>> Mayor Salwan: GOOD EVENING, EVERYONE.
WELCOME. WELCOME TO CITY HALL.
PLEASE, IF EVERYBODY COULD GRAB A SEAT, I'D LIKE TO GET
STARTED. I'D LIKE TO CALL THE SPECIAL
MEETING OF JULY 28, 2026 TO ORDER.
I WOULD LIKE TO ASK COUNCILMEMBER SHAO TO LEAD US IN
THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE. THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER SHAO.
NEXT WE HAVE ROLL CALL. >> COUNCILMEMBER ZHANG, HERE.
COUNCILMEMBER SHAO, PRESENT. COUNCILMEMBER KIMBERLIN, HERE.
COUNCILMEMBER CAMPBELL, HERE. COUNCILMEMBER KENG, HERE.
VICE MAYOR LIU, HERE. MAYOR SALWAN, PRESENT.
THERE ARE CURRENT VACANCIES ON CITY BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS.
THE CITY CLERK'S OFFICE ACCEPTS APPLICATIONS YEAR-ROUND.
TO APPLY, PLEASE VISIT THE BOARDS, COMMISSIONS AND
COMMITTEES PAGE AT FREMONT.GOV OR CONTACT THE CITY CLERK'S
OFFICE. FOR MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC
PARTICIPATING ELECTRONICALLY THIS EVENING, YOU MAY PROVIDE
PUBLIC COMMENT BY SELECTING THE "RAISE HAND" FEATURE IN ZOOM.
OR BY DIALING STAR NINE IF CALLING IN.
I WILL ANNOUNCE WHEN PUBLIC COMMENT IS OPEN FOR EACH AGENDA
SECTION. PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME AND IF
REPRESENTING AN ORGANIZATION, IDENTIFY THE ORGANIZATION.
EMAILS SUBMITTED TO THE CITY CLERK ARE DISTRIBUTED TO THE
CITY COUNCIL AND STAFF, PUBLISHED IN THE AGENDA CENTER
AT FREMONT.GOV AND RETAINED AS PART OF THE PUBLIC RECORD.
THIS MEETING MAY GO ON UNTIL 11:30 P.M. IF NEEDED.
WE WILL ALLOW FOR 30 MINUTES FOR GENERAL PUBLIC COMMENTS.
ADDITIONAL SPEAKERS WISHING TO SPEAK DURING THE ORAL
COMMUNICATIONS PERIOD CAN BE ALLOWED TO SPEAK AT THE END OF
THE MEETING IF THERE'S MORE SPEAKERS.
I WILL NOW TURN THE MEETING OVER TO CITY MANAGER KARENA
SHACKELFORD TO MAKE ANY ANNOUNCEMENTS AND TO INTRODUCE
HER STAFF. >> City Mgr. Shackelford:
THANK YOU, MAYOR SALWAN. GOOD EVENING.
GOOD EVENING, COUNCILMEMBERS. TO THE LEFT OF ME IS OUR CITY
ATTORNEY, RAFAEL ALVARADO. AND NEXT TO RAFAEL IS ASSISTANT
CITY MANAGER CHRISTINA BRIGGS. ACROSS FROM THE THREE OF US, WE
HAVE ASSISTANT CITY CLERK DINA LEWIS, AND FORMER CITY CLERK
MAKING A SPECIAL GUEST APPEARANCE THIS EVENING, SUSAN
GAUTHIER. AND THEN JUST ONE ANNOUNCEMENT.
I JUST WOULD LIKE TO REMIND FOLKS AND INVITE EVERYONE OUT TO
THE FREMONT FESTIVAL OF THE ARTS THIS WEEKEND, AUGUST 1ST AND
AUGUST 2ND, 10:00 A.M. TO 6:00 P.M.
SO PLEASE COME OUT AND ENJOY SOME GOOD MUSIC, GOOD FOOD, GOOD
THINGS TO BUY, EVERYTHING, SO LOOKING FORWARD TO SEE YOU ALL
OUT THERE. THANK YOU, MAYOR.
>> Mayor Salwan: THANK YOU. AND IT'S GREAT TO SEE A FAMILIAR
FACE. WELCOME BACK, MS. GAUTHIER!
SO AT THIS TIME, WE'LL GO TO PUBLIC COMMUNICATIONS.
THIS IS A TIME FOR ANY PERSON WHO WISHES TO SPEAK ON AN ISSUE
THAT IS NOT ON THE AGENDA MAY DO SO DURING ORAL COMMUNICATIONS.
MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC PARTICIPATING VIA ZOOM MAY RAISE
THEIR HAND USING THE ZOOM "RAISE HAND" FEATURE OR BY DIALING
STAR NINE IF YOU'RE CALLING IN. IF YOUR NAME IS NOT DISPLAYED,
PLEASE STATE IT BEFORE SPEAKING.
THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR THE PUBLIC TO ADDRESS THE COUNCIL ON
MATTERS THAT ARE NOT ON THE AGENDA.
THE COUNCIL CAN NOT TAKE ACTION NOR RESPOND TO ITEMS DURING THIS
COMMENT PERIOD. THOUGH ITEMS MAY BE REFERRED TO
STAFF FOR POSSIBLE PLACEMENT ON A FUTURE AGENDA.
WHEN SPEAKING ON BEHALF OF AN ORGANIZATION, PLEASE IDENTIFY
THE ORGANIZATION YOU REPRESENT. A BELL WILL RING WHEN 30 SECONDS
REMAIN, AND AGAIN WHEN YOUR TIME HAS ENDED.
SO WITH THAT, DO WE HAVE ANY SPEAKERS FOR ORAL
COMMUNICATIONS? >> Ms. Lewis: CURRENTLY WE
HAVE FOUR SPEAKER CARDS AND ONE HAND RAISED ON ZOOM.
>> Mayor Salwan: OKAY. SO THIS IS -- WE CAN ALLOW
2 MINUTES FOR THIS PERIOD. AND AGAIN THIS IS FOR ITEMS NOT
ON THE AGENDA TODAY. >> Ms. Lewis: FIRST SPEAKER ON
ZOOM IS CAMERON LEE. >> HI, HELLO?
>> Ms. Lewis: YOU MAY GO AHEAD.
>> YES, HI. MY NAME IS CAMERON LEE AND I'M
SPEAKING TONIGHT ON THIS AGENDA FOR FREMONT BECOME AGO CHARTER
CITY, IS WHAT I'M CALLING IN FOR --
>> Mayor Salwan: SIR, WE'LL COME BACK TO YOU.
RIGHT NOW WE'RE IN ORAL COMMUNICATIONS.
SO WE'LL GO TO THE NEXT SPEAKER.
>> I SEE, MY APOLOGIES. >> Mayor Salwan: THANK YOU.
>> Ms. Lewis: NEXT SPEAKER IS CYNTHIA TANION.
FOLLOWED BY JACK RODGERS. TERESA DEANDA.
AND PAT MAPOLI. >> Mayor Salwan: YOU'RE DOING
GOOD, JUST MAKE SURE THAT BUTTON IS PRESSED.
>> CAN YOU HEAR ME? >> Mayor Salwan: YES.
>> I JUST HAVE A BRIEF QUESTION AND MY CONCERN, IT'S AN ONGOING
CONCERN AND I'LL PROBABLY BE SHOWING UP HERE AND THERE IS
ABOUT THE DATA CENTERS AND FUTURE OF DATA CENTERS AND
FREMONT, AND DATA CENTERS IN THE WHOLE TRI-CITY AREA.
MY QUESTION IS BRIEF AND IT'S DIRECTED JUST TO THE MAYOR, IS
HAVE YOU EVER SIGNED AN NDA, A NON-DISCLOSURE AGREEMENT WITH
ANY TECH DEVELOPERS? AND I CAN -- THAT'S MY ONLY
QUESTION. >> Mayor Salwan: THANK YOU,
MA'AM. JUST THE WAY THIS ORAL
COMMUNICATION WORKS, I CAN'T RESPOND TO YOU ON THIS ITEM
BECAUSE IT'S NOT AGENDIZED BUT YOU'RE WELCOME TO EMAIL ME AND
I'M WILLING TO GIVE YOU AN EMAIL BACK RESPONSE.
RSALWAN@FREMONT.GOV. YES, SIR.
>> MY NAME IS JACK RODGERS, A 78-YEAR, 79-YEAR-OLD RESIDENT
HERE IN FREMONT. I JUST WANTED TO SPEAK ON PUBLIC
HEARINGS IN GENERAL. AND ENCOURAGE THE COUNCIL AND
THE MAYOR TO THINK ABOUT PEOPLE WHO COME BEFORE YOU, AND YOU
LIMIT THEIR INPUT ON A PUBLIC HEARING TO 1 MINUTE.
AFTER GIVING YOUR NAME AND LOCATION, YOU GET DOWN TO ABOUT
45 SECONDS WORTH OF COMMUNICATIONS, AND I DON'T KNOW
THAT THAT REALLY MEETS THE TEST OF A PUBLIC HEARING.
SO I WANT TO ENCOURAGE YOU TO THINK ABOUT GIVING MORE TIME TO
PEOPLE, EVEN IF THERE'S A LARGE CROWD, HAVING BEEN AN EMPLOYEE
OF THE CITY FOR MORE THAN 33 YEARS, I SAT THROUGH MEETINGS
THAT WENT UNTIL 2:30 IN THE MORNING, BUT IN THE END, THE
PUBLIC WAS HEARD. THANK YOU.
>> Mayor Salwan: THANK YOU. SORRY, NO CLAPPING, BOOING,
HISSING, CHEERING. THANK YOU.
COME ON UP, MA'AM. >> MY NAME IS TERESA DEANDA,
I'VE BEEN A LONG TIME FREMONT RESIDENT, AND I'M HERE TONIGHT
TO THANK YOU ALL FOR SPENDING YOUR TIME HERE ON COUNCIL AND
MAYOR BECAUSE I KNOW IT TAKES A LOT OF EFFORT AND TIME.
I'M HERE TO SAY THAT I RESPECT THE FACT THAT I GOT RESPONSE
FROM MANY PEOPLE ON EMAILS, AND I APPRECIATE AND RESPECT THAT
YOU TAKE YOUR TIME TO DO THAT, BUT I ALSO APPRECIATE AND
RESPECT THAT I TAKE MY TIME, AND I WOULD REALLY LIKE TO GET
RESPONSES FROM OTHER COUNCILMEMBERS WHICH I'LL TALK
ABOUT IN THE AGENDA ITEM. BUT ONE THING I'M HERE FOR
TONIGHT IS I WANT TO MAKE A SUGGESTION.
I LIVE IN NILES, AND IN NILES, WE HAVE A NILES E GROUP THAT
SPANS MANY, MANY FAMILIES, AND WE GET PUSHED OUT EMAILS TO US
TO KEEP US ENGAGED IN WHAT'S GOING ON IN NILES AND WHY WE
COME TOGETHER AND WE WILL SHOW UP IN GROUPS HERE AT CITY
COUNCIL. I WOULD LIKE TO SUGGEST THAT
EACH COUNCILMEMBER, IN THE DIFFERENT DISTRICTS, COME UP
WITH THEIR OWN EMAIL ADDRESS FOR THAT, AND ASK PEOPLE TO SIGN UP
SO THAT YOU CAN THEN PUSH INFORMATION OUT TO THEM VERSUS
THEM GOING ON TO YOUR EMAIL AND LOOKING FOR IT.
PUSH IT OUT. THAT WAY, WE DON'T HAVE TO SPEND
TAXPAYER MONEY MAILING, AND WE ARE INFORMED OF WHAT'S GOING
ON. I THINK THAT'S A GREAT
SUGGESTION. I REALLY WOULD LIKE FOR YOU TO
CONSIDER THAT. THANK YOU.
>> Mayor Salwan: THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER.
>> GOOD EVENING, MAYOR, CITY COUNCILMEMBERS, PAT MIPELLI,
LIFELONG RESIDENT OF THE CITY OF THE FREMONT AND 20 YEAR RESIDENT
IN MISSION LAKES NEIGHBORHOODS RIGHT ACROSS FROM QUARRY LAKES.
I'M HERE TO TALK ABOUT NEW CITY SIGNS POSTED ON NUTMAN LANE THE
STREET I LIVE ON AND DOMINICI DRIVE STATING NO STOPPING ANY
TIME. LAST WEEK THESE SIGNS JUST
SHOWED UP. THERE WAS NO NOTICE, NOTHING
SENT TO THE NEIGHBORHOOD, NO WARNING, AND MOST IMPORTANTLY,
NO REASON WHY. THESE SIGNS ARE POSTED ALONG THE
CURB THAT IS ADJACENT TO WHAT IS CALLED ISHERWOOD PARK.
IT'S A LINEAR STRIP THAT'S ESSENTIALLY AN ASPHALT PATH WITH
DIRT AROUND IT, PARALLEL TO ALAMEDA CREEK TRAIL.
THERE ARE PEOPLE THAT COME IN TO OUR NEIGHBORHOOD FROM OUTSIDE
PARK ALONG THIS SIDE TO ACCESS THE CREEK TRAIL AND QUARRY LAKES
EVERY DAY OF THE WEEK. THEY'RE PARKING ALONG THIS CURB
HAS NEVER POSED A PROBLEM IN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD.
AT LEAST IN THE 20 YEARS THAT I'VE BEEN THERE.
IF THESE PEOPLE CHOOSE TO ABIDE BY THE SIGNS, THEY WILL BE
FORCED TO PARK THEIR CARS IN FRONT OF OUR HOMES.
THEREBY LEAVING NO PARKING FOR US AS HOMEOWNERS OR GUESTS OR
VISITORS THAT WE HAVE TO OUR HOME.
AND WE WILL BE FORCED TO THEN GO DOWNSIDE STREETS AND PARK IN
FRONT OF OTHER PEOPLE'S HOMES, WHICH IS JUST A TRICKLE DOWN
EFFECT AND VERY DISTURBING TO THOSE HOMEOWNERS.
BUT MOST DISTURBING COMPONENT OF THIS CHANGE IS THE LACK OF
COMMUNICATION AND THE RESPECT TO THE HOMEOWNERS ALONG THESE TWO
STREETS. A COMPONENT OF WHY WE BOUGHT THE
HOME IN THIS NEIGHBORHOOD WAS THE ABUNDANCE OF PARKING.
AND THIS CHANGE NOW AFFECTS THE VALUE OF WHY WE BOUGHT THERE,
AND WITH NO JUST CAUSE EXPLANATION OR COMMUNICATION TO
US AS HOMEOWNERS. SO LASTLY I JUST WANT TO BRING
UP ENFORCEMENT, WHO IS GOING TO ENFORCE THIS?
IF SOMEBODY CALLS FREMONT PD FOR A NON-EMERGENCY CALL OR PARKING
IN FRONT OF A NO STOPPING ANY TIME SIGN, NOBODY IS GOING TO
RESPOND BECAUSE THEY'RE JUST STRETCHED THIN WITH RESOURCES,
AND IT'S A NON-EMERGENCY ACTION.
SO HOPEFULLY AT A MINIMUM, SOMEONE --
>> Ms. Lewis: NEXT SPEAKER IS MR. DAVID BONACCORSI.
>> Mayor Salwan: THANK YOU, SIR.
YOU CAN PROBABLY FIND ONE OF THE STAFF MEMBERS TO GO OVER THAT
WITH YOU. >> GOOD EVENING, MAYOR AND
MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL. MY NAME IS DAVID BONACCORSI.
I WANT TO -- I GUESS IN SADNESS BUT IN REALITY RECOGNIZE YOU
ONLY HAD ONE DECISION LAST WEEK NOT TO PUT THE HALF CENT SALES
TAX MEASURE ON THE BALLOT. I WAS A CO-CHAIR BACK IN 2002 OF
MEASURE B, WHICH WAS A SCHOOL BOND MEASURE, AND FOUR OF YOU
HAVE HAD VERY CLOSE TIES TO THE SCHOOL DISTRICT AND KNOW HOW
DIFFICULT IT IS TO GET A BOND MEASURE PASSED OR A PARCEL TAX
MEASURE PASSED, AND I WOULD URGE THE COUNCIL TO CONSIDER THAT NOT
HAVING THE MEASURE ON THE BALLOT IN NOVEMBER IS NOT SIMPLY A
QUESTION OF POLL NUMBERS THAT MAY SHIFT OVER TIME.
THIS IS REALLY A WONDERFUL OPPORTUNITY TO DO WHAT I THINK
THE SCHOOL DISTRICT HAS DONE SUCCESSFULLY OVER THE YEARS,
WHICH IS TO HAVE A LOT OF LEAD TIME TO ENGAGE THE PUBLIC.
FIRST OF ALL, I WANT TO THANK THE CITY FOR REMOVING THE
BARRIER HERE. I WANT TO JOIN THE COMMENTS OF
JACK IN TERMS OF HAVING MORE TIME TO ENGAGE, BUT WE NEED MORE
TOWN HALL MEETINGS, WE NEED MORE OPPORTUNITIES LIKE THE SCHOOL
BOARD MEMBERS AND THE STAFF AND THE SCHOOL DISTRICT SELLING THE
SCHOOL DISTRICT TO OUR COMMUNITY.
I THINK THAT THE CITY HAS AN OPPORTUNITY OF DOING IT.
YOU HAVE A GREAT STORY TO TELL. WE'VE BEEN VERY FISCALLY
CONSERVATIVE, AND WE WANT TO SUSTAIN THAT IN THE FUTURE.
SO IF THERE'S A LESSON, YES, BE SAD THAT WE CAN'T GET IT ON THE
BALLOT IN NOVEMBER, BUT LET'S MOVE FORWARD IN LOOKING AT MORE
WAYS OF ENGAGING OUR COMMUNITY. >> Mayor Salwan: SO THAT
CONCLUDES OUR ORAL COMMENT PERIOD.
NOW WE'LL GO TO THE MAIN ITEM, WHICH IS ITEM 3A, WHICH IS THE
CITY CHARTER CONSIDERATION. TODAY IS THE DECISION REGARDING
THE PLACEMENT OF THE PROPOSED CITY CHARTER ON THIS
NOVEMBER 2026 ELECTION, SO I'LL TURN IT OVER TO STAFF.
>> Ms. Briggs: THANK YOU, MAYOR.
IF I CAN ASK THE CITY CLERK TO PULL UP THE PRESENTATION,
PLEASE. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
GOOD EVENING, MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL.
WE ARE PLEASED TO BE WITH YOU TONIGHT FOR THE THIRD AND FINAL
MEETING FOR FREMONT'S CHARTER CITY INITIATIVE.
FOLLOWING CITY COUNCIL'S DISCUSSION AND DIRECTION AT THE
TWO PRIOR PUBLIC HEARINGS, STAFF HAS MADE REVISIONS BASED ON YOUR
FEEDBACK AND ARE PRESENTING THE ITEM FOR FINAL CONSIDERATION
TONIGHT. JUST AS A QUICK REMINDER, THIS
INITIATIVE HAS CARRIED OUT THE DIRECTIONS SET FORTH IN THE CITY
COUNCIL'S CHARTER WORK PLAN WHICH WAS APPROVED ON
MARCH 3RD. THE TOPICS ARE INCLUDED HERE ON
THE SLIDE. ALSO AS A QUICK RECAP, THE
PROCESS THAT HAS TAKEN PLACE ON MARCH 3RD, THE CITY COUNCIL
APPROVED THE CHARTER WORK PLAN AND ESTABLISHED A CHARTER
ADVISORY COMMITTEE. DURING THE MONTHS OF MARCH AND
APRIL, THE COMMITTEE CONVENED AND DEVELOPED RECOMMENDATIONS
RESPONSIVE TO THAT WORK PLAN. THEN ON JUNE 2ND AND JUNE 7TH,
THE CITY HELD TWO REQUIRED PUBLIC HEARINGS TO CONSIDER THE
COMMITTEE'S RECOMMENDATIONS AND PROVIDE INPUT ON THE DRAFT CITY
CHARTER. YOU'VE SEEN THESE SLIDES BEFORE,
THIS IS JUST A QUICK REMINDER OF THE TIMELINE THAT WAS DEVELOPED
IN ORDER TO ACCOMPLISH THIS WORK IN TIME FOR THE BALLOT PLACEMENT
DEADLINE OF AUGUST 7TH. AFTER CONDUCTING THE FIRST
PUBLIC HEARING ON JUNE 2ND, THE CITY COUNCIL ACCEPTED THE
CHARTER COMMITTEE'S RECOMMENDATIONS AND DIRECTED
STAFF TO REVISE THE DRAFT CHARTER TO INCLUDE ADDITIONAL
LANGUAGE INCLUDING THE FOLLOWING TOPICS, ADDING THE ABILITY FOR
THE MAYOR TO INDEPENDENTLY PLACE ITEMS ON THE CITY COUNCIL
MEETING AGENDAS, CLARIFICATION THAT THE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL
CAN PARTICIPATE IN HIRING OR TERMINATING ANY ALLOCATED DIRECT
STAFF, DEVELOPMENT OF A PROCESS FOR FULFILLING FUTURE VACANT
COUNCIL SEATS WITH THE INDIVIDUAL WHO RECEIVED THE NEXT
HIGHEST VOTES OR NUMBER OF VOTES, AND THE AUTHORITY FOR THE
CITY ATTORNEY TO APPOINT AND REMOVE EMPLOYEES OF THE CITY
ATTORNEY'S OFFICE. AT THE SECOND PUBLIC HEARING ON
JULY 7TH, STAFF PRESENTED A REVISED DRAFT CHARTER WHICH
INCLUDED THOSE AMENDMENTS JUST MENTIONED.
