And now, those outside supporters have moved on. They don’t live here. They won’t deal with the noise, the lights, the disruption to a sacred memorial site, or the betrayal felt by the veterans of Brentwood.
But you will. Because we’re not going anywhere.
This building—our building—is more than brick and mortar. It’s a symbol and memorial of service and sacrifice. You had the opportunity to defend that legacy.
Instead, you signed off on its diminishment.
I urge you—reverse course. Push the County to honor its history. Choose justice over convenience. The veterans of Brentwood are still watching.
Thank you.
Donald Hester
Thatch & Hooper, LLP
Attorneys at Law
GREGORY D. THATCH
LARRY C. LARSEN, of Counsel
RYAN M. HOOPER
LETICIA M. RAMIREZ
1730 I Street, Suite 220
SACRAMENTO, CA 95811-3017
Telephone (916) 443-6956
Facsimile (916) 443-4632
www.thatchlaw.com
July 18, 2025
VIA ELECTRONIC MAIL
City Clerk
City of Brentwood
[email protected]
Re: Public Comment Brentwood City Council Meeting July 22, 2025 Dear Honorable Members of the Brentwood City Council,
Our office represents Strauch & Company, and Strauch Brother Incorporation (collectively “Strauch”) the owners and operators of two ARCO AM/PM gas stations, convenience stores, and car washes in the City of Brentwood (“City”). Our client is a local family-owned business that was established in 1990. Strauch owns and operates various gas stations and convenience stores in Northern California, including three in Contra Costa County. As a long time, community member and business that has made significant investments in Brentwood, our client wishes to express its concerns regarding the City’s proposed Tobacco Retailer License Ordinance.
We therefore submit this written public comment on behalf of Strauch in response to the City Council’s (“Council”) consideration of an ordinance requiring the licensure of tobacco retailers on May 13, 2025 (Agenda Item No. C.1). At the conclusion of that discussion, the City Council directed staff to revise the proposed ordinance and return at a future meeting. We respectfully request that the City Council similarly direct staff to revise the ordinance to ensure the long-term viability of existing local businesses by strengthening the “grandfathering” provisions of the ordinance to exempt existing retailers from the location or “buffer” restrictions relating to proximity to youth-oriented establishments (Section 5.76.080 C and D) and to allow existing businesses to transfer their licenses upon the sale of their businesses. We also ask that the City Council direct staff to meet with impacted businesses to gather their input to inform Council’s consideration of the proposed ordinance.
We recognize that the City Council, like many other local jurisdictions, is seeking to adopt this ordinance to address an increase in youth vaping. Our client supports this policy goal. We believe that the revisions we are proposing advance that policy goal, while similarly advancing the Council’s desire to support existing businesses who have made a substantial investment of time and resources to establish their operations and become a part of the community. Our client’s customers who purchase cigarettes or other tobacco products also purchase gas and many other products when they visit their stores. However, depending on the language of the ordinance the Council adopts, our client will no longer be able to sell tobacco at one of its sites in Brentwood, Honorable Members of the Brentwood City Council
July 18, 2025
which is proven to drive patrons to other establishments, thereby significantly decreasing the sale of gas and other items. Our client built this location in Brentwood from the ground up and invested approximately $13 million to establish this site. In addition, our client purchased their second Brentwood location from another operator and invested heavily to remodel and expand its operations including obtaining a conditional use permit for a car wash. Like any business owner, our client did so with the expectation that one day they would be able to recoup that investment upon a future sale. Based on the language of the proposed ordinance, our client would be unable to transfer the tobacco license upon sale and the site would lose the ability to sell tobacco which would greatly reduce the value of their business due to the loss of a revenue stream.
We believe the amendments relating to grandfathering and transferability are narrowly focused on protecting existing businesses and do not hinder the intent of the ordinance. Our client considers themselves partners in reducing youth access to tobacco and welcomes the opportunity to share with Council and staff about their operations and efforts to do so as required under existing federal and state laws.
We appreciate your time and attention to our concerns. If you have any questions about this letter, please contact us at the information provided above.
Very truly yours,
THATCH & HOOPER, LLP
LETICIA M. RAMIREZ
Cc: Marc Strauch, Owner, Strauch & Company, Strauch Brother Incorporation Darin Gale, Interim City Manager, City of Brentwood
Katherine Wisinski, City Attorney, City of Brentwood
From: Sherry Holley
To: webCityClerk
Subject: June 24th Dolphin Park Agenda Item
Date: Sunday, June 22, 2025 3:49:58 PM
CAUTION – EXTERNAL SENDER
To whom it may concern,
I have lived on Atterbury Lane for almost 8 years.
It has become increasingly unpleasant to call this my home.
The park across the street from me has become a magnet for very disruptive behavior. Weekends are the most difficult. The large crowds it attracts bring loud music throughout the day, along with excessive litter, dirty diapers on sidewalks and streets, and reckless drivers doing donuts and burnouts in front of our homes —putting our safety and property at risk.
The mess that’s left behind for those of us who live here is very unfair.
The traffic it creates is horrendous.
Please shut down the water feature on weekends.
Let’s see if some of these problems improve with fewer people being drawn to the park on the weekends. We need some peace for those of us who live directly across the street.
Moving is not an option for us, and even if it were—who would want to buy a home with skid marks in the street and visible signs of irresponsible and reckless behavior?
I sincerely hope no one is ever harmed by the dangerous activity taking place at Dolphin Park.
Thank you, Richard & Sherry Holley
Sent from my iPhone
From: Jennifer Jones
To: webCityClerk
Subject: 6/24/25 City Council Meeting Dolphin Park Agenda Item Date: Monday, June 23, 2025 4:52:42 PM
CAUTION – EXTERNAL SENDER
To Whom It May Concern,
I would like to voice my concerns regarding the ongoing issues at Dolphin Park.
For several years we’ve had to endure the large parties, and all the unfortunate things that come along with it. The litter, loud music, alcohol consumption and marijuana smoke so bad that I can smell it in my backyard. I’ve been yelled at by people at the park just for sitting and enjoying my own front porch. Dirty diapers, plates of food, and charcoal from BBQs is a normal weekend occurrence in front of my house that I’m left to clean up. This is a park meant for kids to enjoy, but instead the adults have taken it over for a party venue. A few weeks ago some party goers did donuts and almost crashed into a row of cars. They trashed the park and left behind their mess. This isn’t right and I’m scared someone will get hurt.
Thank you for taking the time to hear my concerns.
Jennifer Jones