REGULAR MEETING OF THE
CONCORD CITY COUNCIL
CITY COUNCIL CHAMBER
1950 PARKSIDE DRIVE
CONCORD, CALIFORNIA AND VARIOUS
TELEPHONIC/ELECTRONIC LOCATIONS
TUESDAY, JUNE 6, 2023
The Concord City Council met in a regular meeting in the City Council Conference Room, 1950 Parkside Drive, Concord, California at 6:00 p.m. on Tuesday, June 6, 2023, with Mayor Hoffmeister presiding. All councilmembers were present. Mayor Hoffmeister opened a public comment period, and upon receiving no public comment, closed the public comment period. The meeting was recessed and immediately reconvened in a closed session for CONFERENCE WITH LABOR NEGOTIATORS (Government Code Section 54957.6) Agency designated representatives: City Council (Laura Hoffmeister, Edi Birsan, Dominic Aliano, Laura Nakamura, Carlyn Obringer); Employee Representative:
MRG (Mary Egan); Unrepresented Employee: City Manager.
The meeting recessed at 6:19 p.m. to reconvene in open session in the City Council Chamber, 1950 Parkside Drive, Concord, California and via various telephonic/electronic locations.
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, June 6, 2023, with Mayor Hoffmeister presiding. The pledge of allegiance was led by Mayor for the Day Alyssa Maclang.
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; Patti Barsotti, City Treasurer; Joelle Fockler, City Clerk; Stefanie Ananthan, Deputy City Clerk; Greg Taylor, Director of Information Technology; Mark Bustillos, Chief of Police; James Nakayama, Police Captain; Kevin Marstall, Community Development Director; William Tarbox, Director of Public Works; Jasmin Loi, Director of Human Resources; Karan Reid, Director of Finance; Carlton Thompson, City Engineer; Bernard Enrile, CIP Manager;
Abhishek Parikh, Deputy Director of Public Works –
Transportation; Andrea Moreira, Senior Administrative Analyst; Tianjun Cao, Associate Civil Engineer; Craig Blythe,
Administrative Services Manager; Lisa Bartlow, Senior Human Resources Analyst; Bill Gallagher, Public Works Supervisor; Jesse Crawford, Maintenance Superintendent; Kit Jory, Parks Manager; Pernise Seumanutusa, Public Works Supervisor;
Aldrich Bautista, Associate Civil Engineer; Justine Gee, Associate Engineer; Dey Lei, Associate Engineer; Kevin Wheat, Associate Engineer; Himmat Bains, Senior Financial Analyst
MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC
WHO ADDRESSED THE COUNCIL: Hope Johnson, Concord; Ann Kendall, Concord; Mr. Martinez; Coby Willis; Ady Olvera, Concord
Mayor Hoffmeister took the next item out of agenda order.
City Council Minutes June 6, 2023
2 PRESENTATION
CERTIFICATE OF RECOGNITION – Mayor for the Day
Mayor Hoffmeister presented Alyssa Maclang a Certificate of Recognition recognizing her service as “Mayor for the Day” on June 6, 2023, in the City of Concord.
Mayor Hoffmeister opened a public comment period, and upon receiving no public comment, closed the public comment period.
PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD
Mayor Hoffmeister opened a public comment period, and upon receiving no public comment, closed the public comment period.
PRESENTATION
CONTRA COSTA WATER DISTRICT – Ernesto A. Avila, P.E.
Mayor Hoffmeister introduced Ernesto A. Avila, P.E., Contra Costa Water District Board President, who gave an update on the Contra Costa Water District.
Following questions from the Council, Mayor Hoffmeister opened a public comment period.
Hope Johnson, Concord, requested for the Contra Costa Water District to provide a presentation focused on the usage of water from the Los Vaqueros Reservoir to coincide with the selection of the Master Developer for the Concord Naval Weapons Station project.
Mayor Hoffmeister 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 – April 25 and May 2, 2023
A motion was made by Birsan and seconded by Aliano to approve the minutes from the April 25 and May 2, 2023, regular meetings. The motion passed by unanimous vote of the Council.
TREASURER’S REPORT – January 1 – March 31, 2023
A motion was made by Birsan and seconded by Aliano to receive the Treasurer’s Report for the period January 1 – March 31, 2023. The motion passed by unanimous vote of the Council.
AUTHORIZING PURCHASE – Four (4) Ford F-Series Heavy Duty Trucks and Two (2) Ford F-150 Hybrid Trucks
This item was pulled from consideration on the Consent Calendar by Councilmember Obringer who wanted to highlight the benefit of using hybrid vehicles.
Mayor Hoffmeister opened a public comment period, and upon receiving no public comment, closed the public comment period.
City Council Minutes June 6, 2023
3 Following questions from City Council, a motion was made by Obringer and seconded by Nakamura authorizing staff to purchase four Ford F-series heavy duty trucks and two Ford F-150 hybrid trucks in the amount not to exceed $700,000. The motion passed by unanimous vote of the Council.
