Debates

There were 3 debates held for Pinole city council in this election cycle.

The first was hosted by the League of Women Voters and Contra Costa County, and you can find a recording of it here. Maureen Toms, Norma Martinez-Rubin and I attended.

The second was hosted by the city of Pinole, and you can find a recording of it on the city’s website here and on youtube here. Timothy Banuelos, Maureen Toms, Norma Martinez-Rubin and I attended.

The third was hosted by Pinole Valley High School, and there are numerous partial recordings. Timothy Banuelos, Maureen TOms, Norma Martinez-Rubin, Anthony Tave, Vincent Salimi, and I attended.

You can find links to partial videos at vincentsalimi.com/forum (marked Vincent videoname in timestamps), https://www.facebook.com/PinoleProfessionalFirefighters/videos/751132488559440/ (marked Firefighters Tave and Banuelos on Pinole’s advantages in timestamps), and on Ivette Rico’s channel at https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCCV9pnZInmNjrmagk8R-auA (Marked Ivette videoname in timestamps). You can find links to more complete videos at https://www.facebook.com/jeff.rubin.33/videos/1877162849034907 (marked Jeff debate in timestamps) and https://www.facebook.com/PinoleProfessionalFirefighters/videos/1913049749002743/ (marked Firefighters debate in timestamps). However, none of those videos have a proper transcript, so I figured I should make one. This is a transcript and not a caption- as such, it includes text only without any other contextual information. I will put up a captioned version later, but contextual information is more likely to be disputed than transcribing what people said, so I have started with a transcript. I have timestamped all statements within individual videos and within the full video. For example, the Rules segment start would look like Brooks Jarosz (Ivette Rules: 0:00). New timestamps are entered when a new video segment begins or ends, and when the speaker changes. Individuals will be identified by full name for the first reference and then by first name afterwards. Where linkable videos are available for a particular segment, they’ll be listed in parentheses after that segment’s title. Finally, some comments are asides that are only audible on one recording- those are marked with Aside/Unknown, since the speaker isn’t clear.

Debate Part 1- Rules (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GgvY3G7tAyE)

Brooks Jarosz (Ivette Rules: 0:00): Good Evening ladies and gentlemen, my name is Brooks Jarosz, and I am an investigative reporter at KTVU Fox 2.

(Jeff’s debate video begins here- https://www.facebook.com/jeff.rubin.33/videos/1877162849034907)

Brooks (Ivette Rules: 0:07, Jeff debate: 0:00): It’s great to be here tonight. We hope this debate is informative, enlightening and engaging. We hope that after tonight you will be able to go back to your family and friends and encourage them to vote this November.

I wanna go through a little bit of the format and how we’re going to work this. We have six of our seven candidates who are joining us tonight, for city council. We’re going to give them each two minutes to do an opening statement and explain whatever they would like to talk about. After those two minutes, ah we have compiled through the staff here at Pinole Valley High 5 major questions that we will be covering throughout the night, and we will also mix in all of your questions that you can turn in; and we’ll have runners taking those questions. We’re gonna break this up into two parts: we’ll have our opening statements, we will then go through and allow each candidate to respond to the questions for a single minute. If there is some sort of rebuttal, they will be able to rebut anything for another minute. Ah, After we do kind of our first half of questions we’ll take a break, and go back through and ah allow the candidates a chance to ah address anything that maybe they didn’t get a chance to address in the first half, then we’ll go back to the second half and have some more rounds of questions and answers from all the candidates. And then they’ll finally be given a little bit of time to give a closing remark, about a minute. So without further ado, let’s ah introduce our candidates here.

Brooks (Jeff debate: 1:27): I’m going to just start here, go down the line and give them each two minutes to explain whatever you like. Go ahead.

Debate Part 1- Opening Statement- Rafael Menis (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c-FKV3eBMFw)

Rafael Menis (Ivette Rafael Opening: 0:00, Jeff debate 1:34): Hi. My name is Rafael Menis, and I’m running for Pinole City Council because I believe that Pinole needs to secure its financial future. My count, the city gets about 40% of its unbound, general revenue from sales tax, about 25% from property tax, and about 10% from the users utility tax, which is on the ballot this year as measure C. I think that having 40% of our unbound revenue come from sales tax is too high a proportion, because sales tax is inherently volatile. When there’s a recession — and we all know there’s going to be a recession shortly. We may not know the exact day or month, but I would be shocked there wasn’t one by 2020. Now when that happens, sales tax revenues are going to decline. When the big box stores go out of business, like OSH and Kmart and Toys R’ Us have done this year alone, sales revenue – tax revenues decline permanently, because those big box stores may not necessarily be replaced by equivalent stores that would generate a similar amount of revenue that could be taxed.

However, in order for the city to seek out new sources of revenue it needs to improve its communication with the community. Right now the city grants access to a great deal of information, but that information isn’t necessarily accessible. There are some signs, placed when there are various events that are going on, and I think the city should put out more signs — when it repaves a segment of road we should have a sign saying that you know, the city repaved this segment of road, and this is how it paid for it.

Finally, if we can secure our financial future, we could then go on to do more ambitious goals, like perhaps reopening Fire Station 74, which would require an additional revenue stream. Thank you.

Brooks (Ivette Rafael Opening: 2:00, Jeff debate: 3:34): Thank you. Okay, we’ll reset the clock here,

Debate Part 1- Opening Statement- Norma Martinez-Rubin (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uuq3AJgOquQ)

Brooks (Ivette Norma Opening: 0:00, Jeff debate: 3:39) and Norma whenever you’re ready.

Norma Martinez-Rubin (Ivette Norma Opening: 0:04, Jeff debate: 3:44): Thank you.

Hello everyone, and I’m Norma Martinez-Rubin. The city of Pinole is my adopted home town, I’ve been a resident for about 24 years now, it’ll be 25 on the big ah football game that’s played every January, at the beginning of the year it’s when I relocated from Los Angeles. I come from a big city, but as many of you have seen me involved in community activities, I believe in the heart of small towns. I appreciate that small town feel that we have in Pinole, while at the same time I realize there are there are a number of amenities that we need and services, basic services that need to be maintained.

My interest in running for Pinole City Council I see as an extension of the career that I’ve had as a Public Health practitioner, leading prevention, education, community engagement, and the ap involvement of people interested in the benefit of the community as a whole. And all the while, in my work as in community service, my interest is to think about or analyze the interests of particular groups while never neglecting the interest or benefit of the entire community.

I respectfully request your vote this election, and I look forward to serving you. Thank you.

Debate Part 1- Opening Statement- Maureen Toms (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s_HbohWidPc)

Brooks (Ivette Maureen Opening: 0:02, Jeff debate: 5:05): Thank you Norma. I’ll reset the clock here.

Maureen Toms (Ivette Maureen Opening: 0:05, Jeff debate: 5:08): Okay. Hello everyone, my name is Maureen Toms, and I’m a candidate for Pinole City Council. I began serving on the city council in 2015 when I was appointed to a vacancy, and in 2016 I ran unopposed to the remaining two years of ah, of that term. Um, I was brought up here in Pinole, um, I went to Pinole schools, and ah went off to college and when I ah returned with ah my husband, and we we decided to raise our kids here in Pinole. I’ve been ah involved in Pinole schools all during their schooling, ah I’ve been involved in various um sports groups, that they’ve been involved in. My husband and I ran the Pinole-Hercules Little League challenger division, um, I worked on the uh Amber Park development subcommittee, um, I’m a currently a special olympics coach, I have been for 9 years, and um, I’ve been a parent of um the Pinole Seals for 20 years. In that time I um earned two parent awards, um uh for volunteering during that time.

I’ve been involved in the K-12 school system, not only as a PTA member but as site council member on reconstruction committees, and um the communication committees. Um, I started the e-tree at Ellerhurst, um, did the e-tree while my son was here at Pinole Valley High School, and I continue to be involved in schools whenever I can. I’m a, even though I don’t have any kids in the school now I’m still a PTSA member at um a local school. Um, I served on the Bond Oversight Board, for 6 years- not consecutive years, but for six years, overseeing the reconstruction of schools throughout the district. And um I was on the Planning Commission for ah from 97 to 2015.

Debate Part 1- Opening Statement- Tim Banuelos (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kFIGQzK0l8c)

Brooks (Jeff debate: 7:15): Thank you very much.

Tim Banuelos (Jeff debate: 7:19): Okay.

Tim (Ivette Tim Opening: 0:00, Jeff debate: 7:20): Hi everybody, I’m Tim Banuelos, um, I’ve been on the city council for 9 years, prior to that I was on the Planning Commission for 4 years, uh, just so you know I’m an architect.

