[0:32] >> Mayor Salwan: GOOD EVENING, EVERYONE.
[0:34] WELCOME. WELCOME TO CITY HALL.
[0:36] PLEASE, IF EVERYBODY COULD GRAB A SEAT, I'D LIKE TO GET
[0:38] STARTED. I'D LIKE TO CALL THE SPECIAL
[0:41] MEETING OF JULY 28, 2026 TO ORDER.
[0:44] I WOULD LIKE TO ASK COUNCILMEMBER SHAO TO LEAD US IN
[0:47] THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE. THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER SHAO.
[1:12] NEXT WE HAVE ROLL CALL. >> COUNCILMEMBER ZHANG, HERE.
[1:26] COUNCILMEMBER SHAO, PRESENT. COUNCILMEMBER KIMBERLIN, HERE.
[1:31] COUNCILMEMBER CAMPBELL, HERE. COUNCILMEMBER KENG, HERE.
[1:33] VICE MAYOR LIU, HERE. MAYOR SALWAN, PRESENT.
[1:42] THERE ARE CURRENT VACANCIES ON CITY BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS.
[1:44] THE CITY CLERK'S OFFICE ACCEPTS APPLICATIONS YEAR-ROUND.
[1:49] TO APPLY, PLEASE VISIT THE BOARDS, COMMISSIONS AND
[1:52] COMMITTEES PAGE AT FREMONT.GOV OR CONTACT THE CITY CLERK'S
[1:55] OFFICE. FOR MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC
[1:59] PARTICIPATING ELECTRONICALLY THIS EVENING, YOU MAY PROVIDE
[2:02] PUBLIC COMMENT BY SELECTING THE "RAISE HAND" FEATURE IN ZOOM.
[2:06] OR BY DIALING STAR NINE IF CALLING IN.
[2:10] I WILL ANNOUNCE WHEN PUBLIC COMMENT IS OPEN FOR EACH AGENDA
[2:14] SECTION. PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME AND IF
[2:17] REPRESENTING AN ORGANIZATION, IDENTIFY THE ORGANIZATION.
[2:22] EMAILS SUBMITTED TO THE CITY CLERK ARE DISTRIBUTED TO THE
[2:24] CITY COUNCIL AND STAFF, PUBLISHED IN THE AGENDA CENTER
[2:29] AT FREMONT.GOV AND RETAINED AS PART OF THE PUBLIC RECORD.
[2:32] THIS MEETING MAY GO ON UNTIL 11:30 P.M. IF NEEDED.
[2:37] WE WILL ALLOW FOR 30 MINUTES FOR GENERAL PUBLIC COMMENTS.
[2:40] ADDITIONAL SPEAKERS WISHING TO SPEAK DURING THE ORAL
[2:47] COMMUNICATIONS PERIOD CAN BE ALLOWED TO SPEAK AT THE END OF
[2:49] THE MEETING IF THERE'S MORE SPEAKERS.
[2:52] I WILL NOW TURN THE MEETING OVER TO CITY MANAGER KARENA
[2:55] SHACKELFORD TO MAKE ANY ANNOUNCEMENTS AND TO INTRODUCE
[2:57] HER STAFF. >> City Mgr. Shackelford:
[2:59] THANK YOU, MAYOR SALWAN. GOOD EVENING.
[3:01] GOOD EVENING, COUNCILMEMBERS. TO THE LEFT OF ME IS OUR CITY
[3:04] ATTORNEY, RAFAEL ALVARADO. AND NEXT TO RAFAEL IS ASSISTANT
[3:09] CITY MANAGER CHRISTINA BRIGGS. ACROSS FROM THE THREE OF US, WE
[3:13] HAVE ASSISTANT CITY CLERK DINA LEWIS, AND FORMER CITY CLERK
[3:18] MAKING A SPECIAL GUEST APPEARANCE THIS EVENING, SUSAN
[3:21] GAUTHIER. AND THEN JUST ONE ANNOUNCEMENT.
[3:25] I JUST WOULD LIKE TO REMIND FOLKS AND INVITE EVERYONE OUT TO
[3:29] THE FREMONT FESTIVAL OF THE ARTS THIS WEEKEND, AUGUST 1ST AND
[3:34] AUGUST 2ND, 10:00 A.M. TO 6:00 P.M.
[3:35] SO PLEASE COME OUT AND ENJOY SOME GOOD MUSIC, GOOD FOOD, GOOD
[3:40] THINGS TO BUY, EVERYTHING, SO LOOKING FORWARD TO SEE YOU ALL
[3:42] OUT THERE. THANK YOU, MAYOR.
[3:43] >> Mayor Salwan: THANK YOU. AND IT'S GREAT TO SEE A FAMILIAR
[3:47] FACE. WELCOME BACK, MS. GAUTHIER!
[3:50] SO AT THIS TIME, WE'LL GO TO PUBLIC COMMUNICATIONS.
[3:54] THIS IS A TIME FOR ANY PERSON WHO WISHES TO SPEAK ON AN ISSUE
[3:58] THAT IS NOT ON THE AGENDA MAY DO SO DURING ORAL COMMUNICATIONS.
[4:04] MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC PARTICIPATING VIA ZOOM MAY RAISE
[4:08] THEIR HAND USING THE ZOOM "RAISE HAND" FEATURE OR BY DIALING
[4:12] STAR NINE IF YOU'RE CALLING IN. IF YOUR NAME IS NOT DISPLAYED,
[4:16] PLEASE STATE IT BEFORE SPEAKING.
[4:19] THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR THE PUBLIC TO ADDRESS THE COUNCIL ON
[4:22] MATTERS THAT ARE NOT ON THE AGENDA.
[4:24] THE COUNCIL CAN NOT TAKE ACTION NOR RESPOND TO ITEMS DURING THIS
[4:29] COMMENT PERIOD. THOUGH ITEMS MAY BE REFERRED TO
[4:31] STAFF FOR POSSIBLE PLACEMENT ON A FUTURE AGENDA.
[4:35] WHEN SPEAKING ON BEHALF OF AN ORGANIZATION, PLEASE IDENTIFY
[4:37] THE ORGANIZATION YOU REPRESENT. A BELL WILL RING WHEN 30 SECONDS
[4:42] REMAIN, AND AGAIN WHEN YOUR TIME HAS ENDED.
[4:44] SO WITH THAT, DO WE HAVE ANY SPEAKERS FOR ORAL
[4:50] COMMUNICATIONS? >> Ms. Lewis: CURRENTLY WE
[4:53] HAVE FOUR SPEAKER CARDS AND ONE HAND RAISED ON ZOOM.
[4:55] >> Mayor Salwan: OKAY. SO THIS IS -- WE CAN ALLOW
[4:58] 2 MINUTES FOR THIS PERIOD. AND AGAIN THIS IS FOR ITEMS NOT
[5:05] ON THE AGENDA TODAY. >> Ms. Lewis: FIRST SPEAKER ON
[5:15] ZOOM IS CAMERON LEE. >> HI, HELLO?
[5:34] >> Ms. Lewis: YOU MAY GO AHEAD.
[5:37] >> YES, HI. MY NAME IS CAMERON LEE AND I'M
[5:44] SPEAKING TONIGHT ON THIS AGENDA FOR FREMONT BECOME AGO CHARTER
[5:47] CITY, IS WHAT I'M CALLING IN FOR --
[5:49] >> Mayor Salwan: SIR, WE'LL COME BACK TO YOU.
[5:53] RIGHT NOW WE'RE IN ORAL COMMUNICATIONS.
[5:55] SO WE'LL GO TO THE NEXT SPEAKER.
[5:59] >> I SEE, MY APOLOGIES. >> Mayor Salwan: THANK YOU.
[6:01] >> Ms. Lewis: NEXT SPEAKER IS CYNTHIA TANION.
[6:15] FOLLOWED BY JACK RODGERS. TERESA DEANDA.
[6:23] AND PAT MAPOLI. >> Mayor Salwan: YOU'RE DOING
[6:33] GOOD, JUST MAKE SURE THAT BUTTON IS PRESSED.
[6:40] >> CAN YOU HEAR ME? >> Mayor Salwan: YES.
[6:41] >> I JUST HAVE A BRIEF QUESTION AND MY CONCERN, IT'S AN ONGOING
[6:46] CONCERN AND I'LL PROBABLY BE SHOWING UP HERE AND THERE IS
[6:51] ABOUT THE DATA CENTERS AND FUTURE OF DATA CENTERS AND
[6:57] FREMONT, AND DATA CENTERS IN THE WHOLE TRI-CITY AREA.
[7:00] MY QUESTION IS BRIEF AND IT'S DIRECTED JUST TO THE MAYOR, IS
[7:05] HAVE YOU EVER SIGNED AN NDA, A NON-DISCLOSURE AGREEMENT WITH
[7:12] ANY TECH DEVELOPERS? AND I CAN -- THAT'S MY ONLY
[7:17] QUESTION. >> Mayor Salwan: THANK YOU,
[7:20] MA'AM. JUST THE WAY THIS ORAL
[7:22] COMMUNICATION WORKS, I CAN'T RESPOND TO YOU ON THIS ITEM
[7:24] BECAUSE IT'S NOT AGENDIZED BUT YOU'RE WELCOME TO EMAIL ME AND
[7:28] I'M WILLING TO GIVE YOU AN EMAIL BACK RESPONSE.
[7:34] RSALWAN@FREMONT.GOV. YES, SIR.
[7:37] >> MY NAME IS JACK RODGERS, A 78-YEAR, 79-YEAR-OLD RESIDENT
[7:43] HERE IN FREMONT. I JUST WANTED TO SPEAK ON PUBLIC
[7:48] HEARINGS IN GENERAL. AND ENCOURAGE THE COUNCIL AND
[7:52] THE MAYOR TO THINK ABOUT PEOPLE WHO COME BEFORE YOU, AND YOU
[7:58] LIMIT THEIR INPUT ON A PUBLIC HEARING TO 1 MINUTE.
[8:00] AFTER GIVING YOUR NAME AND LOCATION, YOU GET DOWN TO ABOUT
[8:04] 45 SECONDS WORTH OF COMMUNICATIONS, AND I DON'T KNOW
[8:06] THAT THAT REALLY MEETS THE TEST OF A PUBLIC HEARING.
[8:10] SO I WANT TO ENCOURAGE YOU TO THINK ABOUT GIVING MORE TIME TO
[8:15] PEOPLE, EVEN IF THERE'S A LARGE CROWD, HAVING BEEN AN EMPLOYEE
[8:18] OF THE CITY FOR MORE THAN 33 YEARS, I SAT THROUGH MEETINGS
[8:23] THAT WENT UNTIL 2:30 IN THE MORNING, BUT IN THE END, THE
[8:26] PUBLIC WAS HEARD. THANK YOU.
[8:32] >> Mayor Salwan: THANK YOU. SORRY, NO CLAPPING, BOOING,
[8:35] HISSING, CHEERING. THANK YOU.
[8:37] COME ON UP, MA'AM. >> MY NAME IS TERESA DEANDA,
[8:45] I'VE BEEN A LONG TIME FREMONT RESIDENT, AND I'M HERE TONIGHT
[8:47] TO THANK YOU ALL FOR SPENDING YOUR TIME HERE ON COUNCIL AND
[8:51] MAYOR BECAUSE I KNOW IT TAKES A LOT OF EFFORT AND TIME.
[8:57] I'M HERE TO SAY THAT I RESPECT THE FACT THAT I GOT RESPONSE
[9:01] FROM MANY PEOPLE ON EMAILS, AND I APPRECIATE AND RESPECT THAT
[9:05] YOU TAKE YOUR TIME TO DO THAT, BUT I ALSO APPRECIATE AND
[9:09] RESPECT THAT I TAKE MY TIME, AND I WOULD REALLY LIKE TO GET
[9:13] RESPONSES FROM OTHER COUNCILMEMBERS WHICH I'LL TALK
[9:16] ABOUT IN THE AGENDA ITEM. BUT ONE THING I'M HERE FOR
[9:19] TONIGHT IS I WANT TO MAKE A SUGGESTION.
[9:22] I LIVE IN NILES, AND IN NILES, WE HAVE A NILES E GROUP THAT
[9:29] SPANS MANY, MANY FAMILIES, AND WE GET PUSHED OUT EMAILS TO US
[9:32] TO KEEP US ENGAGED IN WHAT'S GOING ON IN NILES AND WHY WE
[9:38] COME TOGETHER AND WE WILL SHOW UP IN GROUPS HERE AT CITY
[9:44] COUNCIL. I WOULD LIKE TO SUGGEST THAT
[9:46] EACH COUNCILMEMBER, IN THE DIFFERENT DISTRICTS, COME UP
[9:49] WITH THEIR OWN EMAIL ADDRESS FOR THAT, AND ASK PEOPLE TO SIGN UP
[9:54] SO THAT YOU CAN THEN PUSH INFORMATION OUT TO THEM VERSUS
[9:59] THEM GOING ON TO YOUR EMAIL AND LOOKING FOR IT.
[10:01] PUSH IT OUT. THAT WAY, WE DON'T HAVE TO SPEND
[10:05] TAXPAYER MONEY MAILING, AND WE ARE INFORMED OF WHAT'S GOING
[10:08] ON. I THINK THAT'S A GREAT
[10:10] SUGGESTION. I REALLY WOULD LIKE FOR YOU TO
[10:12] CONSIDER THAT. THANK YOU.
[10:15] >> Mayor Salwan: THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER.
[10:22] >> GOOD EVENING, MAYOR, CITY COUNCILMEMBERS, PAT MIPELLI,
[10:28] LIFELONG RESIDENT OF THE CITY OF THE FREMONT AND 20 YEAR RESIDENT
[10:31] IN MISSION LAKES NEIGHBORHOODS RIGHT ACROSS FROM QUARRY LAKES.
[10:35] I'M HERE TO TALK ABOUT NEW CITY SIGNS POSTED ON NUTMAN LANE THE
[10:39] STREET I LIVE ON AND DOMINICI DRIVE STATING NO STOPPING ANY
[10:44] TIME. LAST WEEK THESE SIGNS JUST
[10:45] SHOWED UP. THERE WAS NO NOTICE, NOTHING
[10:48] SENT TO THE NEIGHBORHOOD, NO WARNING, AND MOST IMPORTANTLY,
[10:51] NO REASON WHY. THESE SIGNS ARE POSTED ALONG THE
[10:56] CURB THAT IS ADJACENT TO WHAT IS CALLED ISHERWOOD PARK.
[10:59] IT'S A LINEAR STRIP THAT'S ESSENTIALLY AN ASPHALT PATH WITH
[11:02] DIRT AROUND IT, PARALLEL TO ALAMEDA CREEK TRAIL.
[11:06] THERE ARE PEOPLE THAT COME IN TO OUR NEIGHBORHOOD FROM OUTSIDE
[11:11] PARK ALONG THIS SIDE TO ACCESS THE CREEK TRAIL AND QUARRY LAKES
[11:15] EVERY DAY OF THE WEEK. THEY'RE PARKING ALONG THIS CURB
[11:17] HAS NEVER POSED A PROBLEM IN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD.
[11:19] AT LEAST IN THE 20 YEARS THAT I'VE BEEN THERE.
[11:23] IF THESE PEOPLE CHOOSE TO ABIDE BY THE SIGNS, THEY WILL BE
[11:27] FORCED TO PARK THEIR CARS IN FRONT OF OUR HOMES.
[11:32] THEREBY LEAVING NO PARKING FOR US AS HOMEOWNERS OR GUESTS OR
[11:35] VISITORS THAT WE HAVE TO OUR HOME.
[11:36] AND WE WILL BE FORCED TO THEN GO DOWNSIDE STREETS AND PARK IN
[11:40] FRONT OF OTHER PEOPLE'S HOMES, WHICH IS JUST A TRICKLE DOWN
[11:43] EFFECT AND VERY DISTURBING TO THOSE HOMEOWNERS.
[11:46] BUT MOST DISTURBING COMPONENT OF THIS CHANGE IS THE LACK OF
[11:49] COMMUNICATION AND THE RESPECT TO THE HOMEOWNERS ALONG THESE TWO
[11:52] STREETS. A COMPONENT OF WHY WE BOUGHT THE
[11:55] HOME IN THIS NEIGHBORHOOD WAS THE ABUNDANCE OF PARKING.
[12:01] AND THIS CHANGE NOW AFFECTS THE VALUE OF WHY WE BOUGHT THERE,
[12:03] AND WITH NO JUST CAUSE EXPLANATION OR COMMUNICATION TO
[12:06] US AS HOMEOWNERS. SO LASTLY I JUST WANT TO BRING
[12:12] UP ENFORCEMENT, WHO IS GOING TO ENFORCE THIS?
[12:14] IF SOMEBODY CALLS FREMONT PD FOR A NON-EMERGENCY CALL OR PARKING
[12:19] IN FRONT OF A NO STOPPING ANY TIME SIGN, NOBODY IS GOING TO
[12:24] RESPOND BECAUSE THEY'RE JUST STRETCHED THIN WITH RESOURCES,
[12:28] AND IT'S A NON-EMERGENCY ACTION.
[12:30] SO HOPEFULLY AT A MINIMUM, SOMEONE --
[12:37] >> Ms. Lewis: NEXT SPEAKER IS MR. DAVID BONACCORSI.
[12:41] >> Mayor Salwan: THANK YOU, SIR.
[12:42] YOU CAN PROBABLY FIND ONE OF THE STAFF MEMBERS TO GO OVER THAT
[12:45] WITH YOU. >> GOOD EVENING, MAYOR AND
[12:51] MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL. MY NAME IS DAVID BONACCORSI.
[12:55] I WANT TO -- I GUESS IN SADNESS BUT IN REALITY RECOGNIZE YOU
[13:01] ONLY HAD ONE DECISION LAST WEEK NOT TO PUT THE HALF CENT SALES
[13:05] TAX MEASURE ON THE BALLOT. I WAS A CO-CHAIR BACK IN 2002 OF
[13:11] MEASURE B, WHICH WAS A SCHOOL BOND MEASURE, AND FOUR OF YOU
[13:16] HAVE HAD VERY CLOSE TIES TO THE SCHOOL DISTRICT AND KNOW HOW
[13:20] DIFFICULT IT IS TO GET A BOND MEASURE PASSED OR A PARCEL TAX
[13:24] MEASURE PASSED, AND I WOULD URGE THE COUNCIL TO CONSIDER THAT NOT
[13:28] HAVING THE MEASURE ON THE BALLOT IN NOVEMBER IS NOT SIMPLY A
[13:35] QUESTION OF POLL NUMBERS THAT MAY SHIFT OVER TIME.
[13:37] THIS IS REALLY A WONDERFUL OPPORTUNITY TO DO WHAT I THINK
[13:41] THE SCHOOL DISTRICT HAS DONE SUCCESSFULLY OVER THE YEARS,
[13:45] WHICH IS TO HAVE A LOT OF LEAD TIME TO ENGAGE THE PUBLIC.
[13:49] FIRST OF ALL, I WANT TO THANK THE CITY FOR REMOVING THE
[13:52] BARRIER HERE. I WANT TO JOIN THE COMMENTS OF
[13:56] JACK IN TERMS OF HAVING MORE TIME TO ENGAGE, BUT WE NEED MORE
[14:00] TOWN HALL MEETINGS, WE NEED MORE OPPORTUNITIES LIKE THE SCHOOL
[14:03] BOARD MEMBERS AND THE STAFF AND THE SCHOOL DISTRICT SELLING THE
[14:06] SCHOOL DISTRICT TO OUR COMMUNITY.
[14:08] I THINK THAT THE CITY HAS AN OPPORTUNITY OF DOING IT.
[14:10] YOU HAVE A GREAT STORY TO TELL. WE'VE BEEN VERY FISCALLY
[14:15] CONSERVATIVE, AND WE WANT TO SUSTAIN THAT IN THE FUTURE.
[14:17] SO IF THERE'S A LESSON, YES, BE SAD THAT WE CAN'T GET IT ON THE
[14:21] BALLOT IN NOVEMBER, BUT LET'S MOVE FORWARD IN LOOKING AT MORE
[14:27] WAYS OF ENGAGING OUR COMMUNITY. >> Mayor Salwan: SO THAT
[14:35] CONCLUDES OUR ORAL COMMENT PERIOD.
[14:36] NOW WE'LL GO TO THE MAIN ITEM, WHICH IS ITEM 3A, WHICH IS THE
[14:42] CITY CHARTER CONSIDERATION. TODAY IS THE DECISION REGARDING
[14:45] THE PLACEMENT OF THE PROPOSED CITY CHARTER ON THIS
[14:50] NOVEMBER 2026 ELECTION, SO I'LL TURN IT OVER TO STAFF.
[14:54] >> Ms. Briggs: THANK YOU, MAYOR.
[14:55] IF I CAN ASK THE CITY CLERK TO PULL UP THE PRESENTATION,
[14:58] PLEASE. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
[15:14] GOOD EVENING, MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL.
[15:15] WE ARE PLEASED TO BE WITH YOU TONIGHT FOR THE THIRD AND FINAL
[15:19] MEETING FOR FREMONT'S CHARTER CITY INITIATIVE.
[15:23] FOLLOWING CITY COUNCIL'S DISCUSSION AND DIRECTION AT THE
[15:24] TWO PRIOR PUBLIC HEARINGS, STAFF HAS MADE REVISIONS BASED ON YOUR
[15:27] FEEDBACK AND ARE PRESENTING THE ITEM FOR FINAL CONSIDERATION
[15:29] TONIGHT. JUST AS A QUICK REMINDER, THIS
[15:36] INITIATIVE HAS CARRIED OUT THE DIRECTIONS SET FORTH IN THE CITY
[15:38] COUNCIL'S CHARTER WORK PLAN WHICH WAS APPROVED ON
[15:41] MARCH 3RD. THE TOPICS ARE INCLUDED HERE ON
[15:42] THE SLIDE. ALSO AS A QUICK RECAP, THE
[15:56] PROCESS THAT HAS TAKEN PLACE ON MARCH 3RD, THE CITY COUNCIL
[15:59] APPROVED THE CHARTER WORK PLAN AND ESTABLISHED A CHARTER
[16:03] ADVISORY COMMITTEE. DURING THE MONTHS OF MARCH AND
[16:06] APRIL, THE COMMITTEE CONVENED AND DEVELOPED RECOMMENDATIONS
[16:09] RESPONSIVE TO THAT WORK PLAN. THEN ON JUNE 2ND AND JUNE 7TH,
[16:14] THE CITY HELD TWO REQUIRED PUBLIC HEARINGS TO CONSIDER THE
[16:17] COMMITTEE'S RECOMMENDATIONS AND PROVIDE INPUT ON THE DRAFT CITY
[16:19] CHARTER. YOU'VE SEEN THESE SLIDES BEFORE,
[16:25] THIS IS JUST A QUICK REMINDER OF THE TIMELINE THAT WAS DEVELOPED
[16:27] IN ORDER TO ACCOMPLISH THIS WORK IN TIME FOR THE BALLOT PLACEMENT
[16:32] DEADLINE OF AUGUST 7TH. AFTER CONDUCTING THE FIRST
[16:40] PUBLIC HEARING ON JUNE 2ND, THE CITY COUNCIL ACCEPTED THE
[16:43] CHARTER COMMITTEE'S RECOMMENDATIONS AND DIRECTED
[16:46] STAFF TO REVISE THE DRAFT CHARTER TO INCLUDE ADDITIONAL
[16:49] LANGUAGE INCLUDING THE FOLLOWING TOPICS, ADDING THE ABILITY FOR
[16:53] THE MAYOR TO INDEPENDENTLY PLACE ITEMS ON THE CITY COUNCIL
[16:55] MEETING AGENDAS, CLARIFICATION THAT THE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL
[16:59] CAN PARTICIPATE IN HIRING OR TERMINATING ANY ALLOCATED DIRECT
[17:03] STAFF, DEVELOPMENT OF A PROCESS FOR FULFILLING FUTURE VACANT
[17:07] COUNCIL SEATS WITH THE INDIVIDUAL WHO RECEIVED THE NEXT
[17:10] HIGHEST VOTES OR NUMBER OF VOTES, AND THE AUTHORITY FOR THE
[17:13] CITY ATTORNEY TO APPOINT AND REMOVE EMPLOYEES OF THE CITY
[17:16] ATTORNEY'S OFFICE. AT THE SECOND PUBLIC HEARING ON
[17:24] JULY 7TH, STAFF PRESENTED A REVISED DRAFT CHARTER WHICH
[17:28] INCLUDED THOSE AMENDMENTS JUST MENTIONED.