THE CITY COUNCIL ACCEPTED THOSE AMENDMENTS AND REQUESTED ONE
ADDITION WHICH WAS TO INCLUDE LANGUAGE IN THE DRAFT CITY
CHARTER THAT EXPLICITLY ACKNOWLEDGES THAT THE CITY
CHARTER DOES NOT CONTEMPLATE AN INCREASE TO THE REAL PROPERTY
TRANSFER TAX. LAST WEEK AT THE JULY 21ST CITY
COUNCIL MEETING, RESEARCH FIRM FM3 PRESENTED POLLING RESULTS TO
THE CITY COUNCIL, WHICH INCLUDED A QUESTION REGARDING THE
VIABILITY OF THE CHARTER MEASURE CURRENTLY UNDER CONSIDERATION.
25% OF LIKELY VOTERS EXPRESSED SUPPORT FOR THIS MEASURE,
SUGGESTING THAT IT MAY NOT BE VIABLE AT THIS TIME.
A REVISED DRAFT CITY CHARTER IS INCLUDED IN YOUR AGENDA PACT
THIS EVENING AND REFLECTS ALL RECOMMENDATIONS AND AMENDMENTS
REQUESTED TO DATE. THE FISCAL IMPACT OF THESE
RECOMMENDATIONS INCLUDES A ONE-TIME COST OF UP TO ABOUT
$850,000 FOR BALLOT PLACEMENT, AND WOULD REQUIRE AN ONGOING
INCREASE OF ABOUT $162,000 TO THE CITY'S GENERAL FUND.
THAT CONCLUDES OUR VERY BRIEF PRESENTATION, AND TONIGHT WE ARE
ASKING THE CITY COUNCIL TO EITHER DEFER CONSIDERATION OF A
CHARTER DUE TO A FUTURE ELECTION AND CONTINUE COMMUNITY DIALOGUE,
OR APPROVE THE PROPOSED CITY CHARTER MEASURE AND ADOPT A
RESOLUTION CALLING FOR THE ELECTION AND APPROVING SUBMITTAL
OF A CHARTER FOR THE CITY OF FREMONT FOR CONSIDERATION AT THE
NOVEMBER 3RD, 2026 ELECTION. THANK YOU.
>> Mayor Salwan: GREAT. THANK YOU, CHRISTINA, AND CITY
MANAGER AND MR. ALVARADO, I KNOW YOU GUYS WORKED VERY HARD ON
THIS. I JUST WANT TO TAKE A FEW
MINUTES TO JUST KIND OF FRAME WHERE WE ARE,HOW WE GOT HERE,
AND WHERE I THINK I HEARD THE COUNCIL LEANING IN OUR PAST
MEETING. BECAUSE WHATEVER WE DECIDE, THIS
PROCESS DESERVES TO BE NAMED FOR WHAT IT IS, WHICH IS DEMOCRACY
IN ACTION. THIS CONVERSATION BEGAN WITH A
REFERRAL FROM VICE MAYOR ZHANG AND I THANK HER FOR THAT
LEADERSHIP. BUT THIS IS NOT AN ISSUE THAT
BELONGS TO ANY ONE OF US, NOT HER, NOT ME.
IT BELONGS TO THE ENTIRE CITY COUNCIL.
A MAJORITY OF THIS BODY VOTED TO STUDY IT AND MOVE IT FORWARD FOR
VERY GOOD REASONS. AND THIS ENTIRE BODY MADE IT A
COUNCIL PRIORITY FOR THIS YEAR. WE HAD SEVEN RESIDENTS WHO
STEPPED UP AND SERVED ON OUR ADVISORY COMMITTEE ACROSS SIX
PUBLIC MEETINGS. WE HAD TWO PUBLIC HEARINGS EVERY
SESSION NOTICED, TELEVISED, AND OPEN.
THE BROWN ACT IN FULL DISPLAY. AND IT'S WORTH REMEMBERING THAT
FREMONT HAS BEEN HERE BEFORE. A CHARTER WAS STUDIED BACK IN
THE 90s AND SET ASIDE BY A PREVIOUS COUNCIL AND THE SHORT
STORY I HEARD WAS THE COUNCIL WAS FOR IT AND I THINK ONE
COUNCILMEMBER HAD A CHANGE IN HEART.
SO THIS IS NOT A NEW QUESTION. WHAT'S NEW IS THAT THIS COUNCIL
HAD THE DISCIPLINE TO STUDY THIS IN THE OPEN, TOGETHER, FROM
START TO FINISH. AND HERE'S A RESULT THAT NO ONE
SHOULD OVERLOOK. MORE FREMONT RESIDENTS
UNDERSTAND WHAT A CHARTER IS TODAY THAN AT MANY PREVIOUS
POINTS IN OUR HISTORY. AND THAT ALONE IS AN
ACHIEVEMENT. AND LET ME SAY WHY THIS WORK
MATTERS. A CITY SHOULD LOOK HARD AT ITS
OWN GOVERNANCE EVERY FEW YEARS. NOT OUT OF DISSATISFACTION, BUT
OUT OF DISCIPLINE. BECAUSE THE COMMUNITY'S NEEDS
CHANGE OVER THE YEARS. AND THE PUBLIC'S EXPECTATIONS OF
US ARE HIGHER TODAY THAN ANY TIME IN OUR HISTORY.
THE RESIDENTS DON'T GRADE US ON OUR STRUCTURE, THEY GRADE US ON
WHETHER WE DELIVER. AND NOTHING, NOTHING MATTERS
MORE TO ME AND TO THIS COUNCIL THAN OUR ABILITY TO GET THINGS
DONE. SO AGAIN I WANT TO THANK EACH
AND EVERY MEMBER OF OUR ADVISORY COMMITTEE THAT TOOK A VERY
DIFFICULT ASSIGNMENT, AND THEY GAVE IT REA REAL TIME AND
REAL CARE. AND I'LL BE HONEST WITH THIS
COMMUNITY ABOUT HOW THE WORK UNFOLDED.
WHEN WE LAUNCHED THIS PROCESS, THE GOAL WAS TO TAKE A LOOK AT
GOFF GOVERNANCE ITSELF, NOT ON PERIPHERAL ISSUES LIKE TERM
LIMITS OR COMPENSATION OR OTHER THINGS.
BUT ON THE BIGGEST STRUCTURAL QUESTIONS THE COMMITTEE
ENCOUNTERED GENERALLY DIFFERING VIEWPOINTS.
FOR EXAMPLE, SOME WANTED STRONG MAYOR FORM OF GOVERNMENT.
SOME WANTED HYBRID FORM OF GOVERNMENT.
AND SOME WANTED TO CONTINUE AS IS, THE COUNCIL-MANAGER FORM OF
GOVERNMENT. AND UNDERSTANDABLY, THEY MOVED
FORWARD ON THE ITEMS THAT THEY COULD FIND MOST AGREEMENT OR
UNANIMOUS SUPPORT, AND LEFT THOSE DIFFICULT ITEMS WHERE
THERE WAS MORE DISAGREEMENT. SO THE RESULT IS A SET OF
RECOMMENDATIONS THAT ARE THOUGHTFUL BUT VERY MODEST, AND
FRANKLY, I MENTIONED THAT THEY'RE WATERED DOWN, SO IT
DOESN'T ADDRESS THE MAIN CHALLENGES THAT WE'RE FACING
TODAY. SO THIS WAS SLIGHTLY DIFFERENT
THAN WHAT WE INITIALLY INTENDED TO DO.
AND AGAIN, THAT'S NOT A CRITICISM OF SEVEN VOLUNTEERS.
IT IS A RECOGNITION THAT THE DEEPEST GOVERNANCE QUESTIONS
NEED MORE TIME. AND A BROADER COMMUNITY
CONVERSATION. BECAUSE HERE'S WHAT THAT
HOMEWORK REVEALED. THIS WAS NEVER JUST A CHARTER
DISCUSSION, IT WAS A GOVERNANCE DISCUSSION.
WE ASKED A BIGGER QUESTION: HOW DOES FREMONT GOVERN BETTER, AND
HOW DO RESIDENTS HOLD US ACCOUNTABLE FOR WHAT WE DO?
AND HERE'S WHAT CAME BACK. SEVERAL OF THE REFORMS THAT
WE'VE BEEN SEEKING DO NOT REQUIRE A CHARTER.
WE CAN ADOPT THEM RIGHT NOW, BY ORDINANCE, AS A GENERAL LAW
CITY. NOW THINK ABOUT THAT FOR A
MOMENT. THESE OPTIONS HAVE BEEN
AVAILABLE TO FREMONT FOR DECADES, AND NO PREVIOUS COUNCIL
HAS MOVED ON THEM. NOT BECAUSE ANYONE WAS HIDING
THE BALL OR HAD BAD INTENTIONS, BUT BECAUSE THE QUESTION HAD
NEVER BEEN ASKED THIS DIRECTLY IN THIS MUCH DEPTH AND WITH THIS
MUCH PUBLIC SCRUTINY. AND THAT'S HOW GOVERNANCE
WORKS. ANSWERS SURFACE WHEN SOMEONE
DOES THE WORK OF ASKING. SO THIS PROCESS HAS ALREADY
DELIVERED SOMETHING REAL BEFORE A SINGLE VOTE IS TAKEN TONIGHT.
IT SURFACED REFORMS THAT WERE SITTING THERE, AVAILABLE,
UNUSED, AND PUT THEM WITHIN REACH OF THIS COUNCIL, AND THAT
IS A PROCESS WORKING EXACTLY AS IT SHOULD.
LAST MEETING I LISTENED CAREFULLY TO ALL OF MY
COLLEAGUES AND WHAT I HEARD WAS STRIKING.
NEARLY EVERY COUNCILMEMBER SUPPORTS THE IDEA OF A CHARTER,
AND NEARLY EVERY MEMBER WANTS THE SAME THING FIRST.
MORE COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT BEFORE IT GOES TO THE BALLOT.
EVERY COUNCILMEMBER WANTED MORE ENGAGEMENT, EVERY ONE OF THEM
WELCOMED IT. AND LET ME BE CLEAR ABOUT WHAT I
DID NOT HEAR. NOT ONE COUNCILMEMBER SAID NO.
NOT ONE COUNCILMEMBER SAID WE'VE HAD ENOUGH.
TOWN HALLS, WORK SESSIONS, OPEN-ENDED DIALOGUES WITH
RESIDENTS. EVERY MEMBER OF THIS BODY SAID
YES TO MORE OF IT. AND THAT'S NOT DIVISION, THAT IS
ALIGNMENT, AND TONIGHT WE SHOULD ACT ON THAT.
SO LET ME KIND OF SHARE WHERE I AM AND WHAT I HOPE THAT WE WILL
CONSIDER TONIGHT. FIRST, LET'S TAKE THE WORK
PRODUCT OF THIS PROCESS, EVERYTHING THAT WE HAVE LEARNED
THAT WE CAN LAWFULLY DO TODAY AND ADOPT IT BY ORDINANCE AS A
GENERAL LAW CITY. WHILE WE WAIT FOR THE LONGER
CHARTER CONVERSATION TO CONTINUE.
TONIGHT, WE CAN DIRECT STAFF TO RETURN WITH ORDINANCES FOR EVERY
REFORM THIS PROCESS REVEALED THAT WE CAN IMPLEMENT WITHOUT
BEING A CHARTER CITY. PRACTICAL GOVERNANCE
IMPROVEMENTS. THAT ARE LAWFUL TODAY UNDER THE
AUTHORITY THAT WE ALREADY HAVE. THE ORDINANCES COME BACK FOR
FORMAL ADOPTION IN FUTURE MEETINGS AND EACH ONE HAPPENS
WITHIN THE LAWS WE ALREADY HAVE.
THE SAME OPEN MEETINGS, THE SAME PUBLIC RECORDS, THE SAME
GUARDRAILS THAT HAVE ALWAYS APPLIED TO THESE COUNCIL
MEETINGS. SO SMALL CHANGES, REAL
DIFFERENCES, DELIVERABLES, TONIGHT WITHOUT WAITING.
SECOND, ON THE CHARTER MEASURE ITSELF.
I WOULD PROPOSE LET'S DEFER IT FOR A FUTURE ELECTION.
AND DIRECT STAFF TO DESIGN THE DEEPER COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT THIS
COUNCIL HAS ASKED FOR. PERIPHERAL QUESTIONS LIKE
SALARIES AND TERM LIMITS BELONG IN THAT CONVERSATION.
AND THEY SHOULD BE CONSIDERED BY THE COMMUNITY AS PART OF THE
CHARTER. NOT DECIDED TONIGHT.
A CHARTER IS OUR CITY'S CONSTITUTION.
IT SHOULD REACH THE BALLOT WHEN RESIDENTS FULLY OWN IT.
AND WHEN IT'S READY TO SUCCEED. NOT BEFORE IT'S READY.
AND NOT A DOLLAR SPENT PUTTING TO VOTERS UNTIL THAT DAY COMES.
SO LET ME BE PLAIN ABOUT WHAT I HOPE WE ADOPT TONIGHT.
I'D LIKE TO SEE A MOTION IN TWO PARTS, FIRST, THAT THIS COUNCIL
DEFER CONSIDERATION OF A CITY CHARTER TO A FUTURE ELECTION,
AND CONTINUE THE COMMUNITY DIALOGUE.
AND SECOND, THAT WE DIRECT STAFF TO RETURN AT A FUTURE REGULAR
MEETING WITH THE ORDINANCES AND ADMINISTRATIVE ACTIONS NECESSARY
TO IMPLEMENT UNDER THE CITY'S EXISTING GENERAL LAW AUTHORITY.
THE REFORMS THAT WERE OUTLINED IN THE STAFF REPORTS THAT DO NOT
REQUIRE A CHARTER. SO AGAIN, TWO PARTS, DEFER THE
CHARTER AND DELIVER THE REFORMS.
SO TONIGHT LET'S DO THINGS THAT WE CAN DELIVER TODAY, WHAT WE
CAN BANK ON. LET'S KEEP BUILDING TOWARD THE
CHARTER AT THE PACE THAT OUR COMMUNITY WANTS AND DESERVES.
EVERYTHING THAT WE ADOPT TONIGHT, WE ADOPT FOR THE
RESIDENTS WHO SENT US HERE, AND THIS ALL BEGAN WITH A GOOD
QUESTION ASKED BY THE COUNCIL, IT RAN IN FULL PUBLIC VIEW AND
IT WILL END TONIGHT WITH REAL RESULTS FOR OUR RESIDENTS.
AND NOW I WANT TO HEAR FROM MY COLLEAGUES SO THAT THEY CAN
WEIGH IN AND THEN WE WILL OPEN IT UP FOR PUBLIC TESTIMONY.
YES. >> Ms. Lewis: COUNCILMEMBER
ZHANG HAS HER HAND RAISED. >> Mayor Salwan: YES, I'LL
TURN IT OVER TO COUNCILMEMBER ZHANG.
>> Councilmember Zhang: THANK YOU, MAYOR.
AND HELLO, EVERYONE FROM CHINA, MY HOMETOWN, I'M VISITING MY
ELDERLY MOTHER, AND SAY HELLO. AND I AGREE.
SO WHEN I STARTED THE CHARTER, MY INTENTION IS HAVING A
PERFORMANCE CHARTER, HAVE A PERFORMANCE FREMONT, AND NOT A
CITY COUNCILMEMBER BENEFIT CHARTER, ABSOLUTELY NOT.
AND I THANK THE STAFF AND THE COMMITTEE MEMBERS DURING THE
SHORT TIME, AND WE HAVE ACCOMPLISHED A LOT, AND WE HAVE
DISCOVERED PROBLEMS, AND I THINK THAT WHAT NEEDS TO
BE DONE IS FOCUS MORE GOING FORWARD IN OPERATIONAL
IMPROVEMENT, SO THAT THE COMMITTEE, THE CITY OF FREMONT
PEOPLE CAN CLEARLY SEE THE BENEFIT OF BEING A CHARTER AND
WHAT THE FUTURE CAN ADDRESS, THE BENEFITS, THE IMPROVEMENT
CLEARLY, WHICH IS CLEARLY TRANSPARENTLY AND PEOPLE WHEN
THEY SEE THAT, THEY WOULD UNDERSTAND, AND NOW THAT BECAUSE
IN A PREVIOUS MEETING I HAVE MENTIONED ABOUT MODERN
PROCUREMENT, AND GOVERNMENT TRANSPARENCY, AND AUDITING, AND
THOSE ARE VERY IMPORTANT FEATURES WHICH BELONG TO CHARTER
ALONE, AND THOSE GOING FORWARD, WHEN WE STUDY FURTHER, SHOULD BE
FOCUSED AND BE IMPLEMENTED IN THE OPERATIONAL IMPROVEMENT
SECTION, WHICH I THINK IS LARGELY MISSING IN THIS CURRENT
ONE. BUT I THINK THAT THERE'S NO
POINTING FINGERS, I THINK WE DECIDED TO MOVE FORWARD BECAUSE
WE WANT TO GET SOMETHING DONE, AND WE DID.
AND I FEEL ACTUALLY PROUD OF ALL THE THINGS WE HAVE ACHIEVED
TOGETHER. SO WE HAD OUR WORK PRODUCT AND
LET'S MOVE FORWARD, I AGREE WITH RAJ SALWAN.
>> Mayor Salwan: COUNCILMEMBER SHAO.
>> Councilmember Shao: THANK YOU, MAYOR.
I ECHO WHAT MAYOR JUST SAID, AND ALSO HEARD A MOTION AND I DON'T
KNOW IF IT'S APPROPRIATE FOR ME TO SECOND IT, BUT EVEN IF THE
MAYOR IS NOT LOOKING FOR A SECOND TO THE MOTION, I JUST
WANT TO AGREE WITH WHAT THE MAYOR JUST SAID.
AND IF IT'S COUNTED AS A SECOND, THEN I'LL BE GLAD TO SECOND IT.
BUT I WANT TO SHARE WITH YOU THAT I'M SITTING HERE TODAY WITH
A HEART FULL OF GRATITUDE. WHY?
BECAUSE AT THE END OF MY EIGHT-YEAR TENURE AS A CITY
COUNCILMEMBER, THIS IS THE FIRST TIME I EVER WAS EXPOSED TO THIS
TOPIC. I HEARD THAT THERE WERE TWO
TIMES IN THE HISTORY OF OUR GREAT CITY WHERE THE CITY
COUNCIL WAS EXPLORING THE POSSIBILITY OF CONVERTING INTO A
CHARTER CITY, BUT IN BOTH THOSE TIMES IT DIDN'T SUCCEED, AND I
ALSO FEEL GRATEFUL THAT FINALLY THIS COUNCIL WAS OUT OF
SELF-DISCIPLINE LOOKING AT THE POSSIBILITY OF MAKING OUR CITY
GOVERNMENT MORE EFFICIENT AND PROVIDING BETTER SERVICE TO YOU,
SO IT WAS ACTUALLY QUITE EXCITING FOR ME TO SEE HOW FAR
THIS EFFORT COULD GO. BUT AS OF NOW, I'M STILL FILLED
WITH GRATITUDE, WHY? BECAUSE THROUGHOUT THE WHOLE
PROCESS, I WITNESSED THE FULL SUPPORT OF THE COMMUNITY.