I’ve been in the architecture business for 39 years, I’ve been licensed for 21 years, um, I worked on public schools, houses, hotels- that’s what I’m working on right now. Uh, I uh was on when I was on the Planning Commission I set up the framework that later on became the present residential design guidelines, and was on the steering committee for the new Zoning ordinance, and the General Plan and Specific Plan which, uh, helped modernize our, the way that our land uses worked here.

While on the council, I’ve been on the WestCAT board, I was on the wastewater board, uh, I go and harass the school district from time to time, um, I also uh stepped in for Pete Murray for the uh RecycleMore uh committee. And uh, been a lot of uh boards within the actual workings of the council. Uh, the latest thing that I’m on right now is the uh Ordinance board, we’re trying to modernize some of our laws and update them.

Uh, so that’s my in a nutshell what I’ve done, and I believe that I’m not done yet. Uh, this next term will be my third and last term, which it was gonna be anyway, so I’m hoping that you’ll uh consider me and vote for me so I can continue the work that I’ve already started. Thank you.

Debate Part 1- Opening Statement- Anthony Tave (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5yp_bGm5EkU)

Aside/Unknown (Jeff debate: 8:45): You can do it Anthony.

Aside/Anthony Tave (Jeff debate: 8:46): Thank you.

Anthony (Ivette Anthony Opening: 0:00, Jeff debate: 8:52): Ladies and gentlemen, my name’s Anthony Tave and I’m running for the city council, for the city of Pinole. In, 78% of our votership had asked for term limits, reaffirmed it. That gave way to 7 individuals to come back and run for city council. This is great, I’m proud to be up here with you guys. I just want you to know a little bit about my background- I moved here in 2006 from uh Southern California- uh Pomona, which is in LA county, and I was able to uh rent here, I saved my money and bought here. I’m, I live in Old Town Pinole, and the things I want for Pinole uh, the perspective that I would look through, uh, the lens I’m gonna look through our issues is economic value, and the needs of the community. So all the issues that you may hear, you know, throughout this debate and questioning and our campaigning, I wanna make sure that everyone knows that we’re looking at economic value to our city, and we wanna look at the needs of the community.

Part of our campaign- um, we’re running as a slate, me and Vincent, and we’ve been doing a people-to-people campaign. We’re knocking on doors, shaking hands, hearing issues. We’re making sure that we’re listening to people. So the things that I see for Pinole, the issues that have been coming out are, you know, engaging the staff, engaging the community, making sure that that communication is happening. Creating a 5-year strategic plan so that we have a vision for our future, and creating that conversation, is what that vision is gonna look like. What that course and how we chart it- what that course is and how we chart it.

Uh, some of the issues were the library, traffic congestion, uh, station 74 has come up several times, and and housing. So, uh respectfully ask for your vote, uh this November 6^th, and my name’s Anthony Tave and I’m running for city council.

Debate Part 1- Opening Statement- Vincent Salimi (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Om2De-P1Chc)

Brooks (Jeff debate: 10:42): Thank you.

Vincent Salimi (Ivette Vincent Opening: 0:02, Jeff debate: 10:46): Good evening everybody. My name is Vincent Salimi, and I uh grew up in Paris, France. When I was a teenager I decided to move to here in the Bay Area, because I’ve always believed in the American Dream. But I never heard of the F French Dream. So I came here as a teenager, I decided to go to school, I met my wife Monica Hicks here, she grew up in Pinole while, when I was going to college. I studied engineering, business and aviation.

Monica and I, we um bought our house in 2008 in Pinole, and we had our beautiful daughter in 2016, Lela. We both shared a common dream, about the family and raise as family in a safe environment, and provide to our children an opportunity to be successful in life. We believe that hard work, commitment and dedication will help us to succeed in life.

I would like to thank every one of you for approving terms limit- as Anthony said earlier. Um. It is a season for change. It has opened doors of opportunities for people like me and Anthony to become the new leader of this community. Change is good. Change is part of life. We need to embrace our past, and move forward. Please do not be scared. We are the leader of the future, and we’ll all vote together.

I’m the owner of a construction management company. I have received multi-million dollar contracts with a with public agencies. Public agencies hired my services to provide them a skill they do not have, to be able to uh manage the projects.

My professional background includes budget management of public money. I also teach those professional skills to uh, the engineers in the city and county of San Francisco. Every single engineer that is trained in the city and county of San Francisco has to go through my training to be able to perform their job. I’m also a commercial pilot. I’ve managed the construction of cities, hospitals, water treatment plants, airports, bridges, highways and other public transportation.

I will bring a wealth of experience and knowledge that will address the needs and concerns of the citizens of Pinole. Thank you.

Brooks (Ivette Vincent Opening: 2:14, Jeff debate: 12:57): I wanna thank the candidates for their opening statements. One of the things I would like to say, before

Question 1- What is Good about Pinole?

Brooks (Vincent Video 007 Question 1 What is good about Pinole: 0:00, Jeff debate: 13:00): we get started with questions is Pinole is your community. I think it’s important that we have all of you here, who can actually address all of the candidates up here. So when we take your questions, I may call your name, and if you need your card back I’ll be glad to give it to you, but I’d like you to stand, maybe say a line about yourself, introduce yourself to the candidates, and then ask your question.

For the candidates, as if if the question is directed at one person, allow them to answer but then feel free to jump in, and if someone is getting more talking time than someone else, I may cut you off. Let’s try to be respectful of everyone, and we’ll all get something out of this.

I wanna start with our first question. This is one that was prepared by the staff here. And it says “As a councilperson, what would you say to new citizens about the benefits of living in Pinole, opposed to other East Bay communities?”. I’d like to start this question at the opposite end of the table this time, with Mr. Salimi.

Vincent (Vincent Question 1: 1:16, Jeff debate: 14:19): I would like to let you know that uh, Pinole is a great community. Yes, some specific aspects. We are one of the fewer communities here in the East Bay that has um, small charm. We have a beautiful downtown, we have a beautiful high school that is about to be built, and we have our own community. And uh, and that community is actually put in place by a beautiful historical society, and we know what it is, and Mr. Rubin is here to uh, honor that history of Pinole. Um, it’s not about working all day, it’s about where Pinole will be in the future. For the last ah 10 years, I have seen ah the same issues that we have been facing. The library’s hours are still 24 hours, our firefighters do not have enough hours, and that’s stupid- we do not have enough firefighters. We need more patrol officers, what else?

Brooks (Vincent Question 1: 2:20, Jeff debate: 15:23): Mr. Tave, I’d like to ask you the same question- What are the benefits of living here, as opposed to other East Bay communities?

Anthony (Vincent Question 1: 2:27, Jeff debate: 15:29): Sure. So um, one of the things that I noticed when I moved up here was Pinole is in the center of the Bay Area. It takes about a half-hour to get to Napa, half-hour to get to the City, Berkeley, Oakland, uh Marin, it’s it’s right in the center. It’s a quiet, small small

(Firefighter’s recording of Anthony and Tim’s response to this question begins here- https://www.facebook.com/PinoleProfessionalFirefighters/videos/751132488559440/)

Anthony (Firefighters Anthony and Tim response: 0:00, Vincent Question 1: 2:44, Jeff debate: 15:47): town with charm and character. One of the things that as we’re knocking on doors, and we’re hearing from people we have a lot of talent in this town. We have accountants, we have lawyers, we have doctors, we have engineers, we have, you know so much talent in this town. And they’re good people. Every time I knock on a door people tell me their issues. What we’ve been doing is connecting those issues with that address, so that when we’re elected we’re able to follow up with that resident and talk with them. One of the biggest things for us in this town especially, is that it’s quiet, you know it it’s one of the quiet towns but we can do more. So, it’s having that vision for more that I think would be able to take us through generating revenue and and making this town what we want it to be as a community.

Brooks (Firefighters Anthony and Tim response: 0:52, Vincent Question 1: 3:35, Jeff debate: 16:37): Banuelos, uh you’ve been here a long time. Uh, where have we been, what benefits do you think are here, right now?

Tim (Firefighters Anthony and Tim response: 0:59, Vincent Question 1: 3:43, Jeff debate: 16:46): Well, Pinole as we all know, is has a rich historical background. Um, a lot of cities don’t have that. And uh, we are very blessed that we have this framework and this foundation that attracted a lot of us here. Uh, I know there’s a lot of people in Pinole that have lived here all their lives that are elderly now, uh, this is a great place to live! And, uh, I’ve heard from the real estate guys that the listings are up, and the uh property values are up, because Pinole getting very very attractive to people. Um, there’s a lot of people in town that really care for this town. You see them when we have community service days, we all go out and uh pick things up, you see them at the Coastal Cleanup, uh, you even see them at Dumpster Day, you know. And um, that’s a great feeling- you really feel like it’s a small town that everybody knows. Everybody knows everybody. And so that, that’s really important because we, you know, we are a real community. And uh we really do, uh, it’s like a big family. That’s the that’s the best thing about Pinole.