[17:30] THE CITY COUNCIL ACCEPTED THOSE AMENDMENTS AND REQUESTED ONE
[17:33] ADDITION WHICH WAS TO INCLUDE LANGUAGE IN THE DRAFT CITY
[17:35] CHARTER THAT EXPLICITLY ACKNOWLEDGES THAT THE CITY
[17:38] CHARTER DOES NOT CONTEMPLATE AN INCREASE TO THE REAL PROPERTY
[17:42] TRANSFER TAX. LAST WEEK AT THE JULY 21ST CITY
[17:47] COUNCIL MEETING, RESEARCH FIRM FM3 PRESENTED POLLING RESULTS TO
[17:50] THE CITY COUNCIL, WHICH INCLUDED A QUESTION REGARDING THE
[17:53] VIABILITY OF THE CHARTER MEASURE CURRENTLY UNDER CONSIDERATION.
[17:58] 25% OF LIKELY VOTERS EXPRESSED SUPPORT FOR THIS MEASURE,
[18:01] SUGGESTING THAT IT MAY NOT BE VIABLE AT THIS TIME.
[18:06] A REVISED DRAFT CITY CHARTER IS INCLUDED IN YOUR AGENDA PACT
[18:10] THIS EVENING AND REFLECTS ALL RECOMMENDATIONS AND AMENDMENTS
[18:13] REQUESTED TO DATE. THE FISCAL IMPACT OF THESE
[18:18] RECOMMENDATIONS INCLUDES A ONE-TIME COST OF UP TO ABOUT
[18:21] $850,000 FOR BALLOT PLACEMENT, AND WOULD REQUIRE AN ONGOING
[18:26] INCREASE OF ABOUT $162,000 TO THE CITY'S GENERAL FUND.
[18:35] THAT CONCLUDES OUR VERY BRIEF PRESENTATION, AND TONIGHT WE ARE
[18:39] ASKING THE CITY COUNCIL TO EITHER DEFER CONSIDERATION OF A
[18:43] CHARTER DUE TO A FUTURE ELECTION AND CONTINUE COMMUNITY DIALOGUE,
[18:47] OR APPROVE THE PROPOSED CITY CHARTER MEASURE AND ADOPT A
[18:50] RESOLUTION CALLING FOR THE ELECTION AND APPROVING SUBMITTAL
[18:54] OF A CHARTER FOR THE CITY OF FREMONT FOR CONSIDERATION AT THE
[18:58] NOVEMBER 3RD, 2026 ELECTION. THANK YOU.
[19:03] >> Mayor Salwan: GREAT. THANK YOU, CHRISTINA, AND CITY
[19:05] MANAGER AND MR. ALVARADO, I KNOW YOU GUYS WORKED VERY HARD ON
[19:08] THIS. I JUST WANT TO TAKE A FEW
[19:10] MINUTES TO JUST KIND OF FRAME WHERE WE ARE,HOW WE GOT HERE,
[19:16] AND WHERE I THINK I HEARD THE COUNCIL LEANING IN OUR PAST
[19:18] MEETING. BECAUSE WHATEVER WE DECIDE, THIS
[19:21] PROCESS DESERVES TO BE NAMED FOR WHAT IT IS, WHICH IS DEMOCRACY
[19:25] IN ACTION. THIS CONVERSATION BEGAN WITH A
[19:30] REFERRAL FROM VICE MAYOR ZHANG AND I THANK HER FOR THAT
[19:34] LEADERSHIP. BUT THIS IS NOT AN ISSUE THAT
[19:37] BELONGS TO ANY ONE OF US, NOT HER, NOT ME.
[19:39] IT BELONGS TO THE ENTIRE CITY COUNCIL.
[19:42] A MAJORITY OF THIS BODY VOTED TO STUDY IT AND MOVE IT FORWARD FOR
[19:46] VERY GOOD REASONS. AND THIS ENTIRE BODY MADE IT A
[19:50] COUNCIL PRIORITY FOR THIS YEAR. WE HAD SEVEN RESIDENTS WHO
[19:56] STEPPED UP AND SERVED ON OUR ADVISORY COMMITTEE ACROSS SIX
[19:59] PUBLIC MEETINGS. WE HAD TWO PUBLIC HEARINGS EVERY
[20:05] SESSION NOTICED, TELEVISED, AND OPEN.
[20:09] THE BROWN ACT IN FULL DISPLAY. AND IT'S WORTH REMEMBERING THAT
[20:13] FREMONT HAS BEEN HERE BEFORE. A CHARTER WAS STUDIED BACK IN
[20:18] THE 90s AND SET ASIDE BY A PREVIOUS COUNCIL AND THE SHORT
[20:23] STORY I HEARD WAS THE COUNCIL WAS FOR IT AND I THINK ONE
[20:27] COUNCILMEMBER HAD A CHANGE IN HEART.
[20:29] SO THIS IS NOT A NEW QUESTION. WHAT'S NEW IS THAT THIS COUNCIL
[20:34] HAD THE DISCIPLINE TO STUDY THIS IN THE OPEN, TOGETHER, FROM
[20:37] START TO FINISH. AND HERE'S A RESULT THAT NO ONE
[20:41] SHOULD OVERLOOK. MORE FREMONT RESIDENTS
[20:43] UNDERSTAND WHAT A CHARTER IS TODAY THAN AT MANY PREVIOUS
[20:47] POINTS IN OUR HISTORY. AND THAT ALONE IS AN
[20:51] ACHIEVEMENT. AND LET ME SAY WHY THIS WORK
[20:55] MATTERS. A CITY SHOULD LOOK HARD AT ITS
[20:58] OWN GOVERNANCE EVERY FEW YEARS. NOT OUT OF DISSATISFACTION, BUT
[21:01] OUT OF DISCIPLINE. BECAUSE THE COMMUNITY'S NEEDS
[21:05] CHANGE OVER THE YEARS. AND THE PUBLIC'S EXPECTATIONS OF
[21:10] US ARE HIGHER TODAY THAN ANY TIME IN OUR HISTORY.
[21:14] THE RESIDENTS DON'T GRADE US ON OUR STRUCTURE, THEY GRADE US ON
[21:19] WHETHER WE DELIVER. AND NOTHING, NOTHING MATTERS
[21:23] MORE TO ME AND TO THIS COUNCIL THAN OUR ABILITY TO GET THINGS
[21:26] DONE. SO AGAIN I WANT TO THANK EACH
[21:29] AND EVERY MEMBER OF OUR ADVISORY COMMITTEE THAT TOOK A VERY
[21:34] DIFFICULT ASSIGNMENT, AND THEY GAVE IT REA REAL TIME AND
[21:39] REAL CARE. AND I'LL BE HONEST WITH THIS
[21:41] COMMUNITY ABOUT HOW THE WORK UNFOLDED.
[21:43] WHEN WE LAUNCHED THIS PROCESS, THE GOAL WAS TO TAKE A LOOK AT
[21:47] GOFF GOVERNANCE ITSELF, NOT ON PERIPHERAL ISSUES LIKE TERM
[21:52] LIMITS OR COMPENSATION OR OTHER THINGS.
[21:55] BUT ON THE BIGGEST STRUCTURAL QUESTIONS THE COMMITTEE
[21:59] ENCOUNTERED GENERALLY DIFFERING VIEWPOINTS.
[22:01] FOR EXAMPLE, SOME WANTED STRONG MAYOR FORM OF GOVERNMENT.
[22:06] SOME WANTED HYBRID FORM OF GOVERNMENT.
[22:09] AND SOME WANTED TO CONTINUE AS IS, THE COUNCIL-MANAGER FORM OF
[22:14] GOVERNMENT. AND UNDERSTANDABLY, THEY MOVED
[22:16] FORWARD ON THE ITEMS THAT THEY COULD FIND MOST AGREEMENT OR
[22:21] UNANIMOUS SUPPORT, AND LEFT THOSE DIFFICULT ITEMS WHERE
[22:23] THERE WAS MORE DISAGREEMENT. SO THE RESULT IS A SET OF
[22:27] RECOMMENDATIONS THAT ARE THOUGHTFUL BUT VERY MODEST, AND
[22:33] FRANKLY, I MENTIONED THAT THEY'RE WATERED DOWN, SO IT
[22:35] DOESN'T ADDRESS THE MAIN CHALLENGES THAT WE'RE FACING
[22:37] TODAY. SO THIS WAS SLIGHTLY DIFFERENT
[22:39] THAN WHAT WE INITIALLY INTENDED TO DO.
[22:42] AND AGAIN, THAT'S NOT A CRITICISM OF SEVEN VOLUNTEERS.
[22:45] IT IS A RECOGNITION THAT THE DEEPEST GOVERNANCE QUESTIONS
[22:48] NEED MORE TIME. AND A BROADER COMMUNITY
[22:50] CONVERSATION. BECAUSE HERE'S WHAT THAT
[22:56] HOMEWORK REVEALED. THIS WAS NEVER JUST A CHARTER
[22:58] DISCUSSION, IT WAS A GOVERNANCE DISCUSSION.
[23:01] WE ASKED A BIGGER QUESTION: HOW DOES FREMONT GOVERN BETTER, AND
[23:05] HOW DO RESIDENTS HOLD US ACCOUNTABLE FOR WHAT WE DO?
[23:09] AND HERE'S WHAT CAME BACK. SEVERAL OF THE REFORMS THAT
[23:13] WE'VE BEEN SEEKING DO NOT REQUIRE A CHARTER.
[23:16] WE CAN ADOPT THEM RIGHT NOW, BY ORDINANCE, AS A GENERAL LAW
[23:20] CITY. NOW THINK ABOUT THAT FOR A
[23:24] MOMENT. THESE OPTIONS HAVE BEEN
[23:26] AVAILABLE TO FREMONT FOR DECADES, AND NO PREVIOUS COUNCIL
[23:28] HAS MOVED ON THEM. NOT BECAUSE ANYONE WAS HIDING
[23:32] THE BALL OR HAD BAD INTENTIONS, BUT BECAUSE THE QUESTION HAD
[23:36] NEVER BEEN ASKED THIS DIRECTLY IN THIS MUCH DEPTH AND WITH THIS
[23:40] MUCH PUBLIC SCRUTINY. AND THAT'S HOW GOVERNANCE
[23:44] WORKS. ANSWERS SURFACE WHEN SOMEONE
[23:46] DOES THE WORK OF ASKING. SO THIS PROCESS HAS ALREADY
[23:53] DELIVERED SOMETHING REAL BEFORE A SINGLE VOTE IS TAKEN TONIGHT.
[23:56] IT SURFACED REFORMS THAT WERE SITTING THERE, AVAILABLE,
[24:02] UNUSED, AND PUT THEM WITHIN REACH OF THIS COUNCIL, AND THAT
[24:04] IS A PROCESS WORKING EXACTLY AS IT SHOULD.
[24:11] LAST MEETING I LISTENED CAREFULLY TO ALL OF MY
[24:13] COLLEAGUES AND WHAT I HEARD WAS STRIKING.
[24:15] NEARLY EVERY COUNCILMEMBER SUPPORTS THE IDEA OF A CHARTER,
[24:18] AND NEARLY EVERY MEMBER WANTS THE SAME THING FIRST.
[24:24] MORE COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT BEFORE IT GOES TO THE BALLOT.
[24:26] EVERY COUNCILMEMBER WANTED MORE ENGAGEMENT, EVERY ONE OF THEM
[24:31] WELCOMED IT. AND LET ME BE CLEAR ABOUT WHAT I
[24:33] DID NOT HEAR. NOT ONE COUNCILMEMBER SAID NO.
[24:36] NOT ONE COUNCILMEMBER SAID WE'VE HAD ENOUGH.
[24:39] TOWN HALLS, WORK SESSIONS, OPEN-ENDED DIALOGUES WITH
[24:43] RESIDENTS. EVERY MEMBER OF THIS BODY SAID
[24:45] YES TO MORE OF IT. AND THAT'S NOT DIVISION, THAT IS
[24:50] ALIGNMENT, AND TONIGHT WE SHOULD ACT ON THAT.
[24:52] SO LET ME KIND OF SHARE WHERE I AM AND WHAT I HOPE THAT WE WILL
[24:55] CONSIDER TONIGHT. FIRST, LET'S TAKE THE WORK
[24:58] PRODUCT OF THIS PROCESS, EVERYTHING THAT WE HAVE LEARNED
[25:01] THAT WE CAN LAWFULLY DO TODAY AND ADOPT IT BY ORDINANCE AS A
[25:07] GENERAL LAW CITY. WHILE WE WAIT FOR THE LONGER
[25:10] CHARTER CONVERSATION TO CONTINUE.
[25:13] TONIGHT, WE CAN DIRECT STAFF TO RETURN WITH ORDINANCES FOR EVERY
[25:17] REFORM THIS PROCESS REVEALED THAT WE CAN IMPLEMENT WITHOUT
[25:21] BEING A CHARTER CITY. PRACTICAL GOVERNANCE
[25:24] IMPROVEMENTS. THAT ARE LAWFUL TODAY UNDER THE
[25:27] AUTHORITY THAT WE ALREADY HAVE. THE ORDINANCES COME BACK FOR
[25:33] FORMAL ADOPTION IN FUTURE MEETINGS AND EACH ONE HAPPENS
[25:35] WITHIN THE LAWS WE ALREADY HAVE.
[25:37] THE SAME OPEN MEETINGS, THE SAME PUBLIC RECORDS, THE SAME
[25:41] GUARDRAILS THAT HAVE ALWAYS APPLIED TO THESE COUNCIL
[25:44] MEETINGS. SO SMALL CHANGES, REAL
[25:48] DIFFERENCES, DELIVERABLES, TONIGHT WITHOUT WAITING.
[25:52] SECOND, ON THE CHARTER MEASURE ITSELF.
[25:54] I WOULD PROPOSE LET'S DEFER IT FOR A FUTURE ELECTION.
[25:58] AND DIRECT STAFF TO DESIGN THE DEEPER COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT THIS
[26:02] COUNCIL HAS ASKED FOR. PERIPHERAL QUESTIONS LIKE
[26:06] SALARIES AND TERM LIMITS BELONG IN THAT CONVERSATION.
[26:09] AND THEY SHOULD BE CONSIDERED BY THE COMMUNITY AS PART OF THE
[26:12] CHARTER. NOT DECIDED TONIGHT.
[26:15] A CHARTER IS OUR CITY'S CONSTITUTION.
[26:17] IT SHOULD REACH THE BALLOT WHEN RESIDENTS FULLY OWN IT.
[26:21] AND WHEN IT'S READY TO SUCCEED. NOT BEFORE IT'S READY.
[26:25] AND NOT A DOLLAR SPENT PUTTING TO VOTERS UNTIL THAT DAY COMES.
[26:32] SO LET ME BE PLAIN ABOUT WHAT I HOPE WE ADOPT TONIGHT.
[26:35] I'D LIKE TO SEE A MOTION IN TWO PARTS, FIRST, THAT THIS COUNCIL
[26:39] DEFER CONSIDERATION OF A CITY CHARTER TO A FUTURE ELECTION,
[26:42] AND CONTINUE THE COMMUNITY DIALOGUE.
[26:45] AND SECOND, THAT WE DIRECT STAFF TO RETURN AT A FUTURE REGULAR
[26:49] MEETING WITH THE ORDINANCES AND ADMINISTRATIVE ACTIONS NECESSARY
[26:54] TO IMPLEMENT UNDER THE CITY'S EXISTING GENERAL LAW AUTHORITY.
[26:58] THE REFORMS THAT WERE OUTLINED IN THE STAFF REPORTS THAT DO NOT
[27:01] REQUIRE A CHARTER. SO AGAIN, TWO PARTS, DEFER THE
[27:05] CHARTER AND DELIVER THE REFORMS.
[27:07] SO TONIGHT LET'S DO THINGS THAT WE CAN DELIVER TODAY, WHAT WE
[27:11] CAN BANK ON. LET'S KEEP BUILDING TOWARD THE
[27:14] CHARTER AT THE PACE THAT OUR COMMUNITY WANTS AND DESERVES.
[27:18] EVERYTHING THAT WE ADOPT TONIGHT, WE ADOPT FOR THE
[27:20] RESIDENTS WHO SENT US HERE, AND THIS ALL BEGAN WITH A GOOD
[27:24] QUESTION ASKED BY THE COUNCIL, IT RAN IN FULL PUBLIC VIEW AND
[27:29] IT WILL END TONIGHT WITH REAL RESULTS FOR OUR RESIDENTS.
[27:33] AND NOW I WANT TO HEAR FROM MY COLLEAGUES SO THAT THEY CAN
[27:37] WEIGH IN AND THEN WE WILL OPEN IT UP FOR PUBLIC TESTIMONY.
[27:42] YES. >> Ms. Lewis: COUNCILMEMBER
[27:45] ZHANG HAS HER HAND RAISED. >> Mayor Salwan: YES, I'LL
[27:47] TURN IT OVER TO COUNCILMEMBER ZHANG.
[27:50] >> Councilmember Zhang: THANK YOU, MAYOR.
[27:52] AND HELLO, EVERYONE FROM CHINA, MY HOMETOWN, I'M VISITING MY
[28:00] ELDERLY MOTHER, AND SAY HELLO. AND I AGREE.
[28:05] SO WHEN I STARTED THE CHARTER, MY INTENTION IS HAVING A
[28:11] PERFORMANCE CHARTER, HAVE A PERFORMANCE FREMONT, AND NOT A
[28:15] CITY COUNCILMEMBER BENEFIT CHARTER, ABSOLUTELY NOT.
[28:20] AND I THANK THE STAFF AND THE COMMITTEE MEMBERS DURING THE
[28:24] SHORT TIME, AND WE HAVE ACCOMPLISHED A LOT, AND WE HAVE
[28:28] DISCOVERED PROBLEMS, AND I THINK THAT WHAT NEEDS TO
[28:42] BE DONE IS FOCUS MORE GOING FORWARD IN OPERATIONAL
[28:49] IMPROVEMENT, SO THAT THE COMMITTEE, THE CITY OF FREMONT
[28:54] PEOPLE CAN CLEARLY SEE THE BENEFIT OF BEING A CHARTER AND
[29:01] WHAT THE FUTURE CAN ADDRESS, THE BENEFITS, THE IMPROVEMENT
[29:05] CLEARLY, WHICH IS CLEARLY TRANSPARENTLY AND PEOPLE WHEN
[29:10] THEY SEE THAT, THEY WOULD UNDERSTAND, AND NOW THAT BECAUSE
[29:15] IN A PREVIOUS MEETING I HAVE MENTIONED ABOUT MODERN
[29:19] PROCUREMENT, AND GOVERNMENT TRANSPARENCY, AND AUDITING, AND
[29:23] THOSE ARE VERY IMPORTANT FEATURES WHICH BELONG TO CHARTER
[29:29] ALONE, AND THOSE GOING FORWARD, WHEN WE STUDY FURTHER, SHOULD BE
[29:34] FOCUSED AND BE IMPLEMENTED IN THE OPERATIONAL IMPROVEMENT
[29:39] SECTION, WHICH I THINK IS LARGELY MISSING IN THIS CURRENT
[29:43] ONE. BUT I THINK THAT THERE'S NO
[29:46] POINTING FINGERS, I THINK WE DECIDED TO MOVE FORWARD BECAUSE
[29:51] WE WANT TO GET SOMETHING DONE, AND WE DID.
[29:54] AND I FEEL ACTUALLY PROUD OF ALL THE THINGS WE HAVE ACHIEVED
[29:59] TOGETHER. SO WE HAD OUR WORK PRODUCT AND
[30:05] LET'S MOVE FORWARD, I AGREE WITH RAJ SALWAN.
[30:08] >> Mayor Salwan: COUNCILMEMBER SHAO.
[30:11] >> Councilmember Shao: THANK YOU, MAYOR.
[30:12] I ECHO WHAT MAYOR JUST SAID, AND ALSO HEARD A MOTION AND I DON'T
[30:19] KNOW IF IT'S APPROPRIATE FOR ME TO SECOND IT, BUT EVEN IF THE
[30:23] MAYOR IS NOT LOOKING FOR A SECOND TO THE MOTION, I JUST
[30:28] WANT TO AGREE WITH WHAT THE MAYOR JUST SAID.
[30:35] AND IF IT'S COUNTED AS A SECOND, THEN I'LL BE GLAD TO SECOND IT.
[30:39] BUT I WANT TO SHARE WITH YOU THAT I'M SITTING HERE TODAY WITH
[30:43] A HEART FULL OF GRATITUDE. WHY?
[30:47] BECAUSE AT THE END OF MY EIGHT-YEAR TENURE AS A CITY
[30:52] COUNCILMEMBER, THIS IS THE FIRST TIME I EVER WAS EXPOSED TO THIS
[30:57] TOPIC. I HEARD THAT THERE WERE TWO
[31:01] TIMES IN THE HISTORY OF OUR GREAT CITY WHERE THE CITY
[31:05] COUNCIL WAS EXPLORING THE POSSIBILITY OF CONVERTING INTO A
[31:11] CHARTER CITY, BUT IN BOTH THOSE TIMES IT DIDN'T SUCCEED, AND I
[31:19] ALSO FEEL GRATEFUL THAT FINALLY THIS COUNCIL WAS OUT OF
[31:26] SELF-DISCIPLINE LOOKING AT THE POSSIBILITY OF MAKING OUR CITY
[31:31] GOVERNMENT MORE EFFICIENT AND PROVIDING BETTER SERVICE TO YOU,
[31:35] SO IT WAS ACTUALLY QUITE EXCITING FOR ME TO SEE HOW FAR
[31:41] THIS EFFORT COULD GO. BUT AS OF NOW, I'M STILL FILLED
[31:48] WITH GRATITUDE, WHY? BECAUSE THROUGHOUT THE WHOLE
[31:51] PROCESS, I WITNESSED THE FULL SUPPORT OF THE COMMUNITY.
[31:57] SUPPORT DOESN'T MEAN THAT YOU AGREE WITH WHAT THE COUNCIL HAS
[32:01] PROPOSED OR DRAFTED, RATHER, YOUR PRESENCE TODAY, YOUR
[32:06] ENGAGEMENT SHOWS THE SUPPORT BECAUSE SINCE LAST MEETING, I
[32:13] HAVEN'T HEARD ANYONE WHO OPENLY OPPOSED THE CONVERSION.
[32:19] RATHER WE'RE ALL WORKING IN THE SAME DIRECTION, THE ONLY
[32:23] DIFFERENCE IS AS OF -- YOU KNOW, IS THE TIMING.
