CITY COUNCIL MEETING
Special Meeting September 15, 2025
1:00 P.M. Council Chambers
1:00 P.M. SPECIAL MEETING/WORKSHOP
Mayor
Bernal called the Closed Session to order at 1:16 P.M., and Acting City Clerk Cabrera- Brown called the roll.
Present: Council Members District 3 Freitas, District 4 Wilson, Mayor Pro Tem (District 2) Rocha and Mayor Bernal
Absent: Council Member District 1 Torres-Walker (arrived at 1:40 P.M.)
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
Mayor Bernal led the Pledge of Allegiance.
WORKSHOP
1. CITY
OF ANTIOCH COUNCIL PRIORITY SETTING AGENDA
Mayor Bernal welcomed all attendees and formally opened the meeting.
Tracy Miller, TM Consulting, delivered opening remarks, expressing her appreciation for the City Council's dedication to Antioch. She highlighted her role as the facilitator for the Council Priority Setting Study Session, outlined the session's objectives, and established the time par ameters to ensure a productive discussion.
City Manager Scott provided an update on the progress of the City’s Vision and Strategic Plan (2019-2029).
Public Comment
Joy Motts spoke about the accomplishments of the previous Council and encouraged the current Council to address blight through enhanced Code Enforcement. She also advocated for the development of an event center on the Beede Lumber Yard parcel.
An unidentified speaker stated he believed the City had not provided sufficient notice for this meeting. He recommended that the City prioritize housing and homeless services, as well as efforts to eradicate blight.
Erica suggested the City Council prioritize and streamline homeless services in Antioch.
Sal Sbranti encouraged the City Council to prioritize making Antioch a desirable city to live in and to clearly define their mission and values.
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Councilmember Torres-Walker arrived at 1:40 P.M.
M
ayor Bernal and Councilmembers Rocha, Freitas, Wilson, and Torres -Walker shared their following list of successes achieved by the City Council.
C
ommunity Events & Engagement
• Downtown restaurants and outdoor dining options
• Community Events - Farmers Market/Artisan Fair, Juneteenth & 4th of July celebrations and monthly community cleanups
• Youth Internship Programs and youth engagement
• Senior citizen engagement
• Support for the Antioch Police Department (APD) community engagement initiatives City Projects & Development
• Expansion of Walmart
• Brackish Water Desalination Plant
• Reassessment and consideration of repurposing city-owned properties • Support for economic development and new revenue streams (Park and Rec proposals) • Infrastructure improvements: See Click Fix, traffic calming measures Public Safety & Law Enforcement
• APD recruitment, diversity initiatives
• Reduction in violent crimes
• Proactive code enforcement of encampments
• Reduction of sideshows
• New Police Chief
• Support for community -based safety initiatives Angelo Quinto Crisis Response Team (AQCRT)
• Improving Antioch Police Oversight Commission processes Government & Budget
• Adopted fiscally responsible budget; held budget study sessions; scheduled quarterly financial reviews
• Increase in property tax
• Consideration of Prop 218 assessments
• Executive staff recruitment
• Lynn House RFQ and Marina RFP
• Board and Commission onboarding process
• Addressing Structural Deficits
Legal & Administrative
• United States Department of Justice (USDOJ) settlement and litigation resolution • Hiring of monitor for USDOJ compliance
• Hiring of Grant Writer
• Supporting re-establishment of Neighborhood and Business Watch programs • Reestablished County relationships
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Agenda Item #
• Lobbying at State and Federal level
Community & Social Services
• African American Wellness Hub
• Homelessness reduction efforts
• CDBG Housing Successor Funds for vulnerable residents • Stand Down for Veterans
• Partnership with Delta Diablo and Tri Delta
• Support for Opportunity Village
• Full-time CORE Team
• Youth Internships
• Community Forums by District
Transportation & Infrastructure
• Engagement in the Countywide Transportation Plan Subcommittee • AMTRAK Improvements
• Traffic Calming Measures
Other Initiatives
• City’s Economic Development Department reorganization • Community engagement through Public Information Officer (PIO) • Initiatives to improve community health and wellness
• Pursuing Joint Meetings with the Antioch Unified School District (AUSD) • Council Priority Setting
• Cannabis Ordinance Review
• Increasing Private/Public Partnerships
Ms. Miller encouraged Council to celebrate their successes.
City Manager Scott shared the following list of Staff’s successes:
Communication & Public Engagement
• Public Information Officer (PIO) and communication enhancements • Streamlined communication structures
• Live streaming via YouTube
• Chichibu and "Know Your Rights" events
• Successful Youth Internship Programs
Human Resources & Leadership
• Recruitment and promotion of Police Chief and executive positions • HR process streamlining for recruitment
• Strengthening the executive management team
Public Safety & Crime Reduction
• Reduction in crime statistics
• Streamlining citation processes
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Agenda Item #
Economic & Regional Development
• Recognition through economic development awards
• Building local and regional partnerships
Administrative & Policy Improvements
• Updating records retention policies
• Addressing contract backlog
Consulting & Advocacy
• Engagement of an executive consultant
• Federal and legislative lobbying efforts
Councilmember Freitas identified his top three priorities for the City over the next two years and briefly explained his reasoning.
Financial
• Monthly budget reports
• Review all fees, charges and assessments consider prop 218 election • Review staff’s recommendations regarding revenue generation • Develop a plan of action
Economic Development
• Robust economic development action plan targeting businesses with 25+ employees Communications
• Weekly updates to all Councilmembers
• Develop Master Plan/deadlines/project reports
Councilmember Rocha identified his top three priorities for the City over the next two years and briefly explained his reasoning.