Brooks (Firefighters Anthony and Tim response: 2:03, Vincent Question 1: 4:47, Jeff debate: 17:50): Ms. Toms, I know you mentioned that you were very instrumental in getting this whole high school, new high school

(Firefighter’s recording of Anthony and Tim’s response ends here)

Brooks (Vincent Question 1: 4:53, Jeff debate: 17:56): built, you have some construction background, budget budgeting, land use, that sort of thing. But what are some things that you would say to people to maybe make them move here, or wanna come here?

Maureen (Vincent Question 1: 5:04,Jeff debate: 18:07): I would say um, I’m a lifetime Pinole resident, so I have seen how um, how our town has evolved over the years. Um, I even remember before the high school was built, aging myself but, before the original high school was built um, but, ah as far as location is that we’re close to job centers of ah San Francisco and Oakland, and we’re working on uh, extending some of those job centers here in Contra Costa

(Firefighters video of rest of debate begins- https://www.facebook.com/PinoleProfessionalFirefighters/videos/1913049749002743/)

Maureen (Firefighters debate: 0:00, Vincent Question 1: 5:34, Jeff debate: 18:37): County. Um, it’s uh, we’re one of the more affordable ah areas of um Contra Costa County. We have good weather, we don’t have a 100 degree weather every day in the summer, like they do in Diablo Valley, and we have, um, a good small town feel. When you go into Trader Joe’s or Lucky’s or Sprouts, you always run into people that you know. Um, we have active uh parents in our school system, not only elementary school but all the way up to high school. And we should be proud of that.

Brooks (Firefighters debate: 0:38, Vincent Question 1: 6:12, Jeff debate: 19:14): Ms. Martinez-Rubin, you’ve been here 24 years, ah, living here. What would you tell people um who maybe aren’t here to encourage them to come check it out?

Norma (Firefighters debate: 0:49, Vincent Question 1: 6:23, Jeff debate: 19:26): If you enjoy a quiet town, where you can live in one part of town and then walk to another and end up seeing your neighbor, at the neighborhood store and the post office, um, Pinole is the place where you can to get to know people, over time.

If you become involved ah, in community service types of projects, then you can expand your network, and actually feel like you do belong to a community. It’s a relatively low crime area, it has been that for a good while. We have accessible to us um, our own mayor, and councilpeople, provided that you are actively involved, and learn the processes of how to be civically involved, and volunteer in activities.

It is a full service city, and even though we have had reductions in staff and reductions in services because of the Recession and other um circumstances, economically that have contributed to that. If it does have its own identity, it’s a good place to be.

Brooks (Firefighters debate: 1:55, Vincent Question 1: 7:30, Jeff debate: 20:32): Mr. Menis, I know you talked about wanting to make some big changes here. What would you do that would maybe uh change the landscape a little bit to encourage more people to come here?

Rafael (Firefighters debate: 2:06, Vincent Question 1: 7:40, Jeff debate: 20:43): Well first off, as several of the candidates have said previously, I would mention Pinole’s weather. It’s one of the great qualities about the city, that it’s never too intemperate in summer or winter or any season. And thanks to the work of our Public Works department, even when there is rain, there isn’t risk of, you know, massive flooding like there is in many cities around the region.

I would also say that Pinole is

Aside/Unknown (Firefighters debate: 2:36): You’re kidding.

Rafael (Firefighters debate: 2:37, Vincent Question 1: 8:10, Jeff debate: 21:15): a good place to live because

Aside/Unknown (Firefighters debate: 2:38): Yeah.

Aside/Unknown (Firefighters debate: 2:39): It’s like he never even read the question.

Rafael (Firefighters debate: 2:41, Vincent Question 1: 8:15, Jeff debate: 21:19): people here care about the community, and each other. Your being in here tonight, to listen to all of us, to take part in this process as a part of our democracy, represents that. Because ultimately, a community depends on the connections that exist within it, to be more than just a group of people.

Brooks (Firefighters debate: 3:10, Vincent Question 1: 8:44, Jeff debate: 21:46): Thank you very much.

(Vincent Question 1 ends here, 008 Debate 10-17-2018 Part I Question 2 Repurposing the Empty Big Boxes begins)

Brooks (Firefighters debate: 3:11, Vincent Question 2: 0:00, Jeff debate: 21:48): I’d like to turn now to a little bit of some of the the things that have happened in this town, over the last ah couple of years, specifically targeting big box stores. And I’d like to ah frame this question toward those on the council who have been here and served before, and I’ll let any of you jump in first. But with big box stores like Toys R Us, like OSH, ah like Kmart, having closed down, what should happen with those spaces? Uh, what should occupy those places, and how do you encourage new businesses to come to Pinole? Anyone want to take a stab at it first?

Maureen (Firefighters debate: 3:49, Vincent Question 2: 0:39, Jeff debate: 22:26): I’ll take a stab at it. Um, you know we, we know that the the face of retail is changing. Um, how many of you have, um, you know, bought something on Amazon or um, you know mail order in the last week? And and that would be an indicator of how things are changing. Um, there are some, some items and some services that we’re not going to get by mail order. And we need to focus on that. Um, you know, whether its restaurants or the personal services or something where you really need to examine a product before you buy it not buy a lemon. That’s where we focus

Aside/Unknown (Firefighters debate: 4:31): Good.

Maureen (Firefighters debate: 4:31, Vincent Question 2: 1:20, Jeff debate: 23:08): Um, absent that, um, you know, there’s some sites that might um serve well to to just change from retail to another use altogether. Um, it could be uh, office space, it could be, um, community housing or mixed use. And it really depends, um, Kmart might lend itself better to changing the use than say Toys R Us because its in a strip mall.

Brooks (Firefighters debate: 4:59, Vincent Question 2: 1:48, Jeff debate: 23:35): Okay Tim, have you heard anything, like in the community or from potential people interested in those sites?

Tim (Firefighters debate: 5:04, Vincent Question 2: 1:54, Jeff debate: 23:41): Um, not yet, uh, it’s it’s kind of interesting how we get what we have. Uh, Trader Joe’s had literally passed on us, because they didn’t think we had the demographics, but it was almost as if there was a rumor that started that “Trader Joe’s was coming”, and they kind of lived up to it. Uh, so I, a lot of businesses will come in and check us out, uh, you know right now we’re getting uh, you know there’s a a Planet Fitness coming, um, where the uh old Hometown cafe was. Um, we don’t know what’s going to happen with the the stores that are going away. I hope we have something that’s similar to replace it. We may have some things that maybe split the area up into some smaller stores, for example. Uh, it’d be really nice to have one of those places, talk about Amazon, one of those places you go pick up their stuff at- not and not just behind a gas station, but an actual real place you can pick up your things that that’s safe, I think that would do really well. Um, we always can need more restaurants, although those mostly end up down, down in Old town, that’s where a lot of those places end up.

Brooks (Jeff debate: 24:49): Yes Mr. Salimi.

Vincent (Jeff debate: 24:50): Thank you Mayor. Uh, as a business uh owner I have to make decisions, you know, that are real-life decisions every day. And what I can tell you is that didn’t happen overnight. We had time to see that coming. It’s a lack of vision. We should have known better. Those people didn’t leave overnight, as I said. We need a new leadership, we just we just don’t need people, people who are paper-pushers, who knows how the politicians work. We need a business leader who is an entrepreneur, who knows

Due to limitations of time, the google automated transcript follows. This is markedly lower quality than the prior transcript, so I apologize for that in advance. Some segments will be missing entirely- they will be marked by GAP. All time marks are from Jeff debate.