[32:26] SO TODAY, I'M SURE LATER ON, WHEN YOU COME AND SPEAK, AND YOU
[32:32] WILL, ONCE AGAIN, POINT OUT THE ISSUE OF PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT AND
[32:36] ALSO THE TIMING OF THIS EFFORT, WHICH I FULLY UNDERSTAND.
[32:47] I'M ALSO VERY GRATEFUL THAT AS THE MAYOR PUT IT WE HAVE ALREADY
[32:50] FOUND OUT A LOT OF OPPORTUNITIES WHERE, WITHOUT CONVERTING INTO
[32:52] THE CHARTER CITY, WE CAN RESORT TO ALTERNATIVE WAYS TO MAKE THIS
[32:58] GOVERNMENT MORE EFFICIENT. I WAS ALWAYS CHALLENGED WITH THE
[33:04] QUESTION, WHAT IS SOMETHING THAT FREMONT CANNOT DO BUT A CHARTER
[33:10] CITY CAN DO? THANKS TO OUR CITY MANAGER, I
[33:15] FOUND OUT, FOR EXAMPLE, FOR STARTERS, A LOT OF RESTAURANT
[33:19] OWNERS AND ALSO REPRESENTATIVES OF THE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE HAVE
[33:24] COME TO OUR CITY COUNCIL MEETING COMPLAINING ABOUT THE RAMPANT
[33:31] ILLEGAL FOOD STANDS THAT NOT ONLY WOULD BE CONSIDERED A
[33:38] HEALTH HAZARD, FOOD SAFETY HAZARD, BUT ALSO WOULD
[33:43] COMPROMISE THE BEST INTERESTS OF THOSE LEGAL BUSINESSES IN
[33:48] FREMONT. BUT WITHOUT BEING A CHARTER CITY
[33:54] RIGHT NOW, UNFORTUNATELY ACCORDING TO THE CURRENT STATE
[33:58] LAW, THERE'S NOT MUCH THE CITY CAN DO ABOUT IT.
[34:04] THE POLICE CANNOT JUST GET RID OF THOSE, I MEAN, THAT'S AFTER
[34:08] SOME LEGAL STUDIES. THAT IS WHERE THE LIMIT IS.
[34:13] BELIEVE IT OR NOT. SO JUST KEEP THAT IN MIND.
[34:19] WE MAY FACE FURTHER CHALLENGES, AND THAT MAKES EVERYTHING THAT
[34:26] WE HAVE DONE SO FAR ON THIS TOPIC WORTHWHILE.
[34:31] I HOPE TO SEE THIS EFFORT ONGOING DIALOGUE ONGOING AND
[34:38] ENGAGEMENT ONGOING SO THAT WE ARE WORKING AS A TEAM, MAKING
[34:44] JOINT EFFORTS TOWARDS THE SAME GOAL WHICH IS SIMPLY TO TURN THE
[34:49] CITY GOVERNMENT, A BETTER ONE, TO SERVE THE RESIDENTS.
[34:56] AND AND WITH THAT, I DON'T KNOW WHETHER IT'S TOO EARLY TO
[35:00] SECOND -- >> Mayor Salwan: WE STILL HAVE
[35:00] TO HEAR FROM THE PUBLIC, SO COMMENTS ARE GOOD, THEN WE'LL
[35:08] HEAR FROM THE PUBLIC AND THEN WE'LL BRING IT BACK.
[35:10] >> Councilmember Shao: CERTAINLY.
[35:11] THANK YOU. >> Mayor Salwan: COUNCILMEMBER
[35:14] LIU. AND THEN COUNCILMEMBER CAMPBELL
[35:16] AFTER THAT. >> Vice Mayor Liu: THANK YOU,
[35:21] MAYOR. FIRST I WANT TO GIVE MY OPINION
[35:23] ON THIS. I ALSO BELIEVE IT WOULD BE BEST
[35:25] AND PRUDENT TO TABLE THIS ITEM AT THIS TIME.
[35:27] MY REASONING DRAWS MAINLY -- IS PRETTY MUCH THE SAME REASONING
[35:30] AS WE USED LAST WEEK FOR THE POTENTIAL HALF CENT SALES TAX
[35:35] MEASURE. I THINK IN BOTH CASES, FREMONT
[35:38] IS FACING REAL BUDGETARY CONSTRAINTS AND I THINK WE
[35:41] SHOULD HAVE RESPONSIBILITY TO CAREFULLY PRIORITIZE WHERE WE
[35:48] DEVOTE OUR RESOURCES. BUT I ALSO AGREE WITH THE FACT
[35:54] THAT HAS BEEN MENTIONED BY OTHER PEOPLE BEFORE, THAT THERE WERE
[35:57] MANY SUGGESTIONS AND IDEAS THAT WERE BROUGHT UP THROUGHOUT THIS
[36:01] WHOLE PROCESS THAT COULD BE IMPLEMENTED IMMEDIATELY, AND I
[36:04] WOULD HOPE OUR STAFF WOULD ALSO BEGIN EVALUATING AND PURSUING
[36:09] THOSE OPPORTUNITIES IMMEDIATELY RATHER THAN WAITING FOR THE NEXT
[36:12] TIME WE BRING UP THE WHOLE IDEA OF HAVING A CITY CHARTER OR
[36:15] NOT. BECAUSE TO ME, THAT REALLY SEEMS
[36:17] LIKE THE MOST PRACTICAL PATH FORWARD.
[36:21] IF THERE'S ANY IMPROVEMENTS WE CAN MAKE TODAY, RIGHT NOW,
[36:24] WITHOUT INCURRING THE COSTS OR COMPLEXITIES OF HAVING A WHOLE
[36:28] CITY CHARTER PROCESS, OF HAVING A WHOLE BALLOT ELECTION, THEN TO
[36:32] ME IT'S A NO-BRAINER THAT WE SHOULD IMPLEMENT THEM
[36:35] IMMEDIATELY. AND LASTLY, I ALSO WANT TO ECHO
[36:37] THE THOUGHTS ABOUT HOW I'M SO GLADDENED TO SEE THAT WE HAVE A
[36:40] FULL HOUSE TODAY, AND I REALLY HOPE WE CAN SEE THIS IN OUR
[36:43] FUTURE MEETINGS AS WELL. THERE ARE TOO MANY TIMES WHEN WE
[36:46] HOLD A PUBLIC HEARING AND THERE'S NOBODY WHO COMES UP AND
[36:50] SAYS ANYTHING OR GIVE THEIR OPINIONS AT ALL, AND TODAY,
[36:53] HAVING A FULL HOUSE, THIS IS WHAT I WANT TO SEE, AND I REALLY
[36:57] WANT TO SEE THAT IN THE FUTURE, ESPECIALLY GIVEN HOW WE CAN
[37:01] PARTICIPATE REMOTELY THROUGH ZOOM USING TECHNOLOGY AND
[37:03] EVERYTHING LIKE THAT. THOSE ARE MY THOUGHTS.
[37:05] THANK YOU VERY MUCH. >> Mayor Salwan: THANK YOU.
[37:08] COUNCILMEMBER CAMPBELL. >> Councilmember Campbell:
[37:09] THANK YOU, MAYOR. IT IS NICE TO SEE SO MANY PEOPLE
[37:12] OUT THIS EVENING. TO SUPPORT THIS CHARTER.
[37:16] I THINK THAT'S ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE INITIALLY WANTED TO DO
[37:20] FROM THE BEGINNING, WAS TO HAVE MORE COMMUNITY DIALOGUE, TO HAVE
[37:25] MORE COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT, AND I'VE BEEN A STRONG PROPONENT OF
[37:28] THAT SINCE WE STARTED THIS BACK IN FEBRUARY.
[37:34] THAT WE HAVE A MORE ROBUST OPPORTUNITY FOR THE PUBLIC TO BE
[37:39] ABLE TO WEIGH IN ON THE WORK PLAN.
[37:41] WHAT IS IT THAT WE'RE TRYING TO ACCOMPLISH?
[37:43] I KNOW I'VE BEEN SAYING THAT ALL THE TIME, WHAT IS THE PROBLEM
[37:45] THAT WE'RE TRYING TO VO SOLVE, AND HOW DO WE GET THE
[37:50] COMMUNITY INVOLVED IN HELPING US SOLVE THESE PROBLEMS.
[37:52] BUT AS EVERYONE HAS ALREADY SAID, AND I DON'T WANT TO REPEAT
[37:57] MYSELF, WE DID DISCOVER QUITE A BIT OF THINGS THAT WE COULD DO
[38:00] AS A GENERAL LAW CITY. WE DON'T HAVE TO GO TO A CHARTER
[38:06] TO BE ABLE TO DO THAT. SO THERE IS SOME GOOD THAT CAME
[38:08] OUT OF THIS PROCESS. I'D LIKE TO SEE THE CONVERSATION
[38:11] CONTINUE. I'D LIKE TO SEE US BE MORE
[38:15] ENGAGED WITH THE PUBLIC AROUND WHAT THEY WOULD LIKE TO SEE FOR
[38:19] THEIR CITY. AND HOW WE MIGHT BE A VESSEL TO
[38:23] IMPLEMENT THOSE CHANGES THAT THE CITIZENS WANT US TO HAVE.
[38:28] I'M EQUALLY CONCERNED ABOUT THE EXPENSE OF PUTTING A BALLOT
[38:35] MEASURE ON THE NOVEMBER ELECTION, AND OF COURSE IT WIN.
[38:41] IF WE DO IT, WE WANT TO WIN, WE DON'T WANT TO PUT SOMETHING
[38:44] BEFORE THE VOTERS THAT WILL NOT WIN, AND WITH A 24% APPROVAL
[38:49] RATE, IT DOESN'T LOOK PROMISING FOR US TO BE ABLE TO DO THAT.
[38:55] AND I ALSO ECHO WHAT THE MAYOR SAID THAT WE WOULD DEFER THIS
[39:00] PARTICULAR ITEM FOR MORE PUBLIC DIALOGUE AND ENGAGEMENT.
[39:03] I'D LIKE TO WORK WITH THE CITY AS WELL TO SEE WHAT ORDINANCES
[39:08] AND ADMINISTRATIVE REGULATIONS THAT WE CAN IMMEDIATELY
[39:13] IMPLEMENT, AND I'D LIKE TO HOPEFULLY HEAR FROM THE
[39:17] COMMUNITY AS WELL, AS WE LOOK AT THESE ORDINANCES AND
[39:21] ADMINISTRATIVE REGULATIONS, GET YOUR INPUT INTO WHAT THAT MIGHT
[39:25] LOOK LIKE AND WHETHER THAT'S SOMETHING THAT THE CITIZENS OF
[39:30] FREMONT ARE EQUALLY FEEL IMPORTANT FOR THIS GOVERNING
[39:35] BODY. SO MAYOR, I KNOW THAT YOU DIDN'T
[39:38] REALLY WANT A -- MAKE A MOTION RIGHT NOW, SO I WILL DEFER
[39:48] THAT -- >> Mayor Salwan: I THINK IT'S
[39:50] GREAT THAT EVERYBODY IS SHARING THEIR FEEDBACK, BUT MAYBE WAIT
[39:53] FROM THE PUBLIC, MAYBE THERE'S SOMETHING NEW THAT COMES OUT AND
[39:55] THEN WE CAN DECIDE COLLECTIVELY WHICH WAY TO GO IF THAT'S OKAY.
[39:59] >> Councilmember Campbell: OKAY, THANK YOU.
[40:00] >> Mayor Salwan: THANK YOU. COUNCILMEMBER KIMBERLIN.
[40:04] >> Councilmember Kimberlin: THANK YOU, MAYOR.
[40:06] SO THANK YOU ALL FOR BEING HERE TONIGHT AND I'M NOT GOING TO
[40:08] PONTIFICATE ON EVERYTHING THAT YOU'VE ALREADY HEARD.
[40:11] LY MENTION A COUPLE THINGS. I THINK YOUR BEING HERE IS VERY
[40:15] IMPORTANT. I THINK YOU'VE BEEN VERY
[40:18] RESPECTFUL, AND VERY ALIGNED IN WHAT YOU SEE AS A COMMUNITY, AND
[40:21] TO ME, THIS IS MY SURVEY RIGHT HERE.
[40:24] I'VE BEEN LISTENING TO THE EMAILS, LISTENING TO YOU, SEEING
[40:27] YOU COME TO THESE MEETINGS AND SPEAK, AND TRULY APPRECIATE IT.
[40:32] I MUST SAY THE TEAM WORK UP HERE, I'M REALLY PROUD OF IT.
[40:35] IT'S BEEN REALLY GOOD. HE WITH ALL THO WE
[40:39] ALL THOUGHT WE SHOULD DO THE HOMEWORK BUT WHERE WE KIND OF
[40:43] SEPARATED WAS WITH THE TIMELINE.
[40:45] THE TEAM WORK WAS STRONG UP HERE BUT WE NEED MORE TIME AND IT
[40:48] LOOKS LIKE WE'RE GOING TO HAVE MORE TIME.
[40:49] SO WITH THAT, I WANTED TO SAY WHY DO WE NEED MORE TIME IS WE
[40:54] DIDN'T REALLY GET THE OPPORTUNITY TO MEET WITH THE
[40:56] ADVISORY COMMITTEE UP FRONT. THEY REALLY DIDN'T UNDERSTAND
[40:59] WHAT THEIR FULL SCOPE WAS TO BE.
[41:00] WE SHOULD HAVE HAD THAT TIME TO MEET WITH THEM, WORK WITH THEM,
[41:04] WE ALSO SHOULD HAVE HAD TIME IN MY OPINION TO MEET WITH ALL OF
[41:06] YOU IN LIKE A STUDY SESSION. AND I KNOW THAT IN THE PAST,
[41:09] THERE HAVE BEEN MEETINGS THAT HAD BEEN VERY VOLATILE AND VERY
[41:14] HOT AND PASSIONATE AND VERY UPSETTING.
[41:17] I DON'T THINK THIS WOULD BE ONE OF THEM AND I'M NOT AFRAID FOR
[41:20] US TO HAVE STUDY SESSIONS AND MEET WITH EVERYONE WHO WILL HAVE
[41:24] IDEAS THAT I MIGHT NOT HAVE OR MY COLLEAGUES MAY NOT HAVE.
[41:30] SO WE'RE GOING TO PUSH FOR THAT, AND THEN ALSO WANT YOU TO KNOW
[41:32] THAT I'M GOING TO WORK VERY CLOSELY WITH MY TEAM AND THE
[41:36] CITY MANAGER'S OFFICE TO IMPLEMENT THE CHANGES.
[41:38] THIS IS THE REASON A LOT OF THIS CAME UP IS WE FELT WE NEEDED
[41:41] SOME CHANGES. WE NEEDED TO BE SURE THAT WE
[41:44] WERE NOT RUBBER STAMPS, THAT WE CAN REPRESENT AS PEOPLE THINK
[41:49] WE'RE REPRESENTING AND HAVE A LITTLE BIT MORE KNOWLEDGE AND A
[41:52] LITTLE BIT MORE INFORMING. THAT'S REALLY WHAT KIND OF
[41:54] STARTED THIS WHOLE THING. SO IF WE CAN WORK CLOSELY WITH
[41:57] OUR CITY MANAGER'S OFFICE AND IMPLEMENT SOME OF THE CHANGES
[42:00] THAT HAVE SURFACED AND THEY KNOW WE WANT AND WE KNOW WE WANT, SO
[42:04] THAT WE CAN SERVE YOU BETTER AND THEN WORK ON A CHARTER PLAN
[42:08] LATER, THAT WILL BENEFIT EVERYONE, NOT LOOK LIKE IT'S
[42:11] JUST BENEFITING US, BECAUSE I DON'T THINK ANY OF US WERE
[42:14] COMFORTABLE WITH THAT, THAT KIND OF CHANGE.
[42:18] AND I THINK THAT'S IT. I'M ON THE SAME PAGE WITH
[42:21] EVERYONE HERE TONIGHT AS WELL. AND HAVE BEEN FOR A WHILE SAYING
[42:24] PAUSE, PLEASE PAUSE, PLEASE PAUSE, LET'S WORK SOME MORE.
[42:27] SO THANK YOU. >> Mayor Salwan: COUNCILMEMBER
[42:30] KENG. >> Councilmember Keng: THANK
[42:31] YOU, MAYOR AND THANK YOU EVERY ONE FOR BEING HERE AGAIN.
[42:34] I THINK WE HAVE ACTUALLY HEARD A LOT OF YOU GUYS ALREADY ON HOW
[42:38] THIS PROCESS WAS RUSHED AND NOT RECEIVING OR ENGAGING THE
[42:45] PUBLIC'S OPINION OR EDUCATING EVERYONE ON WHY, THE REASONS WHY
[42:52] WE NEED CHARTER CITY, AND I THINK EVEN SOME OF US, YOU KNOW,
[42:57] DIDN'T REALLY FULLY UNDERSTAND BECAUSE THIS IS A VERY BIG
[43:00] TOPIC, AND WHY WE NEED TO MAKE SURE WE CAN CONVINCE THE
[43:05] CITIZENS WHY WE'RE CHANGING IF WE ARE, WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS TO
[43:12] THE COMMUNITY, NOT JUST BENEFITS TO THE CITY COUNCILMEMBERS.
[43:15] AND I THINK ACTUALLY AFTER SOME STUDIES MYSELF, I THINK ONE OF
[43:18] THE AREAS WE REALLY NEED TO -- IF WE ARE TO LOOK AT IT AGAIN AT
[43:22] A CLOSER LOOK WITH A LONGER ENGAGEMENT PROCESS WITH THE
[43:26] COMMUNITY, ONE OF THE THINGS WE REALLY SHOULD LOOK AT IS A
[43:29] MODERN PROCUREMENT CONTRACTING PROCESS, MODERNIZE OUR PUBLIC
[43:37] CONTRACTING PROCESS BECAUSE SOME OF THE LEGALLY -- THERE'S A LOT
[43:40] OF THINGS THAT WE CANNOT DO UNDER THE CALIFORNIA LAWS, BUT
[43:43] SOME OF THESE CHANGING -- SOME OF THE PROCUREMENT METHODS THAT
[43:53] WILL SAVE COSTS AND ALSO SPEED UP THE PROCESS AND MAKE IT MORE
[43:59] CLEAR, MORE A TRANSPARENT PROCESS.
[44:01] AND THINGS LIKE THIS THAT WILL REALLY BRING BENEFITS TO THE
[44:05] CITIZENS AND I THINK SOME OF -- WHEN WE DO MAKE ANOTHER GO AT
[44:10] THIS PROCESS, I DO THINK THAT WE NEED A THIRD PARTY FACILITATOR
[44:16] THAT HAS EXPERIENCE WITH CHARTER CITY THAT CAN KIND OF GUIDE THE
[44:22] COMMUNITY THROUGH THE PROCESS AND WHAT ARE THE SPECIFIC THINGS
[44:25] THAT FREMONT CAN LOOK AT TO MAKE OUR CITY A BETTER CITY TO SERVE
[44:29] OUR CITIZENS. THANK YOU.
[44:34] >> Ms. Lewis: COUNCILMEMBER ZHANG HAS HER HAND RAISED.
[44:37] >> Mayor Salwan: COUNCILMEMBER ZHANG.
[44:39] >> Councilmember Zhang: SO I JUST WANT TO -- SO THEN AFTER
[44:44] THIS DISCUSSION, WE WILL HAVE PUBLIC COMMENT, AND THEN WE WILL
[44:46] MAKE A MOTION. AND THEN I'LL COME BACK LATER.
[44:54] BUT I DO WANT TO -- YES, THANK YOU.
[44:57] >> Mayor Salwan: SORRY, GO AHEAD.
[45:02] >> Councilmember Zhang: I DO WANT TO ADD BECAUSE I KEEP ON
[45:06] HEARING FROM COUNCILMEMBER CAMPBELL LIKE WHAT PROBLEM ARE
[45:08] WE TRYING TO SOLVE. I WANT TO TELL THE PUBLIC, WE
[45:14] WANT TO SOLVE PERFORMANCE, WE WANT TO FOLLOW -- WE WANT TO --
[45:18] HAVING A MODERN STRUCTURE, WHICH CAN CATER TO OUR GROWING
[45:25] POPULATION, WHICH IS AS I MENTIONED PROCUREMENT.
[45:31] BECAUSE WHEN WE CHANGED THE PROCUREMENT PROCEDURE, WHICH CAN
[45:33] ONLY BE ADOPTED WITHIN THE CHARTER, AND THEN WE CAN DELIVER
[45:40] THE RENOVATION, THE WORK, AND SAVE MONEY, AND YOU KNOW, WITH
[45:45] THE PARKS AND RECREATION, WE CAN GET IT DONE MUCH FASTER AND SAVE
[45:52] MONEY AND THAT'S ONE OF THE IMPORTANT FEATURES, AND ALSO
[45:56] PUBLIC TRANSPARENCY, AND WE HAVE AN INDEPENDENT AUDITOR WHICH
[46:00] AUDIT THE CITY'S DIFFERENT DEPARTMENT, SO WE WILL NOT HAVE
[46:03] SOME CORRUPTED CITY MANAGER IN THE PAST.
[46:05] AND SOMETIME I WANT TO TELL THE PUBLIC --
[46:08] >> Mayor Salwan: EXCUSE ME, PLEASE LET THE COUNCILMEMBER
[46:12] FINISH. >> Councilmember Zhang: OKAY.
[46:14] SO WE DON'T KNOW WHAT WE DON'T KNOW.
[46:18] BUT CHARTER IS A VERY POWERFUL VEHICLE.
[46:20] IT'S A PRODUCT. AND WE NEED TO CAREFULLY DECIDE
[46:24] WHAT FEATURE WE NEED TO PUT INTO THIS VEHICLE, THESE TOOLS SO
[46:29] THAT IT WILL TRULY BENEFIT FREMONT.
[46:31] OKAY. I'M DONE.
[46:34] >> Mayor Salwan: THANK YOU. I JUST WANT TO TOSS IT OVER TO
[46:39] THE ATTORNEY, MR. ALVARADO. A FEW COUNCILMEMBERS MENTIONED
[46:43] ABOUT A MOTION, I THINK IT'S A LITTLE EARLY, WOULD YOU AGREE
[46:45] WITH THAT ASSESSMENT? >> Cty. Attny. Alvarado: YES,
[46:48] I THINK, MAYOR, YOUR RESPONSE TO THAT IREY WAS THE BEST
[46:53] APPROACH. >> Mayor Salwan: THANK YOU.
[46:54] SO WE DEFINITELY WANT TO HEAR FROM THE PUBLIC.
[46:55] I'LL ASK ONE MORE PROCEDURAL QUESTION TO MR. ALVARADO.
[46:58] THERE WAS A MENTION ABOUT THE TIME.
[47:02] COULD YOU HIGHLIGHT WHAT MY AUTHORITY IS IN THIS REGARD?
[47:08] >> Cty. Attny. Alvarado: THE CHAIR MAY SET REASONABLE
[47:11] REGULATIONS REGARDING PROCEDURAL MATTERS, INCLUDING TIME LIMITS,
[47:16] SO LONG AS EACH SPEAKER IS AFFORDED THE SAME OPPORTUNITY
[47:23] TIME WISE, THAT SATISFIES APPLICABLE LEGAL REQUIREMENTS.
[47:25] >> Mayor Salwan: OKAY, THANK YOU.
[47:28] ANY -- HOW MANY SPEAKERS DO WE HAVE?
[47:29] >> Ms. Lewis: WE HAVE ONE VIA ZOOM AND 33 IN PERSON.
[47:35] >> Mayor Salwan: OKAY. OKAY.
