CITY COUNCIL MEETING
Special Meeting January 30, 2024
6:30 P.M. Nick Rodriguez Community Center
6:30 P.M. SPECIAL MEETING/ WORKSHOP
Mayor Hernandez-Thorpe called the meeting to order at 6:31 P.M., and Acting City Clerk Rosales called the roll.
Present: Council/Agency Members District 1 Torres-Walker, District 2 Barbanica, District 3 Ogorchock, Mayor Pro Tem (District 4) Wilson and Mayor Hernandez-Thorpe
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
Mayor Hernandez-Thorpe led the Pledge of Allegiance.
ON MOTION BY COUNCILMEMBER OGORCHOCK, SECONDED BY COUNCILMEMBER
WILSON, THE CITY COUNCIL UNANIMOUSLY SUSPENDED THE RULES AND MOVED COUNCIL REGULAR AGENDA ITEMS #4-11, TO BE HEARD AS THE NEXT ORDER OF BUSINESS.
COUNCIL REGULAR AGENDA
4. CITY COUNCIL REQUESTED DISCUSSION ITEM – DISCUSSION ON AN ANTIOCH
ALERT SYSTEM
Councilmember Barbanica stated he requested th is item be brought forward for discussion following conversations he had with a neighboring City regarding their emergency alert system.
He noted this system would improve transparency and inform citizens. He recommended staff investigate this system and how other cities were addressing this issue.
Following discussion, Council consensus directed staff to bring this item back to a future meeting for consideration.
5. CITY COUNCIL REQUESTED DISCUSSION ITEM – DISCUSSION ON A BALLOT
MEASURE FOR INFRASTRUCTURE AND/ OR PROGRAMS
Mayor Hernandez-Thorpe stated he had requested this item to determine if there was interest in advancing an infrastructure bond measure for city-owned infrastructure.
Andrew Becker expressed concern that a discussion item requesting more dollars from the community set precedence. He suggested the City seek grant opportunities at the state and federal level.
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Due to technical issues, Mayor Thorpe declared a recess at 6:45 P.M. The meeting reconvened at 6:49 P.M. with all Councilmembers present.
Following discussion, Council consensus directed staff to bring this item back to a future meeting for consideration.
6. CITY COUNCIL REQUESTED DISCUSSION ITEM – DISCUSSION ON A PRESENTATION FROM THE CONTRA COSTA COUNTY A3 MILES HALL CRISIS
CALL CENTER
Councilmember Torres-Walker stated she had asked for a presentation for Council since she sat on a task force in Richmond and a representative from the Council had discussed how the resources were supposed to meet the needs of every city in the County. She stated historically some communities did not benefit from those resources. She requested the presentation so Council, staff and residents would know about this program and what is supposed to be available to residents of Antioch.
Following discussion, Council consensus directed staff to bring this item back to a future meeting for consideration.
7. CITY COUNCIL REQUESTED DISCUSSION ITEM – DISCUSSION ON HIRING
INCENTIVES FOR CITY EMPLOYEES
Mayor Hernandez -Thorpe stated he had requested this item since there were other city departments that could benefit from an incentive program.
Andrew Becker provided a list of wages for City employees and spoke in support of providing performance bonuses instead of hiring incentives.
Melissa Case stated she supported performance bonuses.
Following discussion, Council consensus directed staff to bring this item back to a future meeting for consideration and include a discussion on incentives for current employees.
8. CITY COUNCIL REQUESTED DISCUSSION ITEM – DISCUSSION ON PERMITS FOR
LANDLORDS RENTING TO FAMILY MEMBERS
Councilmember Barbanica reported he had a discussion with a resident in his district who was having to pay for a permit for a home they had purchased for a family member He suggested that there be an exemption for people who had family members living in their homes since they were not for profit.
An unidentified speaker stated she believed an owner should put their house in a trust so it could be co-owned.
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Following discussion, Council consensus agreed to take no further action on this item.
Councilmember Barbanica stated he would meet with staff to review the current ordinance related to landlord rental fees to determine if an exemption for family members already existed.
9. CITY COUNCIL REQUESTED DISCUSSION ITEM – DISCUSSION ON OFFICIAL
POET LAUREATE PROGRAM
Mayor Hernandez-Thorpe stated that he was asking staff to draft a resolution creating an Official Poet Laureate Program.
Following discussion, Council consensus directed staff to bring this item back to a future meeting for consideration.
10. CITY COUNCIL REQUESTED DISCUSSION ITEM: CONSIDERATION OF OPTIONS
FOR A MORATORIUM OR BAN ON NEW GAS STATIONS
Councilmember Wilson stated in conjunction with the Governors mandate on electric vehicles, she was requesting consideration of a moratorium or ban on new gas stations in Antioch.
Leslie May spoke in support of a ban on new gas stations and suggested installing more EV charging stations.
Following discussion, Council consensus directed staff to bring back this item to a future meeting for consideration and include options for limiting pumps and adding charging stations.
11. CITY COUNCIL DISCUSSION ITEM: REPEAL OF CITY’S LOCAL BAN ON CRUISING, SECTION 4-5.1009 OF THE ANTIOCH MUNICIPAL CODE (AMC)
Councilmember Torres -Walker stated she had requested this item after many residents had advocated for the ban on cruising to be lifted.