Vincent(25:26):I’m driving everything I see all those25:28new business is going admitted to record25:30some a blower which meant and yet I25:32don’t see anything here why is that why25:35is that people not getting anything25:37we have the best realistic we have the25:39best weather as you say I just want to25:42know why we haven’t done anything I will25:44offer business plans that would actually25:48invite people to come you want to

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Brooks (Jeff debate: 25:58):respond to

Tim (Jeff debate: 25:59): yeah personally I can respond to that26:01first of all the box stores that one26:09thing you seem to be ignoring that we26:11have one of the best detailed pieces of26:14area right by the freeway that didn’t26:18happen overnight but it’s expanded and26:21it kept going and that’s a really great26:23thing active that’s where the bulk of26:25our sale catchment not just from people26:27that live in when all the people to26:28

drive you know when that in and out went26:30in that was the only in announcement in26:32

the area I had clients that were driving26:34from Oakland

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Tim (27:56):

businesses that we have as well so it’s27:59not like they just popped out and oh and28:02

there’s also business that we’re here28:03already that expanded the round Table28:07Pizza was in the corner at that time28:12that was one of the busiest parts in the28:13

world the number two piece of product28:16was one in Taiwan that’s why we have a28:18

four-story round Table Pizza because you28:20hear that the painter chosen that was28:22

built that was the biggest Trader Joe’s28:25yes or someone at 65 years or older so

GAP

Anthony(28:51): we’re talking about service populations28:53they serve by companies and add28:57particular to those communities we often29:01think about retail is one relatively29:03quick way because we need both sales tax29:05but there has to be some ways of coming29:07up between those types of companies that29:46

companies have started to take away from29:49that so you’re seeing the failure of29:51

Kmart and Sears Kmart it’s important to29:58note that city of Pinole has an29:59incubator it’s county funded where as a30:02homeowner we have a lot of home home30:04businesses that we found on doors30:06there’s no path an incubator is what is30:10the path to getting your storefront so30:12you generate money in your home you then30:15move to the stinky bader to generate30:18more money by partnering with some of30:20the companies like Trader Joe’s what30:21your deal is a kidney struggle so Trader30:23Joe’s sprouts to sell our products local30:26products the products made here in30:28Pinole as you move through that spectrum30:30you get your storefront and you start to30:32build your business30:33people kind of flow through that from30:36time to time when businesses are30:37successful when they fail there there’s30:39an up and down but it’s low risk to30:41something that produces a handle30:43what we want to do is start attracting30:44larger business Tesla just fifty five30:48thousand models to have maybe a small30:53Center so I mean there’s businesses that30:56are thriving in the city landlords to

GAP

Rafael(31:34):place our preferred tenants into those31:37spaces as possible that we make31:39specially onerous conditions they won’t31:42be able to find any so I would argue31:46that we should look to make sure to31:49strike the balance between on the one31:51hand making sure that there are users31:54found for those lost so they don’t just31:56remain vacant should that be by far the31:58worst case outcome well at the same time32:02trying to make sure that our city’s32:05values and the goals that we see are32:07represented in that process

Brooks (32:10): thank you32:11I want to turn now a little bit to we32:13

talked about business but let’s talk32:15about your home and family life we have32:18

an audience question is Dana Dibble here32:21yes this is a crime related question32:24

gonna let her

Dana Dibbble (Jeff debate: 32:26):everybody I’ve lived here my entire life32:28my parents moved in five days before I32:30was born and I’ve almost 50 years ago32:32now and as a lifelong resident I’ve32:34witnessed this town go from a place32:36where you did not have to lock your32:37doors at night you never locked your32:39doors you left to a place where you dare32:41not lock your doors

Aside/Unknown (Firefighters debate: 14:01, Vincent Question 3: 0:26): Yeah.

Dana (32:43): my dad has had32:44somebody enter his house in the middle

Aside/Unknown (Firefighters debate: 14:06, Vincent Question 3: 0:29): Yup.

Dana (32:46): of the day and take money straight out32:47of his wallet in his bedroom while he32:49was in another part of the house we32:51can’t leave our cars in parking lots32:53

anymore without them being broken into32:55and there’s rumor of crack houses in our32:58town we’ve seen homelessness okay so my33:01question is is what’s going on in my33:04little town and what you propose to do33:06

about it

Anthony (33:15): one of the biggest things did33:18after the 21st century policing with33:20President Obama and greater and chief33:23Suhr had responded it’s community33:26engagement it’s having those33:27neighborhood watches talking to people33:29letting them know there are some that33:31are out here neighbors talking again one33:34of the biggest things is you know you33:35see the shades closed and we need to33:38start off with you and that’s part of33:39our people our people campaign is to33:41start talking with people we had one33:44incident with one of the ladies on33:45voyage had a 15 year old who was you33:49know talking you know one of the things

33:52we want to do is make sure we’re calling33:54the police okay so that it gets in their

33:57notes and in their cat so that they’re33:59aware of these issues as they start to

34:00escalate that your neighbors are calling34:02the neighbors are talking so one of the

34:04things that we can do when we get on the34:06council is to start engaging our34:08

community more having our police34:10officers now or doing a great job it can34:13be a typical talking with our residents34:16and so we want to keep encouraging that34:18and at the same time making sure that34:20neighbors are talking to each other

34:21

Brooks (34:21): do you do any of you believe that it’s a34:24lack of communication and that’s the34:26problem here34:29any more crimes

Norma (34:30): not being a police34:34officer on my my response is going to be34:37incomplete but what we know is that34:39

crime is a result conditions then

GAP

Norma (35:15): you’ve35:16been speaking with us but we rank

GAP

Tim (35:29):relatively close to whether you have a35:55barking dog35:56

or you have someone trying to climb in35:58your window they show up I’ve been on

36:00right along with the police and they36:02have three people to a to a shift three

36:07cars and when someone gets a call and36:09car goes towards it within minutes the

36:12other two are there so every time you36:13something happens you get all three cars

36:15on that on that beat because they can36:16get from the tail end of stand paddle

36:19Avenue to a no Valley Park in two36:22minutes so it’s not like there’s nothing

36:24uncovered the chief has really now some36:28new things that he’s getting going but36:31not only just the with us but with other36:34cities to better communicate because the36:36thing has happened in all overtime that36:39that’s traditionally happen is things36:41that happened in Richmond and San Paulo36:42crimes gets solvent at all and he’s36:46still keeping that tradition going

Brooks (36:47): mr. Salimi.

Vincent (Jeff debate: 36:48): thank you we hear a lot of36:51textbook answers I’m gonna give it a36:53real answer those are numbers from the36:56website in one year the total number of36:59poker in the city up we know that they37:01increase by 78%

Aside/Unknown (Firefighters debate: 18:28, Vincent Question 3: 4:51, Jeff debate: 37:04): Wow.

Aside/Unknown (Vincent Question 3: 4:51): Woah.

Vincent (37:04):ever since I did Nick37:05you know my husband burglarized twice

Aside/Unknown (Firefighters debate: 18:30, Vincent Question 3: 4:54, Jeff Debate 37:07): Wow.

Vincent (37:07): those are good answers the real problem37:10is we are not generating enough money to37:12hire the people that we need to hire we

Aside/Unknown (Firefighters debate: 18:38, Vincent Question 3: 5:02): Right.

Vincent (37:15): try to move money from one account to37:17the other there will be problem with37:19this city is that we are not making37:20enough money we need to find ways of37:22increasing our revenues my father-in-law37:27passed away a month ago without 9-1-137:31the dispatch transfers from one dispatch37:34to the other he had a heart attack while37:36he was taking a shower in phenom and37:39then it took about ten minutes for the37:41fire safety people to stop thinking is37:43they’re ready to be good time but if37:45section 74 would have been up and that37:47

would have been less than five minutes37:49this is not money this is relax people

GAP

Anthony (38:01): issue but it’s also a matter of us38:05getting to know our neighbors if you38:08have a community where you know your38:09neighbors you can look out for each38:12other’s homes that is a you know that’s38:15a major thing as far as to keep I also38:23wanted to mention you know the the38:25police chief has some programs that38:29

involve community policing getting to38:31know the community here at panel Valley38:34

High School there’s an SRO program where38:37youth get to know the officers which is38:41

a great time of their lives to get to38:43know police officers there’s you know38:47there’s a need for security cameras but38:51there’s also need for38:52us to get to know our neighbors and38:56definitely you know if we had a budget38:59where we could you know increase the39:01number of officers that yeah but also39:04help so I just wanted to point out they

39:09typically when you have said there’s the39:14three officers go but that second column39:16goes off and the problem that we’re39:19having is the some calls require two39:21officers for backup and safety reasons39:23we’re having is as these calls are39:26happening there’s a safety issue39:28involved to have more staff like like so39:34I think we definitely have to look at39:37hiring more officers and in that39:39five-year strategic plan we’ll be39:41working closely closely with the chief39:43to find out what year we can actually39:45set it to bridge that gap really got to39:47start communicating as a neighbor and I39:52think the chief begin to doing a great39:53job it’s starting to foster those

Brooks (39:56): mayor39:57I want to just what you respond for a39:59second because do you believe the40:01response times are inadequate or there’s40:03some issues there

Tim (40:06): I’ve never heard them40:07done having problems doing that if40:10they’re three at age I have seen and40:12something happens won’t feel off as soon40:15as vecinos security I didn’t want to40:18make a statement you know I’m very sorry40:20about but I also think it’s kind of40:25weird at least the party must say this

Aside/Unknown (Firefighters debate: 21:50, Vincent Question 3: 8:13): Woah.

Aside/Unknown (Firefighters debate: 21:51, Vincent Question 3: 8:15): Woah.

