CITY COUNCIL MEETING
SPECIAL MEETING/BUDGET STUDY SESSION
Special Meeting April 21, 2026
5:00 P.M. Council Chambers
5:00 P.M. – SPECIAL MEETING/STUDY SESSION
Mayor Bernal called the Special Meeting to order at 5:0 1 P.M., and City Clerk Mandy called the roll.
Present: Council Members District 1 Torres -Walker, District 2 Rocha, District 4 Wilson, Mayor Pro Tem (District 3) Freitas and Mayor Bernal
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
Mayor Bernal led the Pledge of Allegiance.
BUDGET STUDY SESSION
SM-1. FISCAL YEAR 2026-27 BUDGET DEVELOPMENT
City Manager Scott introduced the Budget Study Session SM-1.
Finance Director Merchant presented the staff report dated April 21, 2026, recommending the City Council provide feedback and direction regarding the budget development information provided for the Fiscal Year 2026-27 Budget.
Michelle Kuslets, Antioch Friends of Animal Services and Karen Kops, Homeless Animal Response Program, expressed their support for appropriately staffing and funding Antioch Animal Services.
Debbie Blaisure, Downtown Antioch Association, expressed support for the continuation of community events and proposed that the City collaborate with downtown businesses to facilitate fundraising efforts for these events.
Dr. Jeffrey Klinger urged the Council to carefully consider the implications of reducing funding for Antioch Animal Services. He recommended that, should such cuts be pursued, an agreement be established in advance with the County and other relevant organizations to address potential service gaps.
Patty Espisito, Scruffy to Fluffy Cat R escue, discussed the challenges posed by feral cats and their impact on the community. She highlighted the importance of an effective and consistent spay and neuter program and urged the City to collaborate with the County to effectively address this issue.
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Lisa Kirk, Fix Our Shelters, reported that Contra Costa County was not permitting her to bring cats from Antioch to their spay and neuter program. She encouraged the City to establish a community group to review the situation and collaborate with the County to develop an appropriate solution.
Andrew Becker expressed concern that the budget process had not engaged the broader community in discussions. Additionally, he noted that the Water Park had historically operated at a deficit; however, the City ha d not provided financial impacts or potential solutions. He also raised concerns regarding the Capital Improvement Program, specifically noting that a downtown park project would require a general plan amendment.
Council reviewed the Fiscal Year 2026 -27 Budget Development staff report and provided the following direction.
Budget Deficit Reduction Proposals
➢ Direction was given to staff to present the potential impacts of the budget deficit reduction proposals on both staff and the community.
Attachment A – Non Police City Wide Vacancies – As of April 15, 2026
➢ Direction was given to staff to transfer the specified positions into the General Fund vacancies.
• Animal Services Manager, Animal Services Technician and Animal Control Officers • Recreation Programs Coordinator and Recreation Supervisor
General Requests
➢ Direction was given to staff to provide a report on overtime by department ➢ Direction was given to staff to identify baseline city services and bring an analysis back to the City Council in the Fall
Councilmember Freitas requested the City Council consider funding a two-person purchasing department.
Finance Director Merchant responded that she would prefer to unfreeze the Business License Representative and Accounting Specialist positions, as the y were more critical for financial reporting purposes.
Council continued to review the Fiscal Year 2026 -27 Budget Development staff report and provided the following direction.
Attachment B – Current Consultant Services Contracts
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➢ Townsend Public Affairs – Direction was given to the consultants to meet with the City Council to discuss priorities for grant funding
➢ Public Works/Water Rights – Direction was given to staff to provide more information on the services provided and funding source
Attachment D – FY27 Proposed Budget Adjustments Included In Draft
Council consensus provided the following direction.
➢ Un-Freeze Administrative Analyst – Yes
➢ Freeze Senior Civil Engineer – Yes
➢ Covert and Fund PW Inspector vs. Assistant Engineer / Reduce Development Engineering Contracts - Yes
➢ Freeze Community Engagement Coordinator – Yes
➢ Add Policy Director – Yes
➢ Freeze Business License Representative - Yes
➢ Freeze Accounting Specialist – Yes
➢ Add Part Time Help – No
➢ Utilize $5M in Budget Stabilization Funds – Yes
➢ Remove Gen Fund Vehicle Replacement Set -Aside – Pause until that item is further discussed
Additional General Requests
➢ Future a genda item - Renaming of the Public Safety and Community Resources Department
Mayor Bernal declared a recess at 6:53 P.M. The meeting reconvened at 7: 05 P.M. with all Councilmembers present.
