Council to Get New Mayor, Police Update

The El Cerrito City Council will elect a new mayor and hear a report on police activities and priorities at its Monday night meeting, which starts at 7:30 p.m.

The mayor's chair rotates once a year among the five council members, who are elected to four-year terms. City policy says the current mayor pro tem, who is Bill Jones, becomes the next mayor.

"The mayor," according the city's Municipal Code, "is the official head of the city for all ceremonial purposes and is the official spokesperson for the city." The mayor also presides over council meetings.

The current mayor is Ann Cheng, who was elected to the council in 2008. Jones was elected in 2004 and has previously served as mayor.

The council agenda also includes re-approval of a previous council vote to apply for a grant for an Urban Greening Plan. Re-approval is needed to conform with state requirements, according to the staff report for the meeting.

Here is the full council agenda from the city clerk's office:

CONCURRENT CITY COUNCIL/REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY MEETING

Monday, December 5, 2011-7:30 p.m.
City Council Chambers
Meeting Location: El Cerrito City Hall, 10890 San Pablo Avenue, El Cerrito
Ann Cheng - Mayor, Mayor Pro Tern Bill Jones, Agency Chair/Councilmember Janet Abelson, Councilmember Rebecca Benassini, Councilmember Greg Lyman

7:30 p.m. ROLL CALL, CONVENE CONCURRETN CITY COUNCIL/REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY MEETING
1.    PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG -led by Councilmember Lyman.
2.    COUNCIL / STAFF COMMUNICATIONS (Reports of Closed Session, commission appointments and informational reports on matters o fgeneral interest which are announced by the City Council & City Staff)
3.    ORAL COMMUNICATIONS FROM THE PUBLIC
All persons wishing to speak should sign up with the City Clerk.    Remarks are limited to 3 minutes per person. Please state your name and city ofresidence for the record.    Comments regarding non-agenda, presentation and consent calendar items will be heardfirst.    Comments related to items appearing on the Public Hearing or Policy Matter portions ofthe Agenda are taken up at the time the City Council deliberates each action item. Individuals wishing to comment on any closed session scheduled after the regular meeting may do so during this public comment period or after formal announcement of the closed session.
4.    PRESENTATION Update on El Cerrito Police Department Activities and Priorities
5.    ADOPTION OF THE CONSENT CALENDAR - Item Nos. 5A and 5B
Consent Calendar items are considered to be routine by the City Council and will be enacted by one motion unless a request for removal for discussion or explanation is received prior to the time Council votes on the motion to adopt.
   A.    Minutes for Approval
Approve the November 21, 2011 City Council meeting minutes.
   B.    Urban Greening Plan Grant Application
Adopt a substitute resolution approving an application for grant funds from the Urban Greening Planning for Sustainable Communities Grant Program (Proposition 84) for preparation of an Urban Greening Plan.
6.    PUBLIC HEARINGS -None
7.    POLICY MATTERS
City Council/Redevelopment Agency Reorganization
Election of City Council and Redevelopment Agency Officers.
8.    COUNCIL ASSIGNMENTS/LIAISON REPORTS (Held over from the meetings of November 7 and 21, 2011.)
A.    Mayor Cheng Assignments:    Association of Bay Area Governments (ABAG) General Assembly Delegate, Arts and Culture Commission, League of California Cities East Bay Division Alternate, Contra Costa County Mayors' Conference, Disaster Preparedness Council Alternate, Human Relations Commission, Pension Board, Temporary Permits Committee, and West Contra Costa Transportation Advisory Committee Alternate.
B.    CouncilmemberAbelsonAssignments: Association of Bay Area Governments (ABAG) General Assembly Alternate, League of California Cities East Bay Division Delegate (also attends Annual League Conference in September), Committee on Aging, Environmental Quality Committee, Temporary Permits Committee, West Contra Costa Transportation Advisory Committee Delegate.
C.    Councilmember Benassini Assignments: Economic Development Board, Financial Advisory Board, San Pablo Avenue Area Specific Plan Committee, Tom Bates Regional Sports Field JPA Alternate, West County Regional Library Board Alternate.
D.    Mayor Pro Tern Jones Assignments: Contra Costa County Mayors' Conference Alternate, Pension Board Alternate, Planning Commission, San Pablo Avenue Area Specific Plan Committee, Disaster Preparedness Council Delegate, Tom Bates Regional Sports Field JPA; Underground Utilities Committee, West County Mayors' & Supervisors' Association Alternate, West County Integrated Waste Management Authority Delegate, West County Library Board Delegate.
E.    Councilmember Lyman Assignments:    Crime Prevention Committee, Design Review Board, Park and Recreation Commission, and West County Integrated Waste Management Authority Alternate.
9.    ADJOURN CONCURRENT CITY COUNCIL/REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY MEETING
•
The City of El Cerrito serves, leads and supports our diverse community by providing exemplary and innovative services, public places and irifrastructure, ensuring public safety and creating an economically and environmentally sustainablefuture.

Council Meetings can be heard live on FM Radio, KECG- 88.1 and 97.7 FM and viewed live on Cable TV - KCRT- Channel 28. The meetings are rebroadcast on Channel 28 the following Thursday and Monday at 12 noon, except on holidays. Live and On-Demand Webcast of the Council Meetings can be accessed from the City's website http://www.el-cerrito.org/index.aspx?NID=114. Copies ofthe agenda bills and other written documentation relating to items of business referred to on the agenda are on file and available for public inspection in the Office ofthe City Clerk, at the El Cerrito Library and posted on the City's website at www.el-cerrito.org prior to the meeting.
In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, if you need special assistance to participate in this meeting, please contact the City Clerk, (510) 215-4305. Notification 48 hours prior to the meeting will enable the City to make reasonable arrangements to ensure accessibility to this meeting. (28 CFR 35.102-35.104 ADA Title I).
The Deadlinefor agenda items and communications is seven days prior to the next meeting by 12 noon, City Clerk's Office, 10890 San Pablo Avenue, El Cerrito, CA. Tel: 215-4305 Fax: 215-4379, email cmorse@ci.el-cerrito.ca.us
IF YOU CHALLENGE A DECISION OF THE CITY COUNCIL IN COURT, YOU MAY BE LIMITED TO RAISING ONLY THOSE ISSUES YOU OR SOMEONE ELSE RAISED AT THE COUNCIL MEETING. ACTIONS CHALLENGING CITY COUNCIL DECISIONS SHALL BE SUBJECT TO THE TIME LIMITATIONS CONTAINED IN CODE OF CIVIL PROCEDURE SECTION 1094.6.
The City Council believes that late night meetings deter publie participation, can affect the Council's decision-making ability, and can be a burden to staff. City Council Meetings shall be adjourned by 10:30 p.m., unless extended to a specific time determined by a majority ofthe Council.