CITY COUNCIL MEETING
SPECIAL MEETING/ STUDY SESSION
Special Meeting May 13, 2026
4:00 P.M. Council Chambers
4:00 P.M. – SPECIAL MEETING/BUDGET STUDY SESSION
Mayor Bernal called the Special Meeting to order at 4:00 P.M., and Acting City Clerk Eiden called the roll.
Present: Council Members District 2 Rocha, Mayor Pro Tem (District 3) Freitas and Mayor Bernal
Absent: Council Members District 1 Torres-Walker and District 4 Wilson
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
Mayor Bernal led the Pledge of Allegiance.
SPECIAL MEETING/BUDGET STUDY SESSION
1. FISCAL YEAR 2026-27 BUDGET DEVELOPMENT
Director of Human Resources Cortez introduced Fiscal Year 2026-27 Budget Development.
Finance Director Merchant presented the staff report dated May 13, 2026, recommending the City Council provide feedback and direction regarding the budget development information provided for the Fiscal Year 2026-27 budget.
The City Council reviewed the Draft Budget Worksheets – Animal Services Special Revenue Funds; Street Light and Landscape District (SLLMD) funds and Enterprise Funds (Attachment A) and provided the following feedback.
Animal Services Fund (214)
➢ Direction was given to staff to provide the number of spay and neuter done in each year ➢ Direction was given to provide Council with an organizations chart for A ntioch Animal Services
➢ Direction was given to staff to provide a plan for recruiting the Animal Services Manager ➢ Direction was given to staff to send a request to the Co ntra Costa County to provide the amount of tax dollars that go to the Contra Costa County for Animal Services, and if the information is not provided pursue legal recourse
Lone Tree Maintenance District (FUND 251)
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Special Meeting
May 13, 2026 Page 2 of 6
➢ Direction was given to staff to provide Council with a list of completed projects for this year and the remaining projects for this fiscal year as well as the future plans and cost estimates to include entrances into Antioch
➢ Direction was given to staff to provide photos of completed projects ➢ Direction was given to determine how the City of Martinez finance d their mural on the underpass
Downtown Maintenance District (FUND252)
➢ Direction was given to staff to add a notation that all maintenance was funded through the General Plan
➢ Direction was given to staff to provide an estimate for enhancing the landscaping downtown
➢ Direction was given to staff to consider replacement of the trash cans downtown
Park 1A Maintenance District (FUND 255)
➢ Direction was given to staff to provide the number of spaces at the RV Storage Facility
Sewer Fund (FUND 621)
➢ Revenue Source: Investment Income – Direction was given to staff to increase the 2026- 27 Proposed to reflect the rate increase
Marina Fund Summary (FUND 631)
➢ Charges for Services – Direction was given to staff to determine why there was a decrease in 2026-27 Proposed
➢ Direction was given to staff to determine if the city is in compliance with the grant requirements for the marina parking lot and boat launch ➢ Direction was given to staff to report back to the City Council on the balance and interest rate of the loans
SM-2. FISCAL YEAR 2026-27 BUDGET DEVELOPMENT – Continued from May 12, 2026
Finance Director Merchant presented the staff report dated May 12, 2026, recommending City Council provide feedback and direction regarding the budget development information provided for the Fiscal Year 2026-27 budget.
The City Council reviewed the staff report and provided the following feedback.
General Comments
➢ Direction was given to staff to investigate the status of discussions with Contra Costa County regarding Antioch Animal Services and report back to Council
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General Fund Budget Adjustments
➢ Direction was given to unfreeze the Animal Services Manager position ➢ Direction was given to staff to d etermine if the foreclosure of the property impacts Homekey+
➢ Direction was given to provide a cost estimate of replacing/restoring the “Hey Daddy, Look Here” public art item
➢ Direction was given to staff to provide a cost estimate for the Holiday Delites event
Councilmember Rocha and Mayor Bernal offered to work with staff and the Juneteenth organizations to determine if there were partnership opportunities.
➢ Direction was given to staff to work with APD to determine if additional vacancy savings can be built into FY2026-27 and FY2027 -28 (maintaining Council’s goals for sworn personnel)
Mayor Bernal declared a recess at 5:41 P.M. The meeting reconvened at 5:49 P.M. with all Councilmembers present with the exception of Councilmembers Wilson and Torres-Walker who were previously reported as absent.
1. FISCAL YEAR 2026-27 BUDGET DEVELOPMENT - Continued
The City Council reviewed the Draft Budget Worksheets – Recreation and provided the following feedback.
Recreation Services (FUND219)
➢ Direction was given to staff to identify the funds committed for each of the sports field, turf fields, City Park and Memorial field maintenance in the budget
Community Recreation 219-4495
➢ Direction was given to staff to provide updated recommendations for Part-Time Help ➢ Direction was given to staff to add $10,000.00 for teen recreational activities /afterschool programming and come back to Council with a proposal
SM-2. FISCAL YEAR 2026-27 BUDGET DEVELOPMENT – Continued
The City Council reviewed the General Fund Budget Worksheets and provided the following feedback.