SUPPORT DOESN'T MEAN THAT YOU AGREE WITH WHAT THE COUNCIL HAS
PROPOSED OR DRAFTED, RATHER, YOUR PRESENCE TODAY, YOUR
ENGAGEMENT SHOWS THE SUPPORT BECAUSE SINCE LAST MEETING, I
HAVEN'T HEARD ANYONE WHO OPENLY OPPOSED THE CONVERSION.
RATHER WE'RE ALL WORKING IN THE SAME DIRECTION, THE ONLY
DIFFERENCE IS AS OF -- YOU KNOW, IS THE TIMING.
SO TODAY, I'M SURE LATER ON, WHEN YOU COME AND SPEAK, AND YOU
WILL, ONCE AGAIN, POINT OUT THE ISSUE OF PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT AND
ALSO THE TIMING OF THIS EFFORT, WHICH I FULLY UNDERSTAND.
I'M ALSO VERY GRATEFUL THAT AS THE MAYOR PUT IT WE HAVE ALREADY
FOUND OUT A LOT OF OPPORTUNITIES WHERE, WITHOUT CONVERTING INTO
THE CHARTER CITY, WE CAN RESORT TO ALTERNATIVE WAYS TO MAKE THIS
GOVERNMENT MORE EFFICIENT. I WAS ALWAYS CHALLENGED WITH THE
QUESTION, WHAT IS SOMETHING THAT FREMONT CANNOT DO BUT A CHARTER
CITY CAN DO? THANKS TO OUR CITY MANAGER, I
FOUND OUT, FOR EXAMPLE, FOR STARTERS, A LOT OF RESTAURANT
OWNERS AND ALSO REPRESENTATIVES OF THE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE HAVE
COME TO OUR CITY COUNCIL MEETING COMPLAINING ABOUT THE RAMPANT
ILLEGAL FOOD STANDS THAT NOT ONLY WOULD BE CONSIDERED A
HEALTH HAZARD, FOOD SAFETY HAZARD, BUT ALSO WOULD
COMPROMISE THE BEST INTERESTS OF THOSE LEGAL BUSINESSES IN
FREMONT. BUT WITHOUT BEING A CHARTER CITY
RIGHT NOW, UNFORTUNATELY ACCORDING TO THE CURRENT STATE
LAW, THERE'S NOT MUCH THE CITY CAN DO ABOUT IT.
THE POLICE CANNOT JUST GET RID OF THOSE, I MEAN, THAT'S AFTER
SOME LEGAL STUDIES. THAT IS WHERE THE LIMIT IS.
BELIEVE IT OR NOT. SO JUST KEEP THAT IN MIND.
WE MAY FACE FURTHER CHALLENGES, AND THAT MAKES EVERYTHING THAT
WE HAVE DONE SO FAR ON THIS TOPIC WORTHWHILE.
I HOPE TO SEE THIS EFFORT ONGOING DIALOGUE ONGOING AND
ENGAGEMENT ONGOING SO THAT WE ARE WORKING AS A TEAM, MAKING
JOINT EFFORTS TOWARDS THE SAME GOAL WHICH IS SIMPLY TO TURN THE
CITY GOVERNMENT, A BETTER ONE, TO SERVE THE RESIDENTS.
AND AND WITH THAT, I DON'T KNOW WHETHER IT'S TOO EARLY TO
SECOND -- >> Mayor Salwan: WE STILL HAVE
TO HEAR FROM THE PUBLIC, SO COMMENTS ARE GOOD, THEN WE'LL
HEAR FROM THE PUBLIC AND THEN WE'LL BRING IT BACK.
>> Councilmember Shao: CERTAINLY.
THANK YOU. >> Mayor Salwan: COUNCILMEMBER
LIU. AND THEN COUNCILMEMBER CAMPBELL
AFTER THAT. >> Vice Mayor Liu: THANK YOU,
MAYOR. FIRST I WANT TO GIVE MY OPINION
ON THIS. I ALSO BELIEVE IT WOULD BE BEST
AND PRUDENT TO TABLE THIS ITEM AT THIS TIME.
MY REASONING DRAWS MAINLY -- IS PRETTY MUCH THE SAME REASONING
AS WE USED LAST WEEK FOR THE POTENTIAL HALF CENT SALES TAX
MEASURE. I THINK IN BOTH CASES, FREMONT
IS FACING REAL BUDGETARY CONSTRAINTS AND I THINK WE
SHOULD HAVE RESPONSIBILITY TO CAREFULLY PRIORITIZE WHERE WE
DEVOTE OUR RESOURCES. BUT I ALSO AGREE WITH THE FACT
THAT HAS BEEN MENTIONED BY OTHER PEOPLE BEFORE, THAT THERE WERE
MANY SUGGESTIONS AND IDEAS THAT WERE BROUGHT UP THROUGHOUT THIS
WHOLE PROCESS THAT COULD BE IMPLEMENTED IMMEDIATELY, AND I
WOULD HOPE OUR STAFF WOULD ALSO BEGIN EVALUATING AND PURSUING
THOSE OPPORTUNITIES IMMEDIATELY RATHER THAN WAITING FOR THE NEXT
TIME WE BRING UP THE WHOLE IDEA OF HAVING A CITY CHARTER OR
NOT. BECAUSE TO ME, THAT REALLY SEEMS
LIKE THE MOST PRACTICAL PATH FORWARD.
IF THERE'S ANY IMPROVEMENTS WE CAN MAKE TODAY, RIGHT NOW,
WITHOUT INCURRING THE COSTS OR COMPLEXITIES OF HAVING A WHOLE
CITY CHARTER PROCESS, OF HAVING A WHOLE BALLOT ELECTION, THEN TO
ME IT'S A NO-BRAINER THAT WE SHOULD IMPLEMENT THEM
IMMEDIATELY. AND LASTLY, I ALSO WANT TO ECHO
THE THOUGHTS ABOUT HOW I'M SO GLADDENED TO SEE THAT WE HAVE A
FULL HOUSE TODAY, AND I REALLY HOPE WE CAN SEE THIS IN OUR
FUTURE MEETINGS AS WELL. THERE ARE TOO MANY TIMES WHEN WE
HOLD A PUBLIC HEARING AND THERE'S NOBODY WHO COMES UP AND
SAYS ANYTHING OR GIVE THEIR OPINIONS AT ALL, AND TODAY,
HAVING A FULL HOUSE, THIS IS WHAT I WANT TO SEE, AND I REALLY
WANT TO SEE THAT IN THE FUTURE, ESPECIALLY GIVEN HOW WE CAN
PARTICIPATE REMOTELY THROUGH ZOOM USING TECHNOLOGY AND
EVERYTHING LIKE THAT. THOSE ARE MY THOUGHTS.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH. >> Mayor Salwan: THANK YOU.
COUNCILMEMBER CAMPBELL. >> Councilmember Campbell:
THANK YOU, MAYOR. IT IS NICE TO SEE SO MANY PEOPLE
OUT THIS EVENING. TO SUPPORT THIS CHARTER.
I THINK THAT'S ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE INITIALLY WANTED TO DO
FROM THE BEGINNING, WAS TO HAVE MORE COMMUNITY DIALOGUE, TO HAVE
MORE COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT, AND I'VE BEEN A STRONG PROPONENT OF
THAT SINCE WE STARTED THIS BACK IN FEBRUARY.
THAT WE HAVE A MORE ROBUST OPPORTUNITY FOR THE PUBLIC TO BE
ABLE TO WEIGH IN ON THE WORK PLAN.
WHAT IS IT THAT WE'RE TRYING TO ACCOMPLISH?
I KNOW I'VE BEEN SAYING THAT ALL THE TIME, WHAT IS THE PROBLEM
THAT WE'RE TRYING TO VO SOLVE, AND HOW DO WE GET THE
COMMUNITY INVOLVED IN HELPING US SOLVE THESE PROBLEMS.
BUT AS EVERYONE HAS ALREADY SAID, AND I DON'T WANT TO REPEAT
MYSELF, WE DID DISCOVER QUITE A BIT OF THINGS THAT WE COULD DO
AS A GENERAL LAW CITY. WE DON'T HAVE TO GO TO A CHARTER
TO BE ABLE TO DO THAT. SO THERE IS SOME GOOD THAT CAME
OUT OF THIS PROCESS. I'D LIKE TO SEE THE CONVERSATION
CONTINUE. I'D LIKE TO SEE US BE MORE
ENGAGED WITH THE PUBLIC AROUND WHAT THEY WOULD LIKE TO SEE FOR
THEIR CITY. AND HOW WE MIGHT BE A VESSEL TO
IMPLEMENT THOSE CHANGES THAT THE CITIZENS WANT US TO HAVE.
I'M EQUALLY CONCERNED ABOUT THE EXPENSE OF PUTTING A BALLOT
MEASURE ON THE NOVEMBER ELECTION, AND OF COURSE IT WIN.
IF WE DO IT, WE WANT TO WIN, WE DON'T WANT TO PUT SOMETHING
BEFORE THE VOTERS THAT WILL NOT WIN, AND WITH A 24% APPROVAL
RATE, IT DOESN'T LOOK PROMISING FOR US TO BE ABLE TO DO THAT.
AND I ALSO ECHO WHAT THE MAYOR SAID THAT WE WOULD DEFER THIS
PARTICULAR ITEM FOR MORE PUBLIC DIALOGUE AND ENGAGEMENT.
I'D LIKE TO WORK WITH THE CITY AS WELL TO SEE WHAT ORDINANCES
AND ADMINISTRATIVE REGULATIONS THAT WE CAN IMMEDIATELY
IMPLEMENT, AND I'D LIKE TO HOPEFULLY HEAR FROM THE
COMMUNITY AS WELL, AS WE LOOK AT THESE ORDINANCES AND
ADMINISTRATIVE REGULATIONS, GET YOUR INPUT INTO WHAT THAT MIGHT
LOOK LIKE AND WHETHER THAT'S SOMETHING THAT THE CITIZENS OF
FREMONT ARE EQUALLY FEEL IMPORTANT FOR THIS GOVERNING
BODY. SO MAYOR, I KNOW THAT YOU DIDN'T
REALLY WANT A -- MAKE A MOTION RIGHT NOW, SO I WILL DEFER
THAT -- >> Mayor Salwan: I THINK IT'S
GREAT THAT EVERYBODY IS SHARING THEIR FEEDBACK, BUT MAYBE WAIT
FROM THE PUBLIC, MAYBE THERE'S SOMETHING NEW THAT COMES OUT AND
THEN WE CAN DECIDE COLLECTIVELY WHICH WAY TO GO IF THAT'S OKAY.
>> Councilmember Campbell: OKAY, THANK YOU.
>> Mayor Salwan: THANK YOU. COUNCILMEMBER KIMBERLIN.
>> Councilmember Kimberlin: THANK YOU, MAYOR.
SO THANK YOU ALL FOR BEING HERE TONIGHT AND I'M NOT GOING TO
PONTIFICATE ON EVERYTHING THAT YOU'VE ALREADY HEARD.
LY MENTION A COUPLE THINGS. I THINK YOUR BEING HERE IS VERY
IMPORTANT. I THINK YOU'VE BEEN VERY
RESPECTFUL, AND VERY ALIGNED IN WHAT YOU SEE AS A COMMUNITY, AND
TO ME, THIS IS MY SURVEY RIGHT HERE.
I'VE BEEN LISTENING TO THE EMAILS, LISTENING TO YOU, SEEING
YOU COME TO THESE MEETINGS AND SPEAK, AND TRULY APPRECIATE IT.
I MUST SAY THE TEAM WORK UP HERE, I'M REALLY PROUD OF IT.
IT'S BEEN REALLY GOOD. HE WITH ALL THO WE
ALL THOUGHT WE SHOULD DO THE HOMEWORK BUT WHERE WE KIND OF
SEPARATED WAS WITH THE TIMELINE.
THE TEAM WORK WAS STRONG UP HERE BUT WE NEED MORE TIME AND IT
LOOKS LIKE WE'RE GOING TO HAVE MORE TIME.
SO WITH THAT, I WANTED TO SAY WHY DO WE NEED MORE TIME IS WE
DIDN'T REALLY GET THE OPPORTUNITY TO MEET WITH THE
ADVISORY COMMITTEE UP FRONT. THEY REALLY DIDN'T UNDERSTAND
WHAT THEIR FULL SCOPE WAS TO BE.
WE SHOULD HAVE HAD THAT TIME TO MEET WITH THEM, WORK WITH THEM,
WE ALSO SHOULD HAVE HAD TIME IN MY OPINION TO MEET WITH ALL OF
YOU IN LIKE A STUDY SESSION. AND I KNOW THAT IN THE PAST,
THERE HAVE BEEN MEETINGS THAT HAD BEEN VERY VOLATILE AND VERY
HOT AND PASSIONATE AND VERY UPSETTING.
I DON'T THINK THIS WOULD BE ONE OF THEM AND I'M NOT AFRAID FOR
US TO HAVE STUDY SESSIONS AND MEET WITH EVERYONE WHO WILL HAVE
IDEAS THAT I MIGHT NOT HAVE OR MY COLLEAGUES MAY NOT HAVE.
SO WE'RE GOING TO PUSH FOR THAT, AND THEN ALSO WANT YOU TO KNOW
THAT I'M GOING TO WORK VERY CLOSELY WITH MY TEAM AND THE
CITY MANAGER'S OFFICE TO IMPLEMENT THE CHANGES.
THIS IS THE REASON A LOT OF THIS CAME UP IS WE FELT WE NEEDED
SOME CHANGES. WE NEEDED TO BE SURE THAT WE
WERE NOT RUBBER STAMPS, THAT WE CAN REPRESENT AS PEOPLE THINK
WE'RE REPRESENTING AND HAVE A LITTLE BIT MORE KNOWLEDGE AND A
LITTLE BIT MORE INFORMING. THAT'S REALLY WHAT KIND OF
STARTED THIS WHOLE THING. SO IF WE CAN WORK CLOSELY WITH
OUR CITY MANAGER'S OFFICE AND IMPLEMENT SOME OF THE CHANGES
THAT HAVE SURFACED AND THEY KNOW WE WANT AND WE KNOW WE WANT, SO
THAT WE CAN SERVE YOU BETTER AND THEN WORK ON A CHARTER PLAN
LATER, THAT WILL BENEFIT EVERYONE, NOT LOOK LIKE IT'S
JUST BENEFITING US, BECAUSE I DON'T THINK ANY OF US WERE
COMFORTABLE WITH THAT, THAT KIND OF CHANGE.
AND I THINK THAT'S IT. I'M ON THE SAME PAGE WITH
EVERYONE HERE TONIGHT AS WELL. AND HAVE BEEN FOR A WHILE SAYING
PAUSE, PLEASE PAUSE, PLEASE PAUSE, LET'S WORK SOME MORE.
SO THANK YOU. >> Mayor Salwan: COUNCILMEMBER
KENG. >> Councilmember Keng: THANK
YOU, MAYOR AND THANK YOU EVERY ONE FOR BEING HERE AGAIN.
I THINK WE HAVE ACTUALLY HEARD A LOT OF YOU GUYS ALREADY ON HOW
THIS PROCESS WAS RUSHED AND NOT RECEIVING OR ENGAGING THE
PUBLIC'S OPINION OR EDUCATING EVERYONE ON WHY, THE REASONS WHY
WE NEED CHARTER CITY, AND I THINK EVEN SOME OF US, YOU KNOW,
DIDN'T REALLY FULLY UNDERSTAND BECAUSE THIS IS A VERY BIG
TOPIC, AND WHY WE NEED TO MAKE SURE WE CAN CONVINCE THE
CITIZENS WHY WE'RE CHANGING IF WE ARE, WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS TO
THE COMMUNITY, NOT JUST BENEFITS TO THE CITY COUNCILMEMBERS.
AND I THINK ACTUALLY AFTER SOME STUDIES MYSELF, I THINK ONE OF
THE AREAS WE REALLY NEED TO -- IF WE ARE TO LOOK AT IT AGAIN AT
A CLOSER LOOK WITH A LONGER ENGAGEMENT PROCESS WITH THE
COMMUNITY, ONE OF THE THINGS WE REALLY SHOULD LOOK AT IS A
MODERN PROCUREMENT CONTRACTING PROCESS, MODERNIZE OUR PUBLIC
CONTRACTING PROCESS BECAUSE SOME OF THE LEGALLY -- THERE'S A LOT
OF THINGS THAT WE CANNOT DO UNDER THE CALIFORNIA LAWS, BUT
SOME OF THESE CHANGING -- SOME OF THE PROCUREMENT METHODS THAT
WILL SAVE COSTS AND ALSO SPEED UP THE PROCESS AND MAKE IT MORE
CLEAR, MORE A TRANSPARENT PROCESS.
AND THINGS LIKE THIS THAT WILL REALLY BRING BENEFITS TO THE
CITIZENS AND I THINK SOME OF -- WHEN WE DO MAKE ANOTHER GO AT
THIS PROCESS, I DO THINK THAT WE NEED A THIRD PARTY FACILITATOR
THAT HAS EXPERIENCE WITH CHARTER CITY THAT CAN KIND OF GUIDE THE
COMMUNITY THROUGH THE PROCESS AND WHAT ARE THE SPECIFIC THINGS
THAT FREMONT CAN LOOK AT TO MAKE OUR CITY A BETTER CITY TO SERVE
OUR CITIZENS. THANK YOU.
>> Ms. Lewis: COUNCILMEMBER ZHANG HAS HER HAND RAISED.
>> Mayor Salwan: COUNCILMEMBER ZHANG.
>> Councilmember Zhang: SO I JUST WANT TO -- SO THEN AFTER
THIS DISCUSSION, WE WILL HAVE PUBLIC COMMENT, AND THEN WE WILL
MAKE A MOTION. AND THEN I'LL COME BACK LATER.
BUT I DO WANT TO -- YES, THANK YOU.
>> Mayor Salwan: SORRY, GO AHEAD.
>> Councilmember Zhang: I DO WANT TO ADD BECAUSE I KEEP ON
HEARING FROM COUNCILMEMBER CAMPBELL LIKE WHAT PROBLEM ARE
WE TRYING TO SOLVE. I WANT TO TELL THE PUBLIC, WE
WANT TO SOLVE PERFORMANCE, WE WANT TO FOLLOW -- WE WANT TO --
HAVING A MODERN STRUCTURE, WHICH CAN CATER TO OUR GROWING
POPULATION, WHICH IS AS I MENTIONED PROCUREMENT.
BECAUSE WHEN WE CHANGED THE PROCUREMENT PROCEDURE, WHICH CAN
ONLY BE ADOPTED WITHIN THE CHARTER, AND THEN WE CAN DELIVER
THE RENOVATION, THE WORK, AND SAVE MONEY, AND YOU KNOW, WITH
THE PARKS AND RECREATION, WE CAN GET IT DONE MUCH FASTER AND SAVE
MONEY AND THAT'S ONE OF THE IMPORTANT FEATURES, AND ALSO
PUBLIC TRANSPARENCY, AND WE HAVE AN INDEPENDENT AUDITOR WHICH
AUDIT THE CITY'S DIFFERENT DEPARTMENT, SO WE WILL NOT HAVE
SOME CORRUPTED CITY MANAGER IN THE PAST.
AND SOMETIME I WANT TO TELL THE PUBLIC --
>> Mayor Salwan: EXCUSE ME, PLEASE LET THE COUNCILMEMBER
FINISH. >> Councilmember Zhang: OKAY.
SO WE DON'T KNOW WHAT WE DON'T KNOW.
BUT CHARTER IS A VERY POWERFUL VEHICLE.
IT'S A PRODUCT. AND WE NEED TO CAREFULLY DECIDE
WHAT FEATURE WE NEED TO PUT INTO THIS VEHICLE, THESE TOOLS SO
THAT IT WILL TRULY BENEFIT FREMONT.
