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6.1.A. - Page 34 <br />5. SPECIAL ORDER(S) OF THE DAY <br />A. Presentation: Community Development Department - Bill Ekern, <br />Community Development Director <br />Mr. Ekern spoke about his vision which aims to better integrate Planning, Engineering, <br />and Building and defining a vision for the Community Development Department. He is <br />excited about creating a new approach which includes ending "silo - nization" within the <br />department. He is fully aware of the need to get businesses back into the City and <br />moving things through faster for residential and commercial projects. Mr. Ekern shared <br />that 87 percent of all the permits, handled by the Building Division, are processed over <br />the counter and on a one -on -one stop basis. <br />6. PUBLIC COMMENT AND CONSENT CALENDAR <br />Kitty Lopez, Executive Director of Samaritan House, expressed her thanks to the <br />Committee and Council for its support of agenda item 6.1F. She advocated for this <br />agency and the value this clinic brings to the table in serving an average of 20 to 30 <br />thousand patients that otherwise may have gone to ERs (emergency rooms). <br />Allison Chan, Policy Associate with Save the Bay, said she is representing hundreds of <br />members and expressed her thanks for agenda item 6.1F and for the environmental <br />leadership from Council and the City, especially the partnership with the Pride and <br />Beautification Committee and creek cleaning events. She also urged support for bans <br />on Styrofoam and plastic bags. <br />Marilyn Baker - Ventarini, Director for the Peninsula Meals on Wheels, expressed her <br />thanks for the support of agenda item 6.1 F. She noted that her organization provides <br />safety net services and they are the only provider for Meals on Wheels in the South Bay <br />and she looks forward to working with the City in the future. <br />Jessica Orozco expressed her thanks for funding nonprofits (through agenda item 6.1 F) <br />and noted that she is a current client of the International Institute for the Bay Area. She <br />spoke on how the program has encouraged people to report more crime in the City. <br />She opined that this makes for a better organization and better City with people helping <br />keep the City safe. <br />Marc Manuel, Chair representing the Housing, Human Concerns Committee, expressed <br />thanks for the continued support. He said these funds act as seed money for great <br />organizations, many provide services for basic human needs, such as food and shelter, <br />and they often take off some of the burden off City services. He shared some <br />demographic information that highlighted the needs of the community. He also spoke in <br />favor of agenda item 6.1 E for affordable housing at 333 Main Street. <br />Agenda item 6.3 B — Mayor announced this is being pulled from the agenda. <br />Agenda item 6.1A was pulled by Vice Mayor Aguirre for discussion. <br />M/S Aguirre /Bain to approve the Consent Calendar excluding items 6.1 A. Motion <br />carries 6 -0 by electronic vote with Council Member Foust absent. <br />JOINT CITY COUNCIL/REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY BOARD October 10, 2011 <br />MEETING MINUTES PAGE 2 <br />