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Councilmember Brown thanked Chief Swing for his research on these complex items and motioned to approve. Councilmember Pentin seconded the motion. Councilmember Narum expressed her support for the motion. Councilmember Pentin expressed support for the water bill and the policing bills and encouraged City Council to continue to review the policing bills to determine their impact on Pleasanton. Councilmember Testa expressed opposition to the motion since while it does provide safeguards does not provide robust enough oversight of the PPD. MOTION: It was m/s by Brown/Pentin to accept the Council Legislative Subcommittee and staff recommendation to adopt the City's Legislative framework with 2020 Focus Areas to establish positions on selected 2020 bills and request City staff monitor remaining legislation throughout the 2020 legislative cycle to determine whether the City Council should take a formal position. Motion passed by the following vote: Ayes: Councilmembers Brown, Narum, Pentin, Mayor Thorne Noes: Councilmember Testa Absent: None 18. Accept update on City's COVID-19 Business Assistance Program and consider amendments including increase of business support loan amounts and adding Professional Services as an eligible business Deputy City Manager Pamela Ott provided a brief recap of the Business Assistance Program and advised the four program elements implemented included Communication and Promotions, Transient Occupancy Tax Penalties, City Utilities Penalties Waiver and Deposit Deferral, and the Business Support Fund. She advised the Transient Occupancy Tax Penalties portion of the program ended on July 31st and the Utilities Penalty Waiver and Deposit Deferral is ongoing. Deputy City Manager Ott reported staff has built a few pages on the City's website that provide business support information, health order, financial and other resource information. She advised the Business Support Fund page provides a link to the application portal and an application tutorial. She reported an "Open for Business" website has been created to let residents and businesses know who can be in operation and most recently added a filter for outdoor dining. She noted a weekly business newsletter goes out to all businesses in the business license database and is distributed to approximately 4,500 users. Lastly, she noted staff has been active on social media especially on inPleasanton.com in addition to the City's website to spread information. Deputy City Manager Ott presented City Council with a brief recap of the Business Support Fund which included $3 million in special funds to provide 0% interest, unsecured, short-term loans (24-months) of up to $2,500 ($2,900 in downtown) to independently or locally-owned businesses. She reported 99 applications have been submitted with 82 of the applications approved with $182,500 paid to date. She provided a brief overview of business types that have applied and listed businesses that are ineligible. She advised staff has spent quite a bit of energy and effort on promoting the program on all platforms available to the City. Deputy City Manager Ott reported the need for a second round is due to the slow pace of reopening input received from business owners and business organization partners. She noted businesses provided feedback that indicated the $2500 and $2900 was appreciated but was not enough to meet their needs. She advised staff is recommending increasing the loan amounts and allowing more participation for companies with 11-25 employees. She advised Option 1 would extend the current program for businesses with 2-10 employees and double the loan amount to $5,000 and $5,800, City Council Minutes Page 12 of 14 August 18, 2020