Aside/Unknown (Firefighters debate: 21:52, Vincent Question 3: 8:16): No.

Aside/Unknown (Firefighters debate: 21:53, Vincent Question 3: 8:16): Woah.

Aside/Unknown (Firefighters debate: 21:54, Vincent Question 3: 8:17): Negative. Stop it.

GAP

Tim (40:34): is this is sort of the intangible40:36purpose of what happened when the call40:39came engine 69 from Richmond came the40:41different they were closer and they were40:43there in four minutes40:45Reavers was coming but they were told by40:49engine 69 that you know they were40:51fortunate what the fatalities and so40:53they were they were cleared off they40:55said don’t don’t come so I think the40:58other thing that was said that what they41:00never showed up41:00well they reported now one of the things41:03that a lot of people know about is over41:07at the back of got the topic Alfred41:09there was a right of way that could be41:12used as an emergency past it’s not good41:14for a street but if the fire department41:16had a key to get in there they could41:19past you and I would cut the time here41:20comes you know in half the for whatever41:25reason the neighbors around there have41:27kind of closed it off but it is it is a41:28right way yeah but if nobody’s creeping41:31to get great weight is to cost things41:33over

Vincent (41:35): Thank You Marisa first of all they41:37me tell you something the police union

GAP

Aside/Unknown (Firefighters debate: 23:10): Yup.

Vincent (41:47):I’m not publicizing the death of my41:50father-in-law what I want us to do is41:52just learn about it I don’t want any41:55other family to go what I have to go my41:58system has to wait in front of a dead42:01body for more than four minutes ten42:04minutes according to the firefighters42:09the thing is when you waiting for the42:12dead body for more than ten minutes42:13doesn’t matter how long it is it seems42:16like an eternity yeah especially when42:18it’s your father42:18I wonder what

GAP

Rafael (42:27):certainly so the original question42:30talked about a few different categories42:33of riders talking about you know the42:36possibility of there being crack houses42:38to talk about it not being safe to park42:41of a shopping malls they talked about42:43household both burglaries and I think42:47that necessity the response that we need42:50to have as a community and the response42:51to our police have to each of those42:54types of crimes difference because42:56somebody breaking into a car and a part42:59of utilizing opportunity people can come43:01in from outside the community break the43:03window43:04grab something get out it’s a problem43:06across the entire region not just a43:08panel so we need to have more residents43:14in the parking lot Spangler hey there’s43:16people watch you’ll get caught if you43:18try that first up like crack houses we43:21need as other people have said already43:23tonight for community involvement so43:25stuff that looks like a crack house gets43:27millions to report it so the police43:28camera camera and for burglaries43:33likewise we need more communication with43:36the community so that say people find43:39out okay I’ve been burglarized people43:41are aware of that so they could have43:42their doors lock to be on the same

Brooks(43:45): thank43:46you43:47I want to ask the audience by a show of43:49hands how many of you think that crime43:53and police and fire were first43:55responders getting to you and securing43:58your community is the number one issue44:01for everyone44:28I want to leave that there but if Sheila45:11in the audience45:12Sheila you had you had a question45:16related to this did you want to ask

GAP

Maureen (45:59):the council was looking at working with46:04the con fire46:07for administrative services for a chief46:10and the chief would cover would be46:13shared between the different districts46:16that are in battalion seven so that46:19would mean that we would share a chief46:21with Romeo Hercules fire an old fire and46:25then con fire called Acosta fire which46:29covers part of us from and the idea was46:35to just have the chief outsource for the46:41chief only and as we saw there was a46:44several years ago there was a fatality46:47in Montana manner in which some of our46:49crews responded to there was a fatality46:54and out of that it went out of that and46:59other experiences from fire it was47:01learned that they have different47:03procedures and if it’s under one chief47:06you can get those consistent47:10but there’s been no talk about47:11consolidation for police services

Brooks (47:14): mr.47:15Mintz

Rafael (47:16): I think it’s important to know the47:20current structure of fire that we have47:22right now we are often effectively47:25outsourcing our fire services because47:28we’re part of the battalion as has been47:29mentioned of mutual aid where we don’t47:32have a fire engine available because we47:34only have the one fire engine oh you47:36know firefighters to staff the one inch47:39and then we need to call it engines from47:42neighboring communities if there’s a

Aside/Unknown (Firefighters debate: 29:07, Vincent Question 4: 2:33, Jeff debate: 47:44): Not true.

Rafael (47:44): structure fire Cal OSHA and OSHA at the47:47federal level requires that there are47:51four firefighters on the scene before47:53fires that start to go in the building a47:55deal with that fire unless someone is it47:57imminent life-threatening danger but our48:01fire engines have three firefighters on48:03them so that means every time there’s a48:05structure fire

Aside/Unknown (Firefighters debate: 29:26, Vincent Question 4: 2:52, Jeff debate: 48:06): Got it.

Rafael (48:06): we need to make use equal48:09a gecko on a fire engine from another48:11community to help provide that service

Brooks (48:14): I’m curious to hear from any of the48:16other Canada too who feel as though it48:19may be critical that we have more48:21staffing added is there anyone here that48:24once that is an absolute priority48:27yes mr. Slaney

Vincent (48:29): I agree addley48:31opportunity to talk to the firefighters48:33and the every single time I’ve met and48:35the tourism area of people they would48:37like to have stationed 74 open and yet48:40again the reason why sessions have been48:42the first on my friend is because we48:43don’t have the revenues he says since a48:4624 was I believe in a grade eight ten48:48years ago and ten years later we’ll soon48:50have enough money we need between two48:53point five minutes to three million48:55dollars per year to be able to generate48:56this position before the but our farms49:04don’t have borders the Fire doesn’t49:06starting to stop in Pinole just because49:07the city borders it continues to49:09Richmond continues to awesome49:12answer Bronte one I peer the people in49:16charge of the poverty program telling me49:18that they would like to have a49:20discussion about running the county they49:22are the experts49:23I’m here to listen to them and as a49:25great beaver one the experts have49:27listened to them because he’s the best49:29for the community

GAP

Norma (49:40): the public would pay49:41for those services that’s the big49:42question and also sharing with the49:48public for them to consider I don’t49:51think we disagree with fire services49:56safety services police and fire but the49:59big pulling to emphasize is that they be50:01sustainable in the big question becomes50:03how do we pay for these are you willing50:08to increase your

Aside/Unknown (Firefighters debate: 31:33, Vincent Question 4: 4:59): Yes

Aside/Unknown (Firefighters debate: 31:34, Vincent Question 4: 5:00): Yes.

Aside/Unknown (Firefighters debate: 31:34, Vincent Question 4: 5:00): Yes.

Aside/Unknown (Firefighters debate: 31:34, Vincent Question 4: 5:00): Yes.

Norma (50:09): so if you are I’m

GAP

Brooks (50:43): wondering from our everyone here how50:45many of you by showing hands would be50:47willing to allow your taxes to go up to50:50pay for these services

[Vast majority of audience raises hands]

50:55mayor you have any thought on this

Tim (50:59): no you know it’s always hard to talk51:01about taxes and just an example51:05Hercules had a measure where they51:08recently did that and I think the people51:09there pay around Hulu or $200 extra of51:13their taxes now they people weirdo51:16Hercules the people they serve is twice51:17as big as we are and we’re and so we51:21have our own fire department we do that51:24all things being equal that might mean51:26it for dollars but you know I that might51:30be worth it you know I I don’t know51:31whether you know it depends on the51:34people would want that but it may be51:36something like that now the fire people51:38also tell you just so you know when a51:41fire occurs it takes three fire engines51:43so whenever it fire occurs around here51:46in all with retailer Hercules and even51:49week on firing battalion seven51:51everybody goes so your question about51:53outsourcing we also in source so if51:55something happens in Pinole is the fire51:58for the Hercules and Khan fire will come52:01if something happens in rodeo we go and52:04con fire those if it and then sometimes52:07when contract bills go back fill one up52:08the other so there so we’re not left52:10unprotected so it’s a it’s a it’s a52:13mutual thing has been a handshake for52:15years but the mutual effort that52:17occurred it’s not just us by ourselves52:19it’s the whole area that we have always52:21worked together

Brooks (52:22): mr. Tate 30 seconds and52:24then we’ll go over this

Anthony (52:25): you see station52:27 74 has been a ten-year old problem52:29there’s no plan to fund this in the ten52:34years that we’ve been here talking about52:35it it’s been brought up it’s been52:37brought up every door I knock on people52:40are asking about station 17

Aside/Unknown (Firefighters debate: 34:05): Yep.

Anthony (52:42): or it’s time52:43to start putting a plan together to52:45develop the needs for our citizens

Aside/Unknown (Firefighters debate: 34:11): Yeah.