[47:39] LET'S HEAR FROM THE ZOOM SPEAKER FIRST SINCE I KNOW HE WAS THERE,
[47:44] AND THEN WE'LL GO TO THE PUBLIC.
[47:46] SO I'LL DO THE SAME AS LAST TIME, 1 MINUTE 30 SECONDS.
[47:52] AND ONE WELCOME CHANGE YOU SEE THERE'S NO WALL, WE'VE TAKEN
[47:55] DOWN THE WALLS, SO HOPEFULLY YOU GUYS APPRECIATE THAT.
[47:57] EMERGING FROM THE POST COVID ERA.
[47:59] WE USED TO HAVE A LITTLE PARTITION HERE TOO SO WE'D HAVE
[48:02] TO LOOK THROUGH THE GLASS. SO IT'S NICE TO SEE THAT
[48:06] CHANGE. SO I'LL TURN IT OVER TO
[48:08] ASSISTANT CITY CLERK TO CALL THE SPEAKERS.
[48:11] >> Ms. Lewis: WE NOW HAVE THREE ONLINE SPEAKERS.
[48:14] THE FIRST IS BEN. >> I REALIZED I WAS ON MUTE.
[48:41] CAN YOU HEAR ME NOW? HELLO?
[48:46] >> Mayor Salwan: YES, WE CAN HEAR YOU.
[48:48] PLEASE GO AHEAD. >> YES.
[48:49] SO WHAT I WANTED TO SAY WAS THAT WHEN IT CAME TO THE TOPIC OF
[48:53] VOTING ON A CITY CHARTER, AS A CITIZEN, I'D REALLY VALUE LIVING
[48:57] IN A CITY WHERE I FEEL LIKE MY LOCAL GOVERNMENT HAS MORE AGENCY
[49:03] TO JUST WORK WITHIN THINGS TO CHANGE THINGS FOR THE BETTER
[49:05] BECAUSE I FEEL LIKE IN THE ABSENCE OF THAT, THE REALITY
[49:09] WE'D HAVE IS WE'D BE LIVING IN A CITY WHERE IT WOULD BE MOSTLY
[49:13] SUBJECT TO STATE LAWS WHERE IT DOESN'T REALLY ACCOUNT FOR THE
[49:16] DIFFERENCES COMPARED TO ANY OTHER CITY, AND I FEEL LIKE YOU
[49:20] ALL OBVIOUSLY SEEM TO CARE ABOUT LISTENING TO YOUR CITIZENS AND
[49:25] ADDRESSING THEIR CONCERNS, AND JUST THE GREATER FLEXIBILITY
[49:27] THAT WE'D HAVE UNDER A CITY CHARTER, I FEEL LIKE THAT WOULD
[49:31] MEAN A LOT TO ME AS A CITIZEN KNOWING THAT OUR GOVERNMENTAL
[49:35] OFFICIALS ARE EMPOWERED TO REALLY NOT JUST LISTEN TO US BUT
[49:39] DO EVERYTHING WITHIN REASON TO TAKE THAT FEEDBACK INTO
[49:42] CONSIDERATION, AND JUST CONTINUE ALLOWING FREMONT TO BE A PLACE
[49:46] THAT GROWS FOR THE BETTER AND CONTINUES TO BE THAT GREAT
[49:50] ENVIRONMENT WHERE THERE'S CLEARLY A SENSE OF COLLABORATION
[49:52] AND COMMUNITY BETWEEN CITIZENS, BETWEEN THE POLICYMAKERS AND
[49:57] THOSE THAT HAVE THE ABILITY TO MAKE CHANGE HAPPEN.
[50:02] AND YEAH, THAT'S ABOUT ALL I HAVE TO SAY, BUT THANK YOU FOR
[50:06] THE TIME AND THE OPPORTUNITY TO VOICE MY OPINION ON THE MATTER.
[50:14] >> Mayor Salwan: THANK YOU. >> Ms. Lewis: NEXT SPEAKER IS
[50:19] RIO COLLETT. >> I JUST WANTED TO START OFF BY
[50:22] SAYING THANK YOU FOR INTRODUCING ZOOM SPEAKING.
[50:24] IT MAKES IT A LOT EASIER TO ATTEND MEETINGS WITH A BUSY
[50:27] SCHEDULE. SO JUST WANT TO SAY THAT.
[50:30] BUT I'M CALLING TODAY TO VOICE MY SUPPORT FOR THE CITY
[50:33] CHARTER. I DO BELIEVE THAT THE PEOPLE
[50:35] THAT WE VOTE FOR AS CITIZENS OF FREMONT SHOULD BE THE ONES WITH
[50:38] THE POWER. AND IF POSSIBLE, I WOULD LIKE
[50:42] THOSE PEOPLE TO DO IT FULL TIME AND NOT HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT
[50:45] OTHER JOBS AND CAREERS BECAUSE I WANT THEM TO FOCUS ON THE CITY
[50:49] AS THEY WERE ELECTED TO DO SO. I WANT THE PEOPLE THAT I VOTE
[50:52] FOR TO HAVE THE POWER SO THAT WE KNOW WHO TO HOLD ACCOUNTABLE IF
[50:56] THINGS DO NOT GO OUR WAY. AND WHO TO PRAISE AND WHO TO
[50:59] WRITE LETTERS TO, BECAUSE THEY'RE ACTUALLY GOING TO MAKE A
[51:01] DIFFERENCE IN OUR CITY. THANK YOU, THAT'S ALL.
[51:07] >> Mayor Salwan: THANK YOU. >> Ms. Lewis: NEXT SPEAKER IS
[51:13] JUSTIN WON. >> Mayor Salwan: WASN'T THERE
[51:19] AN ERIK EARLIER THAT WE -- HE WAS SPEAKING UNDER ORAL
[51:22] COMMUNICATION? IS HE STILL ON?
[51:25] OH, CAMERON, SORRY, YES. OH, HAND'S NOT RAISED, OKAY.
[51:29] I KNOW HE WANTED TO SPEAK AT THAT TIME EARLIER.
[51:33] >> Ms. Lewis: NOW THE NEXT SPEAKER IS JUSTIN WON.
[51:36] >> HI, HELLO. AS SOMEONE WHO GRADUATED FROM
[51:42] FOREST PARK ELEMENTARY, THORNTON MIDDLE SCHOOL AND IRVINGTON HIGH
[51:45] SCHOOL, I'VE SEEN FIRSTHAND HOW MUCH OUR CITY HAS GROWN AND
[51:48] EVOLVED OVER THE YEARS. FREMONT IS NO LONGER JUST A
[51:51] COLLECTION OF NEIGHBORHOODS. IT'S A DIVERSE AND THRIVING
[51:53] COMMUNITY WITH UNIQUE NEEDS, OPPORTUNITIES AND CHALLENGES.
[51:56] THAT'S ONE OF THE REASONS I SUPPORT EXPLORING A CITY
[51:58] CHARTER. CHARTER GIVES LOCAL RESIDENTS A
[52:00] GREATER VOICE IN DETERMINING HOW THEIR CITY IS GOVERNED AND
[52:04] RATHER THAN RELYING ENTIRELY ON RULES WRITTEN IN SACRAMENTO FOR
[52:07] HUNDREDS OF DIFFERENT CITIES, A CHARTER ALLOWS FREMONT
[52:14] -- THAT REFLECTS PRIORITIES AND VALUES OF OUR OWN COMMUNITY, IT
[52:20] GIVES RESIDENTS AN OPPORTUNITY TO LEARN MORE ABOUT HOW LOCAL
[52:23] GOVERNMENTS WORK, PARTICIPATE IN PUBLIC DISCUSSIONS AND
[52:26] ULTIMATELY DECIDE FOR THEMSELVES WHAT KIND OF CITY THEY WANT
[52:28] FREMONT TO BECOME. AND AS A GRADUATE OF FREMONT'S
[52:32] PUBLIC SCHOOLS, I WAS TAUGHT THE IMPORTANCE OF CIVIC
[52:34] PARTICIPATION AND LOCAL INVOLVEMENT.
[52:36] THE CHARTER PROCESS EMBODIES THESE VALUES BY PUTTING
[52:39] IMPORTANT DECISIONS DIRECTLY BEFORE THE VOTERS.
[52:41] SO THIS IS WHY I SUPPORT THE CHARTER -- THE CHARTER
[52:48] INITIATIVE AND JUST THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND THANK YOU FOR
[52:51] LISTENING. >> Ms. Lewis: ZOOM SPEAKER,
[52:57] THE NEXT SET OF SPEAKERS ARE IN PERSON.
[53:06] >> MS. GAUTHIER: CAMERON LEE HAS HIS HAND RAISED.
[53:15] >> Ms. Lewis: CAMERON LEE. >> HELLO, CAN EVERYONE HEAR ME?
[53:19] >> YES. >> I ALSO WANTED TO SPEAK
[53:22] TONIGHT IN SUPPORT OF FREMONT BECOMING A CHARTER CITY AND I
[53:24] JUST WANTED TO SAY AT ITS CORE, CITY CHARTER IS ABOUT LOCAL
[53:27] CONTROL AND I FEEL LIKE FREMONT IS NO LONGER A SMALL CITY, WE
[53:31] ARE, IN FACT, ONE OF THE LARGEST CITIES IN THE BAY AREA WITH OUR
[53:34] OWN UNIQUE CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES.
[53:35] AND THAT CAN DIFFER FROM THOSE FACED BY OTHER COMMUNITIES
[53:38] ACROSS CALIFORNIA. A CHARTER ALLOWS LOCAL RESIDENTS
[53:44] TO HAVE GREATER FLEXIBILITY JUST IN DECIDING HOW MUNICIPAL
[53:46] AFFAIRS SHOULD BE GOVERNED. AND ALSO TO THE POINT MANY OF
[53:50] CALIFORNIA'S MOST SUCCESSFUL CITIES WHICH INCLUDE SAN JOSÉ,
[53:54] SUNNYVALE, SACRAMENTO, SANTA CLARA, THEY OPERATE AS CHARTER
[53:57] CITIES SO, IN FACT, WHILE CHARTER CITIES MAKE UP A
[53:59] MINORITY OF CALIFORNIA CITIES, THEY REPRESENT A MAJORITY OF THE
[54:02] STATE'S POPULATION. THEY CHOSE THESE CHARTER
[54:08] STATUSES BECAUSE IT ALLOWS THEM TO T AI, LOR CERTAIN POLICIES TO
[54:13] MEET LOCAL NEEDS RATHER THAN STATE LAWS. SO WITH THAT IN
[54:16] MIND, COLLAR TER IS NOT A BLANK CHECK, ANY CHARTER MUST
[54:19] ULTIMATELY BE APPROVED BY VOTERS AND ANY FUTURE AMENDMENTS WOULD
[54:23] REQUIRE VOTER APPROVAL SO RESIDENTS REMAIN CONTROL IN THE
[54:26] PROCESS. SO THAT'S WHY I BELIEVE A CITY
[54:29] CHARTER CAN PROVIDE ADDITIONAL TOOLS AND FLEXIBILITY TO HELP
[54:32] OUR CITY JUST RESPOND TO FUTURE CHALLENGES WHILE REMAINING
[54:36] ACCOUNTABLE TO THE PEOPLE WE SERVE.
[54:37] SO THAT'S WHY I WANTED TO VOICE MY SUPPORT FOR THIS INITIATIVE
[54:40] AND I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.
[54:54] >> Mayor Salwan: COULD WE TURN UP THE VOLUME A LITTLE BIT?
[55:03] OH, THAT'S IN THE BACK? OKAY.
[55:09] THEY CAN HEAR US? OKAY.
[55:21] T.J., CAN YOU UNMUTE? YOU'RE READY.
[55:27] >> GOOD EVENING, EVERYONE. MAYOR AND CITY COUNCILMEMBERS
[55:29] AND CITY STAFF. MY NAME IS T.J. DHAMI, AND I'M A
[55:34] FREMONT RESIDENT. I SUPPORT A COLLAR
[55:38] CHARTER CITY BECAUSE I BELIEVE THE FREMONT SHOULD BE MADE BY
[55:45] THE PEOPLE WHO LIVE HERE, NOT ALWAYS BY SACRAMENTO.
[55:47] A CHARTER DOES NOT CHANGE WHO IS IN CHARGE.
[55:50] WE STILL ELECT OUR MAYOR AND COUNCILMEMBERS AND IF WE DON'T
[55:56] LIKE THE DIRECTION THEY ARE TAKING, WE CAN VOTE THEM OUT.
[56:00] WHAT IT DOES -- IS GIVE OUR CITY MORE FLEXIBILITY TO SOLVE LOCAL
[56:07] PROBLEMS IN A WAY THAT FITS FREMONT'S UNIQUE NEEDS.
[56:10] I ALSO APPRECIATE THAT ANY CHARTER IS VOTED ON BY THE
[56:17] PEOPLE, NOTHING HAPPENS UNLESS FREMONT RESIDENTS APPROVE IT.
[56:22] AND ENCOURAGE THE COUNCILMEMBERS TO MOVE THIS FORWARD SO THE
[56:26] VOTERS OF THE FREMONT CAN MAKE THE FINAL DECISION.
[56:28] THANK YOU SO MUCH. >> Ms. Lewis: THAT WAS THE
[56:37] LAST ZOOM SPEAKER. THE NEXT IN-PERSON SPEAKERS, WE
[56:44] HAVE STEVE MADEROS. FOLLOWED BY DAVID STARK.
[56:51] ANNIE CORUGA, KIM MARSHALL, TERESA DEANDA, JACK RODGERS.
[57:05] HERBERT CHU. FRANK GUAN, JR., AND ROBERT P.
[57:18] TOYARES. >> Mayor Salwan: PLEASE COME
[57:19] UP IF YOUR NAME WAS CALLED AND IF YOU CAN JUST LINE UP SO WE
[57:22] CAN BE EFFICIENT. WELCOME, MR. MADERAS.
[57:27] >> THAT'S MY DAD. I'M STEVE MADERES, LONG TIME
[57:31] RESIDENT HERE IN FREMONT. IT SEEMS LIKE EVERYTHING IS
[57:33] GOING THE WAY I HOPED IT WOULD WHEN I WAS HERE LAST TIME WHEN I
[57:37] SUGGESTED THAT WE PUMP THE BRAKES.
[57:39] I THINK THAT THE REAL REASON WE'RE ALL HERE IS BECAUSE IT'S
[57:44] MAYOR SALWAN'S BIRTHDAY TODAY, AND A LOT OF PEOPLE DON'T KNOW
[57:48] THAT. SO I KNOW YOU SAID NO HISSING,
[57:50] NO BOOING, NO CLAPPING, BUT YOU DIDN'T SAY ANYTHING ABOUT
[57:52] SINGING. ? HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU.
[57:57] HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU ? ? HAPPY BIRTHDAY MAYOR SALWAN ?
[58:04] ? HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU ? ALL RIGHT!
[58:10] >> Mayor Salwan: THANK YOU. WELL, THAT'S WHY WE HAD THIS
[58:12] MEETING SO WE CAN CELEBRATE MY BIRTHDAY, RIGHT?
[58:14] NO. MR. STARK.
[58:18] THANK YOU. I APPRECIATE THAT.
[58:19] >> MR. STARK IS ALSO MY FATHER. I CANNOT FOLLOW THAT, BUT HAPPY
[58:24] BIRTHDAY, MAYOR SALWAN. I'M DAVID STARK, REPRESENTING
[58:27] THE BAY EAST ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS, AND I DO WANT TO
[58:30] ACKNOWLEDGE THE FACT THAT REAL ESTATE TRANSFER TAXES WERE
[58:35] INCLUDED IN THE STAFF REPORT AND INCLUDED IN SOME OF THE BALLOT
[58:38] LANGUAGE, AND APPRECIATE THAT. HOWEVER, REAL ESTATE TRANSFER
[58:42] TAXES ARE NOT THE ONLY ISSUE THAT WE HAVE IN THE CITY OF
[58:44] FREMONT. YOU'VE CREATED AN INCREDIBLE
[58:47] PLACE TO LIVE HERE. INCREDIBLE PLACE TO WORK.
[58:50] AND WE'RE CONCERNED ABOUT ANYTHING THAT WOULD TAKE AWAY
[58:53] FROM THE ATTRACTIVENESS OF THE CITY OF FREMONT.
[58:56] I GET A SENSE OF WHERE YOU'RE ALL GOING WITH THIS TONIGHT, AND
[59:00] WE GENERALLY SUPPORT THAT. HOWEVER, IF YOU'RE PRIORITIZING
[59:04] WHERE TO ALLOCATE STAFF RESOURCES, I WOULD ENCOURAGE YOU
[59:08] TO FOCUS ON YOUR PRIORITIES OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, FINANCIAL
[59:12] FEASIBILITY, ADDRESSING HOMELESSNESS, AND ENSURING A
[59:16] SAFE COMMUNITY BEFORE YOU CONTINUE DOWN THIS PATH TOWARDS
[59:20] A CHARTER CITY. WORK ON THOSE THINGS FIRST.
[59:24] MAKE THOSE THINGS YOUR PRIORITY, AND ONCE YOU FIGURE ALL THOSE
[59:28] THINGS OUT WORKING WITH THE COMMUNITY, THEN CIRCLE BACK TO
[59:31] THE CHARTER CITY. AGAIN, WE SUPPORT THE DIRECTION
[59:34] THAT YOU'VE OUTLINED, MAYOR SALWAN, AND WE'D JUST ASK THAT
[59:37] YOU PRIORITIZE CITY RESOURCES CORRECTLY TO ENSURE THIS
[59:42] CONTINUES TO BE A GREAT PLACE TO LIVE AND WORK.
[59:44] THANK YOU. >> Mayor Salwan: THANKS.
[59:46] COME ON UP, MA'AM. >> Ms. Lewis: ANNIE CAROGA.
[59:56] >> Mayor Salwan: THEN KIM MAR SHELL, THEN TERESA.
[1:00:00] >> HI, THANK YOU. I'M ANNIE CARUGA.
[1:00:03] I'M SAYING A MESSAGE THAT IT SOUNDS LIKE MOST OF YOU AGREE
[1:00:05] WITH. PLEASE DO NOT PUT THE CHARTER ON
[1:00:07] THE BALLOT THIS NOVEMBER. RESPECTFULLY THE PROCESS WAS
[1:00:11] RUSHED AND JUST DIDN'T GIVE US ENOUGH TIME TO CONSIDER ALL OF
[1:00:13] THE VIEWS IN OUR COMMUNITY AND ALL OF THE POTENTIAL
[1:00:17] IMPLICATIONS BOTH POSITIVE AND NEGATIVE IN BECOMING A CHARTER
[1:00:20] CITY. A CHARTER IS NOT INHERENTLY BAD
[1:00:22] AS MANY OF YOU HAVE STATED BUT WE NEED A REALLY CLEAR REASON AS
[1:00:25] TO WHY WE ARE DOING THIS. IF YOU DO THIS AGAIN, IF YOU
[1:00:29] RECONSIDER THIS, PLEASE LET ONE OF THOSE REASONS BE THE
[1:00:32] EXPANSION OF DEMOCRACY. CHARTER CITIES BUT NOT GENERAL
[1:00:35] LAW CITIES CAN, ONE, EXPAND THE FRANCHISE TO 16 AND
[1:00:41] 17-YEAR-OLDS, 2, IMPLEMENT RANK CHOICE VOTING, AND THREE, DO
[1:00:44] PUBLIC FUND MATCHING IN ELECTIONS.
[1:00:46] PLEASE INCLUDE THESE EXPANSIONS OF DEMOCRACY IF YOU ATTEMPT TO
[1:00:49] PUT A CHARTER ON THE BALLOT IN ANY FUTURE ELECTION, AND PLEASE
[1:00:53] DO NOT PUT A CHARTER ON THE BALLOT THIS NOVEMBER.
[1:00:55] THANK YOU. >> Ms. Lewis: KIM MARSHALL.
[1:01:02] >> MY NAME IS KIM MARSHALL. I'M A RETIRED CITY OF FREMONT
[1:01:06] EMPLOYEE, HAVE LIVED IN FREMONT FOR OVER 35 YEARS, AND I
[1:01:10] RECENTLY HAD THE HONOR TO SERVE AS A MEMBER OF THE FREMONT
[1:01:13] CHARTER ADVISORY COMMITTEE. AND I COULDN'T COME HERE EARLIER
[1:01:18] BECAUSE I WAS ON VACATION CELEBRATING MY BIRTHDAY SO I
[1:01:20] WANTED TO JUST MAKE A FEW COMMENTS.
[1:01:22] WHEN I WAS APPOINTED TO THE CHARTER ADVISORY COMMITTEE, I
[1:01:26] WAS VERY NEUTRAL ABOUT FREMONT BECOMING A CHARTER CITY, BUT IT
[1:01:29] DIDN'T TAKE ME LONG TO UNDERSTAND THE BENEFITS OF A
[1:01:32] CHARTER VERSUS A GENERAL LAW CITY.
[1:01:34] I QUICKLY DETERMINED A CHARTER CITY GIVES MORE CONTROL TO THE
[1:01:41] RESIDENTS THROUGH THE OFFICIALS THAT THEY ELECT.
[1:01:42] IT'S A LIVING DOCUMENT THAT CAN BE MODIFIED BY THE VOTERS AS THE
[1:01:47] NEEDS OF THE RESIDENTS AND CITY CHANGED.
[1:01:49] I ALSO LEARNED THERE ARE OTHER THAN 120 CHARTER CITIES IN
[1:01:52] CALIFORNIA AND IN THE BAY AREA, OF THE TOP FIVE CITIES BY
[1:01:57] POPULATION, FOUR ARE CHARTER CITIES, BUT FREMONT IS NOT.
[1:02:00] SO THE CHARTER ADVISORY COMMITTEE CAME TO CONSENSUS AND
[1:02:03] BROUGHT THE CITY COUNCIL THE FRAMEWORK FOR A FREMONT CITY
[1:02:06] CHARTER. AND WHILE I PERSONALLY WANTED A
[1:02:09] STRONG MAYOR CHARTER, I UNDERSTAND THAT THE OTHERS
[1:02:15] DIDN'T AND WE CAME TO CONSENSUS ON THIS, AND I RESPECT THE
[1:02:19] COUNCIL'S TAKING A STEP BACK, GETTING MORE PUBLIC INPUT AND
[1:02:23] WAITING FOR IT. SO I THINK CHARTER IS THE WAY TO
[1:02:25] GO, AND I'D LOVE TO BE PART OF THAT PROCESS IN THE FUTURE.
[1:02:28] THANK YOU. >> Mayor Salwan: THANK YOU.
[1:02:35] >> YES, I'M TERESA DEANDA AGAIN HERE TONIGHT, AND I WANT TO SAY
[1:02:39] THAT I'M NOT OPPOSED TO A CHARTER CITY.
[1:02:41] HOWEVER, WHAT I AM ASKING FOR RESPECTFULLY FROM ALL
[1:02:45] COUNCILMEMBERS AND THE MAYOR IS TO -- COMMUNICATION.
[1:02:51] COMMUNITY, COMMUNITY, COMMUNITY.
[1:02:52] I LIVE IN A COMMUNITY IN FREMONT, AND I FEEL VERY BLESSED
[1:02:56] TO BE A PART OF THAT. AND I KNOW THAT OUR CITY IS
[1:03:00] GROWING, BUT THAT DOES NOT TAKE AWAY FROM US BEING COMMUNITY.
