1 MINUTES OF THE
REGULAR MEETING – CITY COUNCIL
AUGUST 5, 2025
6:00 P.M.
City Council Chambers, City Hall, 250 East L Street, complete proceedings of which are recorded. These are action minutes; a full video is available online at www.ci.benicia.ca.us/agendas.
COURTESY ZOOM PARTICIPATION
1) CALL REGULAR MEETING TO ORDER
Mayor Young called the Regular Meeting to order at 6:06 p.m. 2) CONVENE OPEN SESSION
3) ROLL CALL
All Council Members were present.
4) PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
5) REFERENCE TO THE FUNDAMENTAL RIGHTS OF THE PUBLIC
6) ADOPTION OF THE AGENDA
On motion of Vice Mayor Macenski, seconded by Council Member Birdseye, Council approved the Adoption of the Agenda, as presented, on a roll call by the following vote:
Ayes: Council Member Birdseye, Council Member Largaespada, Vice Mayor Macenski, Council Member Scott, Mayor Young
Noes: (None)
7) OPPORTUNITY FOR PUBLIC COMMENTS
8) WRITTEN COMMENT
9) PUBLIC COMMENT
Shannon White - Ms. White discussed a group called Molly's Angels. 10) CONSENT CALENDAR
10.A MINUTES FROM THE JULY 15, 2025 AND JULY 22, 2025 REGULAR
AND SPECIAL MEETINGS
2 July 15, 2025 Regular City Council Meeting Minutes
July 22, 2025 Special City Council Meeting Minutes
10.B FY 2024/25 THIRD QUARTER INVESTMENT REPORT
Staff Report - FY 2024-25 Third Quarter Investment Report
1.FY 2024-25 Third Quarter Investment Report
2.LAIF Statement Ending March 31
3.CAMP Statement Ending March 31
4. 115 Turst Statement Ending March 31
10.C APPROVAL TO WAIVE THE READING OF ALL ORDINANCES
INTRODUCED OR ADOPTED PURSUANT TO THIS AGENDA
On motion of Vice Mayor Macenski, seconded by Council Member Birdseye, Council approved the adoption of the Consent Calendar, as presented, on a roll call by the following vote:
Ayes: Council Member Birdseye, Council Member Largaespada, Vice Mayor Macenski, Council Member Scott, Mayor Young
Noes: (None)
11) BUSINESS ITEM
11.A REVIEW OF INDUSTRIAL SAFETY ORDINANCE FEE STUDY
Josh Chadwick, Fire Chief, reviewed the staff report and a PowerPoint presentation.
Council and Staff discussed the issue of cost recovery, how the rates were created for each of the groups, whether the cost for hazmat physicals for fire department staff should be the responsibility of the businesses, the issue of overtime for training, and the annual review and report.
Public Comment:
None
Council and Staff discussed the letter Valero submitted earlier today stating their concerns, the fee study, starting the first year at a 50% cost recovery rate, concern regarding some items that were listed for cost recovery, task based vs. program approach, benchmarking the cost for the items with other comparable cities, concern regarding fully loaded rates, support for charging 50% of the direct services, support for a one-year trial then review, and the need to make sure there is equity (level 1's pay less of a percentage than level 4), support for 50% of what is before Council tonight, one year maximum, then review and re-evaluate, and concern regarding charging for public based tasks.
Staff Report - Review of Industrial Safety Ordinance Fee Study
3 1. Industrial Safety Ordinance Fee Study
11.B COMMERCIAL REGULATION STREAMLINING AMENDMENTS
Staff Report - Commercial Streamlining Amendments
ORDINANCE NO. 25- - AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF BENICIA AMENDING CHAPTER 2.32 (PLANNING DEPARTMENT) OF TITLE 2 (ADMINISTRATION AND PERSONNEL) AND ALL REFERENCES
WITHIN THE BENICIA MUNICIPAL CODE AND PERSONNEL
CLASSIFICATION PLAN TO CHANGE THE NAME OF THE PLANNING
DEPARTMENT TO THE DEVELOPMENT SERVICES DEPARTMENT AND
TO CHANGE THE TITLE OF COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR TO DEVELOPMENT SERVICES DIRECTOR, AND AMENDING CHAPTERS 17.12 (DEFINITIONS), 17.16 (USE CLASSIFICATIONS), 17.24 (RESIDENTIAL DISTRICTS), 17.26 (MIXED USE DISTRICTS), 17.28 (COMMERCIAL DISTRICTS), 17.32 (INDUSTRIAL DISTRICTS), 17.36 (OS OPEN SPACE DISTRICT), 17.40 (PS PUBLIC AND SEMIPUBLIC DISTRICT) AND 17.70 (GENERAL REGULATIONS) OF TITLE 17 (ZONING) OF THE BENICIA
MUNICIPAL CODE TO CLARIFY, UPDATE AND STREAMLINE
COMMERCIAL REGULATIONS
RESOLUTION NO. 25- 101 - A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF BENICIA AMENDING CHAPTER 4 (FORM BASED CODE) OF
THE DOWNTOWN MIXED USE MASTER PLAN TO MODIFY THE
ALLOWED LAND USES AND PERMIT REQUIREMENTS OF THE TOWN
CORE, TOWN CORE-OPEN, NEIGHBORHOOD GENERAL, AND
NEIGHBORHOOD GENERAL-OPEN ZONES AND THE GLOSSARY TO
CLARIFY, UPDATE AND STREAMLINE COMMERCIAL REGULATIONS
Suzanne Thorsen, Assistant City Manager, Development Services Director, reviewed the staff report and a PowerPoint presentation.
Council and Staff discussed why the retail hours is only being changed to 8:00 p.m., clarification that the time limit does not apply to First Street, outdoor noise relief, food trucks, live entertainment, sport tournaments, and home business licenses.
Public Comment:
1. Lori Grundman - Ms. Grundman discussed support for expanding shopping hours.
Council Member Largaespada proposed an amendment regarding off-premise alcohol sales (limit the number of businesses operating under ABC Type 21 license to the number that currently exists.)Staff will look into the issue of concentration of this type of business, however bans or caps would not be considered, have staff look into changing the special event permit to include temporary noise relief, and extending the closing hours for retail in the three zones adjacent to First Street to 9:00 p.m.
4 1. Draft Ordinance amending the BMC
2. Draft Resolution amending the DMUMP
3. Planning Commission Staff Report June 26 2025
4. Planning Commission Resolution No. 25-2 with Exhibits
5. Draft Planning Commission Meeting Minutes June 26 2025
6. Zoning Map
On motion of Vice Mayor Macenski, seconded by Council Member Birdseye, Council approved the Introduction and First Reading of the above ordinance and the adoption of Resolution 25-101, as amended (changing retail hours in the three zones adjacent to First Street to 9:00 p.m.), on a roll call by the following vote:
Ayes: Council Member Birdseye, Council Member Largaespada, Vice Mayor Macenski, Council Member Scott, Mayor Young
Noes: (None)
12) ADJOURNMENT (9:00)
Mayor Young adjourned the meeting at 8:16 p.m.
City Clerk