Anthony (52:48): and what that means with our52:49professionals step in and say this is52:52how this should look and find out what52:54that dollar amount is and what that52:56means to every single taxpayer in our52:59city

Aside/Unknown (Firefighters debate: 34:24): Yeah.

Anthony (52:59): that way we can make an informed53:02decision educated decision and move past53:05this I think it’s important for us to53:08engage our firefighters when we do that53:10so that we are talking about operations53:13from our profession and it it just53:15doesn’t make any sense to not have a53:18plan today and we should have and that’s53:22something that bentonite can bring to53:24

GAP

Rafael (53:30): the tape art is Reuben Minne which was53:35that this is somewhat of a sectional issue53:39station 70 I disagree I think that53:42having that fire station feel and impact53:45the quality of life throughout the53:47entire city because the response times53:52of fire to any given event would improve53:56if there’s more local fire response54:00capacity available compared to it that54:03has to come from some other region say54:05if we’re out helping out another region54:07with usually there’s no fire agents and54:10development environment

Brooks (54:14):miss Martinez54:15Ruben you

Norma (54:16): sure strategic planning is a54:19fancy term to to sit together everyone54:24who is a stakeholder who has a stake in54:26the matter that’s being discussed and to54:29identify what is working well and what54:31isn’t working well what are the54:33limitations of existing resources what54:36are the opportunities what are the54:38threats I don’t disagree with what the54:40candidates hear about that sure let’s do54:42it what’s important is that all the54:44parties involved sit at the same table54:46at the same time

Aside/Unknown (Firefighters debate: 36:10): Right.

Norma (54:48): what’s been happening I54:49understand54:50there are certain groups that prefer to54:54be called upon yes sir54:56and so they have a greater value in the55:00city than others that’s not the case55:03when it comes to planning strategic

GAP

Brooks (55:23): more55:24and more today we’re seeing more fires55:26breaking out more mutual aid needed55:28they’re falling in firefighters from not55:30just our state but other states to55:32battle this but another thing is the55:34whole traffic issue especially in the55:37mornings and the even community55:40it always appears that there’s a push to55:44favor highway drivers and locals are not55:48always in favor so how would you deal55:51with this worsening issue anyone wanted55:54to stab

GAP

Tim (56:08): that that continues the various56:09organizations like whipped apperances56:11figure out where a temp teams can be in56:13the future that’s kind of installing on56:16expanding that every 10 years there’s56:19some sort of thing said yeah I wish you56:20have Bart and then it kind of dies there56:23are other things we can do I went on a56:24tea party that those in Antioch and56:26that’s a much better I think I’ve been56:28visiting for us to town I think there’s56:30come quicker but we would have to as a56:32seat but and why would we just be us to56:34be the most looking West County we’ve56:36got to put a lot of pressure on the56:37transportation entities to do that to56:40try to give us something sooner and56:42quicker that would be one way to do that56:43right now that you know the El Cerrito56:45don’t want a BART station is the busiest56:47one and a lot of West County funnels56:50through there so I really believe that56:53we need to do something in terms of that56:54that will take care of you know take56:56some of it won’t be the total answer56:58again I just in terms of the same57:00I do want to mention that again I think57:02when you open up that little cross area57:05that’s closed right now for emergency57:07services only not for cars just the way57:10that kind of speeds up and gets the off57:12of that you know they have to worry57:13about the traffic that income stayed57:14over 14 is moving

Norma (57:16): according to one piece57:17of our general plan I just put together57:19back in 2010 but later updated what an57:22element has us to consider the57:24environmental impact of different things57:26that are going on in the city in that57:28report we can about 71 percent only 1757:35percent of them carpool so the commuters57:38are driving in their cars as single57:41individuals which speaks to the question57:44of whether public transportation is57:45working at all it’s been around for57:48years and we know that I know if I’m57:50planning to take a trip to the city I57:52have to plan an extra time just because57:55of traffic I’m not immune to that so57:57some simple remedies in the city has58:00have to be to continually examine58:02whether our existing bus service for58:04example is operating with the frequency58:07that did can maximize ridership we also58:16know that when we have new projects new58:19development projects we encourage them58:21to try to augment public views for use58:24of public transportation that’s another58:26effort that we have

Brooks (58:29): mr. Slaney

Vincent (58:30): higher construction management company58:33had the opportunity of working for many58:34years with Caltrans and working on that58:37traffic issue 10 years ago when I was58:40working with the alameda county one of58:42the thing that we wanted to trade was58:43the HOV a dirty Lane which is basically58:45as you go one suggestion I would have is58:48probably work with Caltrans to probably58:51in the 2000 station the agency Lane you58:53pay as you go that we get to decrease it58:57you know as a specific it’s a specific59:01city because they begin we have three59:02highway exceeds and we also have some59:05type of Avenue which is also owned by59:07the state59:08it requires communication between the59:11city and the state from the city59:16perspective they are treating that we59:17can do and not think that we can do is59:22help people to use more bicycles provide59:27them incentive to not use cars as much59:31and also improve parking every single59:34time I go to doctors you know it’s very59:35hard for me to find parking this times

Brooks (59:38): what you think

Maureen (59:40): the places in the high59:42speed capacity study that was a couple59:45of years ago and it looked at the entire59:49region in the iat corridor and how to59:54resolve the stagnant traffic that we59:57have on I 80 and there wasn’t one60:00particular silver bullet that was going60:03to solve it it was it’s a combination of60:05things it’s increasing and improving the60:09bus transportation that comes out from60:11Hercules to the Transit Center in San60:14Francisco which is very well used it’s60:17an in carry service out of Hercules it’s60:22having a train stopped in front believes60:24it’s improving bicycle and pedestrian60:26access and encouraging carpool users and60:30extending Bart perhaps to hilltop60:33perhaps to Hercules so there’s a whole60:35number of things that would resolve you60:40know or work to solve the issue

Rafael (60:44): I think part of the problem is that60:51regional agencies often don’t60:54necessarily take an oath concerns into60:56account quickly or indeed at all at61:00several of past City Council meetings61:02over the past several months there have61:05been discussions of the priority list61:07that the county set out for transit61:11projects because the county is aware for61:13the same transit issues were all running61:14into and one of the projects on that61:18list the one that was all the way down61:20to bottom was putting in a second lane61:23on an old Valley Road to help offset the61:25impact of the metering because now61:31there’s traffic backing up onto city61:34streets in order to make sure but the61:37freeway traffic flows that I think that61:40in order to get the county to pay more61:42attention to what we do adult61:45we need more community engagement with61:47the county all of us need to reach out61:50to County organizations that say hey61:52what’s going on and old matters you61:54should pay attention to us

GAP

Brooks (62:02): sure okay

Tim (62:04): you’re right that they probably ignore62:07us as of the city that’s why it’s really62:10important to think of it as a region62:12it’s a regional problem so what happened62:14is not just us we have to be united with62:17her duties to San Paulo or an62:19incorporated areas so we have a combined62:22group with a much bigger number of62:24people that’s what’s going to get the62:27attention that’s how we deal with the62:29school board you know you’re going62:31through this whole districting thing and62:32I was what the mayor of Hercules and we62:34fought to make sure that her keys in62:36Pinole we’re gonna be together because62:39we would have a bigger voice because you62:40know most people think well that’s cool62:42it’s just kind of ignored us they don’t62:44anymore62:44because we get worried a combined group62:46and that’s what you have to do62:48everything up here has to be just not62:50just us it’s a combined thing with all62:52other cities all the other little cities62:54you know they’re in other entities in62:57other communities the little cities can62:59gang up on Richmond and oh and ink ink63:01if they want which is what happens a lot

Brooks (63:04): to be able to move on is there any final63:08thoughts to mention about this issue

GAP

Norma (64:04): really has a different topography and to64:09a large extent that’s for the64:11consideration we also have to have to64:13consider the environmental impact of64:15those larger types of businesses like64:17the bio rat like the manufacturing and64:20industrial punch and so those are some64:23particular type of business hasn’t made64:26it to connote we haven’t wanted or64:28desired on the precious amenities64:36natural amenities that this town has

GAP

Norma (64:46): amenities that make this town precious64:49and64:52often large businesses

