8A Consent 2007 0402 - Laserfiche WebLink

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DRAFT MINUTES Page 13 City of San Leandro City Council and San Leandro Redevelopment Agency Joint Meeting-March 19, 2007 Jermanis commented that the Council has taken incremental steps toward strengthening community preservation for the business sector and has been examining the issues raised by Councilmember Stephens. Staff will come back to the Council with ideas on how to address them. Councilmember Starosciak concurred with Councilmember Stephens, commenting that some businesses look like junkyards. Councilmember Starosciak commented on a San Leandro School District town hall meeting she recently attended. She obtained copies of slides and will have them distributed to the Council. Councilmember Starosciak reported that it was a very well-attended meeting with a lot of good discussion, and the most controversial issue discussed was the PG&E easement which will be converted into a parking lot. Councilmember Starosciak also commented on a town hall meeting held tonight by the San Lorenzo Unified School District regarding the possible sale of surplus property. She inquired about the date for the next City/San Lorenzo Unified School District Liaison Committee Meeting and asked if the surplus school sites item could be listed on the meeting agenda. Councilmember Starosciak stated that she would like the Council to discuss the possibility of securing a government relations representative or lobbyist that can assist the City in positioning itself for funding at the state level. Councilmember Souza commented that she had the recent opportunity to attend the Washington Manor Middle School multi-cultural dinner along with Councilmember Starosciak. Councilmember Starosciak commented that she attended the function as the Mayor's representative. Councilmember Souza commented on the value of having Len Simon working for the City in Washington, D.C., and she concurred with Councilmember Starosciak that the City needs a presence at the state level. Vice Mayor Grant commented that the Business Association of South San Leandro (BASSL) will be holding a lunch meeting on March 20, 2007, at noon at Ricky's Sports Bar. The featured speakers will be the Police and Fire Chiefs and the Fire Marshal. There is a nominal lunch fee, and all are invited to attend. Mayor Santos commented regarding Councilmember Stephens' question on federal funding for dredging, indicating that Congressman Stark was unprepared to take a position on the City's behalf. Mayor Santos noted the other local communities with marinas, such as Napa and Petaluma, which are in a similar situation to San Leandro's. It was suggested by Congressman Stark's office that the local communities pool their money and flip a coin to determine which site will be dredged. Mayor Santos commented that Senator Feinstein's office was more receptive to San Leandro's needs, and has been primarily responsible for the City's receipt of funding for dredging in the past. Mayor Santos indicated that he feels the City is unlikely to receive sufficient funding for dredging this year. He announced that the Marina Committee will meet tomorrow, and this will be a topic of discussion. Mayor Santos commented that he felt the City's chances of receiving funding for the Senior Center and Davis Street overcrossing are very good.