OKAY. I'M DONE.
>> Mayor Salwan: THANK YOU. I JUST WANT TO TOSS IT OVER TO
THE ATTORNEY, MR. ALVARADO. A FEW COUNCILMEMBERS MENTIONED
ABOUT A MOTION, I THINK IT'S A LITTLE EARLY, WOULD YOU AGREE
WITH THAT ASSESSMENT? >> Cty. Attny. Alvarado: YES,
I THINK, MAYOR, YOUR RESPONSE TO THAT IREY WAS THE BEST
APPROACH. >> Mayor Salwan: THANK YOU.
SO WE DEFINITELY WANT TO HEAR FROM THE PUBLIC.
I'LL ASK ONE MORE PROCEDURAL QUESTION TO MR. ALVARADO.
THERE WAS A MENTION ABOUT THE TIME.
COULD YOU HIGHLIGHT WHAT MY AUTHORITY IS IN THIS REGARD?
>> Cty. Attny. Alvarado: THE CHAIR MAY SET REASONABLE
REGULATIONS REGARDING PROCEDURAL MATTERS, INCLUDING TIME LIMITS,
SO LONG AS EACH SPEAKER IS AFFORDED THE SAME OPPORTUNITY
TIME WISE, THAT SATISFIES APPLICABLE LEGAL REQUIREMENTS.
>> Mayor Salwan: OKAY, THANK YOU.
ANY -- HOW MANY SPEAKERS DO WE HAVE?
>> Ms. Lewis: WE HAVE ONE VIA ZOOM AND 33 IN PERSON.
>> Mayor Salwan: OKAY. OKAY.
LET'S HEAR FROM THE ZOOM SPEAKER FIRST SINCE I KNOW HE WAS THERE,
AND THEN WE'LL GO TO THE PUBLIC.
SO I'LL DO THE SAME AS LAST TIME, 1 MINUTE 30 SECONDS.
AND ONE WELCOME CHANGE YOU SEE THERE'S NO WALL, WE'VE TAKEN
DOWN THE WALLS, SO HOPEFULLY YOU GUYS APPRECIATE THAT.
EMERGING FROM THE POST COVID ERA.
WE USED TO HAVE A LITTLE PARTITION HERE TOO SO WE'D HAVE
TO LOOK THROUGH THE GLASS. SO IT'S NICE TO SEE THAT
CHANGE. SO I'LL TURN IT OVER TO
ASSISTANT CITY CLERK TO CALL THE SPEAKERS.
>> Ms. Lewis: WE NOW HAVE THREE ONLINE SPEAKERS.
THE FIRST IS BEN. >> I REALIZED I WAS ON MUTE.
CAN YOU HEAR ME NOW? HELLO?
>> Mayor Salwan: YES, WE CAN HEAR YOU.
PLEASE GO AHEAD. >> YES.
SO WHAT I WANTED TO SAY WAS THAT WHEN IT CAME TO THE TOPIC OF
VOTING ON A CITY CHARTER, AS A CITIZEN, I'D REALLY VALUE LIVING
IN A CITY WHERE I FEEL LIKE MY LOCAL GOVERNMENT HAS MORE AGENCY
TO JUST WORK WITHIN THINGS TO CHANGE THINGS FOR THE BETTER
BECAUSE I FEEL LIKE IN THE ABSENCE OF THAT, THE REALITY
WE'D HAVE IS WE'D BE LIVING IN A CITY WHERE IT WOULD BE MOSTLY
SUBJECT TO STATE LAWS WHERE IT DOESN'T REALLY ACCOUNT FOR THE
DIFFERENCES COMPARED TO ANY OTHER CITY, AND I FEEL LIKE YOU
ALL OBVIOUSLY SEEM TO CARE ABOUT LISTENING TO YOUR CITIZENS AND
ADDRESSING THEIR CONCERNS, AND JUST THE GREATER FLEXIBILITY
THAT WE'D HAVE UNDER A CITY CHARTER, I FEEL LIKE THAT WOULD
MEAN A LOT TO ME AS A CITIZEN KNOWING THAT OUR GOVERNMENTAL
OFFICIALS ARE EMPOWERED TO REALLY NOT JUST LISTEN TO US BUT
DO EVERYTHING WITHIN REASON TO TAKE THAT FEEDBACK INTO
CONSIDERATION, AND JUST CONTINUE ALLOWING FREMONT TO BE A PLACE
THAT GROWS FOR THE BETTER AND CONTINUES TO BE THAT GREAT
ENVIRONMENT WHERE THERE'S CLEARLY A SENSE OF COLLABORATION
AND COMMUNITY BETWEEN CITIZENS, BETWEEN THE POLICYMAKERS AND
THOSE THAT HAVE THE ABILITY TO MAKE CHANGE HAPPEN.
AND YEAH, THAT'S ABOUT ALL I HAVE TO SAY, BUT THANK YOU FOR
THE TIME AND THE OPPORTUNITY TO VOICE MY OPINION ON THE MATTER.
>> Mayor Salwan: THANK YOU. >> Ms. Lewis: NEXT SPEAKER IS
RIO COLLETT. >> I JUST WANTED TO START OFF BY
SAYING THANK YOU FOR INTRODUCING ZOOM SPEAKING.
IT MAKES IT A LOT EASIER TO ATTEND MEETINGS WITH A BUSY
SCHEDULE. SO JUST WANT TO SAY THAT.
BUT I'M CALLING TODAY TO VOICE MY SUPPORT FOR THE CITY
CHARTER. I DO BELIEVE THAT THE PEOPLE
THAT WE VOTE FOR AS CITIZENS OF FREMONT SHOULD BE THE ONES WITH
THE POWER. AND IF POSSIBLE, I WOULD LIKE
THOSE PEOPLE TO DO IT FULL TIME AND NOT HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT
OTHER JOBS AND CAREERS BECAUSE I WANT THEM TO FOCUS ON THE CITY
AS THEY WERE ELECTED TO DO SO. I WANT THE PEOPLE THAT I VOTE
FOR TO HAVE THE POWER SO THAT WE KNOW WHO TO HOLD ACCOUNTABLE IF
THINGS DO NOT GO OUR WAY. AND WHO TO PRAISE AND WHO TO
WRITE LETTERS TO, BECAUSE THEY'RE ACTUALLY GOING TO MAKE A
DIFFERENCE IN OUR CITY. THANK YOU, THAT'S ALL.
>> Mayor Salwan: THANK YOU. >> Ms. Lewis: NEXT SPEAKER IS
JUSTIN WON. >> Mayor Salwan: WASN'T THERE
AN ERIK EARLIER THAT WE -- HE WAS SPEAKING UNDER ORAL
COMMUNICATION? IS HE STILL ON?
OH, CAMERON, SORRY, YES. OH, HAND'S NOT RAISED, OKAY.
I KNOW HE WANTED TO SPEAK AT THAT TIME EARLIER.
>> Ms. Lewis: NOW THE NEXT SPEAKER IS JUSTIN WON.
>> HI, HELLO. AS SOMEONE WHO GRADUATED FROM
FOREST PARK ELEMENTARY, THORNTON MIDDLE SCHOOL AND IRVINGTON HIGH
SCHOOL, I'VE SEEN FIRSTHAND HOW MUCH OUR CITY HAS GROWN AND
EVOLVED OVER THE YEARS. FREMONT IS NO LONGER JUST A
COLLECTION OF NEIGHBORHOODS. IT'S A DIVERSE AND THRIVING
COMMUNITY WITH UNIQUE NEEDS, OPPORTUNITIES AND CHALLENGES.
THAT'S ONE OF THE REASONS I SUPPORT EXPLORING A CITY
CHARTER. CHARTER GIVES LOCAL RESIDENTS A
GREATER VOICE IN DETERMINING HOW THEIR CITY IS GOVERNED AND
RATHER THAN RELYING ENTIRELY ON RULES WRITTEN IN SACRAMENTO FOR
HUNDREDS OF DIFFERENT CITIES, A CHARTER ALLOWS FREMONT
-- THAT REFLECTS PRIORITIES AND VALUES OF OUR OWN COMMUNITY, IT
GIVES RESIDENTS AN OPPORTUNITY TO LEARN MORE ABOUT HOW LOCAL
GOVERNMENTS WORK, PARTICIPATE IN PUBLIC DISCUSSIONS AND
ULTIMATELY DECIDE FOR THEMSELVES WHAT KIND OF CITY THEY WANT
FREMONT TO BECOME. AND AS A GRADUATE OF FREMONT'S
PUBLIC SCHOOLS, I WAS TAUGHT THE IMPORTANCE OF CIVIC
PARTICIPATION AND LOCAL INVOLVEMENT.
THE CHARTER PROCESS EMBODIES THESE VALUES BY PUTTING
IMPORTANT DECISIONS DIRECTLY BEFORE THE VOTERS.
SO THIS IS WHY I SUPPORT THE CHARTER -- THE CHARTER
INITIATIVE AND JUST THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND THANK YOU FOR
LISTENING. >> Ms. Lewis: ZOOM SPEAKER,
THE NEXT SET OF SPEAKERS ARE IN PERSON.
>> MS. GAUTHIER: CAMERON LEE HAS HIS HAND RAISED.
>> Ms. Lewis: CAMERON LEE. >> HELLO, CAN EVERYONE HEAR ME?
>> YES. >> I ALSO WANTED TO SPEAK
TONIGHT IN SUPPORT OF FREMONT BECOMING A CHARTER CITY AND I
JUST WANTED TO SAY AT ITS CORE, CITY CHARTER IS ABOUT LOCAL
CONTROL AND I FEEL LIKE FREMONT IS NO LONGER A SMALL CITY, WE
ARE, IN FACT, ONE OF THE LARGEST CITIES IN THE BAY AREA WITH OUR
OWN UNIQUE CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES.
AND THAT CAN DIFFER FROM THOSE FACED BY OTHER COMMUNITIES
ACROSS CALIFORNIA. A CHARTER ALLOWS LOCAL RESIDENTS
TO HAVE GREATER FLEXIBILITY JUST IN DECIDING HOW MUNICIPAL
AFFAIRS SHOULD BE GOVERNED. AND ALSO TO THE POINT MANY OF
CALIFORNIA'S MOST SUCCESSFUL CITIES WHICH INCLUDE SAN JOSÉ,
SUNNYVALE, SACRAMENTO, SANTA CLARA, THEY OPERATE AS CHARTER
CITIES SO, IN FACT, WHILE CHARTER CITIES MAKE UP A
MINORITY OF CALIFORNIA CITIES, THEY REPRESENT A MAJORITY OF THE
STATE'S POPULATION. THEY CHOSE THESE CHARTER
STATUSES BECAUSE IT ALLOWS THEM TO T AI, LOR CERTAIN POLICIES TO
MEET LOCAL NEEDS RATHER THAN STATE LAWS. SO WITH THAT IN
MIND, COLLAR TER IS NOT A BLANK CHECK, ANY CHARTER MUST
ULTIMATELY BE APPROVED BY VOTERS AND ANY FUTURE AMENDMENTS WOULD
REQUIRE VOTER APPROVAL SO RESIDENTS REMAIN CONTROL IN THE
PROCESS. SO THAT'S WHY I BELIEVE A CITY
CHARTER CAN PROVIDE ADDITIONAL TOOLS AND FLEXIBILITY TO HELP
OUR CITY JUST RESPOND TO FUTURE CHALLENGES WHILE REMAINING
ACCOUNTABLE TO THE PEOPLE WE SERVE.
SO THAT'S WHY I WANTED TO VOICE MY SUPPORT FOR THIS INITIATIVE
AND I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.
>> Mayor Salwan: COULD WE TURN UP THE VOLUME A LITTLE BIT?
OH, THAT'S IN THE BACK? OKAY.
THEY CAN HEAR US? OKAY.
T.J., CAN YOU UNMUTE? YOU'RE READY.
>> GOOD EVENING, EVERYONE. MAYOR AND CITY COUNCILMEMBERS
AND CITY STAFF. MY NAME IS T.J. DHAMI, AND I'M A
FREMONT RESIDENT. I SUPPORT A COLLAR
CHARTER CITY BECAUSE I BELIEVE THE FREMONT SHOULD BE MADE BY
THE PEOPLE WHO LIVE HERE, NOT ALWAYS BY SACRAMENTO.
A CHARTER DOES NOT CHANGE WHO IS IN CHARGE.
WE STILL ELECT OUR MAYOR AND COUNCILMEMBERS AND IF WE DON'T
LIKE THE DIRECTION THEY ARE TAKING, WE CAN VOTE THEM OUT.
WHAT IT DOES -- IS GIVE OUR CITY MORE FLEXIBILITY TO SOLVE LOCAL
PROBLEMS IN A WAY THAT FITS FREMONT'S UNIQUE NEEDS.
I ALSO APPRECIATE THAT ANY CHARTER IS VOTED ON BY THE
PEOPLE, NOTHING HAPPENS UNLESS FREMONT RESIDENTS APPROVE IT.
AND ENCOURAGE THE COUNCILMEMBERS TO MOVE THIS FORWARD SO THE
VOTERS OF THE FREMONT CAN MAKE THE FINAL DECISION.
THANK YOU SO MUCH. >> Ms. Lewis: THAT WAS THE
LAST ZOOM SPEAKER. THE NEXT IN-PERSON SPEAKERS, WE
HAVE STEVE MADEROS. FOLLOWED BY DAVID STARK.
ANNIE CORUGA, KIM MARSHALL, TERESA DEANDA, JACK RODGERS.
HERBERT CHU. FRANK GUAN, JR., AND ROBERT P.
TOYARES. >> Mayor Salwan: PLEASE COME
UP IF YOUR NAME WAS CALLED AND IF YOU CAN JUST LINE UP SO WE
CAN BE EFFICIENT. WELCOME, MR. MADERAS.
>> THAT'S MY DAD. I'M STEVE MADERES, LONG TIME
RESIDENT HERE IN FREMONT. IT SEEMS LIKE EVERYTHING IS
GOING THE WAY I HOPED IT WOULD WHEN I WAS HERE LAST TIME WHEN I
SUGGESTED THAT WE PUMP THE BRAKES.
I THINK THAT THE REAL REASON WE'RE ALL HERE IS BECAUSE IT'S
MAYOR SALWAN'S BIRTHDAY TODAY, AND A LOT OF PEOPLE DON'T KNOW
THAT. SO I KNOW YOU SAID NO HISSING,
NO BOOING, NO CLAPPING, BUT YOU DIDN'T SAY ANYTHING ABOUT
SINGING. ? HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU ? ? HAPPY BIRTHDAY MAYOR SALWAN ?
? HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU ? ALL RIGHT!
>> Mayor Salwan: THANK YOU. WELL, THAT'S WHY WE HAD THIS
MEETING SO WE CAN CELEBRATE MY BIRTHDAY, RIGHT?
NO. MR. STARK.
THANK YOU. I APPRECIATE THAT.
>> MR. STARK IS ALSO MY FATHER. I CANNOT FOLLOW THAT, BUT HAPPY
BIRTHDAY, MAYOR SALWAN. I'M DAVID STARK, REPRESENTING
THE BAY EAST ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS, AND I DO WANT TO
ACKNOWLEDGE THE FACT THAT REAL ESTATE TRANSFER TAXES WERE
INCLUDED IN THE STAFF REPORT AND INCLUDED IN SOME OF THE BALLOT
LANGUAGE, AND APPRECIATE THAT. HOWEVER, REAL ESTATE TRANSFER
TAXES ARE NOT THE ONLY ISSUE THAT WE HAVE IN THE CITY OF
FREMONT. YOU'VE CREATED AN INCREDIBLE
PLACE TO LIVE HERE. INCREDIBLE PLACE TO WORK.
AND WE'RE CONCERNED ABOUT ANYTHING THAT WOULD TAKE AWAY
FROM THE ATTRACTIVENESS OF THE CITY OF FREMONT.
I GET A SENSE OF WHERE YOU'RE ALL GOING WITH THIS TONIGHT, AND
WE GENERALLY SUPPORT THAT. HOWEVER, IF YOU'RE PRIORITIZING
WHERE TO ALLOCATE STAFF RESOURCES, I WOULD ENCOURAGE YOU
TO FOCUS ON YOUR PRIORITIES OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, FINANCIAL
FEASIBILITY, ADDRESSING HOMELESSNESS, AND ENSURING A
SAFE COMMUNITY BEFORE YOU CONTINUE DOWN THIS PATH TOWARDS
A CHARTER CITY. WORK ON THOSE THINGS FIRST.
MAKE THOSE THINGS YOUR PRIORITY, AND ONCE YOU FIGURE ALL THOSE
THINGS OUT WORKING WITH THE COMMUNITY, THEN CIRCLE BACK TO
THE CHARTER CITY. AGAIN, WE SUPPORT THE DIRECTION
THAT YOU'VE OUTLINED, MAYOR SALWAN, AND WE'D JUST ASK THAT
YOU PRIORITIZE CITY RESOURCES CORRECTLY TO ENSURE THIS
CONTINUES TO BE A GREAT PLACE TO LIVE AND WORK.
THANK YOU. >> Mayor Salwan: THANKS.
COME ON UP, MA'AM. >> Ms. Lewis: ANNIE CAROGA.
>> Mayor Salwan: THEN KIM MAR SHELL, THEN TERESA.
>> HI, THANK YOU. I'M ANNIE CARUGA.
I'M SAYING A MESSAGE THAT IT SOUNDS LIKE MOST OF YOU AGREE
WITH. PLEASE DO NOT PUT THE CHARTER ON
THE BALLOT THIS NOVEMBER. RESPECTFULLY THE PROCESS WAS
RUSHED AND JUST DIDN'T GIVE US ENOUGH TIME TO CONSIDER ALL OF
THE VIEWS IN OUR COMMUNITY AND ALL OF THE POTENTIAL
IMPLICATIONS BOTH POSITIVE AND NEGATIVE IN BECOMING A CHARTER
CITY. A CHARTER IS NOT INHERENTLY BAD
AS MANY OF YOU HAVE STATED BUT WE NEED A REALLY CLEAR REASON AS
TO WHY WE ARE DOING THIS. IF YOU DO THIS AGAIN, IF YOU
RECONSIDER THIS, PLEASE LET ONE OF THOSE REASONS BE THE
EXPANSION OF DEMOCRACY. CHARTER CITIES BUT NOT GENERAL
LAW CITIES CAN, ONE, EXPAND THE FRANCHISE TO 16 AND
17-YEAR-OLDS, 2, IMPLEMENT RANK CHOICE VOTING, AND THREE, DO
PUBLIC FUND MATCHING IN ELECTIONS.
PLEASE INCLUDE THESE EXPANSIONS OF DEMOCRACY IF YOU ATTEMPT TO
PUT A CHARTER ON THE BALLOT IN ANY FUTURE ELECTION, AND PLEASE
DO NOT PUT A CHARTER ON THE BALLOT THIS NOVEMBER.
THANK YOU. >> Ms. Lewis: KIM MARSHALL.
>> MY NAME IS KIM MARSHALL. I'M A RETIRED CITY OF FREMONT
EMPLOYEE, HAVE LIVED IN FREMONT FOR OVER 35 YEARS, AND I
RECENTLY HAD THE HONOR TO SERVE AS A MEMBER OF THE FREMONT
CHARTER ADVISORY COMMITTEE. AND I COULDN'T COME HERE EARLIER
BECAUSE I WAS ON VACATION CELEBRATING MY BIRTHDAY SO I
WANTED TO JUST MAKE A FEW COMMENTS.
WHEN I WAS APPOINTED TO THE CHARTER ADVISORY COMMITTEE, I
WAS VERY NEUTRAL ABOUT FREMONT BECOMING A CHARTER CITY, BUT IT
DIDN'T TAKE ME LONG TO UNDERSTAND THE BENEFITS OF A
CHARTER VERSUS A GENERAL LAW CITY.
I QUICKLY DETERMINED A CHARTER CITY GIVES MORE CONTROL TO THE
RESIDENTS THROUGH THE OFFICIALS THAT THEY ELECT.
IT'S A LIVING DOCUMENT THAT CAN BE MODIFIED BY THE VOTERS AS THE
NEEDS OF THE RESIDENTS AND CITY CHANGED.