[1:03:04] SO I MEAN, I HEARD MANY PEOPLE ON ZOOM, CHARTER CITY, LET'S
[1:03:11] MOVE. WHAT I ASK AGAIN IS THAT WE HAVE
[1:03:15] COMMUNICATION. CREATE THESE GROUPS ON GOOGLE
[1:03:19] MAPS, SEND INFORMATION TO YOUR DISTRICT PEOPLE, GET THEM
[1:03:23] ENGAGED. WE WANT TO BE ENGAGED.
[1:03:25] I WAS REALLY PERPLEXED AT GETTING A MESSAGE AT 4:00 IN THE
[1:03:32] EVENING THAT THERE WAS A MEETING IN MY TOWN THAT WAS ON A CHARTER
[1:03:36] CITY. AND I HAD THINGS GOING ON THAT
[1:03:39] NIGHT, I COULDN'T MAKE IT. AND I SAID WHY IS THIS NOT
[1:03:42] COMING TO ME SOONER? SO AGAIN, I'M GOING TO ASK ALL
[1:03:46] OF YOU ON CITY COUNCIL, PLEASE COMMUNICATE, AND THERE ARE WAYS
[1:03:51] TO DO THAT WITHOUT SPENDING TAXPAYER MONEY DOING MAILINGS.
[1:03:54] SO THANK YOU AGAIN FOR YOUR TIME AND EFFORT, AND I LOOK FORWARD
[1:03:59] TO SPEAKING TO MY DISTRICT, AND THANK YOU FOR RESPONDING TO MY
[1:04:03] EMAILS, ALL WHO DID, BECAUSE THAT MEANS SOMETHING.
[1:04:06] SO THANK YOU. >> MAY I ASK ALL OF THE
[1:04:16] PARTICIPANTS ONLINE TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY'RE MUTED?
[1:04:17] THANK YOU. >> Ms. Lewis: JACK RODGERS.
[1:04:22] >> Mayor Salwan: COME ON UP, MISTER ROGERS.
[1:04:24] YOU'RE NEXT. >> AGAIN MY NAME IS JACK
[1:04:28] RODGERS. I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT
[1:04:31] WE'RE ALL ON THE SAME PAGE. I HEARD SEVERAL COMMENTS FROM
[1:04:36] COUNCIL TALKING ABOUT LEANING TOWARDS A DECISION THAT'S
[1:04:39] ALREADY BEEN MADE, AND IT SOUNDS LIKE WE WOULD COME BACK IN THE
[1:04:43] FUTURE TO APPROVE A CHARTER. AND I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT
[1:04:50] MOST OF YOU, I HOPE, ARE THINKING THAT WE'RE GOING TO
[1:04:53] LOOK AT A CHARTER BEFORE MAKING A DECISION ON WHETHER IT'S GOOD
[1:04:56] OR BAD. THIS IS A RISK/REWARD DECISION.
[1:05:00] WE KNOW THAT THERE ARE RISKS AND WE KNOW THAT THERE ARE REWARDS
[1:05:04] BUT I DON'T THINK ANYBODY UNDERSTANDS THAT CLEARLY
[1:05:08] INCLUDING YOU AND I THINK THAT'S WHAT YOU OWE THE PEOPLE HERE
[1:05:10] THAT YOU'RE REPRESENTING. THE SECOND THING THAT I'M A
[1:05:12] LITTLE CONCERNED ABOUT IS THAT SEVERAL OF YOU HAVE TALKED ABOUT
[1:05:16] INTRODUCING ORDINANCES. TO FIX THINGS.
[1:05:20] AND QUITE FRANKLY, I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHAT'S BROKEN YET.
[1:05:23] NO ONE HAS TOLD ME WHAT'S BROKEN.
[1:05:25] AND SO AS YOU INTRODUCE THESE ORDINANCES, I ENCOURAGE YOU TO
[1:05:29] ENGAGE WITH THE PUBLIC, TELL THEM WHY IT'S IMPORTANT TO
[1:05:33] CHANGE THE ORDINANCE. OTHERWISE WE'RE GOING TO BE
[1:05:36] RIGHT BACK HERE DOING THE SAME THING AGAIN.
[1:05:38] SO I REALLY WANT TO THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME, I KNOW IT'S
[1:05:41] DIFFICULT UP THERE WHERE YOU RL, MAKING THESE DECISIONS AND
[1:05:45] GIVING YOUR TIME FREELY HERE. BUT YOU ARE OUR REPRESENTATIVES
[1:05:49] AND YOU OWE IT -- WE OWE TO YOU TO COMMUNICATE AND YOU OWE TO US
[1:05:54] TO COMMUNICATE. THANK YOU.
[1:05:59] >> Ms. Lewis: HERBERT CHU? >> GOOD EVENING, COUNCILMEMBERS
[1:06:03] AND HAPPY BIRTHDAY AGAIN, MAYOR.
[1:06:06] MY NAME IS AND MB AGAIN MAYOR.
[1:06:09] MY NAME IS HERB CHU. I WOULD LIKE TO EXPRESS MY
[1:06:16] APPRECIATION TO COUNCILMEMBER ZHANG AND MAYOR SALWAN AND THE
[1:06:20] ENTIRE CITY COUNCIL AND ESPECIALLY THE CHARTER ADVISORY
[1:06:24] COMMITTEE MEMBERS WHO DEDICATED TIMES AND WORK OVER THE PAST FEW
[1:06:31] MOST. I'M IN FULL SUPPORT OF FREMONT
[1:06:34] BECOMING A CHARTER CITY AND GENERAL LAW CITY TRAIL WORK,
[1:06:40] PROVIDED OUR COMMUNITY HAS AMPLE OPPORTUNITY TO REVIEW TO DISCUSS
[1:06:44] AND OFFER INPUT ON THE KEY ELEMENTS OF BOTH.
[1:06:48] WHEN OUR COMMUNITY IS TRULY READY TO BUILD IT TOGETHER.
[1:06:51] THANK YOU. >> The Clerk: FRANK QUAN.
[1:07:04] >> HELLO, MAYOR SALWAN AND COUNCILMEMBERS.
[1:07:06] MY NAME IS TRARNG QUAN JUNIOR. I'M A RESIDENT OF FREMONT, GREW
[1:07:13] UP HERE, CLASS OF 2000 IN MISSION SAN JOSE.
[1:07:22] AND I'M ACTUALLY ONE OF YOUR VALEDICTORIANS FROM ONE OF THOSE
[1:07:28] TIMES. ONE OF THE THINGS THAT HASN'T
[1:07:29] BONE TALKED ABOUT AS MUCH WHETHER OR NOT REGARDING
[1:07:33] CHARTER, THOUGHT A CHARTER, IS ALSO ABOUT THE TIMING.
[1:07:40] AND I'M PROBABLY ONE OF THE TOOU THAT ACTUALLY BELIEVE THAT IT
[1:07:43] SHOULD BE DONE THIS YEAR OR AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.
[1:07:46] I HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO WORK AT THE STATE LEVEL FOR CLOSE TO
[1:07:50] FIVE YEARS. AND I RECOGNIZE WHEN I WAS
[1:07:57] LEAVING SACRAMENTO COMING BACK TO FREMONT, THE THING THAT STUCK
[1:08:00] OUT IN MY MIND WAS THAT PEOPLE WOULD BE LI LIVID IF THEY KNEW T
[1:08:08] WAS GOING ON AT AT THE STATE LE. AND IN MY OPINION THIS CHARTER
[1:08:13] IS OUR ABILITY TO DEFINE OUR OWN FUTURE.
[1:08:16] WE ARE MOVING INTO A TIME THAT IS GREATLY UNCERTAIN.
[1:08:21] AND PEOPLE ARE MAKING DECISIONS FOR US, WHETHER YOU REALIZE IT
[1:08:25] OR NOT. AND THIS IS ONE OF THE BEST WAYS
[1:08:27] FOR US TO RETAIN OUR TIME. >> Mayor Salwan: ALL RIGHT.
[1:08:35] >> The Clerk: ROBERT TOVARES. >> Mayor Salwan: CAN WE CALL
[1:08:39] THE NEXT BATCH OF SPEAKERS WHEN I IS COMING UP.
[1:08:44] >> MAYOR AND COUNCIL, MY NAME IS ROBERT TOVARES A LONG TIME
[1:08:49] RESIDENT OF MISSION SAN JOSE. THE CHARTER IS A PANDORA'S BOX.
[1:08:55] A LOT OF THINGS TO THINK ABOUT. TO ENGAGE IN.
[1:08:58] IF IT WERE SO GREAT, I THINK THERE WOULD BE MORE CITIES IN
[1:09:02] THE STATE HAVING CHARTERS. SO PLEASE GIVE IT A LOT OF
[1:09:06] ATTENTION. I DON'T KNOW IF I'M FOR IT OR
[1:09:08] AGAINST IT. I DON'T KNOW IF YOU HAVE DONE
[1:09:09] ENOUGH STUDY ON IT. AND LASTLY, I COULD BE WRONG BUT
[1:09:13] PEOPLE THINK THAT WE ARE GOING TO BE MORE INDEPENDENT IF WE
[1:09:16] HAVE A CHARTER CITY. A LOT OF MONEY COMES FROM
[1:09:20] SACRAMENTO INTO THIS TOWN, IN ORDER TO MAKE IT EXIST.
[1:09:23] SO THE STATE IS STILL INVOLVED. HEAVILY ON WHAT HAPPENS HERE.
[1:09:28] SO YOU DON'T BECOME THAT INDEPENDENT, I DON'T THINK.
[1:09:32] THANK YOU. >> The Clerk: THE NEXT GROUP
[1:09:37] OF PEOPLE TO LINE UP, SRIYA NETA VERMA, DOMINIC, ANU NATARAJAN,
[1:09:56] SU CHAN, RICHARD KELLER, VEPIN, FELIX VEKNEER.
[1:10:18] VENIT RARVETION PLEASE COME TO THE LECTERN.
[1:10:24] >> Mayor Salwan: SORRY, ONE AT A TIME PLEASE.
[1:10:26] WE HAVE VENITA. >> THIS IS THE MEMBERS OF THE --
[1:10:33] >> Mayor Salwan: OKAY. >> GOOD EVENING, COUNCILMEMBERS
[1:10:36] AND MAYOR. THIS IS VENETA VERMA, SPEAKING
[1:10:43] FOR LEGAL VOTERS OFF FREMONT NEWARK AND UNION CITY.
[1:10:48] YOU HAVE THE HARD COPY COMING TO YOU OF OUR LETTER.
[1:10:53] THE LEGAL VOTERS OF FREMONT UNION CITY AND FREMONT, LEAGUE
[1:11:03] BELIEVES THE FOLLOWING PRINCIPLES SHOULD GUIDE THE
[1:11:06] DECISION AS A CONSEQUENTIAL AS CHANGING THE STRUCTURE OF THE
[1:11:16] CITY. IN ORDER TO PARTICIPATE
[1:11:20] EFFECTIVELY. PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT IS NOT
[1:11:23] OPTIONAL. IT IS FOUNDATIONAL TO DEMOCRATIC
[1:11:29] GOVERNMENTS. CONSENSUS BUILDING, STRENGTHENS,
[1:11:32] PUBLIC TRUST AND LEADS TO BETTER DECISION.
[1:11:36] RESPONSIBLE GOVERNMENT IS ACCOUNTABLE TO AN INFORMED AND
[1:11:38] ENGAGED COMMUNITY. SO WITH THAT, WE WOULD REQUEST
[1:11:44] YOU AND AS WE HAVE HEARD FROM YOU GUYS, I'M HOPING THAT YOU
[1:11:48] WILL STICK WITH YOUR WORDS AND NOT PUT IT ON THE BALLOT FOR
[1:11:52] 2026. AND WAIT FOR THE MORE -- CR
[1:12:02] DAVID BONACCORSI. >> The Clerk: DAVID
[1:12:10] BONACCORSI. >> ON JUNE 2nd, 2026, AT THE
[1:12:13] FIR PUBLIC HEARING THIS COUNCIL HAD A PROBLEM.
[1:12:17] THIS ADVISORY COMMITTEE HAD COME IN WITH FOUR RECOMMENDATIONS,
[1:12:21] ALL FOUR RECOMMENDATIONS COULD BE THEN AND COULD ARE NOW
[1:12:23] SUBJECT TO A GENERAL LAW CITY. YOU DID NOT NEED A CHARTER.
[1:12:27] IF THIS WAS REALLY ALL ABOUT DISCUSSING IN THE ABSTRACT A
[1:12:32] GOVERNING STRUCTURE WHERE THE CHARTER AS A SUBSIRDARY ISSUE
[1:12:36] ABOUT IT AS WE WERE HEARING THIS EVENING YOU WOULD NOT HAVE HAD A
[1:12:40] NOVEMBER THIRD BALLOT DEADLINE WITH TONIGHT BEING THE LAST
[1:12:45] PUBLIC HEARING. YOU WOULD HAVE SHUT DOWN THE
[1:12:47] PROCESS ON JUNE 2nd AND SAID LET'S HAVE THAT DISCUSSION,
[1:12:51] LET'S HAVE THAT DIALOGUE, WE ARE LISTENING TO THE PUBLIC.
[1:12:55] YOU WERE NOT LISTENING. YOU WENT ON ON JULY 2nd AND
[1:12:58] HAD THAT SECOND PUBLIC HEARING. FOR THIS VERY TIME ACTUALLY
[1:13:04] REQUIRED A CHARTER. WHEN YOU THROW AWAY ALL THE
[1:13:08] MATERIAL, WHAT WAS IT, HOW WE COULD RAISE OUR OWN SALARIES,
[1:13:13] WITHOUT A STATE CAP. WE CAN HAVE WHATEVER SALARY WE
[1:13:16] WANT, THAT IS NOTE A FAIR PROCESS TO ALL OF US THAT DID
[1:13:19] NOT RESPECT THE PUBLIC. MANY OF US HERE ARE NOT JUST FOR
[1:13:22] A CHARTER, WE'RE FOR A PROCESS THAT RESPECTS US AS CITIZENS OF
[1:13:27] THIS CITY. SO PLEASE DO IT RIGHT THE NEXT
[1:13:30] TIME. THANK YOU.
[1:13:36] >> The Clerk: (SAYING NAMES). >> GOOD EVENING, FOR THE RECORD,
[1:13:40] I OPPOSE THE CHARTER. I SPOKE EARLIER, TWO WEEKS AGO,
[1:13:44] AND SAID I THINK YOU SHOULD STUDY IT BUT TODAY I WANT TO
[1:13:47] COME BEFORE YOU AND SAY I THINK IT'S A BAD IDEA.
[1:13:51] I THINK SOME LESSONS WE CAN LEARN IS AFTER YOU HAD YOUR
[1:13:55] RETREAT AT THE BEGINNING OF THE YEAR AND YOU ALL VOTED THAT YOU
[1:13:58] WANTED TO HAVE A CHARTER PUT ON THE BALLOT THIS YEAR, THERE WAS
[1:14:03] A FATAL FLAW IN THAT. BECAUSE CHANGING THE
[1:14:05] CONSTITUTION AND NOT HAVING THE DATA IN FRONT OF YOU OF WHAT IS
[1:14:10] THE DIFFERENCE AND NOT HAVE DONE THE HARD STUDY OF THE DIFFERENCE
[1:14:13] BETWEEN THE GENERAL LAW CITY WAS A FATAL FLAW.
[1:14:16] SO THE MOTION THAT WAS DONE, YOU KNOW, IN EARNESTNESS AND THE
[1:14:21] COMMITTEE THAT WAS SET UP IN EARNESTNESS WAS FLAWED FROM THE
[1:14:26] BEGINNING BECAUSE IT WAS RUSHED. AND IT TOOK THE SPOT, OF WE WANT
[1:14:30] TO BE A CHARTER CITY, HOW CAN WE JUSTIFY THAT?
[1:14:33] AND THIS NONSENSE OF SACRAMENTO TELLING YOU WHAT TO DO,
[1:14:37] GOVERNANCE COMES FROM COMMUNICATIONS WITH YOU WITH
[1:14:40] STAFF AND WITH THE PUBLIC. A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE ANGRY HERE
[1:14:44] TONIGHT. THEY'RE ANGRY HERE NOT BECAUSE
[1:14:46] THEY DON'T FEEL THAT YOU'VE BEEN DILIGENT IN YOUR STUDY.
[1:14:50] YOU'VE SAID STAFF COME BACK WITH A RECOMMENDATION AND WE'RE GOING
[1:14:53] TO DO IT. WE WANT TO BE A CHARTER CITY.
[1:14:56] LIKE WE'RE GROWN UP BEING A CHARTER CITY.
[1:14:59] THAT'S NONSENSE. 365 CITIES IN CALIFORNIA ARE
[1:15:02] GENERAL LAW CITIES TO PROTECT THE PUBLIC FROM YOU.
[1:15:05] I SAT ON THAT DAIS SO I CAN SAY IT.
[1:15:12] >> Mayor Salwan: AND YOU WORK FOR THE STATE TOO.
[1:15:18] >> The Clerk: DOMINIC DUTRA. MR. DUTRA.
[1:15:22] >> DOMINIC DUTRA RESIDENT OF FREMONT, BEAUTIFUL NILES.
[1:15:26] LET ME JUST SPEAK TO THIS. I CAME ON JULY 7th WITH THE
[1:15:29] FULL CHAMBER HERE, THIS WAS FULL.
[1:15:32] AND WE ASKED FOR ONE SIMPLE THING: PLEASE LISTEN TO US.
[1:15:37] PLEASE. TAKE THE TIME.
[1:15:39] TO COME OUT AND LISTEN TO US. THERE WERE THREE COUNCILMEMBERS,
[1:15:43] COUNCILMEMBER KENG, IMHERL AND CAMPBELL WHO LISTENED TO US,
[1:15:49] THEY WANTED TO PUT A MOTION, THEY WERE HUT DOWN BY THE MAYOR
[1:15:52] AND THE OTHER FOUR COUNCILMEMBERS, WHY?
[1:15:55] THE MAYOR TOLD US WHY. BECAUSE HE WANTED TO HEAR A POLL
[1:15:58] FIRST. THEY DON'T WANT TO LISTEN TO US.
[1:16:00] THE COMMUNITY. THEY SAY PLEASE TALK TO US.
[1:16:03] THEY WANTED TO HEAR A POLL FIRST.
[1:16:05] YOU'VE HEARD THE POLL. THAT'S THE ONLY REASON WHY THE
[1:16:08] FOUR MAJORITY COUNCILMEMBERS ARE APOLOGY IT.
[1:16:11] YOU DON'T LISTEN TO US. WE ASKED YOU TO PLEASE COME
[1:16:14] LISTEN TO US. WE'RE ASKING YOU TO DO IT AGAIN
[1:16:17] AND WHAT DID WE HEAR TONIGHT? AN IMMEDIATE MOTION TO MOVE
[1:16:20] FORWARD WITH THE ORDINANCE, THAT NOBODY HERE KNOWS ANYTHING
[1:16:24] ABOUT. SO THERE'S A FUNDAMENTAL
[1:16:26] DISAGREEMENT ABOUT WHAT IS LEADERSHIP.
[1:16:29] SERVANT LEADERSHIP IS WHAT COUNCILMEMBERS DO.
[1:16:31] YOU LISTEN TO YOUR COMMUNITY. YOU FIND OUT WHAT THEY NEED AND
[1:16:35] WANT. YOU DON'T COME UP WITH GREAT
[1:16:37] IDEAS LIKE EXTENDING YOUR TERMS FROM TWO TO THREE YEARS,
[1:16:41] EXTENDING YOUR COMPENSATION AND THEN WE TELL YOU WE NEED YOU TO
[1:16:43] TALK TO US MORE. YOU TELL US NO, WE'VE TALKED TO
[1:16:47] YOU JUST ABOUT ENOUGH AND WE HAVE FOUR VOTES AND WE'RE GOING
[1:16:50] TO DO WHAT WE WANT. THAT'S NOT APPROPRIATE.
[1:17:00] >> The Clerk: ANU NATARAJAN. >> ANU NATARAJAN, RESIDENT OF
[1:17:04] NILES. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR REMOVING
[1:17:07] THIS HORRENDOUS BARRIER. I REALLY WAND TO APPLAUD YOU FOR
[1:17:11] THAT. THIS IS THE FIRST TIME THAT FIVE
[1:17:15] TOMORROWER COUNCILMEMBERS HAS COME HERE FOR THE SECOND TIME TO
[1:17:18] ADDRESS YOU ON THAT ISSUE. THAT SHOWS YOU HOW IMPORTANT
[1:17:20] THAT WAS. BUT I WANT TO ADDRESS SOMETHING
[1:17:22] THAT HAPPENED AT THE PREVIOUS HEARING.
[1:17:24] ONE COUNCILMEMBER, DISMISSED OLDER RESIDENTS AS THOUGH THEIR
[1:17:29] VOICES MATTERED LESS. I HOPE WE NEVER REACH A POINT
[1:17:32] WHERE EXPERIENCE IS TREATED AS A WEAKNESS, INSTEAD OF STRENGTH.
[1:17:37] THOSE WHO HAVE SERVED THIS COMMUNITY FOR DECADES DIDN'T
[1:17:40] RESIST CHANGE, AND I DON'T WANT YOU TO BE SMILING, COUNCILMEMBER
[1:17:45] LIU. THOSE WHO SERVED THEIR COMMUNITY
[1:17:48] FOR DECADES DIDN'T RESIST CHANGE.
[1:17:49] THEY LED IT. WE MADE TOUGH DECISIONS,
[1:17:54] EMBRACED INNOVATION AND ADDRESSED FREMONT THE WAY WE
[1:17:59] KNOW IT TODAY. EXPERIENCE RESPECTS HUMILITY.
[1:18:03] THE STRONGEST COMMUNITIES DON'T CHANGE, THEY BRING THEM BOTH
[1:18:09] TOGETHER. LET'S SLOW DOWN GEARNLG THE
[1:18:10] COMMUNITY AND DO THIS THE RIGHT WAY.
[1:18:17] >> The Clerk: SU -- >> Mayor Salwan: CONSUME, NO
[1:18:20] CLAPPING, BOOING HISSING, PLEASE BE RESPECTFUL OF EVERYONE.
[1:18:25] >> MY NAME IS SU CHAN. IN JUNE, THE CITY SPENT $300,000
[1:18:33] ON A COMMUNITY SURVEY TO ENGAGE QUALITY OF LIFE AND FEEDBACK ON
[1:18:37] KEY PROPOSALS. THE FINDINGS WORE CLEAR.
[1:18:40] RESIDENTS DID NOT EITHER SUPPORT THE SALES TAX, REVENUE TAX
[1:18:45] MEASURE OR THE CHARTER CITY INITIATIVE.
[1:18:49] CITING THESE RESULTS LAST TUESDAY, THE COUNCIL WISELY
[1:18:54] VOTED TO DROP THE SALES TAX REVENUE MEASURE FROM THE
[1:18:59] NOVEMBER BALLOT. INSTANTLY WE SAVED, YOU SAVED
[1:19:03] THE TAXPAYERS $800,000. THE MAYOR SAID, I THINK THE
[1:19:09] RESPONSIBLE CALL AT THIS TIME IS TO POSTPONE THIS MEASURE.
[1:19:11] NOT TO PUT IT ON THE BALLOT. WHEN WE KNOW IT'S GOING TO FAIL
[1:19:16] AND IT'S PROBABLY NOT A GOOD USE OF PUBLIC FUNDS.
[1:19:20] TONIGHT, THE COUNCIL CONSIDERS -- IS CONSIDERING THE
[1:19:24] CHARTER CITY PROPOSAL. LOGICALLY, THIS DICTATES THAT
[1:19:30] THEY SHOULD COME TO THE SAME CONCLUSION, THAT IT IS A PUSHING
[1:19:34] AN UNPOPULAR MEASURE IS ILL ADVISED.