GAP

Anthony (65:04): part of this is65:05trip generation we have a lot more trips65:08in our town65:10there’s over now so there’s a lot more65:12cars on the road all of this is65:14something that’s quantifiable this is65:16something that we can study and project65:19out I think it’s important to know that65:21yes we do have all of those amenities65:22but our community is saying traffic is65:25an issue and and do not see any type of65:28solutions coming back to that community65:30is a challenge65:32most of our developments the traffic65:33report and environmental impact is done65:36by a consultant that is hired by the65:39developer who’s going to do the project65:41so because traffic is somewhat of an art65:44and has a little bit of gray area in it65:46things can be swayed one way or the65:49other and I just need the Trader Joe’s65:51in the parking the city relaxed it was65:54part of that I was involved in that65:56project what I’m saying is is that we65:58have to start developing the Planning66:01Commission and have too much authority66:03there other than to say this project is66:06good for our city and move to the66:07Council for approval so I think it’s66:10important for us to engage our community66:11to find out where that balance is of66:15what this city actually is

GAP

Brooks (66:20): Patricia here66:21Tricia this is an education related66:25question66:35and whatever is used on charter schools66:37we keep hearing rumors that they’re66:39going to move into the new high school66:40with us charter schools gonna move into66:42the middle school and I would just like66:43to know what everybody’s thoughts are on

GAP

Maureen (66:51): voters of the county approved an almost66:55two billion dollars to rebuild and66:59renovate all of our schools and that67:02expenditure is based on planning for the67:08needs that we have in our in our67:11district I think that charter schools in67:13our fix that kind of sucks away that67:18potential revenue that the you know67:23daily attendance revenue that helped67:25fund our public schools and it’s really67:30it messes up our our plans for instance67:34we have you know Colonel middle school67:37that was built for a certain number of67:39students we were during the demographics67:42to figure out what that capacity needed67:44to be you open up a charter school and67:47it completely changes our investment of67:50that school

GAP

Norma (67:58): I don’t know the specifics67:59about what is happening in this high68:02school and I don’t want to extend rumors68:05but I’ll tell you my thoughts about68:07charter schools unfortunately they are a68:10necessity in some cases we have a68:12unified school district that’s about68:13thirty thousand students we have one of68:17the most diverse high schools here68:24the achievement gap exists but still

GAP

Norma (69:29): there are students

Tim (69:31): I think charter school started out as a69:34good ideas an alternative and what69:37happened to me in my mind a little off69:41the deep end because now we have charter69:43school businesses my son was in a69:46charter school there’s no longer around69:47anymore and there are the schools but69:49the kids were really good had really69:52good teachers and they were very69:54idealistic but they just didn’t have the69:56finances to keep it going69:58I I think what needs need to happen in70:01this school district is because a lot of70:02times once the charter is approved they70:05don’t seem again for another four years70:06we have to renew the Charter what needs70:08to be done is they have an oversight70:09board kind of a close bond Oversight70:11Committee that makes sure that the swih70:14charter schools by following their70:15charters though the new one at Knoll70:17middle school has their board is70:21somewhere in Silicon Valley they really70:24going having a representation here so70:26they’re supposed to buy their charter70:28have a board on site and they don’t the70:32school issue should be getting after70:33them for that and that would be70:34the things that we should do as a70:36council and as a people to put pressure70:38on the school district to keep these70:40things going in terms of watching what’s70:43going on with these would recharge make70:45sure they’re still actually doing what70:46they’re supposed to be doing because a70:47lot right now a lot of them aren’t

Brooks (70:48): mr.70:49Minister we’ll get you in a second but I70:51wanted to also maybe add for some of the70:53newer the new candidates here is also70:55you could address the state of the70:57schools right now where we’re at this70:59really

Rafael (71:00): certainly so focusing on a71:04charter matter I agree with71:09councilmember Tong that charter schools71:12are trained and that was a hard position71:17for me to come to because I went to a71:19charter high school but at the same time71:24I and the other students that were there71:29weren’t part of the community schools we71:33couldn’t provide you know our intellect71:35and skills and contributions to those71:38skills it was sort of a draw of students71:40out of the greater region and more71:44broadly the way mature schools are set71:47up its they get to use public facilities71:49they get to draw on public funds but71:52they aren’t required to follow the same71:55rules as the rest of us they don’t have71:58to pay into the calendars pensions they72:01don’t have to have units for teachers at72:04all

Anthony (72:06): I just want to say this they thank you72:09for your service as a public employee I72:12know how it is to work in public system72:15one thing I want to point out is this72:17there’s four pillars to to every society72:20it’s education Public Safety72:22infrastructure and health care our72:25education being privatized I’m against72:28it it’s not something that I’m against72:30charter schools I feel that standard72:32education was meant to be just that72:35standard so that everyone has a fair72:37chance to move forward to college and72:40pursue their aspirations I just want to72:44say that into the normal there’s a72:45charter school the whole doctor’s72:47hospital has bought that property and72:49there is some stirring there’s going to72:52be in charter school in that side as a72:55council member I’m against charter72:57schools I don’t believe him72:58I think our tax dollars need to go where73:00we can see them and that’s to our73:02schools that in finn’ll and in the73:04county in general so again

Aside/Unknown: (Firefighters debate: 54:24): Yup.

GAP

Vincent (73:35): because you73:36speak better ultimately at the property73:39values in the city of you know with73:40increase and these Radwell are also73:42increasing the revenue of the city the73:46real question is why are charter school73:48support where I think charter school are73:50able to address the needs of parents and73:53kids were in search of specific73:57education what I would like to offer to74:00discussion to see what else needs are so74:02that we get to know what those needs are74:08because

Brooks (74:17): we’re almost out of time but before we74:20get to the closing questions we had one74:22final audience member question and I’ll74:24just read here just for the sake of time74:26but it kind of plays off was what mr.74:29Selina was saying his Pinole is quickly74:32facing the challenge of gentrification74:33and a lack of affordable housing that74:36many other cities have faced can fail74:38what policy will you advocate for to74:42ensure that residents and neighbors here74:44are not pregnant now

GAP

Maureen (74:53): you know currently74:54there’s a number of funding sources of74:57the state level to pay for for us to75:01invest in affordable housing and as a75:06county planner myself I have applied for75:09several of those grants in four other75:11parts of the county and we have a number75:14of sites where we could invest in those75:18dollars we can combine them with our75:20local housing successor funds and build75:25affordable housing for families for75:29veterans for people with disabilities75:31those investments in those homes then75:36are restricted the rents are restricted75:39people have to be income qualified to75:43live there so you know I would75:47definitely take advantage of that and75:50really push that for some of the vacant75:53and underutilized parcels that we have75:54in the city

GAP

Norma (76:17): I’m sure you’ve run into people who have76:20asked you here affordability as well as

GAP

Norma (76:35): dispersion throughout the city and we76:41talked about numbers we talked about76:42business it’s certainly developers for76:44business people and the numbers between76:51comparable housing loan tip to the76:54creation of a business and developers76:55going to go to the business aspect not76:58the affordable housing so those are the76:59things that we have to continue and so77:02again to the extent that we can’t77:04encourage housing development for77:07different levels of affordability that’s77:09the policy

GAP

Rafael (77:12):I think it’s important to77:14note when we’re talking about housing77:16our ability there’s not just the price77:18of new housing it’s also existing rents77:22that matter because a lot of people you77:25know are already renting a place they’re77:28not necessarily looking to move into77:30somewhere new that’s why I think people77:33should vote for proposition 10 on this77:36year state-level doubt which would77:37repeal the cost of Hawkins Act and allow77:40the same panel to undertake actions to77:43protect our residents against undue rent77:46increases and unjust emotions77:49in my opinion it cost the hotheads was77:52repealed I believe the city of adult77:54should consider passing an ordinance77:55against unjust evictions and another77:59ordinance making it so that rent camp78:01you raised by more than 10% a year which78:04I think we all can agree is an entirely78:06reasonable rate of return for any entity78:10ten percent year-on-year78:12on here you don’t really eat 20 or 40 5078:16percent

GAP

Tim (78:20): back when we did the zone update78:22and general plan we set out area that78:28you see that we would hope for more78:32housing a lot of this are located on San78:36Pablo Avenue closer just outside of78:38downtown and the hope was that that was78:41going to occur when you have a situation78:43like we have now we’re getting to where78:45we’re going to have people with six78:46three two incomes a cart qualifying for78:49affordable housing78:50that’s out of the area’s you have to78:53give incentive to developers in order to78:55do that luck while ways that occurred78:57within a given project is those things78:59like have density bonuses or maybe a79:02height change whatever you have to you79:04have to think of what they’re gonna want79:05because they’re kind of giving up a79:08little bit of ranch or a little bit of79:09purchase in order to have affordable79:13housing79:13now Porter housing like Ivan Norma was79:16looking to doesn’t mean it’s all low79:18income there are several levels of79:20affordable housing that we’d to fit into79:23and they have an have in the past