I ALSO LEARNED THERE ARE OTHER THAN 120 CHARTER CITIES IN
CALIFORNIA AND IN THE BAY AREA, OF THE TOP FIVE CITIES BY
POPULATION, FOUR ARE CHARTER CITIES, BUT FREMONT IS NOT.
SO THE CHARTER ADVISORY COMMITTEE CAME TO CONSENSUS AND
BROUGHT THE CITY COUNCIL THE FRAMEWORK FOR A FREMONT CITY
CHARTER. AND WHILE I PERSONALLY WANTED A
STRONG MAYOR CHARTER, I UNDERSTAND THAT THE OTHERS
DIDN'T AND WE CAME TO CONSENSUS ON THIS, AND I RESPECT THE
COUNCIL'S TAKING A STEP BACK, GETTING MORE PUBLIC INPUT AND
WAITING FOR IT. SO I THINK CHARTER IS THE WAY TO
GO, AND I'D LOVE TO BE PART OF THAT PROCESS IN THE FUTURE.
THANK YOU. >> Mayor Salwan: THANK YOU.
>> YES, I'M TERESA DEANDA AGAIN HERE TONIGHT, AND I WANT TO SAY
THAT I'M NOT OPPOSED TO A CHARTER CITY.
HOWEVER, WHAT I AM ASKING FOR RESPECTFULLY FROM ALL
COUNCILMEMBERS AND THE MAYOR IS TO -- COMMUNICATION.
COMMUNITY, COMMUNITY, COMMUNITY.
I LIVE IN A COMMUNITY IN FREMONT, AND I FEEL VERY BLESSED
TO BE A PART OF THAT. AND I KNOW THAT OUR CITY IS
GROWING, BUT THAT DOES NOT TAKE AWAY FROM US BEING COMMUNITY.
SO I MEAN, I HEARD MANY PEOPLE ON ZOOM, CHARTER CITY, LET'S
MOVE. WHAT I ASK AGAIN IS THAT WE HAVE
COMMUNICATION. CREATE THESE GROUPS ON GOOGLE
MAPS, SEND INFORMATION TO YOUR DISTRICT PEOPLE, GET THEM
ENGAGED. WE WANT TO BE ENGAGED.
I WAS REALLY PERPLEXED AT GETTING A MESSAGE AT 4:00 IN THE
EVENING THAT THERE WAS A MEETING IN MY TOWN THAT WAS ON A CHARTER
CITY. AND I HAD THINGS GOING ON THAT
NIGHT, I COULDN'T MAKE IT. AND I SAID WHY IS THIS NOT
COMING TO ME SOONER? SO AGAIN, I'M GOING TO ASK ALL
OF YOU ON CITY COUNCIL, PLEASE COMMUNICATE, AND THERE ARE WAYS
TO DO THAT WITHOUT SPENDING TAXPAYER MONEY DOING MAILINGS.
SO THANK YOU AGAIN FOR YOUR TIME AND EFFORT, AND I LOOK FORWARD
TO SPEAKING TO MY DISTRICT, AND THANK YOU FOR RESPONDING TO MY
EMAILS, ALL WHO DID, BECAUSE THAT MEANS SOMETHING.
SO THANK YOU. >> MAY I ASK ALL OF THE
PARTICIPANTS ONLINE TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY'RE MUTED?
THANK YOU. >> Ms. Lewis: JACK RODGERS.
>> Mayor Salwan: COME ON UP, MISTER ROGERS.
YOU'RE NEXT. >> AGAIN MY NAME IS JACK
RODGERS. I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT
WE'RE ALL ON THE SAME PAGE. I HEARD SEVERAL COMMENTS FROM
COUNCIL TALKING ABOUT LEANING TOWARDS A DECISION THAT'S
ALREADY BEEN MADE, AND IT SOUNDS LIKE WE WOULD COME BACK IN THE
FUTURE TO APPROVE A CHARTER. AND I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT
MOST OF YOU, I HOPE, ARE THINKING THAT WE'RE GOING TO
LOOK AT A CHARTER BEFORE MAKING A DECISION ON WHETHER IT'S GOOD
OR BAD. THIS IS A RISK/REWARD DECISION.
WE KNOW THAT THERE ARE RISKS AND WE KNOW THAT THERE ARE REWARDS
BUT I DON'T THINK ANYBODY UNDERSTANDS THAT CLEARLY
INCLUDING YOU AND I THINK THAT'S WHAT YOU OWE THE PEOPLE HERE
THAT YOU'RE REPRESENTING. THE SECOND THING THAT I'M A
LITTLE CONCERNED ABOUT IS THAT SEVERAL OF YOU HAVE TALKED ABOUT
INTRODUCING ORDINANCES. TO FIX THINGS.
AND QUITE FRANKLY, I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHAT'S BROKEN YET.
NO ONE HAS TOLD ME WHAT'S BROKEN.
AND SO AS YOU INTRODUCE THESE ORDINANCES, I ENCOURAGE YOU TO
ENGAGE WITH THE PUBLIC, TELL THEM WHY IT'S IMPORTANT TO
CHANGE THE ORDINANCE. OTHERWISE WE'RE GOING TO BE
RIGHT BACK HERE DOING THE SAME THING AGAIN.
SO I REALLY WANT TO THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME, I KNOW IT'S
DIFFICULT UP THERE WHERE YOU RL, MAKING THESE DECISIONS AND
GIVING YOUR TIME FREELY HERE. BUT YOU ARE OUR REPRESENTATIVES
AND YOU OWE IT -- WE OWE TO YOU TO COMMUNICATE AND YOU OWE TO US
TO COMMUNICATE. THANK YOU.
>> Ms. Lewis: HERBERT CHU? >> GOOD EVENING, COUNCILMEMBERS
AND HAPPY BIRTHDAY AGAIN, MAYOR.
MY NAME IS AND MB AGAIN MAYOR.
MY NAME IS HERB CHU. I WOULD LIKE TO EXPRESS MY
APPRECIATION TO COUNCILMEMBER ZHANG AND MAYOR SALWAN AND THE
ENTIRE CITY COUNCIL AND ESPECIALLY THE CHARTER ADVISORY
COMMITTEE MEMBERS WHO DEDICATED TIMES AND WORK OVER THE PAST FEW
MOST. I'M IN FULL SUPPORT OF FREMONT
BECOMING A CHARTER CITY AND GENERAL LAW CITY TRAIL WORK,
PROVIDED OUR COMMUNITY HAS AMPLE OPPORTUNITY TO REVIEW TO DISCUSS
AND OFFER INPUT ON THE KEY ELEMENTS OF BOTH.
WHEN OUR COMMUNITY IS TRULY READY TO BUILD IT TOGETHER.
THANK YOU. >> The Clerk: FRANK QUAN.
>> HELLO, MAYOR SALWAN AND COUNCILMEMBERS.
MY NAME IS TRARNG QUAN JUNIOR. I'M A RESIDENT OF FREMONT, GREW
UP HERE, CLASS OF 2000 IN MISSION SAN JOSE.
AND I'M ACTUALLY ONE OF YOUR VALEDICTORIANS FROM ONE OF THOSE
TIMES. ONE OF THE THINGS THAT HASN'T
BONE TALKED ABOUT AS MUCH WHETHER OR NOT REGARDING
CHARTER, THOUGHT A CHARTER, IS ALSO ABOUT THE TIMING.
AND I'M PROBABLY ONE OF THE TOOU THAT ACTUALLY BELIEVE THAT IT
SHOULD BE DONE THIS YEAR OR AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.
I HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO WORK AT THE STATE LEVEL FOR CLOSE TO
FIVE YEARS. AND I RECOGNIZE WHEN I WAS
LEAVING SACRAMENTO COMING BACK TO FREMONT, THE THING THAT STUCK
OUT IN MY MIND WAS THAT PEOPLE WOULD BE LI LIVID IF THEY KNEW T
WAS GOING ON AT AT THE STATE LE. AND IN MY OPINION THIS CHARTER
IS OUR ABILITY TO DEFINE OUR OWN FUTURE.
WE ARE MOVING INTO A TIME THAT IS GREATLY UNCERTAIN.
AND PEOPLE ARE MAKING DECISIONS FOR US, WHETHER YOU REALIZE IT
OR NOT. AND THIS IS ONE OF THE BEST WAYS
FOR US TO RETAIN OUR TIME. >> Mayor Salwan: ALL RIGHT.
>> The Clerk: ROBERT TOVARES. >> Mayor Salwan: CAN WE CALL
THE NEXT BATCH OF SPEAKERS WHEN I IS COMING UP.
>> MAYOR AND COUNCIL, MY NAME IS ROBERT TOVARES A LONG TIME
RESIDENT OF MISSION SAN JOSE. THE CHARTER IS A PANDORA'S BOX.
A LOT OF THINGS TO THINK ABOUT. TO ENGAGE IN.
IF IT WERE SO GREAT, I THINK THERE WOULD BE MORE CITIES IN
THE STATE HAVING CHARTERS. SO PLEASE GIVE IT A LOT OF
ATTENTION. I DON'T KNOW IF I'M FOR IT OR
AGAINST IT. I DON'T KNOW IF YOU HAVE DONE
ENOUGH STUDY ON IT. AND LASTLY, I COULD BE WRONG BUT
PEOPLE THINK THAT WE ARE GOING TO BE MORE INDEPENDENT IF WE
HAVE A CHARTER CITY. A LOT OF MONEY COMES FROM
SACRAMENTO INTO THIS TOWN, IN ORDER TO MAKE IT EXIST.
SO THE STATE IS STILL INVOLVED. HEAVILY ON WHAT HAPPENS HERE.
SO YOU DON'T BECOME THAT INDEPENDENT, I DON'T THINK.
THANK YOU. >> The Clerk: THE NEXT GROUP
OF PEOPLE TO LINE UP, SRIYA NETA VERMA, DOMINIC, ANU NATARAJAN,
SU CHAN, RICHARD KELLER, VEPIN, FELIX VEKNEER.
VENIT RARVETION PLEASE COME TO THE LECTERN.
>> Mayor Salwan: SORRY, ONE AT A TIME PLEASE.
WE HAVE VENITA. >> THIS IS THE MEMBERS OF THE --
>> Mayor Salwan: OKAY. >> GOOD EVENING, COUNCILMEMBERS
AND MAYOR. THIS IS VENETA VERMA, SPEAKING
FOR LEGAL VOTERS OFF FREMONT NEWARK AND UNION CITY.
YOU HAVE THE HARD COPY COMING TO YOU OF OUR LETTER.
THE LEGAL VOTERS OF FREMONT UNION CITY AND FREMONT, LEAGUE
BELIEVES THE FOLLOWING PRINCIPLES SHOULD GUIDE THE
DECISION AS A CONSEQUENTIAL AS CHANGING THE STRUCTURE OF THE
CITY. IN ORDER TO PARTICIPATE
EFFECTIVELY. PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT IS NOT
OPTIONAL. IT IS FOUNDATIONAL TO DEMOCRATIC
GOVERNMENTS. CONSENSUS BUILDING, STRENGTHENS,
PUBLIC TRUST AND LEADS TO BETTER DECISION.
RESPONSIBLE GOVERNMENT IS ACCOUNTABLE TO AN INFORMED AND
ENGAGED COMMUNITY. SO WITH THAT, WE WOULD REQUEST
YOU AND AS WE HAVE HEARD FROM YOU GUYS, I'M HOPING THAT YOU
WILL STICK WITH YOUR WORDS AND NOT PUT IT ON THE BALLOT FOR
2026. AND WAIT FOR THE MORE -- CR
DAVID BONACCORSI. >> The Clerk: DAVID
BONACCORSI. >> ON JUNE 2nd, 2026, AT THE
FIR PUBLIC HEARING THIS COUNCIL HAD A PROBLEM.
THIS ADVISORY COMMITTEE HAD COME IN WITH FOUR RECOMMENDATIONS,
ALL FOUR RECOMMENDATIONS COULD BE THEN AND COULD ARE NOW
SUBJECT TO A GENERAL LAW CITY. YOU DID NOT NEED A CHARTER.
IF THIS WAS REALLY ALL ABOUT DISCUSSING IN THE ABSTRACT A
GOVERNING STRUCTURE WHERE THE CHARTER AS A SUBSIRDARY ISSUE
ABOUT IT AS WE WERE HEARING THIS EVENING YOU WOULD NOT HAVE HAD A
NOVEMBER THIRD BALLOT DEADLINE WITH TONIGHT BEING THE LAST
PUBLIC HEARING. YOU WOULD HAVE SHUT DOWN THE
PROCESS ON JUNE 2nd AND SAID LET'S HAVE THAT DISCUSSION,
LET'S HAVE THAT DIALOGUE, WE ARE LISTENING TO THE PUBLIC.
YOU WERE NOT LISTENING. YOU WENT ON ON JULY 2nd AND
HAD THAT SECOND PUBLIC HEARING. FOR THIS VERY TIME ACTUALLY
REQUIRED A CHARTER. WHEN YOU THROW AWAY ALL THE
MATERIAL, WHAT WAS IT, HOW WE COULD RAISE OUR OWN SALARIES,
WITHOUT A STATE CAP. WE CAN HAVE WHATEVER SALARY WE
WANT, THAT IS NOTE A FAIR PROCESS TO ALL OF US THAT DID
NOT RESPECT THE PUBLIC. MANY OF US HERE ARE NOT JUST FOR
A CHARTER, WE'RE FOR A PROCESS THAT RESPECTS US AS CITIZENS OF
THIS CITY. SO PLEASE DO IT RIGHT THE NEXT
TIME. THANK YOU.
>> The Clerk: (SAYING NAMES). >> GOOD EVENING, FOR THE RECORD,
I OPPOSE THE CHARTER. I SPOKE EARLIER, TWO WEEKS AGO,
AND SAID I THINK YOU SHOULD STUDY IT BUT TODAY I WANT TO
COME BEFORE YOU AND SAY I THINK IT'S A BAD IDEA.
I THINK SOME LESSONS WE CAN LEARN IS AFTER YOU HAD YOUR
RETREAT AT THE BEGINNING OF THE YEAR AND YOU ALL VOTED THAT YOU
WANTED TO HAVE A CHARTER PUT ON THE BALLOT THIS YEAR, THERE WAS
A FATAL FLAW IN THAT. BECAUSE CHANGING THE
CONSTITUTION AND NOT HAVING THE DATA IN FRONT OF YOU OF WHAT IS
THE DIFFERENCE AND NOT HAVE DONE THE HARD STUDY OF THE DIFFERENCE
BETWEEN THE GENERAL LAW CITY WAS A FATAL FLAW.
SO THE MOTION THAT WAS DONE, YOU KNOW, IN EARNESTNESS AND THE
COMMITTEE THAT WAS SET UP IN EARNESTNESS WAS FLAWED FROM THE
BEGINNING BECAUSE IT WAS RUSHED. AND IT TOOK THE SPOT, OF WE WANT
TO BE A CHARTER CITY, HOW CAN WE JUSTIFY THAT?
AND THIS NONSENSE OF SACRAMENTO TELLING YOU WHAT TO DO,
GOVERNANCE COMES FROM COMMUNICATIONS WITH YOU WITH
STAFF AND WITH THE PUBLIC. A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE ANGRY HERE
TONIGHT. THEY'RE ANGRY HERE NOT BECAUSE
THEY DON'T FEEL THAT YOU'VE BEEN DILIGENT IN YOUR STUDY.
YOU'VE SAID STAFF COME BACK WITH A RECOMMENDATION AND WE'RE GOING
TO DO IT. WE WANT TO BE A CHARTER CITY.
LIKE WE'RE GROWN UP BEING A CHARTER CITY.
THAT'S NONSENSE. 365 CITIES IN CALIFORNIA ARE
GENERAL LAW CITIES TO PROTECT THE PUBLIC FROM YOU.
I SAT ON THAT DAIS SO I CAN SAY IT.
>> Mayor Salwan: AND YOU WORK FOR THE STATE TOO.
>> The Clerk: DOMINIC DUTRA. MR. DUTRA.
>> DOMINIC DUTRA RESIDENT OF FREMONT, BEAUTIFUL NILES.
LET ME JUST SPEAK TO THIS. I CAME ON JULY 7th WITH THE
FULL CHAMBER HERE, THIS WAS FULL.
AND WE ASKED FOR ONE SIMPLE THING: PLEASE LISTEN TO US.
PLEASE. TAKE THE TIME.
TO COME OUT AND LISTEN TO US. THERE WERE THREE COUNCILMEMBERS,
COUNCILMEMBER KENG, IMHERL AND CAMPBELL WHO LISTENED TO US,
THEY WANTED TO PUT A MOTION, THEY WERE HUT DOWN BY THE MAYOR
AND THE OTHER FOUR COUNCILMEMBERS, WHY?
THE MAYOR TOLD US WHY. BECAUSE HE WANTED TO HEAR A POLL
FIRST. THEY DON'T WANT TO LISTEN TO US.
THE COMMUNITY. THEY SAY PLEASE TALK TO US.
THEY WANTED TO HEAR A POLL FIRST.
YOU'VE HEARD THE POLL. THAT'S THE ONLY REASON WHY THE
FOUR MAJORITY COUNCILMEMBERS ARE APOLOGY IT.
YOU DON'T LISTEN TO US. WE ASKED YOU TO PLEASE COME
LISTEN TO US. WE'RE ASKING YOU TO DO IT AGAIN
AND WHAT DID WE HEAR TONIGHT? AN IMMEDIATE MOTION TO MOVE
FORWARD WITH THE ORDINANCE, THAT NOBODY HERE KNOWS ANYTHING
ABOUT. SO THERE'S A FUNDAMENTAL
DISAGREEMENT ABOUT WHAT IS LEADERSHIP.
SERVANT LEADERSHIP IS WHAT COUNCILMEMBERS DO.
YOU LISTEN TO YOUR COMMUNITY. YOU FIND OUT WHAT THEY NEED AND
WANT. YOU DON'T COME UP WITH GREAT
IDEAS LIKE EXTENDING YOUR TERMS FROM TWO TO THREE YEARS,
EXTENDING YOUR COMPENSATION AND THEN WE TELL YOU WE NEED YOU TO
TALK TO US MORE. YOU TELL US NO, WE'VE TALKED TO
YOU JUST ABOUT ENOUGH AND WE HAVE FOUR VOTES AND WE'RE GOING
TO DO WHAT WE WANT. THAT'S NOT APPROPRIATE.
>> The Clerk: ANU NATARAJAN. >> ANU NATARAJAN, RESIDENT OF
NILES. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR REMOVING
THIS HORRENDOUS BARRIER. I REALLY WAND TO APPLAUD YOU FOR
THAT. THIS IS THE FIRST TIME THAT FIVE
TOMORROWER COUNCILMEMBERS HAS COME HERE FOR THE SECOND TIME TO
ADDRESS YOU ON THAT ISSUE. THAT SHOWS YOU HOW IMPORTANT
THAT WAS. BUT I WANT TO ADDRESS SOMETHING
THAT HAPPENED AT THE PREVIOUS HEARING.
ONE COUNCILMEMBER, DISMISSED OLDER RESIDENTS AS THOUGH THEIR
VOICES MATTERED LESS. I HOPE WE NEVER REACH A POINT
WHERE EXPERIENCE IS TREATED AS A WEAKNESS, INSTEAD OF STRENGTH.
THOSE WHO HAVE SERVED THIS COMMUNITY FOR DECADES DIDN'T
RESIST CHANGE, AND I DON'T WANT YOU TO BE SMILING, COUNCILMEMBER
LIU. THOSE WHO SERVED THEIR COMMUNITY
FOR DECADES DIDN'T RESIST CHANGE.
THEY LED IT. WE MADE TOUGH DECISIONS,
EMBRACED INNOVATION AND ADDRESSED FREMONT THE WAY WE
KNOW IT TODAY. EXPERIENCE RESPECTS HUMILITY.
THE STRONGEST COMMUNITIES DON'T CHANGE, THEY BRING THEM BOTH
TOGETHER. LET'S SLOW DOWN GEARNLG THE
COMMUNITY AND DO THIS THE RIGHT WAY.
