lot of discussions about the value of public art as it relates to beautification
[3:19:34] efforts as well as, once again, what we are doing in terms of our
[3:19:38] emphasis on roads and landscaping. And so really wanting to
[3:19:45] drive that home in terms of this particular effort with the place
[3:19:48] making. One area that I brought up in terms of our discussions
[3:19:53] , as you see, we will be looking at potential locations in terms
[3:19:57] of where these murals and sculptures can go. There is a lot of work that
[3:20:01] has to go into that. So not necessarily trying to get
[3:20:08] a consensus on the exact locations, but I did want to point out that
[3:20:13] you saw in the first slide that there were a number of them
[3:20:16] that were located in some really kind of hidden places in downtown.
[3:20:21] one of the sentiments that I really want to be heard is that I really
[3:20:26] want this to be in coordination, at least from my perspective,
[3:20:28] with the beautification of our entryways.
[3:20:30] really making sure there is a focus on the entryways. That is why you
[3:20:34] see and I gave some suggestions about that part entrance, but for
[3:20:40] some that you see right off of leverage. And of course,
[3:20:46] california. When we are looking at the public storage. There is
[3:20:48] been a lot of conversation that we have had in general, just about
[3:20:55] new signs, whether it is we making, and even as we are now looking at
[3:20:58] public art, really tying it into what we are trying to do overall
[3:21:00] through our beautification process and really having a specific focus
[3:21:02] around what areas we are trying to enhance first as we are trying
[3:21:07] to drive.
[3:21:09] I think we have some good conversations about wanting to continue to drive
[3:21:12] traffic to downtown and also understanding that there are a lot of places around
[3:21:17] town that need that as well. But wanting to ensure that when
[3:21:21] people are passing through pittsburgh, weather is on highway 4 or
[3:21:25] as soon as they get off the exit, what is that immediate kind of feeling
[3:21:30] they get when they enter our community? I really feel like this could
[3:21:33] be one of those projects that could help spearhead with creating a real
[3:21:39] sense with not only identifying our diversity, our culture, our
[3:21:44] history, but really that wow factor when you enter into our community
[3:21:52] . Douglas and the other element as far as we want to make sure that
[3:21:55] we are giving opportunities for local artists and there is a preference
[3:21:57] there. If there is somebody that, you know, creates a piece of art
[3:22:01] that is so compelling or maybe their work is prominent throughout the
[3:22:05] bay area and it would add that element to our community by having it here,
[3:22:09] being open to that as well. So I just share that we have had a
[3:22:12] lot of conversations about this project. And ultimately, even in
[3:22:15] looking at this specific program with how
[3:22:20] we create and craft a public art policy for the city, in terms of
[3:22:26] how do we sustain public art, whether it is a new development, whether
[3:22:30] it is in terms of the type or the sculpture of this immersive
[3:22:36] experience in other opportunities.
[3:22:37] there is a lot more conversations around the public art concept here
[3:22:41] in the city. But I think jordan
[3:22:46] hit it on the head in terms of looking at it more so from the place making
[3:22:49] and also the beautification efforts that we have ongoing here in the
[3:22:52] city. I will just add those thoughts.
[3:22:53] I would be happy to make a motion to approve this item if there are
[3:22:56] no other thoughts or comments from the colleagues.
[3:23:00] >> vice mayor shanelle scales-preston?
[3:23:04] >> yes. Thank you, jordan, for the great presentation. Our
[3:23:09] city could end up being one of those cities that are like the 10 most
[3:23:12] instagrammable cities. Other cities are like that
[3:23:17] where they have murals and they have sculptures and different artwork
[3:23:20] and, you know, it would be listed, people come through just to take
[3:23:26] a picture. Believe it or not, very young people. And so I just want
[3:23:32] to make sure that as we are working in us, that we
[3:23:35] get community input so that the community understands that, you
[3:23:40] know, we are not doing this without them. We want to include
[3:23:43] them and get their feedback from the young people as well. If we
[3:23:47] can keep that in mind. Thank you.
[3:23:50] >> I just wanted to add two things. I hope the community
[3:23:55] takes it
[3:24:00] to instagram, the city. And I also wanted to give a quick shout out
[3:24:04] to rosemary for working with our local art community.
[3:24:08] is there a motion
[3:24:13] or any other comments that anyone would like to make on this item?
[3:24:19] >> I make a motion for the adoption of the city council
[3:24:24] relation to execute an agreement with the local edition
[3:24:28] creative for citywide art planning and neural installation services
[3:24:34] .
[3:24:35] >> do I have a second?
[3:24:37] >> yes, I will second that motion.
[3:24:39] >> okay, please cast your votes.
[3:24:42] motion passes unanimously.
[3:24:45] moving on to our conflicts of interest
[3:24:50] is any councilmember have a conflict of interest they would like to make
[3:24:54] at this time?
[3:25:03] I am seeing none.
[3:25:06] we will now move to our combined city council pittsburgh immunity
[3:25:08] foundation whispered power company successor agency and
[3:25:14] southwest pittsburgh ghad ii calendar. Those have two
[3:25:23] only three discloses for.
[3:25:26] calendar items 14 and 15. Pursuant to governor
[3:25:30] code extend 54953 c 3, 14, a recommendation to approve
[3:25:37] the minutes to this to the attorney employment agreement. The amendment
[3:25:42] includes a revision of the agreement terms and increase in
[3:25:46] the salary by 5%.
[3:25:49] the 21,252 monthly, affective july
[3:25:55] 10, 2022.
[3:25:57] that provides for salary increases based on a consumer price
[3:26:03] index, cpa, council approval.
