Albany Council confirms park assessment, approves $5,000 for film series and appoints interim police chief

The Albany City Council on June 16 adopted three resolutions, confirming an annual park-and-landscape assessment, approving a discretionary grant for the Albany Film Fest and appointing a CalPERS retired annuitant as interim police chief. The council voted unanimously on each roll call with Mayor Lopez absent.

The council confirmed the engineer’s report and levy for Landscape and Lighting Assessment District 1988‑1 for fiscal year 2025–26. Staff said the assessment funds maintenance and servicing of parks, play structures, irrigation, street landscapes and the urban forestry program and covers properties such as Memorial Park, Ocean View Park, Dartmouth Tot Lot, the Ohlone Greenway and Peggy Thompson / Pier Street Park. The assessment rate for single-family residential parcels remains $75.54, a figure staff said has not changed since fiscal year 1993–94. Vice Mayor McQuay opened the public hearing and the council adopted Resolution 2025‑45 to confirm the diagram and assessments and order the levy onto the 2025–26 secured property tax roll.

Separately, the council approved a $5,000 allocation from the adopted 2024–25 operating budget discretionary fund to support a five-month documentary series organized by the Albany Film Fest. Co-founder Jack Kinney told the council the series — “Courage, Hope, Resistance” — will show five social-justice themed documentaries at the Cerrito Theater and include an outdoor screening during Albany Local Week on Sept. 28. The council adopted Resolution 2025‑46 to provide the funding.

The council also adopted Resolution 2025‑47 appointing Gina Anderson — identified in the staff report as a CalPERS retired annuitant with municipal experience — as interim police chief. City staff said the resolution meets CalPERS reporting requirements for hiring a retired annuitant.

All three measures passed on roll calls with votes recorded as: Vice Mayor McQuay — yes; Council member Hansa Romero — yes; Council member Jordan — yes; Council member Mackey/Mickey — yes; Mayor Lopez — absent. The consent calendar was approved earlier in the meeting by a unanimous roll call with Mayor Lopez absent.

Council members asked follow-up questions during the assessment hearing about why the fee had not been increased for inflation; staff said the assessment’s structure does not automatically index with inflation and that changing it would require a separate and robust public process. Staff also said the city will present a July 7 briefing on funding measure options and prioritization that could include assessment changes.

The actions taken are procedural and administrative: confirming an annual assessment, allocating discretionary funds to a community arts event and making an interim appointment to the police department. No additional conditions or follow-up reports were recorded in the meeting minutes for these items.