[{"_1":2,"_87":-5,"_88":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6675021,"mediaKeyId","2173611-50ba0684a5f01ac6a26cc7a0ea2c022c","parentId",2173611,"title","Albany council honors outgoing member Aaron Tiedemann, swears in three new members; Navajo Sundance song opens new mayor's term","audioSeconds",729,"startMs",2372000,"endMs",3101000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2173611-50ba0684a5f01ac6a26cc7a0ea2c022c&start=2372&end=3101","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2173611-50ba0684a5f01ac6a26cc7a0ea2c022c/thumbnail_2372000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6675021/Albany-City/Alameda-County/California/Albany-council-honors-outgoing-member-Aaron-Tiedemann-swears-in-three-new-members-Navajo-Sundance-song-opens-new-mayors-term","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6675021-f41d35ad0fa0d0e48d52613251f9aa69/orig.mp4?Expires=1771167574&Signature=aiRg~ZhMW-TNeXSxwId0GrmKaawayq65CsWZh3~SfpGvruy3sSXxYwmVbe~7XjWNP1tiekax4ONKp0f1A8kbIcz9iHG~Jh3Rogp3ocDO5fvxvu8jUx1G5QpGKYIHp3UbslEQMVb7aJSMxNJXEeFYLJJNp46NLvEW2TMy4TRq~zKndnmYJcyd-mVw698Q5woXCiIK0kDoC1-bWYfQN79fIiL8IqcEnuR9DYwjCiPyFA0BKhig0vtGqYyfxpq-HQIS~j6JvulG-xZyHi~FZLt1XZUDdg1gjPKBrJcnSleQzB8fsw0DAKpvyAQjZNE17plvfFpfqto3cbEFq3D0cviuCA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City of Albany, CA","date","2025-01-01T06:20:51.2Z","article","The Albany City Council on Dec. 9 read a resolution honoring outgoing Council Member Aaron Tiedemann, administered the oath of office to three newly elected council members and heard a Navajo Sundance prayer performed as part of the incoming mayor's ceremonial remarks.

The council publicly read a resolution of appreciation that recounted Tiedemann's four years on the council, his service as vice mayor and mayor, and his role in securing a multiyear funding agreement with the University of California, Berkeley. The resolution notes negotiations with UC Berkeley resulted in the university agreeing to contribute $600,000 a year for 10 years; the text said that in 2024 the first year of funding this contribution accounted for roughly half the city's operating surplus and supported firefighting equipment upgrades.

Tiedemann addressed the meeting before the council took up oaths for newly elected members Megan McQuade, Jennifer Hansen Romero and Preston Jordan. \"It has been my immense pleasure and honor to serve my community for the past 4 years,\" Tiedemann said, thanking voters, colleagues and staff and urging continued civic engagement.

After the oaths, public commenters and guests offered remarks. Sal Harkins, appearing on behalf of a state elected official, presented a certificate to Tiedemann. Jen Loy, identified as associate director of government and community relations at UC Berkeley, thanked Tiedemann and said the campus looked forward to working with him in the future. Nikki Fortunato Bas, supervisor-elect for Alameda County District 5, attended in person and congratulated the newly sworn members.

The meeting included an invited Navajo Sundance song and prayer led by Joshua Paredes of the Navajo Nation. Paredes asked for blessings and protection for the mayor and council and for the community; a portion of his remarks read, \"I ask that you put a circle of protection around this young man, his family, as they step up to give up themselves, to give up their lives to be leaders of this city.\" The incoming mayor framed the song as part of a broader acknowledgement of the Ohlone people as the original inhabitants of the land and said the ceremony marked the start of his term.

A few residents urged outreach and reconciliation. Myra Padilla, who said she formerly lived in Albany, said seeing the new mayor \"who looks like my son\" made her proud. Rochelle Nason, a resident and former council member, suggested the council invite community members who were disturbed by a past removal of a cross from Albany Hill Park to offer a prayer as part of community healing.

The council took no formal policy action on the ceremonial items; they were presented and received as part of the ceremony and public comment.

Votes at a glance

- No formal votes were recorded on the resolution of appreciation or the oaths in the transcript; the resolution was read as a ceremonial matter and the oaths were administered by the city clerk.

