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1 MINUTES OF THE
REGULAR MEETING – CITY COUNCIL
City Council Chambers, City Hall, 250 East L Street, complete proceedings of which are recorded on tape. These are action minutes; a full video is available online at www.ci.benicia.ca.us/agendas.
COURTESY ZOOM PARTICIPATION
1) CALL TO ORDER (6:00 P.M.)
Mayor Young called the Regular Meeting to order at 6:05 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) ANNOUNCEMENTS
6.A MAYOR'S OFFICE HOURS
7) PROCLAMATIONS
8) APPOINTMENTS
9) PRESENTATIONS
9.A COMMUNITY SUSTAINABILITY COMMISSION ANNUAL WORK
PLAN
10) ADOPTION OF AGENDA
Mario Giuliani, City Manager, stated that Staff requested Item 14.B be continued to later date.
On motion of Vice Mayor Macenski, seconded by Council Member Birdseye, Council approved the Adoption of the Agenda, as amended, on a roll call by the following vote:
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2 Ayes: Council Member Birdseye, Council Member Largaespada, Vice Mayor Macenski, Council Member Scott, Mayor Young
Noes: (None)
11) OPPORTUNITY FOR PUBLIC COMMENTS
12) WRITTEN COMMENT
13) PUBLIC COMMENT
1. Mark Williams - Mr. Williams discussed the Environmental Justice League's involvement in the issue of air quality control.
2. Yvonne Ishman - Ms. Ishman is a member of the Environmental Justice League.
She discussed the impact the poor air quality has had on senior citizens.
3. Tina Flores - Ms. Flores discussed the Environmental Justice League's involvement in air quality control and chemical sensitivities.
4. Andre Stewart - Mr. Stewart discussed a recent event at the Senior Center held by the Benicia Community Services Commission.
5. Marilyn Bardet - Ms. Bardet discussed the need for a council appointed citizen task force to deal with the Valero closure and cleanup.
6. Camika Robinson - Ms. Robinson discussed the Environmental Justice League's involvement in the issue of air quality and the health of the citizens.
7. Citizen - the citizen discussed concern regarding poor air quality and the effect it has had on his family.
8. Stephen Golub - Mr. Golub discussed the issue of air quality, Valero leaving, the BAAQMD settlement funds, and the need to keep the public informed. 14) CONSENT CALENDAR
14.B APPROVAL OF AUTHORIZATION TO SOLANO
TRANSPORTATION AUTHORITY TO ALLOCATE
TRANSPORTATION DEVELOPMENT ACT FUNDS FOR FY 25/26
FOR CITY OF BENICIA LYFT PROGRAM
Staff Report - STA Allocation of TDA Funds for Lyft Program This item was continued to a future meeting.
1. Resolution - STA Allocation of TDA Funds for Lyft Program
2. Lyft Program Budget
3. Lyft Ridership Program Data
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3 14.A MINUTES FROM THE NOVEMBER 18, 2025 SPECIAL AND
REGULAR MEETINGS
November 18, 2025 Special Meeting Minutes
November 18, 2025 Regular City Council Meeting Minutes
14.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 amended (continuing Item 14.B), 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)
15) BUSINESS ITEMS
15.A FY 2025/26 FIRST QUARTER BUDGET REPORT
Roxanna Moradi, Budget Manager, reviewed the staff report and a PowerPoint presentation.
Public Comment:
1. Lori Grundman - Ms. Grundman asked for clarification on the report.
Council received the FY 2025/26 First Quarter Budget Report by minute order.
Staff Report - FY26 Q1 Budget Report
15.B PUBLIC HEARING ON INDUSTRIAL SAFETY ORDINANCE FEE
SCHEDULE
RESOLUTION NO. 25- 132 - A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF
THE CITY OF BENICIA APPROVING THE INDUSTRIAL SAFETY
ORDINANCE FEE SCHEDULE
Josh Chadwick, Fire Chief, reviewed the staff report.