City Manager (100-1130)
➢ Direction was given to staff to bring back salary and classification for a Purchasing Officer ➢ Direction was given to staff to bring back the travel policy for Council/Boards/ Commissions
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May 13, 2026 Page 4 of 6
➢ Direction was given to staff to review the settlement agreement to determine requirements for APOC training
➢ Direction was given to staff to provide Council with business expenses for FY25 and FY26
City Clerk (100-1140)
➢ Direction was given to staff to determine if the Records Management allocation will be utilized in FY2026-27
➢ Direction was given to staff to determine the status of the city records/document review
Human Resources (100-1160)
➢ Direction was given to staff was provided to staff to provide data related to active outside recruitments for Human Resources and City Manager’s budgets
General Fund Nondepartmental (100-1250)
➢ Direction was given to staff report back to Council on the increase to the marina subsidy ➢ Direction was given to staff to provide an update on the agreements with AUSD and the Golf Course for Water
➢ Direction was given to staff to provide Council with the explanation for the year -to-year variance in Business Expenses
Public Works Summary
➢ Direction was given to staff to provide an explanation regarding the decrease in the amount for Services and Supplies from 2025-26 Revised to 2026-27 Proposed
Public Works Signal/Street Lights (100-2170)
➢ Direction was given to staff to investigate bringing Signal/Street Light Maintenance in house
Public Works Facilities Maintenance (100-2190)
➢ Direction was given to staff to determine if new roof projects were included in the facilities maintenance budget
Public Works Parks Maintenance (100-2195)
➢ Direction was given to staff to bring back the date the Parks Maintenance Contract will go out to bid
Public Works Park Median/General Landscape Maintenance (100-2196) ➢ Direction was given to staff to provide the reason for the variance in the Contracts 2025- 26 Revised and 2026-27 Proposed
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Police Compliance & Professional Standards (100-3115)
➢ Direction was given to staff to determine if there could be a reduction in the Business Expense
Police Community Policing (100-3150)
➢ Direction was given to staff to bring back data related to Shotspotter
Police Facilities Maintenance (100-3200)
➢ Direction was given to staff to include the cost of the roof replacement
Police Animal Control Support (100-3320)
➢ Direction was given to staff to move forward with hiring the Animal Services Manager
Public Safety and Community Resources – General Fund
➢ Direction was given to staff bring back an agenda item for Council to consider a name change for this department
Youth Network Services (100-4700)
➢ Direction was given to staff provide a breakdown of contracts for consultants and CBO’s to run youth programs
Housing and Homelessness (100-4705)
➢ Direction was given to staff provide costs associated with the safe parking program
Economic Development (100-5120)
➢ Direction was given to staff to reduce Marketing/Programming to $200,000
Mayor Bernal declared a recess at 7:33 P.M. the meeting reconvened at 7:43 P.M. with all Councilmembers present with the exception of Councilmembers Wilson and Torres-Walker who were previously reported as absent.
The City Council reviewed the Summary of General Fund Vacancies and provided the following feedback.
➢ Police Officers – Direction was given to staff to determine a realistic number for recruitment
➢ City Manager – Assistant City Manager – Direction was given to staff to add in an additional 6 months of vacancy savings
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May 13, 2026 Page 6 of 6
➢ City Manager – Administrative Analyst 1 – Direction was given to staff to freeze the positions
➢ City Clerk – Public Records Coordinator – Direction was given to staff to add 6 months of vacancy savings
➢ Human Resources Manager – Pending review of Acting City Manager ➢ Recreation Programs Coordinator/Recreation Supervisor (Aquatics) – Direction was given to Acting City Manager to discuss the possibility of freezing one of the positions ➢ Assistant/Junior Engineer – Direction was given to staff to add 6 months of vacancy savings
➢ Operations Supervisor - Direction was given to staff to add 4 months of vacancy savings ➢ Community & Economic Development Department - Assistant City Engineer – Direction was given to staff to freeze the position
➢ Economic Development Program Manager – Direction was given to staff freeze the position for 6 months
➢ Code Enforcement Officer with or without cert – Direction was given to staff to freeze one position
➢ Animal Services Manager – Direction was given to staff to recruit for the position as a priority
➢ Animal Control Officer – Direction was given to staff to freeze one position
Finance Director Merchant stated that she would be meeting with APD and Director of Human Resources Cortez and be coming back to Council with a realistic number for the FY2027 Budget.
She also noted she would be responding to the follow-up questions from Council on May 26, 2026.
Additional requests
➢ Direction was given to staff to provide an overview of overtime for the past two years ➢ Direction was given to staff to remove the vehicle replacement set aside fund ➢ Direction was given to staff to as positions become vacant – freeze until approval by Council to fill
➢ Direction was given to staff to provide a list of parks and recreation programs and their costs and who they serve
➢ Direction was given to staff to provide a list of Public Safety and Community Resources programs and costs and who they serve
➢ Direction was given to staff that travel and training is only for mandatory
ADJOURNMENT
Mayor Bernal adjourned the meeting at 8:34 P.M.
Respectfully submitted:
Kitty Eiden
KITTY EIDEN, Minutes Clerk