Brooks (79:26):mister slinger mr. Tate want to weigh in79:28on this

Anthony (79:29): sure I think they I think that79:31land use in the city I rented in this79:36town79:37and I think my money I was able to buy a79:39home unfortunately when the economy’s79:42down fortunately79:44portable the economy goes up there’s79:47these setups and clothes where house79:50prices goes up and down I think it’s79:52important though that mixed-use is is79:54definitely what we need to start looking79:56at so that these small storefronts for79:58businesses can come in and then you know80:00you could live work in this town and80:03eventually encourage our citizens to80:05start developing those home businesses80:07into a storefront we need to make sure80:09that we find areas where that can happen80:11specific plans are areas that need to be80:14looked at

GAP

Vincent (80:28): and one concern that people80:31address was the fact that the kids80:33grabbing people may not be able to leave80:36into no anymore they want to let’s go80:38deep you know get their judgment you80:41know and somehow could the present where80:43they stayed increased so badly they’re80:46being asked to me I think affordable80:50housing is important that I also think80:52that we need to develop program that80:54would help first-time buyers from people80:56to buy houses and after the crisis in80:592008 I’ve seen a lot of first-time81:01buyers who lost the help asking me to81:03help them with retention program because81:06over pushes first interaction and it81:08works very so not funny we have to a81:13system there’s a lot of opportunities81:15for that the city needs money we need to81:18increase our revenue we need to change81:21probably not change it

Brooks (81: 21): mayor you quickly81:24you wanted to

Tim (81:26): I just wanted to kind of81:27just said you come out to me excuse area81:34you can’t use areas were set up to have81:36a combination of residential and81:38commercial summer81:40industrial comfortable Avenue so we do81:43have it in place the reason you haven’t81:44seen it was that bad about the time that81:47we had that the recession occur and so81:50we never really took our special our81:53specific plans out for a spin oh you81:55would have about a year and you Kings81:57would pop up and then you pick something81:58or we didn’t have it we’re only now82:01beginning to see interest because the82:03economy is better right up82:06so there are projects in the works that82:08we’re going to see what we had intended82:11so and we did at one time he was saying82:27does it does take money and quit my82:28Waterman it’s not just a little bit of82:30money

Brooks (82: 31): thank you very much I want to go82:34now and give our kind of wrap-up final82:37statements from each of our candidates82:39mr. Cellini we’ll start with you you82:41will get to address

GAP

Vincent (83:09): our response time I’m felling we need to83:12provide more firefighters we need to83:14hire more police officers emergency83:28management projects we are building the83:33worst treatment plant I’ve built three83:36of them tell water to depend cleaner is83:38about 660 million dollars per year and83:41that works my friends about the year83:43behind schedule this is my pregnant83:45daughter this is why I do for living83:46analyze the lasing project a hub cities83:49to move forward and save money the83:53current city council has no relation to83:55same currency the council has been83:56bitten to bring new businesses in town83:58what you create new jobs we need new84:01entrepreneurs we need to help84:03entrepreneurs to come here if you know84:04they’ve got the business you need to84:07create local jobs and you know so that84:09we get to help the traffic we want the84:11business sustained you know in June84:14Porter’s have asked for change and84:16Anthony Damon I we had agenda before of84:19us84:20we need professional people with84:23experience innovation and tradition84:26towards the city to move forward my name84:28is Vincent sir

GAP

Anthony (84:35): I want to thank everybody for coming out84:40my name is Anthony and I’m running for84:42City Council pretty soon I want to let84:46you know that when I said a five-year84:47strategic plan that includes our84:50citizens that means that if I’ve knocked84:52on your door that’s not the first time84:54mostly I think that I’m long enough on84:56your door twice maybe even three times I84:58may call you I’m going to talk to you85:00and I want your input the city website85:03is for let’s just say it still says85:07Brown out on station 74 I know the city85:10is working on getting that revamp but85:12that’s taking quite some time there’s a85:14lot of information that’s on there that85:16is old I want to change that I want to85:18create a portal where we can talk and we85:20can communicate if there’s things that85:22you don’t like that I’m doing as a85:23councilmember I need to hear it and85:25we’re gonna change I’m gonna engage our85:27city staff to start addressing these85:29larger issues they the city is as loud85:33they said but 78% voted they won’t85:38change where did that change so85:40respectfully and humbly ask for your85:42vote November 6

GAP

Tim (85:59): I started at the City85:59Council during one of the darkest times86:01that seems ever had right at the86:04beginning of the downturn beginning of86:06the recession and we had nights where we86:09had two different budgets one with no86:12money and one with less it took a lot of86:17decision-making about a prudent decision86:20making to keep the city going we were86:23told you sure you sure you should86:28reserve and we refused because we knew86:30that was going to make things even worse86:32because of the decisions we made the86:34city didn’t go into bankruptcy we were86:36able to revamp we were able to bounce86:39back and that takes a lot of experience86:45I think that beam idea being at one time86:52any person the combination of the ideas87:01that you come with and then the reality87:03of what how you get out what happens87:04when you try to put them in place takes87:11a lot of a lot of thinking a lot of87:13thought I bring that experience a great87:18knack that knowledge that we had I think87:21I could see when things are going to go87:23bad now and we’ve been through it once87:25and don’t want to go through it again so87:29experience always Trump’s

Aside/Unknown: (Firefighters debate: 1:08:59): Wow.

Aside/Unknown: (Firefighters debate: 1:08:59): Wow.

GAP

Maureen (87:47): and also87:48Brooks Jarrett’s from Earth coming out87:50and doing that and all of you for coming87:52out my name is Maureen Tom’s I’ve been87:55on the council for three years and my87:59goals include continuing to stabilize88:03our city budget we’re we’re still88:06recovering from the recession and we’re88:10going to continue to do that I’d like to88:13see about bringing back programs that we88:15crossed voting YES on measure C will88:19help us do that this year rather than88:22wait in two years from now when we are88:24in crisis mode to get that passed I’d88:28like to see us invest our Road and88:31transportation projects into improving88:34our infrastructure88:37including bike paths industrial paths88:40for safety purposes I’d like to make88:45sure that we can develop the vacant and88:47underutilized properties along San Pablo88:50Avenue and some of the other areas of88:52Knoll whether it’s for multifamily88:54housing or commercial that brings jobs88:57into the area we need to also implement89:02the climate action plan the city adopted89:06a climate action plan we need to start89:08preparing for some of the changes that89:11we’re starting to see employment and89:14also prepare our community for response89:18and recovery from national disaster89:20whether it’s minor flooding or whatever89:22so I ask for your vote

GAP

Norma (89:36): the City89:37Council’s key objectives are several and89:40among them is to have long-term89:42sustainability in its general fund89:46relationships with the business sector89:48as well as with community groups and to89:51establish priorities for step so that89:54the staff knows what focusing in fact89:56given the input that they receive from89:58community it’s not never about only90:02following the council’s direction the90:05council is responsive or should be90:08responsive to the public the community90:10if we look at the organizational chart90:12you the public we the public are what90:15the council ought to be attentive toward90:19responsive to it may feel like that’s90:21not always the case but what I find is90:24that people don’t always know the90:27processes involved in being informed or90:31how the council works90:33I’d like I would agree that there are90:36still a lot of room for information to90:38be shared with the public and90:45it’s about continuing in tune with what90:50you need as a community as well as the90:52limitations that exist90:54give me the finances of your city to90:57which we contribute through our taxes90:59I’ve been encouraged by the fact that in91:01this room but we wouldn’t have to put91:03out to the voters whether they’re91:04willing to increase them to fund the91:07priorities that you consider to be91:09services

GAP

Rafael (91:30): I would like to also thank you91:31climate know not only high school and91:34the panel leadership club for hosting91:36this debate tonight and Brooks Charles91:39for moderating and all of you for taking91:41the time out of your busy lives to come91:44here and be in the audience and listen91:46to what we have to say I believe that as91:52a community we need to work on figuring92:00out how we can communicate things better92:02those within the community and between92:05government and the community people say92:08you know well informations out there you92:11just have to follow the proper processes92:13and procedures in order to gain access92:15to it that’s not how it should work the92:19core of all governmental power in our92:24system of government is the consent of92:27the governed you should need to go92:29through the right procedure or process92:31to get the information the word should92:34be on the government us if we’re elected92:37city staff to provide the information to92:40the public that is our right as citizens92:43to possess without that information we92:48can’t do anything broader or more92:51oppressive like trying to secure the92:54safe financial future92:56I see our revenue streams because people92:57won’t know why that’s necessarily my93:01name is Raphael mess I’m running for93:03City Council

GAP

Brooks (93:22): several topics we didn’t get to cover93:24tonight but I appreciate all of you93:26being a tenant asking questions I93:28encourage you to make sure to read up on93:31the others statewide issues being in TV93:33I can tell you there’s plenty of93:35political ads that all of us are even93:37tired of seeing so please make sure to93:40vote and thank you for joining us93:41tonight