Council and Staff discussed the issue of cost recovery, the CalARP (California Accidental Release Program) fees.
Public Comment:
1. Terry Mollica - Mr. Mollica spoke in opposition to the proposed fee schedule and recommended a fee structure that is 100% cost recovery.
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4 2. Lori Grundman - Ms. Grundman spoke in opposition to using grant funds to pay the facilities' fees.
3. Dan Smith - Mr. Smith discussed concern regarding BAAQMD paying any funds to support the City’s ISO.
4. Marilyn Bardet - Ms. Bardet discussed concern regarding BAAQMD paying any funds to support the City’s ISO. The ISO should be self-funded.
5. Stephen Golub - Mr. Golub strongly agreed with the previous speakers regarding using BAAQMD settlement funds to support the ISO, as ISO is supposed to be budget neutral.
Council discussed the issue of 100% fee recovery, the BAAQMD Settlement funds, how/why Council landed on 50% fee recovery when this was initially discussed, and concern regarding training costs.
Staff Report - Industrial Safety Ordinance Fee Study
1. Resolution - Approve Industrial Safety Ordinance Fee Schedule
2. Industrial Safety Ordinance Fee Study
On motion of Council Member Scott, seconded by Council Member Birdseye, Council approved, the adoption of Resolution 25-132, as presented, on a roll call by the following vote:
Ayes: Council Member Birdseye, Vice Mayor Macenski, Council Member Scott, Mayor Young
Noes: Council Member Largaespada
15.C HOUSING ELEMENT IMPLEMENTATION AMENDMENTS
ORDINANCE NO. 25- - AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF BENICIA AMENDING TITLE 16 (SUBDIVISIONS) AND TITLE 17 (ZONING) OF THE BENICIA MUNICIPAL CODE TO IMPLEMENT THE
GENERAL PLAN HOUSING ELEMENT
RESOLUTION NO. 25- 133 - 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 IMPLEMENT THE
GENERAL PLAN HOUSING ELEMENT
Mayor Young recused himself from discussion on this item due to a conflict of interest.
Jason Hade, Planning Manager, and Ben Noble, Consultant, reviewed the staff report and a PowerPoint presentation.
Council and Staff discussed the proposed changes.
Public Comment:
None
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5 Staff Report - Housing Element Implementation Amendments
1. Draft Ordinance Amending the Benicia Municipal Code.pdf
2. Draft Resolution amending the Downtown Mixed Use Master Plan.pdf
3. Planning Commission Staff Report (without attachments), November 13, 2025
4. Planning Commission Resolution No. 25-4 with Exhibits A and B
5. Draft Planning Commission Meeting Minutes, November 13, 2025
6. Redline version of Proposed Chapter 17.90 (Housing)
On motion of Council Member Birdseye, seconded by Council Member Scott, Council approved, approved the Introduction and First Reading of the above ordinance, as presented, and approved the adoption of Resolution 25-133, as presented, on a roll call by the following vote:
Ayes: Council Member Birdseye, Council Member Largaespada, Vice Mayor Macenski, Council Member Scott
Noes: (None)
Abstain: Mayor Young
15.D APPROACH TO DISPOSITION OF CITY-OWNED SITES FOR
HOUSING DEVELOPMENT IN 2026
Staff Report - SLA
Suzanne Thorsen, Assistant City Manager, Development Services Director, reviewed the staff report and a PowerPoint presentation.
Mayor Young recused himself due to a potential conflict of interest.
Public Comment:
None
Council and Staff discussed Staff's recommendations and the East E Street Lot. Council consensus approved of Staff's recommendations.
1. Site Exhibits - Housing Element Excerpt
2. Housing Element Program 1.16 - Housing Element Excerpt 16) ADJOURNMENT (9:00 P.M.)
Vice Mayor Macenski adjourned the meeting at 9:01 p.m.
City Clerk