[1:19:37] REJECTING THE CHARTER CITY PROPOSAL WILL SAVE ANOTHER
[1:19:41] $80,000. BRINGING A TOTAL OF $1.6 MILLION
[1:19:44] THAT WE JUST SAVED. THIS IS REAL MONEY THAT SHOULD
[1:19:47] BE DIRECTED TOWARDS THE SERVICES AND NEEDS OF THE COMMUNITY AND
[1:19:52] WHAT THEY WANT. THANK YOU.
[1:20:02] >> Mayor Salwan: RICHARD KELLER.
[1:20:05] >> DINA, GO AHEAD AND CALL MORE NAMES WHILE HE'S COMING UP.
[1:20:15] >> The Clerk: MR. VIPIN. >> I GOT OUT OF THE AIR FORCE.
[1:20:19] I PRACTICED LAW HERE FOR 24 YEARS.
[1:20:21] I'VE SAT OPEN YOUR MIPT BENCH, I'M RETIRED FROM THE SUPREME
[1:20:26] COURT BENCH. THE ONE THING I HAVE NOT HEARD
[1:20:28] IN ANY OF THIS DISCUSSION ABOUT THE POSSIBLE CHARTER IS A
[1:20:33] CHARTER CAN THOUGHT ONLY GIVE YOU POWERS, IT CAN RESTRICT YOU
[1:20:38] POWERS. NO ONE HAS TALKED ABOUT WHAT
[1:20:39] RESTRICTIONS YOU WOULD PLACE ON YOUR ABILITY UNDER THE CHARTER.
[1:20:42] I THINK THAT'S SOMETHING THAT NEEDS TO BE OPENLY DISCUSSED.
[1:20:46] IT'S ONE OF THOSE THINGS THAT YOU KNOW, SOMEBODY SAYS WELL WE
[1:20:50] HAVE A CHARTER, IT LETS US DO THIS.
[1:20:53] WHAT DOES IT NOT LET YOU DO? I WOULD JUST SIMPLY SUGGEST, IF
[1:20:58] YOU STUDY THIS MATTER THAT YOU CONSIDER THINGS THAT YOU WOULD
[1:21:02] WANT TO -- RESTRICTIONS YOU WOULD WANT TO PUT ON YOURSELVES
[1:21:07] WITHOUT COMING BACK TO THE PUBLIC TO SUPPORT YOU.
[1:21:10] THANK YOU VERY MUCH. >> The Clerk: THE NEXT SET OF
[1:21:12] SPEAKERS FOLLOWING THE CURRENT GROUP, AZI AKBARI, RAMESH
[1:21:28] SAMAMURTHI, DONNA MANDAN, VIN KANTU, SORRY I'M MESSING UP YOUR
[1:21:42] NAMES, JINGMAN YANG, KEITH PARKER, ADELIS FAUN.
[1:22:01] RAMESH SATHIAMURTHI. DIA NANDAN.
[1:22:24] VIJAYA, JINGMAN YANG, KEITH PARKER, ADELA SPAWN.
[1:22:30] >> Mayor Salwan: GO AHEAD SIR. >> HI, MY NAME IS VIPIN AND
[1:22:34] THANKS FOR COUNCILMEMBER, STAFF AND CHARTER COMMITTEE.
[1:22:41] I WAS FROM DAY 1 AND THIS WHOLE CHARTER CITY CONCEPT WAS VERY
[1:22:46] CLOSE TO MY HEART, THAT IS WHY I'VE BEEN INVOLVED SINCE DAY 1,
[1:22:51] WE SPENT FIVE MONTHS ALMOST. AND WE KNOW LIKE ALL WHAT
[1:22:54] CHARTER CITY CAN DO AND WHAT IT CANNOT DO UNTIL LAST FRIDAY I
[1:23:04] WAS VERY HIGH ON IT, THAT WE COULD BECOME A CHARTER CITY.
[1:23:08] ALSO APPRECIATE THE FINAL DRAFT, ONE OF THE FINAL COUNCIL TEXT
[1:23:14] THAT'S BEEN TAKEN CARE BUT REGARDLESS.
[1:23:16] BUT I DON'T BELIEVE THE CURRENT DRAFT PROPOSAL, MANY OF THE
[1:23:21] IMPROVEMENT IS DISCUSSED, CAN BE DONE WITH THE ORDINANCE CHANGE,
[1:23:24] WE ALREADY KNOW. ESTIMATION OF COST PLACING THIS
[1:23:31] MEASURE ON THE BALLOT, THAT'S NOT THE REASON I'M OPPOSING IT,
[1:23:36] BUT THAT COST IS WHENEVER WE PUT IT ON THE BALLOT.
[1:23:40] BUT MY MAIN OPPOSITION FOR THIS CHARTER IS BECAUSE IT'S NOT
[1:23:45] DELIVERING WHAT WE THOUGHT IT WAS GOING TO DELIVER.
[1:23:49] LIKE MODERNIZATION AN TRANSPARENCY, THOSE THINGS ARE
[1:23:54] MISSING IN THE CHARTER AND THAT'S THE REASON I'M OPPOSING
[1:24:02] IT. >> The Clerk: FELIX LECHNER.
[1:24:09] >> HAPPY BIRTHDAY, MAYOR. THE SURVEY FROM FM 3, I ONLY
[1:24:16] CAME HERE TONIGHT TO SHOW MY FELLOW RESIDENTS AND YOUR
[1:24:20] CONSTITUENTS THAT SLIDE FROM LAST WEEK.
[1:24:24] OKAY, THANK YOU SO MUCH. ALL MEETING LAWS WERE FOLLOWED
[1:24:31] BUT I FELT THAT THE SLIDE BELONGED HERE TONIGHT.
[1:24:34] I'LL LEAVE IT UP HERE SO YOU AND OTHERS CAN REFER TO IT IF YOU
[1:24:38] LIKE. PERSONALLY, I THINK YOU'RE DOING
[1:24:40] A GREAT JOB AND PEOPLE SIMPLY WANT THINGS TO DAY THE SAME.
[1:24:44] THANK YOU FOR ALL YOUR FAITHFUL SERVICE AND GOOD NIGHT.
[1:24:51] >> The Clerk: JOE ANN SCHWOB. >> GOOD EVENING, MEMBERS OF CITY
[1:24:57] COUNCIL, MAYOR, AND RESIDENTS AND GUESTS.
[1:25:02] I AM SPEAKING TONIGHT IN REGARD TO THE CITY CHARTER INITIATIVE.
[1:25:09] I -- THERE HAS BEEN MUCH DISCUSSION ABOUT CITY COUNCIL
[1:25:13] MEMBERS AND WHAT THEY WANT TO DO WITH THE CHARTER.
[1:25:19] COMPLZ MENCOUNCILMEMBER ZHANG MD SHE WOULD LIKE TO SEE A
[1:25:28] PRACTICAL GOVERNMENT IMPROVEMENT.
[1:25:29] THE MAYOR SAID THAT HE SEES DEMOCRACY IN ACTION.
[1:25:34] LET ME BE CLEAR. IT IS VITAL FOR ALL FREMONT
[1:25:37] RESIDENTS AND COUNCILMEMBERS TO RECOGNIZE THE STRICT LEGAL AND
[1:25:42] STRUCTURAL STANDARDS AND LIMITS OF CITY GOVERNANCE.
[1:25:46] WITH THAT BEING THE CASE, THE CURRENT CITY COUNCIL HAS DECIDED
[1:25:56] UPON THEMSELVES TO HAVE AN ELECTED MAYOR.
[1:25:59] THAT IS SOMETHING THAT NEEDS TO BE PUT BEFORE THE VOTERS.
[1:26:01] ALSO ADDING TWO ADDITIONAL SEATS.
[1:26:03] SO WE DON'T EVEN HAVE AN ACTUAL RECOGNIZED CITY COUNCIL.
[1:26:10] IF YOU WANT TO SEE AN IMPROVEMENT, GO BACK AND FOLLOW
[1:26:14] THE LAWS UNDER THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA AND LET'S GO BACK TO
[1:26:19] HAVING A FIVE-MEMBER COUNCIL, AN APPOINTED MAYOR AND GET RID OF
[1:26:25] DISTRICT VOTING. BECAUSE UNITED WE STAND.
[1:26:31] >> The Clerk: NEXT SPEAKER, AZI AKBARI.
[1:26:40] >> I'M A LONG TIME FREMONT RESIDENT.
[1:26:44] FIRSTLY HAPPY BIRTHDAY MAYOR SALWAN.
[1:26:45] I'D LIKE TO THANK YOU ALL FOR PUTTING IN THE EFFORT ON THIS
[1:26:48] ISSUE SO FAR. THE LAST TIME FREMONT SERIOUSLY
[1:26:52] CONSIDERED A CHARTER WAS BACK IN 1998.
[1:26:54] NEARLY 30 YEARS AGO. AND MOST RESIDENTS TODAY HAVE
[1:26:57] NEVER HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE A SAY.
[1:26:59] SO I RESPECT THE DESIRE TO FINALLY GIVE THEM THAT VOICE.
[1:27:03] BUT A CHARTER RESHAPES THE BASIC RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE
[1:27:07] RESIDENTS AND THEIR GOVERNMENT. A DECISION THIS FOUNDATIONAL
[1:27:10] SHOULDN'T BE MADE ON A RUSH TIME LINE.
[1:27:12] I'M NOT HERE TO SPEAK EITHER PROOR ANTICHARTER.
[1:27:18] BENEFITS AND DRAWBACKS OF MOVING IN THIS DIRECTION, FOR INSTANCE,
[1:27:22] I AGREE WITH ANNIE CARUGA'S COMMENTS ABOUT RESPECTING
[1:27:27] DEMOCRACY BUT WE HAVEN'T HAD THE TIME TO DEBATE THESE ISSUES.
[1:27:31] I WANT TO PUSH YOU TO DELAY THIS FROM THE 2020 BALLOT AND GIVE US
[1:27:38] THE TIME TO EDUCATE THE PUBLIC ON THIS PROPOSAL.
[1:27:42] BASED ON THE MAYOR'S COMMENTS THAT IS THE DIRECTION WE'RE
[1:27:44] MOVING IN AND HOPE YOU'LL STICK WITH THAT.
[1:27:49] THANK YOU. >> The Clerk: RAMESH
[1:27:55] SATHIAMEMURTI. >> I'M A 27 YEAR RESIDENT OF
[1:27:59] FREMONT, WANTED TO THANK THE CITY OF FREMONT AND THE ELECTED
[1:28:03] OFFICIALS AND MAYOR SALWAN, HAPPY BIRTHDAY TODAY AGAIN FOR
[1:28:06] CELEBRATING IT. BUT GIVEN THIS IS SUCH A NICE
[1:28:10] STUNT TO RAISE A FAMILY IN THE HAPPIEST CITY IN AMERICA,
[1:28:15] FREMONT NUMBER 1, THANKS FOR MAINTAINING THAT TREND HERE.
[1:28:18] I'M HERE TO SUPPORT THE CHARTER INITIATIVE BUT AFTER FEELING
[1:28:22] TODAY I STILL WANTED TO SUPPORT THE INITIATIVE, HOWEVER, THE
[1:28:26] THINGS THAT MISSING TODAY, I LISTENING TO ALL THE PEOPLE WHO
[1:28:29] SPOKE BEFORE ME, EVERYBODY HAVE A MIXED FEELING OF WHAT CHARTER.
[1:28:35] CHARTER IS NEEDED SOMEONE MENTIONED, 122 CITIES IN
[1:28:39] CALIFORNIA ARE CHARTER CITY. IN ALAMEDA COUNTY ALONE WE ARE
[1:28:44] THREE CITIES ALREADY CHARTER, ALAMEDA, BERKELEY, OAKLAND.
[1:28:49] IN BAY AREA, 14 CITIES ARE CHARTER CITIES.
[1:28:53] THERE ARE EXAMPLES WE CAN LEARN THERE THOSE CITIES WHAT IS GOOD
[1:28:57] OR BAD. GASTON BENEFIT, THE CITY CAN
[1:29:00] MAKE THE DECISION IN SUPPORTING THE LOCAL PRIORITIES AND TAKING
[1:29:03] CARE OF THE PUBLIC CONTRACTING PROCEDURE, AS SOMEONE MENTIONED
[1:29:06] THERE IS A COST BENEFIT COMES WITH IT.
[1:29:09] SO IT IS A MATTER OF THE RESIDENTS TO UNDERSTAND IN
[1:29:11] COMMUNICATION. SO WHAT I RECOMMEND WHEN YOU
[1:29:13] HAVE A WORK STUDY WORKSHOP AS KATHY KIMBERLIN MENTIONED, SO
[1:29:21] PEOPLE CAN ATTEND ONE, ALSO FREELY ASK QUESTIONS --
[1:29:26] >> The Clerk: THANK YOU SIR. THE NEXT SPEAKER, DIA NANDE.
[1:29:39] BELAGI. VAJIA AZURI.
[1:29:57] >> Mayor Salwan: TRY AGAIN. >> HI, HONORABLE MAYOR, HAPPY
[1:30:01] BIRTHDAY AND COUNCILMEMBERS, I'M VAJAYI AM I'M A LONG TIME
[1:30:09] FREMONT DRERNT. PROPOSED CITY CHARTER IN THE
[1:30:12] NOVEMBER 2026 BALLOT. THE CHARTER ADVISORY COMMITTEE
[1:30:17] WE FEEL IT'S SIGNIFICANT TIME REVIEWING ISSUES, GATHERING
[1:30:21] PUBLIC INPUT AND HOPEFULLY ITS RECOMMENDATIONS, REGARDLESS
[1:30:29] WHERE EVERYONE STANDS ON THE PROPOSAL, OPEN ELECTION AND I
[1:30:32] RESPECTFULLY ASK YOU TO GIVE THE COMMUNITY A CHOICE BY PLACING
[1:30:36] THE CHARTER ON THE BALLOT, THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND
[1:30:39] CONSIDERATION. >> The Clerk: JEAN MENIARY.
[1:30:47] >> GOOD EVENING, MAYOR, CITY COUNCIL, GUEST AND ALSO, ALL THE
[1:30:54] GUESTS, ESPECIALLY THE PRIOR COUNCILMEMBERS.
[1:30:58] MY NAME IS JEAN MING YANG, I'M A LONG TIME FREMONT CITY CITIZEN.
[1:31:04] SO HERE I WOULD LIKE TO THANK VERY MUCH FOR THE CHARTER
[1:31:09] COMMUNITY'S HARD WORK, THEY HAVE STARTED THE CHARTER CITY
[1:31:15] INITIATE TO START AND I FULL NEED SUPPORT THIS IS UNDER GOOD
[1:31:22] WAY GOOD PATH TO START. YES, NOW AS RESIDENTS, WE GET A
[1:31:27] LOT OF FEEDBACK FROM THE LEADERS.
[1:31:31] THINK ABOUT THAT. IF WE DOUBT THIS DISCUSSION, HOW
[1:31:36] CAN ATTRACT SO MANY RESIDENTS COME TO THIS ROOM FULL HOUSE,
[1:31:42] AND DISCUSS THIS THING? BUT HOWEVER, I THINK MAYBE THE
[1:31:46] TIME IS A LITTLE BIT IN RUSH. WE NEED MUCH MORE TIME TO MAKE
[1:31:52] ALL THE DETAILS AND MORE DISCUSSIONS, OF COURSE IT IS NOT
[1:31:56] ONLY THE COMMUNITY'S WORK. IT IS THE WHOLE -- NOT THE
[1:32:02] COMMITTEE'S WORK, IT IS THE WHOLE COMMUNITY'S WORK.
[1:32:09] THE COMMUNICATION WITH THE RESIDENTS THAT'S CRITICAL, IT IS
[1:32:15] IMPORTANT. WE HOPE TO PUSH YET.
[1:32:23] >> The Clerk: THANK YOU. FOLLOWING KEITH PARKER, WE HAVE
[1:32:27] SANDRA M. CHUNG, MANISKA PATAK, RACAJ, AND AUDREY FAMBORO.
[1:32:39] >> Mayor Salwan: HOW MANY MORE SPEAKERS DO WE HAVE?
[1:32:46] TEN, OKAY. ON ZOOM.
[1:32:54] OKAY. ALL RIGHT.
[1:32:55] >> FIRST OF ALL, HAPPY BIRTHDAY MR. MAYOR, AND SO I ACTUALLY WAS
[1:33:00] ABLE TO ATTEND THE MAJORITY OF THE CHARTER ADVISORY COMMITTEE
[1:33:03] MEETINGS SO I WAS ABLE TO WITNESS THE PROCESS, SEE WHAT
[1:33:08] WENT THROUGH, UNDERSTAND THE REASONING BEHIND IT, SO I HAVE A
[1:33:12] PRETTY GOOD IDEA WHY YOU WANT TO HAVE A CHARTER CITY.
[1:33:14] IT'S BECAUSE YOU WANT TO BE ABLE TO BE ACCOUNTABLE TO THE PEOPLE
[1:33:18] WHO HOLD YOU ACCOUNTABLE FOR. THAT MAKES SENSE BUT CLEARLY THE
[1:33:23] COMMUNITY ISN'T THERE YET AND I DO THINK THE CHARTER NEEDS A
[1:33:26] LITTLE BIT MORE WORK AND SO DOING WHAT YOU PROPOSED,
[1:33:29] SHELVING IT FOR NOW, GOING AHEAD AND WITH SOME OF THOSE THINGS
[1:33:36] THAT WE NEED TO HAVE PASSED SO YOU CAN DO THE WAY TO GO IS THE
[1:33:41] RIGHT THING TO DO SO I COMPLETELY SUPPORT THAT SO SO
[1:33:45] THANK YOU. >> GOOD EVENING, MAYOR AND
[1:33:50] COUNCILMEMBERS. MY NAME IS DELLA SPAN AND I'M A
[1:33:57] FREMONT RESIDENT, I SUPPORT THE IDEA OF BECOMING A CHARTER CITY
[1:34:01] BECAUSE IT CAN IMPROVE TRANSPARENCY, EFFICIENCY,
[1:34:05] FLEXIBILITY AND ACCOUNTABILITY. AS OUR LOCATED OFFICIALS, THE
[1:34:08] LOELECTED OFFICIALS, THEMAYOR AS SHOULD MAKE THE FINAL DECISION
[1:34:21] MAKING. HOWEVER, THE PROPOSAL IS
[1:34:23] INCOMPLETE, I WOULD LIKE THE CITY COUNCIL NOT TO RUSH THIS
[1:34:25] PROCESS. PLEASE TABLE THIS PROPOSAL AND
[1:34:29] BRING BACK A COMPLETED OR BETTER VERSION IN THE FUTURE.
[1:34:34] IN THE MEANTIME, THE CITY CAN CONTINUE TO IMPROVE AND REFORM
[1:34:40] ITS OBLIGATION UNDER THE CURRENT GENERAL LAW CITY SYSTEM.
[1:34:43] THANK YOU FOR YOUR LISTENING AND AGAIN HAPPY BIRTHDAY MAYOR
[1:34:48] SALWAN. >> Mayor Salwan: THANK YOU.
[1:34:50] >> The Clerk: SANDRA N. >> GOOD EVENING, MY NAME IS
[1:34:59] SANDRA MOORE THERE MISSION SAN JOSE.
[1:35:01] I'M SURE THAT YOU'VE RECEIVED MY LETTERS AND HAVE READ THEM.
[1:35:08] AND THANK YOU KATHY FOR REPLYING TO THAT LETTER.
[1:35:14] I'M HERE TO POINT OUT AN INCREDIBLE AMOUNT OF MONEY THAT
[1:35:18] WOULD BE WASTED OBVIOUSLY. AND SO I'LL TALK ABOUT HOW THAT
[1:35:23] MONEY CAN BE USED. IF YOU CAN PLEASE ALLOW COME
[1:35:30] CAMPBELL TO GO AHEAD AND MAKE THERE MOTION AND SOMEBODY SECOND
[1:35:33] THIS, AND WE CAN PUT IT TO REST. IT'S OBVIOUS THAT THE COMMUNITY
[1:35:37] HAS A GREAT DEAL OF DISTRUST AT THIS TIME.
[1:35:43] SO WITH THAT BEING SAID, WE'RE LOOKING AT $1.6 MILLION THAT WE
[1:35:50] COULD SAVE AT THIS TIME. CAN WE PLEASE LOOK AT WHAT
[1:35:53] COMMUNITY SERVICES THAT WE CAN APPLY THAT TOWARDS.
[1:35:55] THANK YOU. >> The Clerk: CHUNG.
[1:36:05] TOLLED BY MENISKA. >> IS THE DOCUMENT CAMERA
[1:36:13] AVAILABLE SOMEWHERE? >> HERE IS A SNAPSHOT OF THE
[1:36:30] WEBSITE OF OUR CHARTER CITY INITIATIVE.
[1:36:33] AND LET ME READ SOMETHING OUT. IT SAYS THAT THE COMMITTEE WILL
[1:36:38] CONSIDER TOPICS PREVIOUSLY IDENTIFIED AS PRIORITIES BY THE
[1:36:43] CITY COUNCIL, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO, THE FOLLOWING SEVEN
[1:36:47] TOPICS. INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO.
[1:36:51] SO FOR THE RECORD, IT HAS COME TO OUR ATTENTION THAT DURING THE
[1:36:58] SIX CHARTER CITY COMMITTEE MEETINGS, FREMONT CITY STAFF DID
[1:37:02] NOT FOLLOW CITY COUNCIL DIRECTION CORRECTLY AND
[1:37:08] SEVERALLY RESTRICTED THE COMMITTEE FROM DISCUSSING
[1:37:13] IMPORTANT TOPICS. QUOAFNLT WE ENDED UP WITH AN
[1:37:17] INADEQUATE CITY CHARTER. ADVOCATING IN PRINCIPLE A DID
[1:37:21] IDEA, AND WE THANK THE CITY COUNCIL, ESPECIALLY YAJING FOR
[1:37:27] THE BOARD ACTIONS PEPS PLEASE DELAY THE FULL CITY CHARTER VOTE
[1:37:32] BY FREMONT PEOPLE IN ORDER TO PROVIDE MORE TIME TO DEVELOP A
[1:37:35] PROPER CITY CHARTER. AND ALSO PLEASE CARRY OUT AN
[1:37:38] INVESTIGATION ON WHY THIS HAPPENED, DURING THE SIX CHARTER
[1:37:43] CITY COMMITTEE MEETINGS AND HOLD THE CITY STAFF ACCOUNTABLE FOR
[1:37:47] THEIR MISTAKE. THANK YOU.
[1:37:54] >> MANISKA PATAK. >> HELLO, COUNCILMEMBERS.
[1:37:58] AND MAYOR. HAPPY BIRTHDAY, MAYOR.
[1:38:00] MY NAME IS MANISKA PATAK AND I'M A LONG TIME RESIDENT OF FREMONT.
[1:38:09] I HEARD THAT THE CHARTER CITY PROPOSAL IS FOR GOOD GOVERNANCE
[1:38:12] FOR FREMONT BUT AS I WAS TALKING TO MY NEIGHBORS, THE RESIDENTS
[1:38:15] OF FREMONT, I FELT LIKE THEY ARE NOT REALLY READY TO TAKE IT ON
[1:38:19] AT THIS TIME. I WOULD LIKE TO SINCERELY THANK
[1:38:22] THE MAYOR FOR LISTENING TO THE CONCERNS AND SENTIMENTS OF
[1:38:27] FREMONT RESIDENTS. TAKING TIME TO HEAR COMMUNITY
[1:38:31] VOICES AND HEARTFULLY CONSIDER THEIR FEEDBACK FLEBLGZS THE
[1:38:36] SPREAD OF GOOD GOVERNANCE. I ALSO APPRECIATE THE DECISION
[1:38:38] TO DEFER THE CHARTER CITY PROPOSAL TO A FUTURE ELECTION.