City Attorney Smith presented the staff report dated January 30, 2024, recommending the City Council provide direction to bring back an ordinance to modify the Antioch municipal Code to remove the ban against cruising to be consistent with state law prohibiting local government from having bans on cruising.
Leslie May, Archie Brumfield and Frank Sterling spoke in support of amending the ordinance to comply with state law.
Following discussion, Council consensus directed staff to bring back and ordinance amendment that complied with new State law.
1. PRESENTATION – YOUTH SERVICES NETWORK
Director of Public Safety and Community Resources Johnson introduced herself and employees of the Public Safety and Community Resources Department. She thanked Department Heads
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for playing a role in their success and gave a brief overview of the divisions within their department.
Youth Services Network Manager Cabral gave a Youth Services Network PowerPoint presentation.
DC Dorham -Kelly, CEO / Rubicon Programs, gave an overview of their role in the Mayor’s Apprenticeship Program.
Andrew Becker acknowledged the opportunities Antioch provide d for youth. He encouraged staff and Council to advocate on behalf of Antioch at the County level for program opportunities.
Frank Sterling stated he felt it was important to seek funding opportunities for continuation of these programs.
Councilmember Torres-Walker requested staff provide the data and financials for the Mayor’s Apprenticeship Program.
Director of Public Safety and Community Resources Johnson gave a brief overview of the Mayor’s Apprenticeship Program and stated she would be happy to provide Council with the data requested.
2. PRESENTATION – UNHOUSED RESIDENT SERVICES
Director of Public Safety and Community Resources Johnson introduced Unhoused Resident Coordinator Ridley who gave an Unhoused Resident Services PowerPoint presentation.
Gary Tia, Associate Director of Programming and Darrell Olsen, Program Manager / Bay Area Community Services (BACS), gave a status update on the Opportunity Village Program. He stated they could provide a breakdown of who they served and outcomes.
Melissa Case thanked staff for the presentation and asked them what they attributed to the success of the program.
Leslie May discussed the importance of an accurate point in time count in Antioch and congratulated staff on the success of the program.
Andrew Becker requested staff provide data for the participants of the program. He suggested increasing and relocating the program to the Economy Inn since their units had kitchen facilities.
Jim Becker suggested the City convert empty commercial space into shelters for the unhoused and cover some costs for those transitioning out of temporary housing. He also encouraged the City to consider future zoning opportunities for alternative housing.
Frank Sterling spoke in support of expanding the program. He reported that a friend’s health and mental state was deteriorating as they waited to get into the program.
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Following discussion, Councilmember Torres-Walker requested staff provide the data for the Opportunity Village Program, Delta Landing Program, and encampment engagement.
Councilmember Ogorchock suggested engaging with the County for additional medical care outreach for the unhoused.
3. PRESENTATION – CALIFORNIA VIOLENCE INTERVENTION AND PREVENTION (CALVIP), ANGELO QUINTO COMMUNITY RESPONSE TEAM (AQCRT), AND
RAISING AWARENESS AGAINST DOMESTIC VIOLENCE
Director of Public Safety and Community Resources Johnson introduced Public Safety Manager Velasco who gave a Violence Intervention and Prevention PowerPoint presentation.
John Rodriquez, Executive Director / One Day At A Time introduced members of their team and gave a brief overview of their partnership with Advance Peace in the creation of the CalVIP grant program Uplifting Peace. He thanked staff for the successful partnership.
Public Safety Manager Velasco gave a brief overview of the Community Response Team and introduced Contesa Tate, Program Director / Angelo Quinto Community Response Team (AQCRT) / Felton Institute, who gave a PowerPoint presentation of AQCRT.
Andrew Becker thanked staff for the presentation. He suggested replacing Community Service Officers with additional Community Response Team members so they could expand services.
Frank Sterling encouraged the City to seek funding to continue with the AQCRT program and suggested the care team have a dedicated phone number.
Melissa Case agreed that there should be a dedicated phone number for the CARE team.
Teki agreed that the CARE team should have a dedicated phone number and suggested informing businesses on how they could connect with the response team.
Bella Quinto Collins read a written comment from her mother thanking the City for implementing the program. She urged Council to continue funding the program and partnering with the Miles Hall Crisis Call Center.
Mr. Torres spoke in support of the program and thanked staff for the presentation. He urged Council to continue funding the program and suggested an audit to improve and expand services. He requested data for responses and referrals. He also supported a dedicated phone number for the program.
Councilmember Wilson thanked staff for the presentations . She spoke in support of having a dedicated number for the CARE team and discussed the importance of funding these programs.
Councilmember Torres-Walker thanked staff for the presentation. She requested additional data and financials for the AQCRT and outcomes for Lifting Peace. She encouraged staff to continue
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to seek funding opportunities. She thanked several organizations , staff and Council for their support of the Violence Intervention and Prevention programs.
Mayor Hernandez -Thorpe reiterated the importance of these programs and seeking funding opportunities. He thanked Councilmember Wilson for promoting the AQCRT and Councilmember Torres-Walker for advocating for the Public Safety and Community Resource Department. He recognized all of the Public Safety and Community Resources Department employees.
Director of Public Safety and Community Resources Johnson thanked Council for the opportunity to present to the community.
ADJOURNMENT
On motion by Councilmember Ogorchock, seconded by Councilmember Wilson, the City Council unanimously adjourned the meeting at 9:56 P.M.
Respectfully submitted:
Kitty Eiden
KITTY EIDEN, Minutes Clerk