Background

At the start of the meeting council members read an acknowledgement of the Ohlone people and the city announced a commitment to \"sustain ongoing relationships with the tribe,\" language offered during opening remarks. The ceremonial matters included a request from the mayor to photograph the outgoing member and newly sworn council members following the oath.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Albany City Council Special Meeting - Dec. 9, 2024","oneSentenceSummary","At a Dec. 9 special meeting the council read a resolution honoring outgoing Council Member Aaron Tiedemann, administered oaths to three newly elected members and accepted a Navajo Sundance prayer as part of the incoming mayor's opening remarks. Several residents and elected officials offered public comment.","taxTitle","Albany City, Alameda County, California","taxId",72346,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6675026,"Albany council appoints Robin Lopez as mayor, Peggy McQuade as vice mayor",74,548000,622000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2173611-50ba0684a5f01ac6a26cc7a0ea2c022c&start=548&end=622","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2173611-50ba0684a5f01ac6a26cc7a0ea2c022c/thumbnail_548000.jpg","/articles/6675026/Albany-City/Alameda-County/California/Albany-council-appoints-Robin-Lopez-as-mayor-Peggy-McQuade-as-vice-mayor","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6675026-7485a86d25302304c1b9ba28148b3777/orig.mp4?Expires=1771167574&Signature=VbTF0pLRO5YlhsFMVrWzLo1TE~Iz339zTn9Pbgs8izDHJfBKLFeFv7uCx5XQ8ODBKwXK43A8sGyrJU3QpbiprsYJPPYv~f5n6GVEV8j3E5eZXrkuUbOogCJ~gy9Z4hQjKKW9hkX-2V1sCm4jIt~yizeVcRrtif-BQ4VLtVQ5-KrKOvxAHC38lEohjx~DnC1fVfkJNOVA3THg6kuVgLxLzna5jsct52TyEOhMMipyC6-vEzdMpa40Vko0-fr1ByeYNCv7fkendeQFP3TwdPzMlJ3ITmFE0v3QtNvEak88n89U4vc1fIopI-Kc2ShewQi7X4ljS9VOK02YKNhvf-Db5g__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Albany City Council voted unanimously Dec. 9 to advance Vice Mayor Robin Lopez to mayor and Council Member Peggy McQuade to vice mayor.

The action completed the council's annual reorganization. Council members cast roll-call votes after a staff presentation describing the council's reorganization guideline and the order, or \"queue,\" used to select mayor and vice mayor.

The guideline places reelected members above newly elected members and anticipates that members will accept the posts as they come up in the queue. Council members discussed an unusual combination of reelected and newly elected members this year and confirmed that McQuade would serve as vice mayor after a council member in the queue declined the vice mayor role and deferred to her. A motion to appoint Lopez and McQuade passed on a unanimous roll call.

The council also approved routine items on the consent calendar earlier in the meeting; that motion likewise carried by unanimous roll call.

Council discussion touched briefly on how the queue would be ordered if members declined appointments in future reorganizations and whether vote totals from the election should affect queue position. Council members said the procedural guideline could be revisited on a future agenda.

Votes at a glance

- Motion: Approve reorganization to advance Vice Mayor Lopez to mayor and Council Member McQuade to vice mayor. Outcome: approved (unanimous).
- Roll call recorded: Council Member Jordan — Yes; Vice Mayor McQuade — Yes; Mayor Lopez — Yes; Council Member Mickey — Yes; Council Member Hanson Romero — Yes.

- Motion: Approve consent calendar (Item 3). Outcome: approved (unanimous).
- Roll call recorded: Vice Mayor Lopez — Yes; Mayor Mickey — Yes; Council Member Hanson Romero — Yes; Council Member Jordan — Yes; Council Member Tiedemann — Aye.

Background and next steps

City staff told the council the reorganization follows a written City Council procedure and a reorganization appointment guideline included in the staff report. Council members said they expect to return to the procedure at a later meeting to consider whether vote totals or other factors should affect the queue order. No changes to the guideline were adopted at the Dec. 9 meeting.

The newly appointed mayor, Robin Lopez, then assumed the dais and proceeded with subsequent agenda items.","At a special Dec. 9 meeting, the Albany City Council voted unanimously to advance Vice Mayor Robin Lopez to mayor and Council Member Peggy McQuade to vice mayor. The council also discussed the internal \"queue\" used for leadership rotation and recorded a routine consent-calendar vote.","actionData","errors"]

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Albany council honors outgoing member Aaron Tiedemann, swears in three new members; Navajo Sundance song opens new mayor's term

Albany council appoints Robin Lopez as mayor, Peggy McQuade as vice mayor