REGULAR MEETING OF THE
CONCORD CITY COUNCIL
CITY COUNCIL CHAMBER
1950 PARKSIDE DRIVE
CONCORD, CALIFORNIA AND VARIOUS
TELEPHONIC/ELECTRONIC LOCATIONS
TUESDAY, MAY 2, 2023
The Concord City Council met in a regular meeting in the Council Chamber, located at 1950 Parkside Drive and via various telephonic/electronic locations at 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday, May 2, 2023, with Mayor Hoffmeister presiding. The pledge of allegiance was led by Councilmember Nakamura. Minutes follow in abbreviated form per Resolution 3361 and Council Minutes of September 26, 1966.
ROLL CALL
COUNCILMEMBERS PRESENT: Dominic Aliano, Edi Birsan, Laura Nakamura, Carlyn Obringer, Laura Hoffmeister
STAFF PRESENT: Valerie Barone, City Manager; Susanne Brown, City Attorney; Justin Ezell, Assistant City Manager; Joelle Fockler, City Clerk; Monique Robinson, Administrative Secretary; Greg Taylor, Director of Information Technology; Kevin Marstall, Director of Community Development; James Nakayama, Police Captain;
Mindy Gentry, Planning Manager; Joan Ryan, Principal Planner; Robert Carrera, Economic Development Specialist
MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC
WHO ADDRESSED THE COUNCIL: Ria Bhatt, Walnut Creek; Christian Aguirre, Rainbow Community Center; Natalie; Debra Ballinger, Concord; Ady Olvera, Concord; Dodi Zotigh, Rainbow Community Center; Kelly Ferguson,
Rainbow Community Center; Dana Johnson, Rainbow
Community Center; Aaron Tiedeman, EBHO
PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD
Ria Bhatt, Walnut Creek, spoke in opposition to the Rainbow Community Center not receiving ARPA funds.
Christian Aguirre, Rainbow Community Center, spoke in opposition to the Rainbow Community Center not receiving ARPA funds.
PRESENTATIONS
PROCLAMATION – Municipal Clerks’ Week
Mayor Hoffmeister presented City Clerk Joelle Fockler a proclamation declaring April 26 – May 6, 2023 Municipal Clerks’ Week in the City of Concord.
Mayor Hoffmeister opened a public comment period, and upon receiving no public comment, closed the public comment period.
City Council Minutes May 2, 2023
2 BUSINESS RECOGNITION AWARDS
Mayor Hoffmeister introduced Economic Development Specialist Robert Carrera, who presented an overview of the program and introduction of recipients. Mr. Carrera introduced Melissa Rea, President/CEO for Greater Concord Chamber of Commerce, who presented Business Recognition Awards to Concord Feed Pet and Livestock Supplies; Sage Veterinary Hospitals; and Atlas Pavers.
Mayor Hoffmeister opened a public comment period, and upon receiving no public comment, closed the public comment period.
PROCLAMATION – Affordable Housing Month
Mayor Hoffmeister presented Debra Ballinger, Interim Executive Director, East Bay Housing Organization, a proclamation declaring May 2023, as “Affordable Housing Month” in the City of Concord.
Mayor Hoffmeister opened a public comment period, and upon receiving no public comment, closed the public comment period.
CITY COUNCIL CONSENT CALENDAR
Mayor Hoffmeister opened a public comment period, and upon receiving no public comment, closed the public comment period.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES – March 7 and 14, 2023
A motion was made by Obringer and seconded by Nakamura to approve the minutes from the meetings on March 7 and 14, 2023. The motion passed by unanimous vote of the Council.
ADOPTION OF ORDINANCE NO. 23-2 – Infinity Assets Concord, LLC (DBA “Cookies”) A motion was made by Obringer and seconded by Nakamura to adopt Ordinance No. 23-2 entitled, “An Ordinance Approving and Adopting a Development Agreement by and between the City of Concord and Infinity Assets Concord, LLC, (DBA "Cookies") Regarding the Development of Property located at 5121 Port Chicago Highway, Assessor's Parcel Number: 159-040-037 (PL22021 - AP, ME, DA, DR).” Ordinance No. 23-2 was introduced on April 11, 2023, by reading of the title only and waiving further reading. The motion passed by unanimous vote of the Council.
CITY COUNCIL CONSIDERATION ITEMS
APPOINTMENTS TO THE PLANNING COMMISSION
City Clerk Joelle Fockler presented the staff report, explaining that the City Council was being requested to appoint one member to the Planning Commission for the remainder of a four-year term ending February 28, 2025, and two members to the Planning Commission for four-year terms ending February 28, 2027, by ballot vote.
Mayor Hoffmeister opened a public comment period.