[3:26:08] for item number 15, pursuant to government code section 54953,
[3:26:14] c 3, agenda item number 15 recordation to approve
[3:26:19] the amendments to the city manager employment agreement
[3:26:23] . The amendment includes a salary increase of 7 1/2%
[3:26:32] to $23,097.83 monthly.
[3:26:35] effective july 10, 2022.
[3:26:38] a revision of the annual evaluation terms. I will now
[3:26:44] take a motion and a second.
[3:26:47] >> mayor, I make a motion to approve
[3:26:50] this consent item calendar items that your 15.
[3:26:54] >> I second that motion.
[3:26:56] >> thank you. Please cast your votes.
[3:27:02] motion passes unanimously.
[3:27:05] all right. Now to the counsel requests for
[3:27:12] future agenda items. Would any councilmember like to make a request for future
[3:27:16] agenda items at this time?
[3:27:27] moving on to councilmember remarks. Would
[3:27:32] any councilmember like to make any remarks at this time?
[3:27:36] vice mayor shanelle scales-preston?
[3:27:39] >> yes, thank you, mr. Mayor. On saturday
[3:27:44] , councilmember
[3:27:49] merl craft and myself went out to -- known as motel 6. The
[3:27:55] buffalo soldiers and supervisor provided a
[3:28:01] thanksgiving meal. A hot meal.
[3:28:06] councilwoman merl craft and myself played it close to 200 meals and
[3:28:12] they all delivered individually, due to
[3:28:17] covid. So someone took a meal to each apartment or
[3:28:23] room there. I just appreciate them for constantly
[3:28:28] thinking about doing this every year. I think this has
[3:28:32] been done for the past couple years in the community there.
[3:28:38] they were really happy to have a hot meal for thanksgiving. Also
[3:28:44] , after we left from there [ laughter ] we went over
[3:28:50] to attend a youth conference for young
[3:28:55] women for ages 12 to 21. That was put
[3:29:01] on by andrea taylor. She put on this conference annually.
[3:29:06] we were happy to have some of our pittsburgh youth there
[3:29:10] and they focus on confidence and self-esteem. Mental health
[3:29:16] . It was just great to have some of our
[3:29:22] young ladies on stage and be able to be confident enough to talk
[3:29:26] about, you know, things like until health and
[3:29:32] -- it is tough when you are that age. And to actually, they
[3:29:37] did a, what was it called? They did a sketch
[3:29:46] with a mere appeared she brought a mirror on stage, andrea did it
[3:29:49] so she has these young ladies to look in the mirror and tell me what
[3:29:53] you think of yourself. And for them to be there to stand on stage and
[3:29:59] like I like this about myself, but I don't like that. But you
[3:30:03] know? It's okay, I don't care what people think because I think I am
[3:30:06] awesome anyway. Have that confidence with adults recognize the things
[3:30:08] that they don't like. So I look forward to working with andrea more
[3:30:14] with our young ladies here in the city. Thank
[3:30:16] you.
[3:30:19] >> thank you, vice mayor shanelle scales-preston.
[3:30:25] would anybody else like to make any remarks at this time?
[3:30:30] >> yes. We also, yesterday, we went, the soldiers put
[3:30:36] on, they brought out so we can go see -- and so that is
[3:30:41] the story and so afterwards, they had discussion
[3:30:45] as to what did it mean to them are what did they understand
[3:30:50] about it? And one of the things that was the most, I think, the
[3:30:54] thing that really shook them was the fact that this story was from
[3:30:59] 1955. It wasn't until 2021, no, 2022, that
[3:31:05] it was, lynching
[3:31:10] was actually put on the books.
[3:31:11] and so, the question was one of them asked was, why would that take
[3:31:16] so long? And vice mayor shanelle scales-preston
[3:31:21] said because it is about voting and putting
[3:31:24] people in place and in power that can make those type of changes.
[3:31:28] until that happens, change doesn't happen. So
[3:31:32] that was a good learning experience for them.
[3:31:38] it was a lot of youth there as well. We just appreciate
[3:31:43] the soldiers for continuing to try to educate the community. Thank
[3:31:45] you.
[3:31:48] >> thank you.
[3:31:51] are there any other comments at this time?
[3:31:56] all right, seeing none, we will close this meeting in memory of
[3:32:02] two individuals that passed away recently. Joan
[3:32:08] and elaine cox works.
[3:32:09] joan started her first common practice here in
[3:32:15] partners in 1970, working for agencies throughout
[3:32:19] the bay area, including pittsburgh.
[3:32:20] following her retirement from the firm, she started, she worked
[3:32:26] as a consultant.
[3:32:28] recently, she especially loved working for pittsburgh
[3:32:33] . She helped him enter some of the city's most largest and consequential
[3:32:36] project throughout the years. Including the cable,
[3:32:40] the expansion of the recycling center and transfer station,
[3:32:46] columbia was solo through delta energy storage project
[3:32:51] . While she was never formally part of the pittsburgh staff, she was
[3:32:54] an important member of the team.
[3:33:03] elaine cox works passed away today. She was a former
[3:33:09] employee and she worked for the pittsburgh economic housing and
[3:33:13] development corporation during the housing crisis of 2008. I would
[3:33:18] also like to invite councilmember kraft
[3:33:22] to share any additional comments or remarks about either one of these
[3:33:25] individuals.
[3:33:28] >> yes, and so along with rosemary, she was also, she
[3:33:34] worked for -- which the downtown office and especially
[3:33:38] during the crisis of 2008, trying to keep people in their homes.
[3:33:44] and through today, she was at her office when she had a heart attack.
[3:33:47] one of the things she was doing was working on homeless rights and
[3:33:52] on housing that was the commitment she had made to this
[3:33:56] community and to the county. That would be
[3:33:59] elaine cox brooks.
[3:34:03] >> we will close tonight's meeting in their honor.