>> The Clerk: SU -- >> Mayor Salwan: CONSUME, NO
CLAPPING, BOOING HISSING, PLEASE BE RESPECTFUL OF EVERYONE.
>> MY NAME IS SU CHAN. IN JUNE, THE CITY SPENT $300,000
ON A COMMUNITY SURVEY TO ENGAGE QUALITY OF LIFE AND FEEDBACK ON
KEY PROPOSALS. THE FINDINGS WORE CLEAR.
RESIDENTS DID NOT EITHER SUPPORT THE SALES TAX, REVENUE TAX
MEASURE OR THE CHARTER CITY INITIATIVE.
CITING THESE RESULTS LAST TUESDAY, THE COUNCIL WISELY
VOTED TO DROP THE SALES TAX REVENUE MEASURE FROM THE
NOVEMBER BALLOT. INSTANTLY WE SAVED, YOU SAVED
THE TAXPAYERS $800,000. THE MAYOR SAID, I THINK THE
RESPONSIBLE CALL AT THIS TIME IS TO POSTPONE THIS MEASURE.
NOT TO PUT IT ON THE BALLOT. WHEN WE KNOW IT'S GOING TO FAIL
AND IT'S PROBABLY NOT A GOOD USE OF PUBLIC FUNDS.
TONIGHT, THE COUNCIL CONSIDERS -- IS CONSIDERING THE
CHARTER CITY PROPOSAL. LOGICALLY, THIS DICTATES THAT
THEY SHOULD COME TO THE SAME CONCLUSION, THAT IT IS A PUSHING
AN UNPOPULAR MEASURE IS ILL ADVISED.
REJECTING THE CHARTER CITY PROPOSAL WILL SAVE ANOTHER
$80,000. BRINGING A TOTAL OF $1.6 MILLION
THAT WE JUST SAVED. THIS IS REAL MONEY THAT SHOULD
BE DIRECTED TOWARDS THE SERVICES AND NEEDS OF THE COMMUNITY AND
WHAT THEY WANT. THANK YOU.
>> Mayor Salwan: RICHARD KELLER.
>> DINA, GO AHEAD AND CALL MORE NAMES WHILE HE'S COMING UP.
>> The Clerk: MR. VIPIN. >> I GOT OUT OF THE AIR FORCE.
I PRACTICED LAW HERE FOR 24 YEARS.
I'VE SAT OPEN YOUR MIPT BENCH, I'M RETIRED FROM THE SUPREME
COURT BENCH. THE ONE THING I HAVE NOT HEARD
IN ANY OF THIS DISCUSSION ABOUT THE POSSIBLE CHARTER IS A
CHARTER CAN THOUGHT ONLY GIVE YOU POWERS, IT CAN RESTRICT YOU
POWERS. NO ONE HAS TALKED ABOUT WHAT
RESTRICTIONS YOU WOULD PLACE ON YOUR ABILITY UNDER THE CHARTER.
I THINK THAT'S SOMETHING THAT NEEDS TO BE OPENLY DISCUSSED.
IT'S ONE OF THOSE THINGS THAT YOU KNOW, SOMEBODY SAYS WELL WE
HAVE A CHARTER, IT LETS US DO THIS.
WHAT DOES IT NOT LET YOU DO? I WOULD JUST SIMPLY SUGGEST, IF
YOU STUDY THIS MATTER THAT YOU CONSIDER THINGS THAT YOU WOULD
WANT TO -- RESTRICTIONS YOU WOULD WANT TO PUT ON YOURSELVES
WITHOUT COMING BACK TO THE PUBLIC TO SUPPORT YOU.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH. >> The Clerk: THE NEXT SET OF
SPEAKERS FOLLOWING THE CURRENT GROUP, AZI AKBARI, RAMESH
SAMAMURTHI, DONNA MANDAN, VIN KANTU, SORRY I'M MESSING UP YOUR
NAMES, JINGMAN YANG, KEITH PARKER, ADELIS FAUN.
RAMESH SATHIAMURTHI. DIA NANDAN.
VIJAYA, JINGMAN YANG, KEITH PARKER, ADELA SPAWN.
>> Mayor Salwan: GO AHEAD SIR. >> HI, MY NAME IS VIPIN AND
THANKS FOR COUNCILMEMBER, STAFF AND CHARTER COMMITTEE.
I WAS FROM DAY 1 AND THIS WHOLE CHARTER CITY CONCEPT WAS VERY
CLOSE TO MY HEART, THAT IS WHY I'VE BEEN INVOLVED SINCE DAY 1,
WE SPENT FIVE MONTHS ALMOST. AND WE KNOW LIKE ALL WHAT
CHARTER CITY CAN DO AND WHAT IT CANNOT DO UNTIL LAST FRIDAY I
WAS VERY HIGH ON IT, THAT WE COULD BECOME A CHARTER CITY.
ALSO APPRECIATE THE FINAL DRAFT, ONE OF THE FINAL COUNCIL TEXT
THAT'S BEEN TAKEN CARE BUT REGARDLESS.
BUT I DON'T BELIEVE THE CURRENT DRAFT PROPOSAL, MANY OF THE
IMPROVEMENT IS DISCUSSED, CAN BE DONE WITH THE ORDINANCE CHANGE,
WE ALREADY KNOW. ESTIMATION OF COST PLACING THIS
MEASURE ON THE BALLOT, THAT'S NOT THE REASON I'M OPPOSING IT,
BUT THAT COST IS WHENEVER WE PUT IT ON THE BALLOT.
BUT MY MAIN OPPOSITION FOR THIS CHARTER IS BECAUSE IT'S NOT
DELIVERING WHAT WE THOUGHT IT WAS GOING TO DELIVER.
LIKE MODERNIZATION AN TRANSPARENCY, THOSE THINGS ARE
MISSING IN THE CHARTER AND THAT'S THE REASON I'M OPPOSING
IT. >> The Clerk: FELIX LECHNER.
>> HAPPY BIRTHDAY, MAYOR. THE SURVEY FROM FM 3, I ONLY
CAME HERE TONIGHT TO SHOW MY FELLOW RESIDENTS AND YOUR
CONSTITUENTS THAT SLIDE FROM LAST WEEK.
OKAY, THANK YOU SO MUCH. ALL MEETING LAWS WERE FOLLOWED
BUT I FELT THAT THE SLIDE BELONGED HERE TONIGHT.
I'LL LEAVE IT UP HERE SO YOU AND OTHERS CAN REFER TO IT IF YOU
LIKE. PERSONALLY, I THINK YOU'RE DOING
A GREAT JOB AND PEOPLE SIMPLY WANT THINGS TO DAY THE SAME.
THANK YOU FOR ALL YOUR FAITHFUL SERVICE AND GOOD NIGHT.
>> The Clerk: JOE ANN SCHWOB. >> GOOD EVENING, MEMBERS OF CITY
COUNCIL, MAYOR, AND RESIDENTS AND GUESTS.
I AM SPEAKING TONIGHT IN REGARD TO THE CITY CHARTER INITIATIVE.
I -- THERE HAS BEEN MUCH DISCUSSION ABOUT CITY COUNCIL
MEMBERS AND WHAT THEY WANT TO DO WITH THE CHARTER.
COMPLZ MENCOUNCILMEMBER ZHANG MD SHE WOULD LIKE TO SEE A
PRACTICAL GOVERNMENT IMPROVEMENT.
THE MAYOR SAID THAT HE SEES DEMOCRACY IN ACTION.
LET ME BE CLEAR. IT IS VITAL FOR ALL FREMONT
RESIDENTS AND COUNCILMEMBERS TO RECOGNIZE THE STRICT LEGAL AND
STRUCTURAL STANDARDS AND LIMITS OF CITY GOVERNANCE.
WITH THAT BEING THE CASE, THE CURRENT CITY COUNCIL HAS DECIDED
UPON THEMSELVES TO HAVE AN ELECTED MAYOR.
THAT IS SOMETHING THAT NEEDS TO BE PUT BEFORE THE VOTERS.
ALSO ADDING TWO ADDITIONAL SEATS.
SO WE DON'T EVEN HAVE AN ACTUAL RECOGNIZED CITY COUNCIL.
IF YOU WANT TO SEE AN IMPROVEMENT, GO BACK AND FOLLOW
THE LAWS UNDER THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA AND LET'S GO BACK TO
HAVING A FIVE-MEMBER COUNCIL, AN APPOINTED MAYOR AND GET RID OF
DISTRICT VOTING. BECAUSE UNITED WE STAND.
>> The Clerk: NEXT SPEAKER, AZI AKBARI.
>> I'M A LONG TIME FREMONT RESIDENT.
FIRSTLY HAPPY BIRTHDAY MAYOR SALWAN.
I'D LIKE TO THANK YOU ALL FOR PUTTING IN THE EFFORT ON THIS
ISSUE SO FAR. THE LAST TIME FREMONT SERIOUSLY
CONSIDERED A CHARTER WAS BACK IN 1998.
NEARLY 30 YEARS AGO. AND MOST RESIDENTS TODAY HAVE
NEVER HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE A SAY.
SO I RESPECT THE DESIRE TO FINALLY GIVE THEM THAT VOICE.
BUT A CHARTER RESHAPES THE BASIC RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE
RESIDENTS AND THEIR GOVERNMENT. A DECISION THIS FOUNDATIONAL
SHOULDN'T BE MADE ON A RUSH TIME LINE.
I'M NOT HERE TO SPEAK EITHER PROOR ANTICHARTER.
BENEFITS AND DRAWBACKS OF MOVING IN THIS DIRECTION, FOR INSTANCE,
I AGREE WITH ANNIE CARUGA'S COMMENTS ABOUT RESPECTING
DEMOCRACY BUT WE HAVEN'T HAD THE TIME TO DEBATE THESE ISSUES.
I WANT TO PUSH YOU TO DELAY THIS FROM THE 2020 BALLOT AND GIVE US
THE TIME TO EDUCATE THE PUBLIC ON THIS PROPOSAL.
BASED ON THE MAYOR'S COMMENTS THAT IS THE DIRECTION WE'RE
MOVING IN AND HOPE YOU'LL STICK WITH THAT.
THANK YOU. >> The Clerk: RAMESH
SATHIAMEMURTI. >> I'M A 27 YEAR RESIDENT OF
FREMONT, WANTED TO THANK THE CITY OF FREMONT AND THE ELECTED
OFFICIALS AND MAYOR SALWAN, HAPPY BIRTHDAY TODAY AGAIN FOR
CELEBRATING IT. BUT GIVEN THIS IS SUCH A NICE
STUNT TO RAISE A FAMILY IN THE HAPPIEST CITY IN AMERICA,
FREMONT NUMBER 1, THANKS FOR MAINTAINING THAT TREND HERE.
I'M HERE TO SUPPORT THE CHARTER INITIATIVE BUT AFTER FEELING
TODAY I STILL WANTED TO SUPPORT THE INITIATIVE, HOWEVER, THE
THINGS THAT MISSING TODAY, I LISTENING TO ALL THE PEOPLE WHO
SPOKE BEFORE ME, EVERYBODY HAVE A MIXED FEELING OF WHAT CHARTER.
CHARTER IS NEEDED SOMEONE MENTIONED, 122 CITIES IN
CALIFORNIA ARE CHARTER CITY. IN ALAMEDA COUNTY ALONE WE ARE
THREE CITIES ALREADY CHARTER, ALAMEDA, BERKELEY, OAKLAND.
IN BAY AREA, 14 CITIES ARE CHARTER CITIES.
THERE ARE EXAMPLES WE CAN LEARN THERE THOSE CITIES WHAT IS GOOD
OR BAD. GASTON BENEFIT, THE CITY CAN
MAKE THE DECISION IN SUPPORTING THE LOCAL PRIORITIES AND TAKING
CARE OF THE PUBLIC CONTRACTING PROCEDURE, AS SOMEONE MENTIONED
THERE IS A COST BENEFIT COMES WITH IT.
SO IT IS A MATTER OF THE RESIDENTS TO UNDERSTAND IN
COMMUNICATION. SO WHAT I RECOMMEND WHEN YOU
HAVE A WORK STUDY WORKSHOP AS KATHY KIMBERLIN MENTIONED, SO
PEOPLE CAN ATTEND ONE, ALSO FREELY ASK QUESTIONS --
>> The Clerk: THANK YOU SIR. THE NEXT SPEAKER, DIA NANDE.
BELAGI. VAJIA AZURI.
>> Mayor Salwan: TRY AGAIN. >> HI, HONORABLE MAYOR, HAPPY
BIRTHDAY AND COUNCILMEMBERS, I'M VAJAYI AM I'M A LONG TIME
FREMONT DRERNT. PROPOSED CITY CHARTER IN THE
NOVEMBER 2026 BALLOT. THE CHARTER ADVISORY COMMITTEE
WE FEEL IT'S SIGNIFICANT TIME REVIEWING ISSUES, GATHERING
PUBLIC INPUT AND HOPEFULLY ITS RECOMMENDATIONS, REGARDLESS
WHERE EVERYONE STANDS ON THE PROPOSAL, OPEN ELECTION AND I
RESPECTFULLY ASK YOU TO GIVE THE COMMUNITY A CHOICE BY PLACING
THE CHARTER ON THE BALLOT, THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND
CONSIDERATION. >> The Clerk: JEAN MENIARY.
>> GOOD EVENING, MAYOR, CITY COUNCIL, GUEST AND ALSO, ALL THE
GUESTS, ESPECIALLY THE PRIOR COUNCILMEMBERS.
MY NAME IS JEAN MING YANG, I'M A LONG TIME FREMONT CITY CITIZEN.
SO HERE I WOULD LIKE TO THANK VERY MUCH FOR THE CHARTER
COMMUNITY'S HARD WORK, THEY HAVE STARTED THE CHARTER CITY
INITIATE TO START AND I FULL NEED SUPPORT THIS IS UNDER GOOD
WAY GOOD PATH TO START. YES, NOW AS RESIDENTS, WE GET A
LOT OF FEEDBACK FROM THE LEADERS.
THINK ABOUT THAT. IF WE DOUBT THIS DISCUSSION, HOW
CAN ATTRACT SO MANY RESIDENTS COME TO THIS ROOM FULL HOUSE,
AND DISCUSS THIS THING? BUT HOWEVER, I THINK MAYBE THE
TIME IS A LITTLE BIT IN RUSH. WE NEED MUCH MORE TIME TO MAKE
ALL THE DETAILS AND MORE DISCUSSIONS, OF COURSE IT IS NOT
ONLY THE COMMUNITY'S WORK. IT IS THE WHOLE -- NOT THE
COMMITTEE'S WORK, IT IS THE WHOLE COMMUNITY'S WORK.
THE COMMUNICATION WITH THE RESIDENTS THAT'S CRITICAL, IT IS
IMPORTANT. WE HOPE TO PUSH YET.
>> The Clerk: THANK YOU. FOLLOWING KEITH PARKER, WE HAVE
SANDRA M. CHUNG, MANISKA PATAK, RACAJ, AND AUDREY FAMBORO.
>> Mayor Salwan: HOW MANY MORE SPEAKERS DO WE HAVE?
TEN, OKAY. ON ZOOM.
OKAY. ALL RIGHT.
>> FIRST OF ALL, HAPPY BIRTHDAY MR. MAYOR, AND SO I ACTUALLY WAS
ABLE TO ATTEND THE MAJORITY OF THE CHARTER ADVISORY COMMITTEE
MEETINGS SO I WAS ABLE TO WITNESS THE PROCESS, SEE WHAT
WENT THROUGH, UNDERSTAND THE REASONING BEHIND IT, SO I HAVE A
PRETTY GOOD IDEA WHY YOU WANT TO HAVE A CHARTER CITY.
IT'S BECAUSE YOU WANT TO BE ABLE TO BE ACCOUNTABLE TO THE PEOPLE
WHO HOLD YOU ACCOUNTABLE FOR. THAT MAKES SENSE BUT CLEARLY THE
COMMUNITY ISN'T THERE YET AND I DO THINK THE CHARTER NEEDS A
LITTLE BIT MORE WORK AND SO DOING WHAT YOU PROPOSED,
SHELVING IT FOR NOW, GOING AHEAD AND WITH SOME OF THOSE THINGS
THAT WE NEED TO HAVE PASSED SO YOU CAN DO THE WAY TO GO IS THE
RIGHT THING TO DO SO I COMPLETELY SUPPORT THAT SO SO
THANK YOU. >> GOOD EVENING, MAYOR AND
COUNCILMEMBERS. MY NAME IS DELLA SPAN AND I'M A
FREMONT RESIDENT, I SUPPORT THE IDEA OF BECOMING A CHARTER CITY
BECAUSE IT CAN IMPROVE TRANSPARENCY, EFFICIENCY,
FLEXIBILITY AND ACCOUNTABILITY. AS OUR LOCATED OFFICIALS, THE
LOELECTED OFFICIALS, THEMAYOR AS SHOULD MAKE THE FINAL DECISION
MAKING. HOWEVER, THE PROPOSAL IS
INCOMPLETE, I WOULD LIKE THE CITY COUNCIL NOT TO RUSH THIS
PROCESS. PLEASE TABLE THIS PROPOSAL AND
BRING BACK A COMPLETED OR BETTER VERSION IN THE FUTURE.
IN THE MEANTIME, THE CITY CAN CONTINUE TO IMPROVE AND REFORM
ITS OBLIGATION UNDER THE CURRENT GENERAL LAW CITY SYSTEM.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR LISTENING AND AGAIN HAPPY BIRTHDAY MAYOR
SALWAN. >> Mayor Salwan: THANK YOU.
>> The Clerk: SANDRA N. >> GOOD EVENING, MY NAME IS
SANDRA MOORE THERE MISSION SAN JOSE.
I'M SURE THAT YOU'VE RECEIVED MY LETTERS AND HAVE READ THEM.
AND THANK YOU KATHY FOR REPLYING TO THAT LETTER.
I'M HERE TO POINT OUT AN INCREDIBLE AMOUNT OF MONEY THAT
WOULD BE WASTED OBVIOUSLY. AND SO I'LL TALK ABOUT HOW THAT
MONEY CAN BE USED. IF YOU CAN PLEASE ALLOW COME
CAMPBELL TO GO AHEAD AND MAKE THERE MOTION AND SOMEBODY SECOND
THIS, AND WE CAN PUT IT TO REST. IT'S OBVIOUS THAT THE COMMUNITY
HAS A GREAT DEAL OF DISTRUST AT THIS TIME.
SO WITH THAT BEING SAID, WE'RE LOOKING AT $1.6 MILLION THAT WE
COULD SAVE AT THIS TIME. CAN WE PLEASE LOOK AT WHAT
COMMUNITY SERVICES THAT WE CAN APPLY THAT TOWARDS.
THANK YOU. >> The Clerk: CHUNG.
TOLLED BY MENISKA. >> IS THE DOCUMENT CAMERA
AVAILABLE SOMEWHERE? >> HERE IS A SNAPSHOT OF THE
WEBSITE OF OUR CHARTER CITY INITIATIVE.
AND LET ME READ SOMETHING OUT. IT SAYS THAT THE COMMITTEE WILL
CONSIDER TOPICS PREVIOUSLY IDENTIFIED AS PRIORITIES BY THE
CITY COUNCIL, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO, THE FOLLOWING SEVEN
TOPICS. INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO.
SO FOR THE RECORD, IT HAS COME TO OUR ATTENTION THAT DURING THE
SIX CHARTER CITY COMMITTEE MEETINGS, FREMONT CITY STAFF DID
NOT FOLLOW CITY COUNCIL DIRECTION CORRECTLY AND
SEVERALLY RESTRICTED THE COMMITTEE FROM DISCUSSING
IMPORTANT TOPICS. QUOAFNLT WE ENDED UP WITH AN
INADEQUATE CITY CHARTER. ADVOCATING IN PRINCIPLE A DID
IDEA, AND WE THANK THE CITY COUNCIL, ESPECIALLY YAJING FOR
THE BOARD ACTIONS PEPS PLEASE DELAY THE FULL CITY CHARTER VOTE
BY FREMONT PEOPLE IN ORDER TO PROVIDE MORE TIME TO DEVELOP A
PROPER CITY CHARTER. AND ALSO PLEASE CARRY OUT AN
INVESTIGATION ON WHY THIS HAPPENED, DURING THE SIX CHARTER
CITY COMMITTEE MEETINGS AND HOLD THE CITY STAFF ACCOUNTABLE FOR
THEIR MISTAKE. THANK YOU.