[1:38:42] THIS GIVES RESIDENTS MORE TIME TO LEARN ABOUT THE ISSUE, ENGAGE
[1:38:46] IN MEANINGFUL DISCUSSION, AND MAKE AN INFORMED DECISION AT THE
[1:38:51] BALLOT BOX. THANK YOU FOR DEMONSTRATING
[1:38:54] RESPONSIVENESS TRANSPARENCY AND THE RESPECT FOR THE COMMUNITY
[1:38:57] INPUT. THANK YOU SO MUCH.
[1:38:59] >> Mayor Salwan: THANK YOU. >> The Clerk: TOLLED REJASH
[1:39:06] AND AUDREY WE HAD DAVID EPPS, NADIA AJI, KATE AMAN, KELLY
[1:39:18] ABREU, JOHN HINES AND RECALLING BELAJI AND DIAM.
[1:39:27] >> Mayor Salwan: WHAT WAS THE LAST ONE YOU SAID?
[1:39:37] OKAY. RAJESH.
[1:39:41] >> GOOD EVENING, MAYOR, COUNCILMEMBERS, AND RESIDENTS
[1:39:47] AND HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU MAYOR SALWAN.
[1:39:49] SO I KNOW FREMONT HAS GROWN TO LIKE ONE OF THE LEADING CITIES
[1:39:54] IN CALIFORNIA, KNOWN FOR INNOVATION, AND ECONOMIC
[1:39:58] VIABILITY. LAST WE CHECKED IT WAS THE
[1:40:00] FOURTH LARGEST CITY IN BAY AREA. SO COMMUNITY VOTE EXPLORING
[1:40:09] CHARTER CITY, AND STARS I KNOW ABOUT THIS COMMUNITY DOES NOT
[1:40:13] MEAN LEAVING CALIFORNIA LAWS BEHIND OR STATE LAWS CONTINUE TO
[1:40:18] APPLY TO MANY OF OUR IMPORTANT AREAS.
[1:40:19] AND IT IS I THINK THE DUTY OF GIVE THE OPPORTUNITIES OF THE
[1:40:27] VOTERS OF FREMONT AND HAVE THIS COME TO BALLOT.
[1:40:29] FOR OUR CITY, STRONG TECHNOLOGY SECTOR, A DIVERSE POPULATION
[1:40:37] LIKE FREMONT, CRAZY INNOVATION, RESPONSIVENESS AND HELP BY
[1:40:44] RESPECTING THE VALUES THE COMMUNITY CHAIRS.
[1:40:49] I REQUEST YOU MOVE TOWARD WITH THE CHARTER CITY, TAKING TEED
[1:40:55] BACK FROM THE COMMUNITY AND TOP CITIES ARE ALL CHARTER CITIES.
[1:40:59] THANK YOU. >> The Clerk: (SAYING NAMES).
[1:41:09] >> GOOD EVENING, MAYOR AND COUNCILMEMBERS.
[1:41:13] I'M AUDREY FALBRO, AND FIRST I WANTED TO SAY, WHERE WAS I WHEN
[1:41:19] THIS WAS HAPPENING, HOW LONG HAS THIS BEEN GOING ALONG, SEEING
[1:41:23] THE FLIER THAT CAME ACROSS, THE CONVERSATION JUST STARTED THIS
[1:41:26] YEAR. WHICH MAKES ME SAY OH MY
[1:41:28] GOODNESS, THIS TIME LINE IS TOO FAST.
[1:41:31] I OPPOSE A CHARTER CITY. I OPPOSE ALL THIS COMING
[1:41:36] TOGETHER KNOWING THAT IT WASN'T DONE RIGHT.
[1:41:39] AND THAT OUR TIME AS COMMUNITY MEMBERS, I'VE BEEN IN FREMONT
[1:41:44] OVER 35 YEARS, IS NOT BEING RESPECTED BY HAVING US HERE TO
[1:41:49] OPPOSE SOMETHING THAT SHOULDN'T BE HAPPENING RIGHT NOW.
[1:41:52] WE ALL SHOULD HAVE KNOWN ABOUT THIS A LONG TIME AGO.
[1:41:55] AND IT SEEMS REALLY UNCLEAR THAT YOU'RE NOT REALLY CLEAR ABOUT
[1:42:00] HOW WE WILL BE AS A CHARTER CITY.
[1:42:03] SO FIRST, YOU HAVE TO GET TOGETHER WHAT YOU WANT TO
[1:42:06] PRESENT TO US. AND THEN PRESENT IT TO US.
[1:42:11] BECAUSE THAT DID THOUGHT HAPPEN AS FAR AS I'M CONCERNED AND I
[1:42:14] TRY TO FOLLOW THINGS THAT'S HAPPENING HERE IN THIS CITY.
[1:42:17] THERE'S A LOT OF UNCLEARNESS. THERE IS A LOT OF VISIONS THAT I
[1:42:22] DON'T SEIZE. I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE VISION FOR
[1:42:25] THE CITY IS FIVE CAREERS, TEN YEARS, FOR THIS CHARTER CITY.
[1:42:29] I DON'T KNOW. BUT I AGREE, IT IS A WASTE OF
[1:42:34] TIME. IT'S DEFINITELY A WASTE OF MONEY
[1:42:35] THAT CAN BE USED IN OTHER WAYS. AND I DON'T FEEL LIKE TRIPS WITH
[1:42:44] TRANSPARENCY IS ME. >> The Clerk: DAVID EPPS.
[1:42:59] >> GOOD EVENING, MR. MAYOR, COUNCILMEMBERS.
[1:43:01] MY NAME IS DAVID EPPS, I'M A RETIRED SERVANT LEADER FOR SANTA
[1:43:06] CLARA COUNTY AND A 40 YEAR RESIDENT OF FREMONT.
[1:43:10] I'M ASKING THAT YOU NOT MOVE FORWARD WITH THE CHARTER CITY
[1:43:16] PROPOSAL WITHOUT MORE SCRUTINY. FIRST, CHARTER STATUS WILL NOT
[1:43:20] GUARANTEE THE LOCAL CONTROL WE'VE BEEN PROMISED, CALIFORNIA
[1:43:24] COURTS HAVE REPEATEDLY LET STATE HOUSING AND LAND USE LAWS
[1:43:29] OVERRIDE CHARTER CITIES, WHEN THE STATE SHOWS A STATEWIDE
[1:43:33] INTEREST. CITIES HAVE SPENT YEARS AND REAL
[1:43:36] MONEY IN COURT FINDING THAT OUT THE HARD WAY.
[1:43:41] SECOND, A CHARTER TRADES OUR LOCAL GOVERNMENT CODE TORE A
[1:43:49] LOCAL COLLECTION CONTRACTING COUNCIL PAY BECOMES A FIGHT THE
[1:43:54] CITY HAS TO LIT DONATE ON ITS OWN DIME.
[1:43:57] THIRD, THE CHARTER STATUS LETS US -- LETS FUTURE COUNCIL EXEMPT
[1:44:05] ITSELF FROM REPETITIVE BIDDINGS AND PREVAILING WAGE REQUIREMENTS
[1:44:09] ON CITY CONTRACTS. THAT IS LESS OVERSIGHT AND NOT
[1:44:12] MORE. BEFORE WE REWRITE OUR ENTIRE
[1:44:15] GOVERNING STRUCTURE I'M ASKING THE COUNCIL TO COMMISSION AN
[1:44:18] INDEPENDENT COST AND LEGAL ANALYSIS SEPARATE FROM THE
[1:44:21] DRAFTING PROCESS, BEFORE THIS GOES TO A VOTE.
[1:44:25] THANK YOU. >> The Clerk: NADIA.
[1:44:36] >> I SECOND SOME OF THE PREVIOUS SPEAKERS THAT THE CHARTER CITY
[1:44:39] SHOULD NOT BE ON THE BALLOT THIS NOVEMBER.
[1:44:42] I HAVE REPEATEDLY HEARD RIGHT NOW THAT A CHARTER CITY WOULD
[1:44:45] PROVIDE FULL CONTROL, LOCAL CONTROL AND EFFICIENCY,
[1:44:49] EFFICIENCY DEPENDS ON SOUND LEADERSHIP, FISCAL
[1:44:53] RESPONSIBILITY NOT ADOPTING A CHARTER.
[1:44:54] THE REAL QUESTION IS WHO BENEFITS FROM THIS.
[1:44:57] IF THE CURRENT SYSTEM ALREADY ALLOWS THE CITY TO DELIVER
[1:45:01] ESSENTIAL SERVICES THEN CHANGING OUR STRUCTURE REQUIRES A
[1:45:06] COMPELLING PUBLIC NEED AND A CHARTER IS NOT REALLY UNMOVED BY
[1:45:10] THEM. WE'VE ALSO SEEN THE BECOMING A
[1:45:14] CHARTER CITY IS NOTE A GUARANTEE FOR BETTER FINANCIAL OUTCOMES OR
[1:45:20] RULES OUT POSSIBILITY OF CORRUPTION.
[1:45:22] CHARTER CITIES ARE NOT IMMUNE FROM ETHICS CONSIDERATION, IN
[1:45:27] FACT THAT IS THE CONCERNS I HAVE WHEN I READ ABOUT THE CHARTER
[1:45:30] CITY PROPOSAL. WE HAVE LAWS IN PLACE REGARDING
[1:45:32] CORRUPTION. SO THE QUESTION IS ABOUT
[1:45:37] IMPLEMENTATION. THE UNUSUAL FAST TRACKING OF
[1:45:39] SUCH A SIGNIFICANT CHANGE AND USING CONFUSING LEGAL LANGUAGE
[1:45:43] MAKES ME QUESTION THE COUNCIL'S COMMITMENT TO THE COMMUNITY'S
[1:45:48] OPINION AND OUR INTEREST. I RESPECTFULLY ASK THE COUNCIL
[1:45:51] TO LET THIS ISSUE REMAIN SETTLED AND I HOPE THAT IT IS NOT
[1:45:57] APPRPROPOSED IN ANY FUTURE ELEC, CHARTER CITY IS NOT BE NEED BUT
[1:46:03] A FANCY IDEA TO JUST BE DIFFERENT, THANK YOU PZ.
[1:46:07] >> Commissioner He: . >> The Clerk: THANK YOU, NEXT
[1:46:11] SPEAKER IS KATE AMAN, KELLY ABREU, AND NEXT CALL FOR BELAGI
[1:46:20] AND DIANE. >> THANK YOU MAYOR AND COUNCIL.
[1:46:22] IT IS INCREDIBLY FRUSTRATING, WE CAN SEEN MAINLY HOW THE TIMING
[1:46:28] OF THIS WOULD BENEFIT WITH THE CHANGED TERM LIMITS AND BENEFITS
[1:46:34] FOR CERTAIN MEMBERS ON THE COUNCIL BUT NOW HOW THIS
[1:46:39] BENEFITS ANYONE ELSE IN THE CITY TO FAST TRACK THIS TO NOVEMBER
[1:46:43] BALLOT. SO IT SHOULD ABSOLUTELY PUT OFF
[1:46:46] UNTIL LATER TIME TO BE DONE RIGHT FOR REAL BENEFITS.
[1:46:49] AND LET'S DO THE SMART THING AND NOT JUST DO THIS TO BENEFIT
[1:46:56] CERTAIN LAME DUCK POLITICIANS, THANK YOU.
[1:47:08] >> SO THIS POLLING MEASURE THAT WAS -- THIS POLLING THAT WAS
[1:47:13] JUST DONE, ALAMEDA COUNTY, OUR SUPERVISOR WHO REPRESENTS MOST
[1:47:16] OF FREMONT JUST SPENT $150,000 OF HIS DISCRETIONARY MONEY TO
[1:47:21] SPONSOR HIS OWN POLL COUNTY WIDE AND THE RESULTS CAME BACK AT
[1:47:25] LIKE 47, 49%, THOUGHT VERY GOOD AND THEY DECIDED TO NOT GO AHEAD
[1:47:29] WITH WHATEVER IT WAS. THEN THEY SAID, YOU KNOW, BUT
[1:47:31] THAT WAS A COUNTY WIDE POLL OF ALL THE VOTERS.
[1:47:35] MAYBE WE SHOULD BE ASKING JUST THE FARMERS BECAUSE THEY ARE THE
[1:47:38] ONES WHO WE REALLY CARE ABOUT, OR YOU KNOW AND HERE IN FREMONT,
[1:47:42] WE'VE GOT THE SAME KIND OF THING.
[1:47:45] YOU KNOW, WHEN YOU RUN POLLS, THEIR POLL WAS VERY DETAILED.
[1:47:48] THEY CAME BACK WITH SLICING AND DICING EVERY KIND OF THING.
[1:47:52] THEY ASKED PEOPLE WELL WHO DO YOU TRUST MORE, THE BOARD OF
[1:47:55] SUPERVISORS OR THE SIERRA CLUB? AND THEY DIDN'T LIKE THE ANSWER.
[1:47:59] IT WAS THE SIERRA CLUB I GUESS. AND, YOU KNOW, YOU JUST RAN THIS
[1:48:05] POLL, 24%, THAT IS NOT A POLLING RESULT, THAT IS A DISASTER.
[1:48:10] THAT'S A DISASTER. AND FOR YOU TO SAY, YOU KNOW, WE
[1:48:14] JUST KIND OF SKIP OVER THAT, YOU KNOW, YOU NEED TO ASK YOURSELF,
[1:48:19] THE PEOPLE DON'T TRUST THESE POLITICIANS I GUESS, HERE.
[1:48:24] AND ANOTHER THING WE HEARD ABOUT POPULATION GROWTH INCREASE IN
[1:48:27] FREMONT. SINCE THE LAST CENSUS IT'S
[1:48:30] DROPPED ONE OR TWO%, SO WHERE IS THE INCREASE?
[1:48:36] >> The Clerk: FOLLOWING MR. HINES THE LAST SPEAKER WILL
[1:48:40] BE ONLINE. >> HELLO EVERYONE.
[1:48:45] ONE OF THE COOL THINGS ABOUT LIVING IN A PLACE WITH A
[1:48:48] DEMOCRATIC PROCESS IS THAT WE GET A SAY IN GOVERNMENT WHICH WE
[1:48:51] EXERCISE BY VOTING FOR COUNCILMEMBERS AND MAYOR.
[1:48:55] OUR THROUGH IS MAXIMIZED WHEN THEIR INFLUENCE IS MAXIMIZED.
[1:49:01] HAVING ATTENDED SOMETHING LIKE 200 OF THESE MEETINGS, SOME
[1:49:07] THINGS I'VE OF OBSERVED IS YEARS AGO, CITY STAFF FELL INTO BAD
[1:49:15] HABITS OF MINIMIZING THE COUNCIL BY HERDING THEM INTO A NARROWER
[1:49:20] OR MORE CONSTRAINED DECISION SPACE, I'D GIVE SOME EXAMPLES
[1:49:26] BUT THERE'S NOT TIME AND IT'S ALREADY.
[1:49:28] COUNCILMEMBER ZHANG'S REFERRAL KICKED OFF SOME REALLY IMPORTANT
[1:49:32] DISCUSSIONS THIS YEAR WHICH I THINK HAVE ALREADY BORNE SOME
[1:49:37] FRUIT AND I APPLAUD ALL THE PEOPLE WHO WORKED ON IT.
[1:49:41] >> The Clerk: THE NEXT SPEAKER IS BAPARTHY ON ZOOM.
[1:49:55] FAPARTHY. >> CAN YOU GUYS HEAR ME?
[1:50:00] THANK YOU FOR GIVING ME AN OPPORTUNITY.
[1:50:06] HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO RAJ. I'D LIKE TO REQUEST THAT ALL THE
[1:50:09] COUNCILMEMBERS TO MAKE A DECISION TO MAKE THIS AS A
[1:50:12] CHARTER CITY. BECAUSE WE ALL VOTED TO THE
[1:50:16] COUNCILMEMBERS AND WE VOTED FOR THE CITY OF FREMONT SO WHEN THEY
[1:50:21] DOT THE OPPORTUNITY TO DO SOMETHING, THAT'S HOW I LOOK AT
[1:50:27] IT. SO ALL THE -- ALL THESE
[1:50:30] COUNCILMEMBERS WERE ALREADY SUPPORTING THAT, REALLY SUPPORT
[1:50:33] THAT AND AT THE SAME TIME, I ACTUALLY CAN PEOPLE WHO MAKE
[1:50:38] THIS A CHEERT CITY AND WE NEED TO EMPOWER THEM AND THAT REQUEST
[1:50:44] ALL THE DECISIONS TO MAKE THAT HAPPEN.
[1:50:46] THANK YOU. >> The Clerk: THAT WAS OUR
[1:50:49] FINAL SPEAKER. >> Mayor Salwan: THANK YOU.
[1:50:51] WELL, THAT CONCLUDES THE COMMENT PERIOD.
[1:50:53] I WANT TO THANK EVERYONE FOR COMING OUT AND SPEAKING YOUR
[1:50:56] MIND. WE APPRECIATE IT GREATLY.
[1:50:59] I DID WANT TO HIGHLIGHT THESE RECOMMENDATIONS, THEY CAME FROM
[1:51:05] THE ADVISORY COMMITTEE. AND THAT'S WHAT I WAS
[1:51:09] HIGHLIGHTING EARLIER. WAS THAT THE MOST CHALLENGING
[1:51:15] ISSUE REGARDING GOVERNANCE WAS THE ONE THAT HAD THE MOST
[1:51:19] DISAGREEMENT. FOR EXAMPLE AS FAR AS PAY OR
[1:51:21] TERM LIMITS WERE NOT DECISIONS MADE BY THE CITY COUNCIL BUT
[1:51:25] THESE WERE THE ADVISORY BOARD SEVEN FOLKS WHO ALL AGREED THAT
[1:51:28] THIS WAS WHAT NEEDED TO BE BROUGHT FORWARD.
[1:51:31] SO WE DO FEEL THAT THIS DOESN'T ADDRESS THE CORNER -- SOME OF
[1:51:36] THE CONCERNS THAT WE HAD SO I DO WANT TO ANSWER THAT.
[1:51:39] SECOND, THERE WAS A MENTION ABOUT HAVING MEETINGS ON THIS
[1:51:43] TOPIC. WHICH I THINK IS GOOD.
[1:51:45] WE HAD THREE MEETINGS. SO THERE'S MORE PEOPLE,
[1:51:49] DIFFERENT PEOPLE AT EVERY SINGLE MEETING WHICH I THINK IS A GOOD
[1:51:52] THING. SHORTCUTTING THE PROCESS, NOT
[1:51:56] NECESSARILY, IS NECESSARILY HELPFUL.
[1:51:57] I THINK FOLKS HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO DEAJ AND WE'RE
[1:52:00] GETTING A LOT OF ENGAGEMENT ON THIS ISSUE SO WE HAD THE FIRST
[1:52:04] HEARING, THE SECOND HEARING AND THEN WE WERE SCHEDULED FOR THIS
[1:52:07] FINAL HEARING DATE TO MAKE A DECISION.
[1:52:09] AND I THINK ALL THAT INPUT IN EACH OF THOSE MEETINGS WAS
[1:52:15] INVALUABLE. AND SO AT THIS POINT, I THINK
[1:52:17] WE'VE HAD SOME GENERAL COMMENTS ON WHERE WE ALL ARE.
[1:52:21] AND I THINK HOPEFULLY WE'LL HOPEFULLY GET A MOTION SOON.
[1:52:24] I ALSO WANTED TO CLARIFY, THERE WAS A COMMENT MADE ABOUT THE
[1:52:29] SECOND HEARING. THERE WAS A MOTION MADE BY
[1:52:35] COUNCILMEMBER KENG, BUT IT WAS NOT SECONDED.
[1:52:39] AND FURTHERMORE, IT WAS WITHDRAWN.
[1:52:42] BECAUSE SEE, I ASSUME THAT SHE THOUGHT THAT THE VOTES WERE NOT
[1:52:46] THERE. SO I WANTED TO SEE IF THE CITY
[1:52:48] ATTORNEY COULD PROCEDURALLY ADDRESS THAT ISSUE THAT WAS
[1:52:52] RAISED. >> Cty. Attny. Alvarado: THE
[1:52:54] RECORD WILL SPEAK FOR ITSELF, BUT I THINK IT'S ACCURATE TO
[1:52:59] STATE THAT THE MOTION WAS WITHDRAWN AND THE COUNCIL
[1:53:01] DIRECTLIED US TO COME BACK THIS EVENING FOR FURTHER PUBLICth
[1:53:05] PUT. >> Mayor Salwan: THANK YOU.
[1:53:07] COUNCILMEMBER KENG, IS THAT YOUR UNDERSTANDING AS WELL?
[1:53:11] >> Councilmember Keng: THAT IS ACCURATE.
[1:53:13] >> Mayor Salwan: OKAY, GOOD. SO I KNOW COUNCILMEMBER ZHANG
[1:53:17] WANTS TO MAKE A MOTION. ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS,
[1:53:20] COMMENTS BEFORE THAT? OR -- OKAY.
[1:53:24] WE'LL GO TO COUNCILMEMBER CAMPBELL THEN COUNCILMEMBER
[1:53:33] KIMBERLIN. >> Councilmember Campbell:
[1:53:34] ACTUALLY I WAS GOING TO GO AHEAD AND MAKE A MOTION SO WE COULD
[1:53:36] MOVE THIS ON. BUT IF YOU HAVE ALREADY ACCEPTED
[1:53:39] A MOTIONING FROM COUNCILMEMBER ZHANG?
[1:53:43] >> Mayor Salwan: I THINK SHOW WANTED TO MAKE THE MOTION,
[1:53:46] THAT'S WHAT SHE SAID, SINCE IT WAS KIND OF HER REFERRAL, NOBODY
[1:53:50] HAS A DIFFICULTY WITH IT THAT'S JUST ACCEPTABLE WE'VE DONE THAT
[1:53:54] IN THE PAST. CARLA OKAY, I'LL SECOND IT AS
[1:53:58] THE MOTION COMES FORWARD. >> Mayor Salwan: OKAY.
[1:54:01] IT'S OKAY. SO YEAH YOU CAN SECOND IT, IS
[1:54:03] THAT OKAY, COUNCILMEMBER SHAO SHE CAN IS SECOND IT?
[1:54:06] >> Councilmember Shao: OH YES. >> Mayor Salwan: ALL RIGHT SO
[1:54:09] WE'LL JUST -- >> Councilmember Keng: WE HAVE
[1:54:12] HEARD WHAT HER MOTION IS? >> Mayor Salwan: WE'LL HAVE
[1:54:16] THAT. WE'LL JUST PUT THAT AS A PLACE
[1:54:19] HOLDER AND THEN WHEN WE HEAR THE MOTION WE WILL CONFIRM WHAT
[1:54:23] MOTION HAS BEEN MOVED, MAKE SURE WE ALL HAVE AN UNDERSTANDING AND
[1:54:26] WE'LL HAVE A SECOND. AND ONCE THAT IS CLARIFIED THEN
[1:54:30] WE'LL GO FROM THERE. SO WE'VE BEEN DOING THIS FOR A
[1:54:32] WHILE SO WE UNDERSTAND HOW THE PROCESS WORKS.