Public Safety
• Fully staff APD to 117 officers by 2027
• Continue working in collaboration with the USDOJ and California Department of Justice (CALDOJ) on police reform initiatives
• Rebuild culture of community policing
Economic and Code Enforcement
• Support local business owners and recruitment of new business opportunities • Support staffing Code Enforcement to address vacant/blighted properties • Review penalties and fines through Code Enforcement
• Build robust Economic Development Program
Housing Support and Community Resources
• Support youth, families, seniors and Veterans in the unhoused community • Proactive housing support and CDBG funding
• Work regionally with the County and State for housing support for the unhoused community
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Agenda Item #
Councilmember Wilson identified her top three priorities for the City over the next two years and briefly explained her reasoning.
Operations
• Complete operational assessment
Economic Development
• Develop a robust Economic Development plan
Healthy Communities
• Focus on health and wellness of community
• Access to clean air, water, healthy food, trails and open space
Councilmember Torres-Walker identified her top three priorities for the City over the next two years and briefly explained her reasoning.
Economic Development
• Develop an Economic Development Strategic Plan by January 2026 Public Safety
• At least 50% of the CIP traffic calming measures completed by summer 2026 Housing and Homelessness
• At least a 3% increase in public/private partnerships to bring resources to meet the needs of the most vulnerable residents
Mayor Bernal identified his top three priorities for the City over the next two years and briefly explained his reasoning.
Public Safety
• Fully staff APD to 105 by July 1, 2026, and 117 by July 1 2027 • USDOJ Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) regular updates to Council • CALDOJ and other related outstanding litigation concluded Economic Development
• Fully staff and operable C ode Enforcement Division with a proactive enforcement and compliance program focused on vacant and blighted properties (commercial and downtown prioritized)
• Develop an Economic Development incentives package to attract new businesses and developers
Financial
• Adopt a FY-2027 balanced budget not dependent on reserves or the budget stabilization funds that includes a revenue enhancement plan
Ms. Miller announced there was consensus on Economic Development and summarized the priority requests from Council as follows:
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Agenda Item #
• Develop a robust comprehensive economic plan focusing on 25 employees or more with a focus on business sectors that work well within the City and underutilized areas • Grow revenue
• Fully staff Code Enforcement to attract Economic Development (focus on compliance/blight)
• Increase the General Fund
• Develop incentive packages to attract businesses
• Consideration of a vacant parcel tax - Council to discuss stronger legislation • Consider utilizing the grant writer for Economic Development strategies
Following discussion, Council consensus supported the following:
Economic Development / Code Enforcement Action Items:
• City Manager to provide Council with a Code Enforcement Operational Assessment/Reorganization within a 3 –6-month timeframe with updates to Council in October and November
• City Attorney to review existing Code Enforcement ordinances and comparison with other cities, providing an update to the City Council by the City Council meeting on October 28, 2025.
• City Attorney to email the City Council by the end of this week providing a timeline for building a Commercial Vacancy ordinance
• 1-2 Year Economic Development Action Plan: draft by end of January 2026, with final review by the end of March 2026
Mayor Bernal declared a recess at 3:44
P.M. The meeting reconvened at 3:57 P.M. with all
Councilmembers present with the exception of Councilmember Torres -Walker who arrived at 4:00 P.M.
Ms. Miller summarized the priority requests from Council as follows:
Public Safety
• APD Fully staff – 105 sworn by July 1, 2026, and 117 sworn by July 1, 2027 • CALDOJ and USDOJ – staff to provide updates on progress and prioritize negotiations • Both substations at Sycamore and Prewett Park operational by January 2026 • 10% increase in outside funding (grants and philanthropic partners) to the Department of Public Safety and Community Resources for the violence prevention sector and youth network services
• Youth engagement and input on public safety - by July 2026 • Rebuild culture - more informal interaction between APD and communities negatively impacted
• Development of a community policing program (including walking beats in high crime areas) to implement once adequately staffed
• Work with AUSD to develop after-school/summer programs including food security
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Agenda Item #
• Rename the Public Safety and Community Resources Department
Following discussion, Council consensus supported the following:
Public Safety Action Items:
• Sycamore and Community Center Substations - report out on timeline by the last October or first November Council meeting
• Quarterly DOJ updates to Council (continue current practice). • Fully staff PD – 105 by July 1, 2026, and 117 by July 1, 2027 – update from APD December 2025
• Youth programs –
a) Develop proactive youth programs (afterschool/food support) in partnership with AUSD and businesses
b) Secure 10% outside funding for youth services through grants/philanthropic partners – future report out by City Manager Scott
c) Increase youth input into Council decisions by July 2026. d) Ensure Safe Space for Youth - prioritize youth engagement and placement on Boards and Commissions (scheduled January/February 2026) • Full Staffing of City Employees (address structural deficits)
Ms. Miller stated she would work with City Manager Scott to schedule the next Priority Setting Meeting to discuss the final Council priority, Housing Support. She thanked Council and staff for holding a productive meeting.
ADJOURNMENT
On motion by Councilmember Wilson, seconded by Councilmember Rocha, the City Council unanimously adjourned the meeting at 4:59
P.M.
Respectfully submitted:
Kitty Eiden
KITTY EIDEN, Minutes Clerk