>> MANISKA PATAK. >> HELLO, COUNCILMEMBERS.
AND MAYOR. HAPPY BIRTHDAY, MAYOR.
MY NAME IS MANISKA PATAK AND I'M A LONG TIME RESIDENT OF FREMONT.
I HEARD THAT THE CHARTER CITY PROPOSAL IS FOR GOOD GOVERNANCE
FOR FREMONT BUT AS I WAS TALKING TO MY NEIGHBORS, THE RESIDENTS
OF FREMONT, I FELT LIKE THEY ARE NOT REALLY READY TO TAKE IT ON
AT THIS TIME. I WOULD LIKE TO SINCERELY THANK
THE MAYOR FOR LISTENING TO THE CONCERNS AND SENTIMENTS OF
FREMONT RESIDENTS. TAKING TIME TO HEAR COMMUNITY
VOICES AND HEARTFULLY CONSIDER THEIR FEEDBACK FLEBLGZS THE
SPREAD OF GOOD GOVERNANCE. I ALSO APPRECIATE THE DECISION
TO DEFER THE CHARTER CITY PROPOSAL TO A FUTURE ELECTION.
THIS GIVES RESIDENTS MORE TIME TO LEARN ABOUT THE ISSUE, ENGAGE
IN MEANINGFUL DISCUSSION, AND MAKE AN INFORMED DECISION AT THE
BALLOT BOX. THANK YOU FOR DEMONSTRATING
RESPONSIVENESS TRANSPARENCY AND THE RESPECT FOR THE COMMUNITY
INPUT. THANK YOU SO MUCH.
>> Mayor Salwan: THANK YOU. >> The Clerk: TOLLED REJASH
AND AUDREY WE HAD DAVID EPPS, NADIA AJI, KATE AMAN, KELLY
ABREU, JOHN HINES AND RECALLING BELAJI AND DIAM.
>> Mayor Salwan: WHAT WAS THE LAST ONE YOU SAID?
OKAY. RAJESH.
>> GOOD EVENING, MAYOR, COUNCILMEMBERS, AND RESIDENTS
AND HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU MAYOR SALWAN.
SO I KNOW FREMONT HAS GROWN TO LIKE ONE OF THE LEADING CITIES
IN CALIFORNIA, KNOWN FOR INNOVATION, AND ECONOMIC
VIABILITY. LAST WE CHECKED IT WAS THE
FOURTH LARGEST CITY IN BAY AREA. SO COMMUNITY VOTE EXPLORING
CHARTER CITY, AND STARS I KNOW ABOUT THIS COMMUNITY DOES NOT
MEAN LEAVING CALIFORNIA LAWS BEHIND OR STATE LAWS CONTINUE TO
APPLY TO MANY OF OUR IMPORTANT AREAS.
AND IT IS I THINK THE DUTY OF GIVE THE OPPORTUNITIES OF THE
VOTERS OF FREMONT AND HAVE THIS COME TO BALLOT.
FOR OUR CITY, STRONG TECHNOLOGY SECTOR, A DIVERSE POPULATION
LIKE FREMONT, CRAZY INNOVATION, RESPONSIVENESS AND HELP BY
RESPECTING THE VALUES THE COMMUNITY CHAIRS.
I REQUEST YOU MOVE TOWARD WITH THE CHARTER CITY, TAKING TEED
BACK FROM THE COMMUNITY AND TOP CITIES ARE ALL CHARTER CITIES.
THANK YOU. >> The Clerk: (SAYING NAMES).
>> GOOD EVENING, MAYOR AND COUNCILMEMBERS.
I'M AUDREY FALBRO, AND FIRST I WANTED TO SAY, WHERE WAS I WHEN
THIS WAS HAPPENING, HOW LONG HAS THIS BEEN GOING ALONG, SEEING
THE FLIER THAT CAME ACROSS, THE CONVERSATION JUST STARTED THIS
YEAR. WHICH MAKES ME SAY OH MY
GOODNESS, THIS TIME LINE IS TOO FAST.
I OPPOSE A CHARTER CITY. I OPPOSE ALL THIS COMING
TOGETHER KNOWING THAT IT WASN'T DONE RIGHT.
AND THAT OUR TIME AS COMMUNITY MEMBERS, I'VE BEEN IN FREMONT
OVER 35 YEARS, IS NOT BEING RESPECTED BY HAVING US HERE TO
OPPOSE SOMETHING THAT SHOULDN'T BE HAPPENING RIGHT NOW.
WE ALL SHOULD HAVE KNOWN ABOUT THIS A LONG TIME AGO.
AND IT SEEMS REALLY UNCLEAR THAT YOU'RE NOT REALLY CLEAR ABOUT
HOW WE WILL BE AS A CHARTER CITY.
SO FIRST, YOU HAVE TO GET TOGETHER WHAT YOU WANT TO
PRESENT TO US. AND THEN PRESENT IT TO US.
BECAUSE THAT DID THOUGHT HAPPEN AS FAR AS I'M CONCERNED AND I
TRY TO FOLLOW THINGS THAT'S HAPPENING HERE IN THIS CITY.
THERE'S A LOT OF UNCLEARNESS. THERE IS A LOT OF VISIONS THAT I
DON'T SEIZE. I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE VISION FOR
THE CITY IS FIVE CAREERS, TEN YEARS, FOR THIS CHARTER CITY.
I DON'T KNOW. BUT I AGREE, IT IS A WASTE OF
TIME. IT'S DEFINITELY A WASTE OF MONEY
THAT CAN BE USED IN OTHER WAYS. AND I DON'T FEEL LIKE TRIPS WITH
TRANSPARENCY IS ME. >> The Clerk: DAVID EPPS.
>> GOOD EVENING, MR. MAYOR, COUNCILMEMBERS.
MY NAME IS DAVID EPPS, I'M A RETIRED SERVANT LEADER FOR SANTA
CLARA COUNTY AND A 40 YEAR RESIDENT OF FREMONT.
I'M ASKING THAT YOU NOT MOVE FORWARD WITH THE CHARTER CITY
PROPOSAL WITHOUT MORE SCRUTINY. FIRST, CHARTER STATUS WILL NOT
GUARANTEE THE LOCAL CONTROL WE'VE BEEN PROMISED, CALIFORNIA
COURTS HAVE REPEATEDLY LET STATE HOUSING AND LAND USE LAWS
OVERRIDE CHARTER CITIES, WHEN THE STATE SHOWS A STATEWIDE
INTEREST. CITIES HAVE SPENT YEARS AND REAL
MONEY IN COURT FINDING THAT OUT THE HARD WAY.
SECOND, A CHARTER TRADES OUR LOCAL GOVERNMENT CODE TORE A
LOCAL COLLECTION CONTRACTING COUNCIL PAY BECOMES A FIGHT THE
CITY HAS TO LIT DONATE ON ITS OWN DIME.
THIRD, THE CHARTER STATUS LETS US -- LETS FUTURE COUNCIL EXEMPT
ITSELF FROM REPETITIVE BIDDINGS AND PREVAILING WAGE REQUIREMENTS
ON CITY CONTRACTS. THAT IS LESS OVERSIGHT AND NOT
MORE. BEFORE WE REWRITE OUR ENTIRE
GOVERNING STRUCTURE I'M ASKING THE COUNCIL TO COMMISSION AN
INDEPENDENT COST AND LEGAL ANALYSIS SEPARATE FROM THE
DRAFTING PROCESS, BEFORE THIS GOES TO A VOTE.
THANK YOU. >> The Clerk: NADIA.
>> I SECOND SOME OF THE PREVIOUS SPEAKERS THAT THE CHARTER CITY
SHOULD NOT BE ON THE BALLOT THIS NOVEMBER.
I HAVE REPEATEDLY HEARD RIGHT NOW THAT A CHARTER CITY WOULD
PROVIDE FULL CONTROL, LOCAL CONTROL AND EFFICIENCY,
EFFICIENCY DEPENDS ON SOUND LEADERSHIP, FISCAL
RESPONSIBILITY NOT ADOPTING A CHARTER.
THE REAL QUESTION IS WHO BENEFITS FROM THIS.
IF THE CURRENT SYSTEM ALREADY ALLOWS THE CITY TO DELIVER
ESSENTIAL SERVICES THEN CHANGING OUR STRUCTURE REQUIRES A
COMPELLING PUBLIC NEED AND A CHARTER IS NOT REALLY UNMOVED BY
THEM. WE'VE ALSO SEEN THE BECOMING A
CHARTER CITY IS NOTE A GUARANTEE FOR BETTER FINANCIAL OUTCOMES OR
RULES OUT POSSIBILITY OF CORRUPTION.
CHARTER CITIES ARE NOT IMMUNE FROM ETHICS CONSIDERATION, IN
FACT THAT IS THE CONCERNS I HAVE WHEN I READ ABOUT THE CHARTER
CITY PROPOSAL. WE HAVE LAWS IN PLACE REGARDING
CORRUPTION. SO THE QUESTION IS ABOUT
IMPLEMENTATION. THE UNUSUAL FAST TRACKING OF
SUCH A SIGNIFICANT CHANGE AND USING CONFUSING LEGAL LANGUAGE
MAKES ME QUESTION THE COUNCIL'S COMMITMENT TO THE COMMUNITY'S
OPINION AND OUR INTEREST. I RESPECTFULLY ASK THE COUNCIL
TO LET THIS ISSUE REMAIN SETTLED AND I HOPE THAT IT IS NOT
APPRPROPOSED IN ANY FUTURE ELEC, CHARTER CITY IS NOT BE NEED BUT
A FANCY IDEA TO JUST BE DIFFERENT, THANK YOU PZ.
>> Commissioner He: . >> The Clerk: THANK YOU, NEXT
SPEAKER IS KATE AMAN, KELLY ABREU, AND NEXT CALL FOR BELAGI
AND DIANE. >> THANK YOU MAYOR AND COUNCIL.
IT IS INCREDIBLY FRUSTRATING, WE CAN SEEN MAINLY HOW THE TIMING
OF THIS WOULD BENEFIT WITH THE CHANGED TERM LIMITS AND BENEFITS
FOR CERTAIN MEMBERS ON THE COUNCIL BUT NOW HOW THIS
BENEFITS ANYONE ELSE IN THE CITY TO FAST TRACK THIS TO NOVEMBER
BALLOT. SO IT SHOULD ABSOLUTELY PUT OFF
UNTIL LATER TIME TO BE DONE RIGHT FOR REAL BENEFITS.
AND LET'S DO THE SMART THING AND NOT JUST DO THIS TO BENEFIT
CERTAIN LAME DUCK POLITICIANS, THANK YOU.
>> SO THIS POLLING MEASURE THAT WAS -- THIS POLLING THAT WAS
JUST DONE, ALAMEDA COUNTY, OUR SUPERVISOR WHO REPRESENTS MOST
OF FREMONT JUST SPENT $150,000 OF HIS DISCRETIONARY MONEY TO
SPONSOR HIS OWN POLL COUNTY WIDE AND THE RESULTS CAME BACK AT
LIKE 47, 49%, THOUGHT VERY GOOD AND THEY DECIDED TO NOT GO AHEAD
WITH WHATEVER IT WAS. THEN THEY SAID, YOU KNOW, BUT
THAT WAS A COUNTY WIDE POLL OF ALL THE VOTERS.
MAYBE WE SHOULD BE ASKING JUST THE FARMERS BECAUSE THEY ARE THE
ONES WHO WE REALLY CARE ABOUT, OR YOU KNOW AND HERE IN FREMONT,
WE'VE GOT THE SAME KIND OF THING.
YOU KNOW, WHEN YOU RUN POLLS, THEIR POLL WAS VERY DETAILED.
THEY CAME BACK WITH SLICING AND DICING EVERY KIND OF THING.
THEY ASKED PEOPLE WELL WHO DO YOU TRUST MORE, THE BOARD OF
SUPERVISORS OR THE SIERRA CLUB? AND THEY DIDN'T LIKE THE ANSWER.
IT WAS THE SIERRA CLUB I GUESS. AND, YOU KNOW, YOU JUST RAN THIS
POLL, 24%, THAT IS NOT A POLLING RESULT, THAT IS A DISASTER.
THAT'S A DISASTER. AND FOR YOU TO SAY, YOU KNOW, WE
JUST KIND OF SKIP OVER THAT, YOU KNOW, YOU NEED TO ASK YOURSELF,
THE PEOPLE DON'T TRUST THESE POLITICIANS I GUESS, HERE.
AND ANOTHER THING WE HEARD ABOUT POPULATION GROWTH INCREASE IN
FREMONT. SINCE THE LAST CENSUS IT'S
DROPPED ONE OR TWO%, SO WHERE IS THE INCREASE?
>> The Clerk: FOLLOWING MR. HINES THE LAST SPEAKER WILL
BE ONLINE. >> HELLO EVERYONE.
ONE OF THE COOL THINGS ABOUT LIVING IN A PLACE WITH A
DEMOCRATIC PROCESS IS THAT WE GET A SAY IN GOVERNMENT WHICH WE
EXERCISE BY VOTING FOR COUNCILMEMBERS AND MAYOR.
OUR THROUGH IS MAXIMIZED WHEN THEIR INFLUENCE IS MAXIMIZED.
HAVING ATTENDED SOMETHING LIKE 200 OF THESE MEETINGS, SOME
THINGS I'VE OF OBSERVED IS YEARS AGO, CITY STAFF FELL INTO BAD
HABITS OF MINIMIZING THE COUNCIL BY HERDING THEM INTO A NARROWER
OR MORE CONSTRAINED DECISION SPACE, I'D GIVE SOME EXAMPLES
BUT THERE'S NOT TIME AND IT'S ALREADY.
COUNCILMEMBER ZHANG'S REFERRAL KICKED OFF SOME REALLY IMPORTANT
DISCUSSIONS THIS YEAR WHICH I THINK HAVE ALREADY BORNE SOME
FRUIT AND I APPLAUD ALL THE PEOPLE WHO WORKED ON IT.
>> The Clerk: THE NEXT SPEAKER IS BAPARTHY ON ZOOM.
FAPARTHY. >> CAN YOU GUYS HEAR ME?
THANK YOU FOR GIVING ME AN OPPORTUNITY.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO RAJ. I'D LIKE TO REQUEST THAT ALL THE
COUNCILMEMBERS TO MAKE A DECISION TO MAKE THIS AS A
CHARTER CITY. BECAUSE WE ALL VOTED TO THE
COUNCILMEMBERS AND WE VOTED FOR THE CITY OF FREMONT SO WHEN THEY
DOT THE OPPORTUNITY TO DO SOMETHING, THAT'S HOW I LOOK AT
IT. SO ALL THE -- ALL THESE
COUNCILMEMBERS WERE ALREADY SUPPORTING THAT, REALLY SUPPORT
THAT AND AT THE SAME TIME, I ACTUALLY CAN PEOPLE WHO MAKE
THIS A CHEERT CITY AND WE NEED TO EMPOWER THEM AND THAT REQUEST
ALL THE DECISIONS TO MAKE THAT HAPPEN.
THANK YOU. >> The Clerk: THAT WAS OUR
FINAL SPEAKER. >> Mayor Salwan: THANK YOU.
WELL, THAT CONCLUDES THE COMMENT PERIOD.
I WANT TO THANK EVERYONE FOR COMING OUT AND SPEAKING YOUR
MIND. WE APPRECIATE IT GREATLY.
I DID WANT TO HIGHLIGHT THESE RECOMMENDATIONS, THEY CAME FROM
THE ADVISORY COMMITTEE. AND THAT'S WHAT I WAS
HIGHLIGHTING EARLIER. WAS THAT THE MOST CHALLENGING
ISSUE REGARDING GOVERNANCE WAS THE ONE THAT HAD THE MOST
DISAGREEMENT. FOR EXAMPLE AS FAR AS PAY OR
TERM LIMITS WERE NOT DECISIONS MADE BY THE CITY COUNCIL BUT
THESE WERE THE ADVISORY BOARD SEVEN FOLKS WHO ALL AGREED THAT
THIS WAS WHAT NEEDED TO BE BROUGHT FORWARD.
SO WE DO FEEL THAT THIS DOESN'T ADDRESS THE CORNER -- SOME OF
THE CONCERNS THAT WE HAD SO I DO WANT TO ANSWER THAT.
SECOND, THERE WAS A MENTION ABOUT HAVING MEETINGS ON THIS
TOPIC. WHICH I THINK IS GOOD.
WE HAD THREE MEETINGS. SO THERE'S MORE PEOPLE,
DIFFERENT PEOPLE AT EVERY SINGLE MEETING WHICH I THINK IS A GOOD
THING. SHORTCUTTING THE PROCESS, NOT
NECESSARILY, IS NECESSARILY HELPFUL.
I THINK FOLKS HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO DEAJ AND WE'RE
GETTING A LOT OF ENGAGEMENT ON THIS ISSUE SO WE HAD THE FIRST
HEARING, THE SECOND HEARING AND THEN WE WERE SCHEDULED FOR THIS
FINAL HEARING DATE TO MAKE A DECISION.
AND I THINK ALL THAT INPUT IN EACH OF THOSE MEETINGS WAS
INVALUABLE. AND SO AT THIS POINT, I THINK
WE'VE HAD SOME GENERAL COMMENTS ON WHERE WE ALL ARE.
AND I THINK HOPEFULLY WE'LL HOPEFULLY GET A MOTION SOON.
I ALSO WANTED TO CLARIFY, THERE WAS A COMMENT MADE ABOUT THE
SECOND HEARING. THERE WAS A MOTION MADE BY
COUNCILMEMBER KENG, BUT IT WAS NOT SECONDED.
AND FURTHERMORE, IT WAS WITHDRAWN.
BECAUSE SEE, I ASSUME THAT SHE THOUGHT THAT THE VOTES WERE NOT
THERE. SO I WANTED TO SEE IF THE CITY
ATTORNEY COULD PROCEDURALLY ADDRESS THAT ISSUE THAT WAS
RAISED. >> Cty. Attny. Alvarado: THE
RECORD WILL SPEAK FOR ITSELF, BUT I THINK IT'S ACCURATE TO
STATE THAT THE MOTION WAS WITHDRAWN AND THE COUNCIL
DIRECTLIED US TO COME BACK THIS EVENING FOR FURTHER PUBLICth
PUT. >> Mayor Salwan: THANK YOU.
COUNCILMEMBER KENG, IS THAT YOUR UNDERSTANDING AS WELL?
>> Councilmember Keng: THAT IS ACCURATE.
>> Mayor Salwan: OKAY, GOOD. SO I KNOW COUNCILMEMBER ZHANG
WANTS TO MAKE A MOTION. ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS,
COMMENTS BEFORE THAT? OR -- OKAY.
WE'LL GO TO COUNCILMEMBER CAMPBELL THEN COUNCILMEMBER
KIMBERLIN. >> Councilmember Campbell:
ACTUALLY I WAS GOING TO GO AHEAD AND MAKE A MOTION SO WE COULD
MOVE THIS ON. BUT IF YOU HAVE ALREADY ACCEPTED
A MOTIONING FROM COUNCILMEMBER ZHANG?
>> Mayor Salwan: I THINK SHOW WANTED TO MAKE THE MOTION,
THAT'S WHAT SHE SAID, SINCE IT WAS KIND OF HER REFERRAL, NOBODY
HAS A DIFFICULTY WITH IT THAT'S JUST ACCEPTABLE WE'VE DONE THAT
IN THE PAST. CARLA OKAY, I'LL SECOND IT AS
THE MOTION COMES FORWARD. >> Mayor Salwan: OKAY.
IT'S OKAY. SO YEAH YOU CAN SECOND IT, IS
THAT OKAY, COUNCILMEMBER SHAO SHE CAN IS SECOND IT?