[1:54:35] SO I'LL GO TO COUNCILMEMBER KIMBERLIN.
[1:54:43] >> Councilmember Kimberlin: JUST KIND OF WANTED TO WRAP UP A
[1:54:44] COUPLE THINGS. I DID TALK ABOUT THE CITY
[1:54:47] MANAGER OFFICE EARLIER AND I WANTED TO CLARIFY THAT.
[1:54:50] WE ARE WORKING WELL TOGETHER. WE DON'T ALWAYS SEE EYE TO EYE.
[1:54:54] NOBODY YOU WORK WITH WILL SEE EYE TO EYE, SOMETIMES I WANT TO
[1:54:59] DO SOMETHING YOU CAN'T DO IT. SO I THINK THE COMMITMENT TO
[1:55:03] WORKING TOGETHER WITH THE CITY MANAGER'S OFFICE IS A GOOD
[1:55:05] INTENTION. IT'S DESTINY TIME YOU HAVE A
[1:55:07] WORKING RELATIONSHIP WITH ANYBODY, YOU KNOW YOU HAVE TO
[1:55:09] GROW AND LEARN. AND SO I DIDN'T WANT IT TO BE
[1:55:13] TAKEN ANYTHING DEROGATORY WHAT I SAID EARLIER, I WANTED TO
[1:55:17] CLARIFY THAT. THE OTHER THING I WANTED TO SAY,
[1:55:20] ONE OF THE HARDEST THINGS FOR US TO DO HERE IS GET FEEDBACK
[1:55:23] BEFORE PEOPLE ARE ANGRY. SO IF YOU CAN HELP US WITH THAT
[1:55:27] THAT WOULD BE GREAT. FOR INSTANCE THE SURVEY THAT WE
[1:55:29] PUT OUT TO 230 RESIDENTS WE GOT JUST OVER 600 RESPONSES BECAUSE
[1:55:35] THOSE WERE MAYBE THE ANGRY ONES. AND WE GET PEOPLE TO MEETINGS
[1:55:39] WHEN PEOPLE ARE UPSET AND WE'D REALLY LIKE TO HAVE MORE
[1:55:43] ENGAGEMENT BEFORE THAT SO IF YOU CAN HELP US, I MEAN WE'VE DONE
[1:55:48] THINGS, WE TALK ABOUT IT BEFORE, ALL THE WAYS WE PUT THINGS OUT,
[1:55:53] SOCIAL MEDIA, WEBSITES, FLIERS AT EVENTS AND SO ANY IDEAS YOU
[1:55:57] HAVE ON HOW WE CAN REALLY BE MORE INCLUSIVE AND ENGAGE PEOPLE
[1:56:01] BEFORE THEY DIDN'T KNOW ABOUT THE CHARTER, IT'S GT A WHOLE
[1:56:04] PAGE ON THE WEBSITE ABOUT THE CHARTER AND ALL THE WORK THAT'S
[1:56:07] BEEN DONE. SO I KNOW IT'S HARD TO GO TO THE
[1:56:10] WEBSITE AND FIND WHAT YOU WAND TO FIND.
[1:56:13] JUST SAYING IT'S THERE BUT IF YOU CAN HELP US BE MORE
[1:56:17] TRANSPARENT, HELP US GET THE WORD OUT, WE HAVE IDEAS, I'M ALL
[1:56:22] EARS, THANK YOU. >> Mayor Salwan: THANK YOU
[1:56:25] COMMISSIONER BASRAI. NEXT WE HAVE COUNCILMEMBER KENG.
[1:56:28] >> Councilmember Keng: ALL RIGHT.
[1:56:29] I THINK WHEN WE FIRST VOTED TO KIND OF START THIS CHARTER CITY
[1:56:33] PROCESS WE REALLY GAVE THE STAFF A PRETTY DIFFICULT JOB OF
[1:56:37] GUIDING THE CHARTER COMMITTEE IN THE SHORT TIME.
[1:56:43] SO THEY DIDN'T HAVE AN EASY JOB, THEY WON'T EXPERTS ON STUDYING
[1:56:48] OR FORMING OR GUIDING THIS PROCESS AND WE REALLY DID HAVE A
[1:56:51] VERY SHORT TIME. BUT I THINK, YOU KNOW, IT WAS A
[1:56:57] KIND OF A TRIAL, YOU KNOW, FOR US TO SEE SOME OF THE BENEFITS,
[1:57:02] AND, YOU KNOW, WE DID SEE THAT, YOU KNOW, FOUR OF THE FIVE
[1:57:08] LARGEST CITIES IN THE BAY AREA ARE CHARTER CITIES.
[1:57:11] AND I THINK WE REALLY DO NEED TO HAVE MORE TIME TO STUDY WHY SOME
[1:57:15] OF THESE CITIES OR WHY THE OTHER 125 CITIES ARE ADOPTING CHARTER
[1:57:22] CITY AS THEIR CITY FORMAT. BUT THEN IN THE PROCESS, THAT
[1:57:28] ENGAGE THE PUBLIC, HEAR EVERYONE BUT REALLY LOOK AT HOW THE
[1:57:35] CHARTER CITY SYSTEM WILL BENEFIT FREMONT AS A CITY, SUCH AS
[1:57:40] MODERNIZING PUBLIC CONTRACTING, ALLOWING MORE TIME FOR FLEXIBLE
[1:57:45] PROCUREMENT METHODS, MORE KIND OF CLEAR PROCEDURES FOR
[1:57:51] EMERGENCY PROCUREMENT AND DISASTER RESPONSE, AND UNDER THE
[1:57:56] CHARTER CITY FREMONT CAN CREATE AN INDEPENDENT ETHICS COMMISSION
[1:58:01] AND CITY AUDITOR, THAT CAN AVOID SOMETHING LIKE KIND OF A -- WHAT
[1:58:10] HAPPENED WITH OUR TOMORROWER CITY MANAGER BEFORE.
[1:58:13] SO WE ALSO, YOU KNOW, COULD HAVE FASTER DELIVERY OF ECONOMIC
[1:58:19] DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS, THAT COULD HAVE -- COULD STREAMLINE THE
[1:58:24] BUSINESS PERMITTING PROCESS, INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT, SOME OF
[1:58:27] THE INFRASTRUCTURE SUPPORTING AND NEW HOUSING.
[1:58:30] SO I DO SUPPORT JUST LIKE MANY OF YOU ARE INTERESTED IN
[1:58:37] STUDYING HOW THE CHARTER WOULD BENEFIT FREMONT, AND I DO
[1:58:41] SUPPORT HAVING A LONGER PROCESS THAT ENGAGE THE PUBLIC HAVING
[1:58:45] MORE WORKSHOPS, AND SEE WHETHER FREMONT DO NEED A CHARTER CITY
[1:58:50] OR NOT. AND HOPEFULLY, WHEN THE NEXT
[1:58:55] HOLDING COMES WE WILL HAVE A VERY SUPPORTIVE POLLING BEFORE
[1:58:59] WE GIVE ANOTHER TRY OWN THE BALLOT THANK YOU.
[1:59:04] >> Mayor Salwan: COUNCILMEMBER LIU.
[1:59:05] >> Vice Mayor Liu: RIGHT, SO I'VE ALREADY DISCUSSED MY
[1:59:08] THOUGHTS ON THE CHARTER, SO I'LL LEAVE IT THERE.
[1:59:11] BUT I JUST WANT TO BRING UP SOMETHING I HEARD OTHER PEOPLE
[1:59:15] BRING UP TODAY, SAYING THEY DIDN'T KNOW THIS WAS AN ONGOING
[1:59:19] PROCESS, THIS IS THE FIRST TIME THEY HEARD ABOUT IT OR MAYBE
[1:59:22] THEY ONLY HEARD ABOUT IT LAST WEEK.
[1:59:24] I DO WANT TO SAY WE DO HAVE A TREES WEEKLY E-MAIL SUBSCRIPTION
[1:59:30] THE FREMONT CONNECTION. I HIGHLY ENCOURAGE EVERYBODY TO
[1:59:33] SUBSCRIBE TO IT. THAT GIVES YOU UPDATES ON WHAT
[1:59:36] IS OCCURRING AROUND THE CITY, WHETHER IN A CHARTER CITY,
[1:59:40] EVENTS GOING ON IN FREMONT. PEOPLE COME UP TO ME, SAY THEY
[1:59:45] HAVE NO IDEA WHAT'S GOING ON. I TELL THEM TO SUBSCRIBE TO IT.
[1:59:49] I ENCOURAGE EVERYBODY TO SUBSCRIBE TO IT.
[1:59:51] THANK YOU VERY MUCH. >> Mayor Salwan: AND DOWNLOAD
[1:59:55] THE FREMONT APP. THAT'S ANOTHER, I'LL MAKE THAT
[1:59:57] PITCH AS WELL. COUNCILMEMBER CAMPBELL.
[2:00:14] >> Councilmember Campbell: I TRIED THOUGHT TO HIT THAT
[2:00:18] BUTTON. I HIT THAT EARLIER.
[2:00:21] >> Mayor Salwan: COUNCILMEMBER ZHANG, TRYING TO GET A MOTION
[2:00:23] AND SEE IF WE CAN GET A SECOND. >> Councilmember Zhang: THANK
[2:00:28] YOU, MAYOR, MY MOTION, BEFORE I MAKE A MOTION I WANT TO COMMENT,
[2:00:39] A RESIDENT, SHE SAID SHE WOULD LIKE US TO ENGAGE WITH THEM AND
[2:00:43] TO SEND OUT OUR MAILING LIST TO COMMUNICATE WITH OUR DISTRICT
[2:00:50] CITIZENS DIRECTLY. I THOUGHT ABOUT IT A LOT, I
[2:00:52] THINK I ASKED, OUR FELLOW COUNCIL TO SEIZE WHETHER WE HAVE
[2:00:57] A BUDGET TO DO THAT. AND THE ANSWER IS NO.
[2:00:59] IF I WANT TO DO A MAIL CHIP I HAVE TO GO FROM MY OWN POCKET,
[2:01:07] SO YOU HAVE A GREAT FEEDBACK. SO GOING FORWARD WITH THE
[2:01:12] DISCUSS THIS SUBJECT, SO THAT WE HAVE HAD SOME BUDGET, YOU KNOW,
[2:01:17] WITHIN OUR CITY COUNCIL'S AUTHORITY, TO DO THAT, TO DO THE
[2:01:21] FURTHER WIDER ENGAGEMENT. AND ALSO I MEAN THE POINT IS
[2:01:29] THAT YOU PREVIOUS PEOPLE'S RESPONDENTS TO YOU BUT WE HAVE
[2:01:32] NO SUPPORT. WE ONLY HAVE ONE PERSON WHO
[2:01:36] WOULD SHARE WITH CITY MANAGER, AND I JUST WANT TO TELL YOU, THE
[2:01:40] FACTS. SO WITH THAT, I THINK YOU HAVE
[2:01:43] ALL GREAT INPUTS AND I HEAR YOU AND WE HEAR YOU.
[2:01:46] AND I'M GOING TO GO WITH A MOTION TO DEFER CONSIDERATION OF
[2:01:51] A CHARTER TO A FUTURE ELECTION AND CONTINUE AND STRENGTHEN OUR
[2:01:59] COMMUNICATE ENGAGEMENT AND DIALOGUE AND IN A FORMAT OF
[2:02:03] WORKSHOP, STUDY STUDY SESSION AND TOWN HALL, AND, YOU KNOW,
[2:02:07] PERSONAL MEETINGS AT COFFEE SHOP AND I THINK THOSE ARE IMPORTANT
[2:02:10] NOT ONLY TO CHARTER BUT TO FUTURE BALLOT, YOU KNOW,
[2:02:15] ET CETERA, MEASURES. AND ALSO, AND THAT'S MY FIRST
[2:02:19] MOTION. SECOND MOTION IS TO, WITH
[2:02:25] ORDINANCE, TO IMPLEMENT THE SEVERAL ITEMS, WHICH CAN BE DONE
[2:02:32] AND IMPLEMENTED TO HELP THE CITY WITHOUT A CHARTER.
[2:02:37] SUCH AS COUNCIL'S REPRESENTATIVE WHICH HAS ALREADY PUT AS FULL
[2:02:45] TIME MEMBER, AND AGREED WITH THE CITY, AND SECOND IS TECHNICAL, I
[2:02:51] THINK TH THIS IS A GIVEN BUT I T TO CLARIFY THAT MAYOR CAN BE
[2:02:58] DIRECTING THE CITY MEETING, THE CONTENT OF THE MEETING.
[2:03:02] AND THE THIRD IS ALREADY APPROVED, I MEAN A CONSENT, THAT
[2:03:11] THE CITY WILL CONFIRM THE FUTURE APPOINTMENT OF A MAJOR
[2:03:15] DEPARTMENT HEAD. I THINK THAT'S MY MOTION.
[2:03:22] >> Mayor Salwan: SO EXCUSE ME. PLEASE.
[2:03:25] COUNCILMEMBER ZHANG I JUST WANT TO CLARIFY.
[2:03:27] I WANT TO SIMPLIFY WHAT YOU'RE SAYING IF YOU COULD LISTEN AND
[2:03:31] SEE WHAT YOU THINK. SO I THINK FIRST PART IS YOU
[2:03:34] SAID YOU WANT TO DEFER CONSIDERATION OF A CITY CHARTER
[2:03:38] TO A FUTURE ELECTION AND CONTINUE THE COMMUNITY DIALOGUE,
[2:03:43] IS THAT CORRECT? >> Councilmember Zhang: YES.
[2:03:44] >> Mayor Salwan: SECOND PART I THINK THE SPECIFICATION, I THINK
[2:03:51] IT'S BASICALLY TO DIRECT STAFF TO RETURN TO A FUTURE MEETING
[2:03:54] WITH THE ORDINANCES THAT CAN BE IMPLEMENTED UNDER THE GENERAL
[2:03:57] LAW FRAMEWORK. >> Councilmember Zhang: YES.
[2:04:01] >> Mayor Salwan: THAT'S I THINK A SIMPLIFIED WAY.
[2:04:04] I THINK AS FAR AS THE SPECIFICS, STAFF WILL HAVE TO COME BACK
[2:04:08] LATER TO TELL US WHERE THEY WANT TO DOUGH A TOWN LAL OR COMMUNITY
[2:04:13] FORUM OR CONSULTANT, THAT HAS TO BE FLESHED OUT.
[2:04:16] RIGHT NOW WE HAVE COMMITMENT FROM STAFF THAT THEY'LL DO
[2:04:19] COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT BUT THE FORMAT NEEDS TO BE FLESHED OUT,
[2:04:22] IS THAT OKAY COUNCILMEMBER? >> Councilmember Zhang: YES,
[2:04:26] SIR, ABSOLUTELY. FOR THE FUTURE I WOULD LIKE TO
[2:04:28] CONTINUE DIALOGUE AND FOR THE FUTURE ELECTION.
[2:04:31] >> Mayor Salwan: THAT'S RIGHT. >> Councilmember Zhang: BUT
[2:04:33] ALSO THE CONTENT OF THE ORDINANCE WHICH IS ALREADY
[2:04:36] INCLUDED IN THE PROPOSAL CAN BE IMPLEMENTED WITHOUT CHARTER AND
[2:04:39] I THINK THAT USE THE FRUIT OF THIS FOUR MONTH OR FIVE MONTH
[2:04:43] LABOR AND MAKE THE CITY BETTER. >> Mayor Salwan: OKAY, SO WE
[2:04:48] HAVE THAT SIMPLIFIED MOTION, TWO PARTS, DEFER THE CHARTER,
[2:04:52] COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT, AND ADOPT THE THINGS THAT WE CAN ADOPT IN
[2:04:56] THE GENERAL LAW FRAMEWORK THAT WERE OUTLINED IN THE STAFF
[2:05:01] REPORT. >> Councilmember Zhang:
[2:05:03] CORRECT. >> Mayor Salwan: I'M SORRY,
[2:05:05] ARE YOU TRYING TO SAY SOMETHING COUNCILMEMBER DUTRA?
[2:05:12] OKAY, I WILL ASK OUR CITY ATTORNEY TO SPECIFY.
[2:05:22] >> Cty. Attny. Alvarado: FOR PURPOSES OF THIS EVENING, I
[2:05:23] THINK WE HAVE SUFFICIENT DIRECTION.
[2:05:26] WHEN WE COME BACK WE'RE NOT COMING BACK WITH READY TO MOVE
[2:05:30] ORDINANCES, WE'RE COMING BACK WITH A FUTURE DISCUSSION ABOUT
[2:05:33] SECTIONS OF THE CHARTER THAT COULD BE IMPLEMENTED IN A
[2:05:37] GENERAL LAW CITY. AND THEN THE CITY COUNCIL CAN
[2:05:40] THEN HAVE A DISCUSSION ABOUT AND COMMUNICATE WITH THE CITY
[2:05:45] MANAGER'S OFFICE ABOUT THE SCHEDULING OF THOSE ITEMS AT A
[2:05:49] FUTURE TIME. FOR THIS EVENING I THINK WE HAVE
[2:05:52] DIRECTION AND IT IS SUFFICIENT. >> Mayor Salwan: OKAY, WE HAVE
[2:05:55] A MOTION, COUNCILMEMBER CAMPBELL DO YOU WANT TO SECOND, DO YOU
[2:05:57] AGREE WITH THAT? >> Councilmember Campbell:
[2:05:59] WELL, I DID HAVE AN ADDITIONAL COMMENT I WANTED TO MAKE TO THE
[2:06:03] MOTION. >> Mayor Salwan: SURE.
[2:06:04] >> Councilmember Campbell: I THINK I WOULD FOR THE SECOND
[2:06:06] PART OF THAT I WOULD SAY TO REVISIT THE AREAS OF THE WORK
[2:06:09] PLAN RECOMMENDATIONS THAT CAN BE IMPLEMENTED BY ORDINANCE OR
[2:06:17] ADMINISTRATIVE REGULATION, WITH COMMUNITYth PUT AS A GENERAL
[2:06:19] LAW CITY. >> Mayor Salwan: I THINK CITY
[2:06:22] ATTORNEY HAS CONFIRMED THAT, CORRECT?
[2:06:25] IT'S GOING TO COME BACK. >> Councilmember Campbell: AS
[2:06:28] LONG AS THAT'S WHAT I HEARD. >> Cty. Attny. Alvarado: FOR
[2:06:31] PURPOSES OF DIRECTION OF STAFF THE MOTION IS SUFFICIENT AS IS.
[2:06:34] ANY -- WHEN WE COME BACK AS STAFF TO LET'S SAY IDENTIFY THE
[2:06:39] AREAS FOR COUNCIL INPUT THAT COULD BE IMPLEMENTED BY
[2:06:43] ORDINANCE, IN A GENERAL LAW CITY, THAT WILL BE THE
[2:06:46] OPPORTUNITY, THE COUNSEL CAN HAVE THAT DISCUSSION AND HAVE
[2:06:48] NOT ONLY ROBUST DISCUSSION ABOUT WHICH ITEMS IT WANTS TO ADVANCE
[2:06:52] BUT THE SCHEDULING OF THOSE ITEMS.
[2:06:55] THIS EVENING, THE ONLY AGENDA ITEM IS WHETHER WE'RE CONTINUING
[2:07:00] WITH THIS CHARTER, AND I UNDERSTAND THAT THE MOTION IS TO
[2:07:04] CONTINUE THE DISCUSSION UNDER OPTION A, WITH THE ADDITIONAL
[2:07:09] DIRECTION THAT THE CITY COUNCIL IS INTERESTED IN EXPLOARG
[2:07:14] FURTHER POTENTIAL UPDATES BY ORDINANCE THAT ARE AVAILABLE BY
[2:07:18] GENERAL LAW CITIES AND WILL CONTINUE THAT DISCUSSION AT
[2:07:20] PUBLIC MEETINGS SOMETIME IN THE FUTURE.
[2:07:23] >> Councilmember Campbell: OKAY.
[2:07:24] I'M OKAY WITH THAT. >> Mayor Salwan: OKAY SO THAT
[2:07:27] SOUNDS LIKE A SECOND. >> Councilmember Campbell:
[2:07:31] YES. >> Cty. Attny. Alvarado: AND
[2:07:32] PLEASE MAKE SURE THAT MY RECITATION OF THAT MOTION THAT
[2:07:35] COUNCILMEMBER ZHANG CONFORMS TO THAT.
[2:07:37] I DON'T WANT TO MISREPRESENT WHAT SHE'S MOVING FORWARD THIS
[2:07:42] EVENING. THAT IS STAFF'S UNDERSTANDING OF
[2:07:43] WHAT TOOK PLACE. >> Mayor Salwan: THAT'S A GOOD
[2:07:46] POINT. COUNCILMEMBER ZHANG IS THAT
[2:07:47] ACCEPTABLE TO YOU? >> Councilmember Zhang: OKAY,
[2:07:55] YES. OKAY, DEFER CONSIDERATION OF A
[2:07:57] CHARTER TO THE FUTURE AND CONTINUE DIALOGUE OF THE
[2:08:02] CHARTER. BECAUSE -- AND WITH THE
[2:08:03] ORDINANCE WE WILL COME BACK AT A LATER SESSION TO DECIDE WHAT
[2:08:08] ITEMS WOULD BE INCLUDED IN THE DISCUSSION OF AN ORDINANCE WHICH
[2:08:13] IS CURRENTLY DISCUSSED ON THE CHARTER.
[2:08:17] >> Mayor Salwan: CORRECT. >> Councilmember Zhang: BUT
[2:08:18] THAT WOULD BE IMPLEMENTED UNDER THE GENERAL LAW CITY.
[2:08:21] >> Mayor Salwan: CORRECT BUT THEY WILL COME BACK FOR FUTURE
[2:08:24] MEETINGS WHERE WE WILL HAVE FURTHER DIALOGUE AND DISCUSSION.
[2:08:30] I SEE STAFF THOUGHTING, WE'RE ON THE SAME PAGE, SO SINGS
[2:08:35] COUNCILMEMBER ZHANG IS THOUGHT HERE, LET'S DO A VOICE VOTE.
[2:08:39] >> The Clerk: COUNCILMEMBER ZHANG, AYE.
[2:08:41] COUNCILMEMBER SHAO, AYE. COUNCILMEMBER KIMBERLIN, AYE.
[2:08:45] COUNCILMEMBER CAMPBELL, AYE. COUNCILMEMBER KENG, AYE.
[2:08:51] VICE MAYOR LIU, AYE. MAYOR SALWAN.
[2:08:55] >> Mayor Salwan: AYE. MOTION PASSES UNANIMOUSLY.
[2:08:58] THANK YOU EVERYONE. THANK YOU TO THE STAFF FOR YOUR
[2:09:01] HARD WORK, SPECIAL SHOUT OUT FOR MR. ALVARADO FOR DOING THE LEGAL
[2:09:06] WORK AND THANKS TO CHRISTINA YOU CONDUCTED A LOT OF THE MEETINGS.
[2:09:10] I WANT TO THANK ALL THE COMMUNITY MEMBERS FOR COMING
[2:09:14] OUT, LET'S KEEP THE DISCUSSION AND THE DIALOGUE GOING, WE
[2:09:18] APPRECIATE ALL THE FEEDBACK AND COMMENTS AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO
[2:09:21] WORKING WITH YOU TO MAKE SURE WE HAVE A GREAT OUTCOME.
[2:09:25] HAVE A GREAT EVENING EVERYBODY, LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING YOU AFTER
[2:09:31] THE RECESS.