Attachment E - Other Fund Budgets
Direction was given to staff to p lace this item on the April 28, 2026, Special Meeting/Budget Study Session agenda
Chart A – Deficit Reduction Proposals
Discussion ensued regarding the deficit reduction proposals with the City Council consensus providing the following direction.
➢ Freeze Animal Services Manager Position – Direction was provided to staff to provide additional information
➢ Freeze 2 Code Enforcement Officers Positions - Direction to staff to provide additional information
➢ Do not fund Homekey+ - Direction to staff to provide additional information
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➢ Do no t fund AQCRT after ARPA funding has expired - Direction to staff to provide additional information
➢ Eliminate set-aside to Prewett CIP – Yes
➢ Freeze Community Grants for 1-year – Yes
➢ Pause Sister City Activities – No
➢ Reduce Garbage Franchise Fee allocation to Solid Wast e Fund – Direction to staff to provide additional information
➢ Cancel City Wide Signage CIP – Direction to discuss this item during CIP presentation ➢ Cancel Restoration of Public Fountains CIP and return $$ to General Fund – Yes ➢ Cancel Restoration of Public Art CIP and return $$ to General Fund – Direction to staff to provide additional information
➢ Cancel/Reduce City Hall Modifications CIP and return $$ to General Fund – No ➢ Cancel EOC Improvements CIP and return $$ to General Fund - Yes ➢ Cancel 4th of July event – No
➢ Cancel National Night Out – No
➢ Cancel Juneteenth - No
Other Ideas for Consideration with Potential Monetary Savings
➢ Sell the Golf Course – Direction to staff to renegotiate terms of the agreement with the Golf Course
➢ Do not run any special events (except for 4th of July, National Night Out and Juneteenth) unless money can be raised to fund the entire cost – Yes ➢ Cancel agreements with the Antioch Unified School District to pay for water at two school sites (Memorial Field and Lone Tree Elementary) – Yes
➢ Beginning on July 1, 2026, when positions become vacant, including positions within the Antioch Police Department, they will remain vacant and unhired – No ➢ Close the Waterpark – Direction to staff to provide additional information ➢ Explore collaboration with the County or other partnerships for Animal Services – Direction to staff to provide additional information
➢ Reduce FY26 budget for Police Department facility maintenance and updates - No
Chart B General Fund Summary
➢ Add 12 additional Police Trainees in Fiscal Year 2027 - Yes
Finance Director Merchant announced that staff would bring back Other Fund Budgets (attachment E) to the Budget Study Session on April 28, 2026.
STUDY SESSION
SM-2. WORKSHOP FOR THE DRAFT 5 YEAR CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM 2026 - 2031 (P.W. 150-26)
Public Works Director/City Engineer Buenting recognized city staff for their assistance in presenting the CIP and presented the PowerPoint presentation and staff report dated April 21,
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2026, recommending the City Council review and provide feedback to staff regarding the draft 5 Year Capital Improvement Program 2026-2031.
Andrew Becker stated he believed the infrastructure around the BART station should be built out and the Slatten Ranch Road improvements should begin in that area.
Draft CIP
The City Council reviewed the draft CIP and provided the following direction.
➢ 7359 – Pavement Management System Program – Direction to staff to bring the pavement management plan study back to the City Council ➢ 8008 – Rivertown Community Space – Direction was given to remove the project from the CIP and move the discussion on use of property to the Downtown Standing Committee
➢ 8006 – Finance & Human Resources Department Facility – Direction was given to staff to bring back a discussion on space planning and operational needs for the City ➢ 7921 - Citywide Signage Program – Direction was given to staff to determine if park in lieu funds could be utilized for these projects and the City Council added the replacement of the reservoir signage on Golf Course Road
General Requests
➢ Direction was given to staff to a dd Carnegie Library Interior and Exterior to the CIP as placeholder for FY27
➢ Direction was given to staff to add Phase 2 of Street Light Project to the CIP ➢ Direction was given to staff to add Prewett Water Park Main Slide to the CIP
Mayor Bernal thanked Public Works Director/City Engineer Buenting for the presentation.
ADJOURNMENT
On motion by Councilmember Torres-Walker, seconded by Councilmember Rocha, the City Council unanimously adjourned the meeting at 8:58 P.M.
Respectfully submitted:
Kitty Eiden
KITTY EIDEN, Minutes Clerk