>> Councilmember Shao: OH YES. >> Mayor Salwan: ALL RIGHT SO
WE'LL JUST -- >> Councilmember Keng: WE HAVE
HEARD WHAT HER MOTION IS? >> Mayor Salwan: WE'LL HAVE
THAT. WE'LL JUST PUT THAT AS A PLACE
HOLDER AND THEN WHEN WE HEAR THE MOTION WE WILL CONFIRM WHAT
MOTION HAS BEEN MOVED, MAKE SURE WE ALL HAVE AN UNDERSTANDING AND
WE'LL HAVE A SECOND. AND ONCE THAT IS CLARIFIED THEN
WE'LL GO FROM THERE. SO WE'VE BEEN DOING THIS FOR A
WHILE SO WE UNDERSTAND HOW THE PROCESS WORKS.
SO I'LL GO TO COUNCILMEMBER KIMBERLIN.
>> Councilmember Kimberlin: JUST KIND OF WANTED TO WRAP UP A
COUPLE THINGS. I DID TALK ABOUT THE CITY
MANAGER OFFICE EARLIER AND I WANTED TO CLARIFY THAT.
WE ARE WORKING WELL TOGETHER. WE DON'T ALWAYS SEE EYE TO EYE.
NOBODY YOU WORK WITH WILL SEE EYE TO EYE, SOMETIMES I WANT TO
DO SOMETHING YOU CAN'T DO IT. SO I THINK THE COMMITMENT TO
WORKING TOGETHER WITH THE CITY MANAGER'S OFFICE IS A GOOD
INTENTION. IT'S DESTINY TIME YOU HAVE A
WORKING RELATIONSHIP WITH ANYBODY, YOU KNOW YOU HAVE TO
GROW AND LEARN. AND SO I DIDN'T WANT IT TO BE
TAKEN ANYTHING DEROGATORY WHAT I SAID EARLIER, I WANTED TO
CLARIFY THAT. THE OTHER THING I WANTED TO SAY,
ONE OF THE HARDEST THINGS FOR US TO DO HERE IS GET FEEDBACK
BEFORE PEOPLE ARE ANGRY. SO IF YOU CAN HELP US WITH THAT
THAT WOULD BE GREAT. FOR INSTANCE THE SURVEY THAT WE
PUT OUT TO 230 RESIDENTS WE GOT JUST OVER 600 RESPONSES BECAUSE
THOSE WERE MAYBE THE ANGRY ONES. AND WE GET PEOPLE TO MEETINGS
WHEN PEOPLE ARE UPSET AND WE'D REALLY LIKE TO HAVE MORE
ENGAGEMENT BEFORE THAT SO IF YOU CAN HELP US, I MEAN WE'VE DONE
THINGS, WE TALK ABOUT IT BEFORE, ALL THE WAYS WE PUT THINGS OUT,
SOCIAL MEDIA, WEBSITES, FLIERS AT EVENTS AND SO ANY IDEAS YOU
HAVE ON HOW WE CAN REALLY BE MORE INCLUSIVE AND ENGAGE PEOPLE
BEFORE THEY DIDN'T KNOW ABOUT THE CHARTER, IT'S GT A WHOLE
PAGE ON THE WEBSITE ABOUT THE CHARTER AND ALL THE WORK THAT'S
BEEN DONE. SO I KNOW IT'S HARD TO GO TO THE
WEBSITE AND FIND WHAT YOU WAND TO FIND.
JUST SAYING IT'S THERE BUT IF YOU CAN HELP US BE MORE
TRANSPARENT, HELP US GET THE WORD OUT, WE HAVE IDEAS, I'M ALL
EARS, THANK YOU. >> Mayor Salwan: THANK YOU
COMMISSIONER BASRAI. NEXT WE HAVE COUNCILMEMBER KENG.
>> Councilmember Keng: ALL RIGHT.
I THINK WHEN WE FIRST VOTED TO KIND OF START THIS CHARTER CITY
PROCESS WE REALLY GAVE THE STAFF A PRETTY DIFFICULT JOB OF
GUIDING THE CHARTER COMMITTEE IN THE SHORT TIME.
SO THEY DIDN'T HAVE AN EASY JOB, THEY WON'T EXPERTS ON STUDYING
OR FORMING OR GUIDING THIS PROCESS AND WE REALLY DID HAVE A
VERY SHORT TIME. BUT I THINK, YOU KNOW, IT WAS A
KIND OF A TRIAL, YOU KNOW, FOR US TO SEE SOME OF THE BENEFITS,
AND, YOU KNOW, WE DID SEE THAT, YOU KNOW, FOUR OF THE FIVE
LARGEST CITIES IN THE BAY AREA ARE CHARTER CITIES.
AND I THINK WE REALLY DO NEED TO HAVE MORE TIME TO STUDY WHY SOME
OF THESE CITIES OR WHY THE OTHER 125 CITIES ARE ADOPTING CHARTER
CITY AS THEIR CITY FORMAT. BUT THEN IN THE PROCESS, THAT
ENGAGE THE PUBLIC, HEAR EVERYONE BUT REALLY LOOK AT HOW THE
CHARTER CITY SYSTEM WILL BENEFIT FREMONT AS A CITY, SUCH AS
MODERNIZING PUBLIC CONTRACTING, ALLOWING MORE TIME FOR FLEXIBLE
PROCUREMENT METHODS, MORE KIND OF CLEAR PROCEDURES FOR
EMERGENCY PROCUREMENT AND DISASTER RESPONSE, AND UNDER THE
CHARTER CITY FREMONT CAN CREATE AN INDEPENDENT ETHICS COMMISSION
AND CITY AUDITOR, THAT CAN AVOID SOMETHING LIKE KIND OF A -- WHAT
HAPPENED WITH OUR TOMORROWER CITY MANAGER BEFORE.
SO WE ALSO, YOU KNOW, COULD HAVE FASTER DELIVERY OF ECONOMIC
DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS, THAT COULD HAVE -- COULD STREAMLINE THE
BUSINESS PERMITTING PROCESS, INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT, SOME OF
THE INFRASTRUCTURE SUPPORTING AND NEW HOUSING.
SO I DO SUPPORT JUST LIKE MANY OF YOU ARE INTERESTED IN
STUDYING HOW THE CHARTER WOULD BENEFIT FREMONT, AND I DO
SUPPORT HAVING A LONGER PROCESS THAT ENGAGE THE PUBLIC HAVING
MORE WORKSHOPS, AND SEE WHETHER FREMONT DO NEED A CHARTER CITY
OR NOT. AND HOPEFULLY, WHEN THE NEXT
HOLDING COMES WE WILL HAVE A VERY SUPPORTIVE POLLING BEFORE
WE GIVE ANOTHER TRY OWN THE BALLOT THANK YOU.
>> Mayor Salwan: COUNCILMEMBER LIU.
>> Vice Mayor Liu: RIGHT, SO I'VE ALREADY DISCUSSED MY
THOUGHTS ON THE CHARTER, SO I'LL LEAVE IT THERE.
BUT I JUST WANT TO BRING UP SOMETHING I HEARD OTHER PEOPLE
BRING UP TODAY, SAYING THEY DIDN'T KNOW THIS WAS AN ONGOING
PROCESS, THIS IS THE FIRST TIME THEY HEARD ABOUT IT OR MAYBE
THEY ONLY HEARD ABOUT IT LAST WEEK.
I DO WANT TO SAY WE DO HAVE A TREES WEEKLY E-MAIL SUBSCRIPTION
THE FREMONT CONNECTION. I HIGHLY ENCOURAGE EVERYBODY TO
SUBSCRIBE TO IT. THAT GIVES YOU UPDATES ON WHAT
IS OCCURRING AROUND THE CITY, WHETHER IN A CHARTER CITY,
EVENTS GOING ON IN FREMONT. PEOPLE COME UP TO ME, SAY THEY
HAVE NO IDEA WHAT'S GOING ON. I TELL THEM TO SUBSCRIBE TO IT.
I ENCOURAGE EVERYBODY TO SUBSCRIBE TO IT.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH. >> Mayor Salwan: AND DOWNLOAD
THE FREMONT APP. THAT'S ANOTHER, I'LL MAKE THAT
PITCH AS WELL. COUNCILMEMBER CAMPBELL.
>> Councilmember Campbell: I TRIED THOUGHT TO HIT THAT
BUTTON. I HIT THAT EARLIER.
>> Mayor Salwan: COUNCILMEMBER ZHANG, TRYING TO GET A MOTION
AND SEE IF WE CAN GET A SECOND. >> Councilmember Zhang: THANK
YOU, MAYOR, MY MOTION, BEFORE I MAKE A MOTION I WANT TO COMMENT,
A RESIDENT, SHE SAID SHE WOULD LIKE US TO ENGAGE WITH THEM AND
TO SEND OUT OUR MAILING LIST TO COMMUNICATE WITH OUR DISTRICT
CITIZENS DIRECTLY. I THOUGHT ABOUT IT A LOT, I
THINK I ASKED, OUR FELLOW COUNCIL TO SEIZE WHETHER WE HAVE
A BUDGET TO DO THAT. AND THE ANSWER IS NO.
IF I WANT TO DO A MAIL CHIP I HAVE TO GO FROM MY OWN POCKET,
SO YOU HAVE A GREAT FEEDBACK. SO GOING FORWARD WITH THE
DISCUSS THIS SUBJECT, SO THAT WE HAVE HAD SOME BUDGET, YOU KNOW,
WITHIN OUR CITY COUNCIL'S AUTHORITY, TO DO THAT, TO DO THE
FURTHER WIDER ENGAGEMENT. AND ALSO I MEAN THE POINT IS
THAT YOU PREVIOUS PEOPLE'S RESPONDENTS TO YOU BUT WE HAVE
NO SUPPORT. WE ONLY HAVE ONE PERSON WHO
WOULD SHARE WITH CITY MANAGER, AND I JUST WANT TO TELL YOU, THE
FACTS. SO WITH THAT, I THINK YOU HAVE
ALL GREAT INPUTS AND I HEAR YOU AND WE HEAR YOU.
AND I'M GOING TO GO WITH A MOTION TO DEFER CONSIDERATION OF
A CHARTER TO A FUTURE ELECTION AND CONTINUE AND STRENGTHEN OUR
COMMUNICATE ENGAGEMENT AND DIALOGUE AND IN A FORMAT OF
WORKSHOP, STUDY STUDY SESSION AND TOWN HALL, AND, YOU KNOW,
PERSONAL MEETINGS AT COFFEE SHOP AND I THINK THOSE ARE IMPORTANT
NOT ONLY TO CHARTER BUT TO FUTURE BALLOT, YOU KNOW,
ET CETERA, MEASURES. AND ALSO, AND THAT'S MY FIRST
MOTION. SECOND MOTION IS TO, WITH
ORDINANCE, TO IMPLEMENT THE SEVERAL ITEMS, WHICH CAN BE DONE
AND IMPLEMENTED TO HELP THE CITY WITHOUT A CHARTER.
SUCH AS COUNCIL'S REPRESENTATIVE WHICH HAS ALREADY PUT AS FULL
TIME MEMBER, AND AGREED WITH THE CITY, AND SECOND IS TECHNICAL, I
THINK TH THIS IS A GIVEN BUT I T TO CLARIFY THAT MAYOR CAN BE
DIRECTING THE CITY MEETING, THE CONTENT OF THE MEETING.
AND THE THIRD IS ALREADY APPROVED, I MEAN A CONSENT, THAT
THE CITY WILL CONFIRM THE FUTURE APPOINTMENT OF A MAJOR
DEPARTMENT HEAD. I THINK THAT'S MY MOTION.
>> Mayor Salwan: SO EXCUSE ME. PLEASE.
COUNCILMEMBER ZHANG I JUST WANT TO CLARIFY.
I WANT TO SIMPLIFY WHAT YOU'RE SAYING IF YOU COULD LISTEN AND
SEE WHAT YOU THINK. SO I THINK FIRST PART IS YOU
SAID YOU WANT TO DEFER CONSIDERATION OF A CITY CHARTER
TO A FUTURE ELECTION AND CONTINUE THE COMMUNITY DIALOGUE,
IS THAT CORRECT? >> Councilmember Zhang: YES.
>> Mayor Salwan: SECOND PART I THINK THE SPECIFICATION, I THINK
IT'S BASICALLY TO DIRECT STAFF TO RETURN TO A FUTURE MEETING
WITH THE ORDINANCES THAT CAN BE IMPLEMENTED UNDER THE GENERAL
LAW FRAMEWORK. >> Councilmember Zhang: YES.
>> Mayor Salwan: THAT'S I THINK A SIMPLIFIED WAY.
I THINK AS FAR AS THE SPECIFICS, STAFF WILL HAVE TO COME BACK
LATER TO TELL US WHERE THEY WANT TO DOUGH A TOWN LAL OR COMMUNITY
FORUM OR CONSULTANT, THAT HAS TO BE FLESHED OUT.
RIGHT NOW WE HAVE COMMITMENT FROM STAFF THAT THEY'LL DO
COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT BUT THE FORMAT NEEDS TO BE FLESHED OUT,
IS THAT OKAY COUNCILMEMBER? >> Councilmember Zhang: YES,
SIR, ABSOLUTELY. FOR THE FUTURE I WOULD LIKE TO
CONTINUE DIALOGUE AND FOR THE FUTURE ELECTION.
>> Mayor Salwan: THAT'S RIGHT. >> Councilmember Zhang: BUT
ALSO THE CONTENT OF THE ORDINANCE WHICH IS ALREADY
INCLUDED IN THE PROPOSAL CAN BE IMPLEMENTED WITHOUT CHARTER AND
I THINK THAT USE THE FRUIT OF THIS FOUR MONTH OR FIVE MONTH
LABOR AND MAKE THE CITY BETTER. >> Mayor Salwan: OKAY, SO WE
HAVE THAT SIMPLIFIED MOTION, TWO PARTS, DEFER THE CHARTER,
COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT, AND ADOPT THE THINGS THAT WE CAN ADOPT IN
THE GENERAL LAW FRAMEWORK THAT WERE OUTLINED IN THE STAFF
REPORT. >> Councilmember Zhang:
CORRECT. >> Mayor Salwan: I'M SORRY,
ARE YOU TRYING TO SAY SOMETHING COUNCILMEMBER DUTRA?
OKAY, I WILL ASK OUR CITY ATTORNEY TO SPECIFY.
>> Cty. Attny. Alvarado: FOR PURPOSES OF THIS EVENING, I
THINK WE HAVE SUFFICIENT DIRECTION.
WHEN WE COME BACK WE'RE NOT COMING BACK WITH READY TO MOVE
ORDINANCES, WE'RE COMING BACK WITH A FUTURE DISCUSSION ABOUT
SECTIONS OF THE CHARTER THAT COULD BE IMPLEMENTED IN A
GENERAL LAW CITY. AND THEN THE CITY COUNCIL CAN
THEN HAVE A DISCUSSION ABOUT AND COMMUNICATE WITH THE CITY
MANAGER'S OFFICE ABOUT THE SCHEDULING OF THOSE ITEMS AT A
FUTURE TIME. FOR THIS EVENING I THINK WE HAVE
DIRECTION AND IT IS SUFFICIENT. >> Mayor Salwan: OKAY, WE HAVE
A MOTION, COUNCILMEMBER CAMPBELL DO YOU WANT TO SECOND, DO YOU
AGREE WITH THAT? >> Councilmember Campbell:
WELL, I DID HAVE AN ADDITIONAL COMMENT I WANTED TO MAKE TO THE
MOTION. >> Mayor Salwan: SURE.
>> Councilmember Campbell: I THINK I WOULD FOR THE SECOND
PART OF THAT I WOULD SAY TO REVISIT THE AREAS OF THE WORK
PLAN RECOMMENDATIONS THAT CAN BE IMPLEMENTED BY ORDINANCE OR
ADMINISTRATIVE REGULATION, WITH COMMUNITYth PUT AS A GENERAL
LAW CITY. >> Mayor Salwan: I THINK CITY
ATTORNEY HAS CONFIRMED THAT, CORRECT?
IT'S GOING TO COME BACK. >> Councilmember Campbell: AS
LONG AS THAT'S WHAT I HEARD. >> Cty. Attny. Alvarado: FOR
PURPOSES OF DIRECTION OF STAFF THE MOTION IS SUFFICIENT AS IS.
ANY -- WHEN WE COME BACK AS STAFF TO LET'S SAY IDENTIFY THE
AREAS FOR COUNCIL INPUT THAT COULD BE IMPLEMENTED BY
ORDINANCE, IN A GENERAL LAW CITY, THAT WILL BE THE
OPPORTUNITY, THE COUNSEL CAN HAVE THAT DISCUSSION AND HAVE
NOT ONLY ROBUST DISCUSSION ABOUT WHICH ITEMS IT WANTS TO ADVANCE
BUT THE SCHEDULING OF THOSE ITEMS.
THIS EVENING, THE ONLY AGENDA ITEM IS WHETHER WE'RE CONTINUING
WITH THIS CHARTER, AND I UNDERSTAND THAT THE MOTION IS TO
CONTINUE THE DISCUSSION UNDER OPTION A, WITH THE ADDITIONAL
DIRECTION THAT THE CITY COUNCIL IS INTERESTED IN EXPLOARG
FURTHER POTENTIAL UPDATES BY ORDINANCE THAT ARE AVAILABLE BY
GENERAL LAW CITIES AND WILL CONTINUE THAT DISCUSSION AT
PUBLIC MEETINGS SOMETIME IN THE FUTURE.
>> Councilmember Campbell: OKAY.
I'M OKAY WITH THAT. >> Mayor Salwan: OKAY SO THAT
SOUNDS LIKE A SECOND. >> Councilmember Campbell:
YES. >> Cty. Attny. Alvarado: AND
PLEASE MAKE SURE THAT MY RECITATION OF THAT MOTION THAT
COUNCILMEMBER ZHANG CONFORMS TO THAT.
I DON'T WANT TO MISREPRESENT WHAT SHE'S MOVING FORWARD THIS
EVENING. THAT IS STAFF'S UNDERSTANDING OF
WHAT TOOK PLACE. >> Mayor Salwan: THAT'S A GOOD
POINT. COUNCILMEMBER ZHANG IS THAT
ACCEPTABLE TO YOU? >> Councilmember Zhang: OKAY,
YES. OKAY, DEFER CONSIDERATION OF A
CHARTER TO THE FUTURE AND CONTINUE DIALOGUE OF THE
CHARTER. BECAUSE -- AND WITH THE
ORDINANCE WE WILL COME BACK AT A LATER SESSION TO DECIDE WHAT
ITEMS WOULD BE INCLUDED IN THE DISCUSSION OF AN ORDINANCE WHICH
IS CURRENTLY DISCUSSED ON THE CHARTER.
>> Mayor Salwan: CORRECT. >> Councilmember Zhang: BUT
THAT WOULD BE IMPLEMENTED UNDER THE GENERAL LAW CITY.
>> Mayor Salwan: CORRECT BUT THEY WILL COME BACK FOR FUTURE
MEETINGS WHERE WE WILL HAVE FURTHER DIALOGUE AND DISCUSSION.
I SEE STAFF THOUGHTING, WE'RE ON THE SAME PAGE, SO SINGS
COUNCILMEMBER ZHANG IS THOUGHT HERE, LET'S DO A VOICE VOTE.
>> The Clerk: COUNCILMEMBER ZHANG, AYE.
COUNCILMEMBER SHAO, AYE. COUNCILMEMBER KIMBERLIN, AYE.
COUNCILMEMBER CAMPBELL, AYE. COUNCILMEMBER KENG, AYE.
VICE MAYOR LIU, AYE. MAYOR SALWAN.
>> Mayor Salwan: AYE. MOTION PASSES UNANIMOUSLY.
THANK YOU EVERYONE. THANK YOU TO THE STAFF FOR YOUR
HARD WORK, SPECIAL SHOUT OUT FOR MR. ALVARADO FOR DOING THE LEGAL
WORK AND THANKS TO CHRISTINA YOU CONDUCTED A LOT OF THE MEETINGS.
I WANT TO THANK ALL THE COMMUNITY MEMBERS FOR COMING
OUT, LET'S KEEP THE DISCUSSION AND THE DIALOGUE GOING, WE
APPRECIATE ALL THE FEEDBACK AND COMMENTS AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO
WORKING WITH YOU TO MAKE SURE WE HAVE A GREAT OUTCOME.
HAVE A GREAT EVENING EVERYBODY, LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING YOU AFTER
THE RECESS.