Natalie stated that all applicants should be considered equally with no preference for incumbents and in support of appointment of Pablo Benevente, Steve Burrows, and Scott Lee.
Debra Ballinger, Concord, spoke in support of appointment of Pablo Benevente.
Ady Olvera, Concord, spoke in opposition to the Planning Commission interviews not being held via Zoom or live streamed and in support of appointment of Pablo Benevente, Steve Burrows, and Scott Lee.
City Council Minutes May 2, 2023
3 Mayor Hoffmeister closed the public comment period.
Following a ballot vote, a motion was made by Aliano and seconded by Obringer to approve the appointments of Aeysha Corio and Jason Laub for four-year terms on the Planning Commission ending February 28, 2027. The motion passed by unanimous vote of the Council.
Following a ballot vote, a motion was made by Obringer and seconded by Birsan to approve the appointment of Ajit Kaushal to fill an unscheduled vacancy on the Planning Commission for a term ending February 28, 2025. The motion passed by unanimous vote of the Council.
ADOPTION OF RESOLUTION NO. 23-40 – Amending Resolution No. 23-3, adding additional representatives to the Homeless Strategic Plan Working Group Assistant City Manager Justin Ezell presented the staff report, provided background on the development of the Homeless Strategic Plan Working Group, and explained that the City Council was being requested to adopt a resolution amending Resolution No. 23-3, Establishing a Homeless Strategic Plan Working Group, by adding additional representatives and opening a recruitment to fill the positions.
Following questions from the City Council, Mayor Hoffmeister opened a public comment period.
The following people spoke in support of a LGBTQ+ representative on the Homeless Strategic Plan Working Group:
Dodi Zotigh, Rainbow Community Center
Natalie
Kelly Ferguson, Rainbow Community Center
Ady Olvera, Concord
Dana Johnson, Rainbow Community Center
Mayor Hoffmeister closed the public comment period.
Following comments from the City Council, a motion was made by Nakamura and seconded by Birsan to adopt Resolution No. 23-40 entitled, “A Resolution Amending Resolution No. 23-3, A Resolution Establishing a Homeless Strategic Plan Working Group, by Adding Additional Representatives” with the following amendments and open a recruitment for one representative that is from, or that has experience working with, the LGBTQI+ community and one representative that is an active owner or manager of a business based in Concord:
1. The Working Group shall consist of up to 11 members appointed by the City Council.
2. One representative that is from, or that has experience working with, the LGBTQI+ community.
3. One representative that is an active owner or manager of a business based in Concord.
4. For the lived experience, nonprofit homeless services provider, substance abuse professional, mental health professional, and LGBTQI+ community representatives, preference shall be given to applicants that are either from or based in Concord.
The motion passed by unanimous vote of the Council.
Mayor Hoffmeister recessed the meeting at 8:14 p.m. The meeting resumed at 8:29 p.m.
City Council Minutes May 2, 2023
4 STUDY SESSION – Objective Design Standards
Principal Planner Joan Ryan presented an overview of the staff report and introduced Christine Thomson, MIG, who provided an update on the preparation of the City’s Objective Design Standards document and an overview of the draft standards and diagrams for the five sections: Citywide, Downtown, Neighborhoods, Corridors, and Special Case/Infill areas. Principal Planner Ryan requested feedback on the administrative draft Objective Design Standards for incorporation into the final draft Objective Design Standards.
Following questions and comments from the City Council, Mayor Hoffmeister opened a public comment period.
Natalie asked if the word “mission” is problematic and if another word could be used in its place, what the word Mediterranean means, and if the term “hippie modernism” will be used.
Aaron Tiedeman, EBHO, spoke in support of Objective Design Standards.
Mayor Hoffmeister closed the public comment period.
Staff was directed to put the creation of an Ad Hoc Committee to advise the City Manager and staff on the development of Objective Design Standards on the May 9, 2023, City Council meeting agenda.
CORRESPONDENCE
a. Agenda Item No. 3.a – Business Recognition Awards – PowerPoint Presentation b. Agenda Item No. 5.a – Planning Commission Appointments – Benched Attachment 1 c. Agenda Item No. 5.a – Planning Commission Appointments – Benched Correspondence d. Agenda Item No. 5.b – Homeless Strategic Plan Working Group – PowerPoint Presentation e. Agenda Item No. 5.c – Objective Design Standards – PowerPoint Presentation
ADJOURNMENT
By order of the Mayor, the meeting was adjourned on May 2, 2023, at 10:08 p.m. in memory of Betty Jane Hodge.
/s/
LAURA M. HOFFMEISTER
MAYOR
/s/
JOELLE FOCKLER, MMC
CITY CLERK