ADOPTION OF RESOLUTION NO. 23-48 – Projects for Fiscal Year 2023-24 Funded by SB 1: The Road Repair and Accountability Act of 2017
A motion was made by Birsan and seconded by Aliano to adopt Resolution No. 23-48 entitled, “A Resolution Adopting a List of Projects for Fiscal Year 2023-24 Funded by SB 1: The Road Repair and Accountability Act of 2017.” The motion passed by unanimous vote of the Council.
APPROVAL OF A PROFESSIONAL SERVICES AGREEMENT AND APPROVAL OF BUDGET TRANSFERS – Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Transition Plan Update (Project No. 2377) A motion was made by Birsan and seconded by Aliano to approve the following:
1. A Professional Services Agreement in the amount of $450,000 to SZS Engineering Access, Inc. for the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Transition Plan Update (Project No. 2377); and authorize the City Manager to execute the agreement in a form acceptable to the City Attorney; and
2. Budget transfers to the ADA Transition Plan Update (Project No. 2377) in the amounts of $200,000 from Pavement Maintenance Zone 5L (Project No. 2563) and $19,000 from Citywide Accessibility Improvements No. 8 (Project No. 2519) to fully fund the Professional Services Agreement and City staff time.
The motion passed by unanimous vote of the Council.
APPROVAL OF A THREE-YEAR SERVICE AGREEMENT – Sedgwick Claims Management Services, Inc.
A motion was made by Birsan and seconded by Aliano to approve a three-year service agreement in the amount of $558,608 and an additional $350,000 for other service fees with Sedgwick Claims Management Services, Inc. for a total not-to-exceed amount of $908,608, appropriating $97,195 for Fiscal Year 2023-24 and appropriating $106,055 for Fiscal Year 2024-25, and authorize the City Manager to execute the agreement in a form acceptable to the City Attorney. The motion passed by unanimous vote of the Council.
Mayor Hoffmeister took the next two items out of agenda order.
CITY COUNCIL PUBLIC HEARINGS
ADOPTION OF RESOLUTION NO. 23-6042.2 – Updating the City’s Annual Sewer Service Charges and amending the Master Fee Schedule
Administrative Services Manager Craig Blythe presented the staff report, provided background on the City’s annual sewer service charges and sewer enterprise, explained the public process and public meetings held, gave an overview of the sewer collection system, proposed sewer rates, reasons for the rate increase, residential annual bill impacts, and explained that Council was being requested to adopt a Resolution updating the City’s annual sewer service charges and amend the Master Fee Schedule.
Michael DeGroot, Bartle Wells Associates Vice President, responded to Council questions and referenced a cost of service analysis that had been conducted, explained that residential customers are charged a flat rate and commercial customers are charged based on usage, and provided clarity on the discrepancy of the fees being charged for neighboring cities.
Following questions from City Council, Mayor Hoffmeister opened a public comment period.
City Council Minutes June 6, 2023
4 Ann Kendall, Concord, spoke in opposition to sewer service rate increases.
Mr. Martinez spoke in opposition to sewer service rate increases.
Mayor Hoffmeister closed the public comment period.
Danea Gemmell, Central Contra Costa Sanitary District (Central San) Planning and Development Services Division Manager, responded to Council questions and explained how the agency has approached capital construction projects and efforts to keep sewer rates from increasing.
Following comments from Council, a motion was made by Aliano and seconded by Obringer to adopt Resolution No. 23-6042.2 entitled, “A Resolution Updating the City’s Annual Sewer Service Charges and Amending the Master Fee Schedule (Exhibit A to Resolution No. 78-6042 Establishing Fees and Charges for Various Municipal Services in the City of Concord).” The motion passed by unanimous vote of the Council.
ADOPTION OF RESOLUTION NO. 23-49 AND APPROVAL OF THE APPROPRIATION AND BUDGET TRANSFERS – Mid-Cycle Adjusted CIP Budget for Fiscal Years (FY) 2023-2024 CIP Manager Bernard Enrile presented the staff report providing an overview of the Mid-Cycle CIP adjustments for Fiscal Year 2023-2024, including a highlight of the past year’s accomplishments, proposed budget adjustments for ongoing projects, and new transportation and sewer projects and their related appropriations. Mr. Enrile explained that Council was being requested to adopt a Resolution adopting the Mid-Cycle Adjusted CIP Budget for Fiscal Years 2023-2024 and approve the appropriation and budget transfers for the Mid-Cycle Adjusted CIP Budget – Project-specific funding allocations.
Deputy Director of Public Works – Transportation Abhishek Parikh responded to Council questions regarding transportation projects, including providing an explanation of the delineators that will be installed as part of various projects to help provide additional protection for bicyclists.
Following questions from the City Council, Mayor Hoffmeister opened a public comment period.
Coby Willis inquired about sewer service rate increases.
Mayor Hoffmeister closed the public comment period.
Following comments from the Council, a motion was made by Birsan and seconded by Obringer to adopt Resolution No. 23-49 entitled, “A Resolution Adopting the Mid-Cycle Adjusted CIP Budget for Fiscal Years (FY) 2023-2024.” The motion passed by unanimous vote of the Council.
A motion was made by Birsan and seconded by Obringer to approve the appropriation and budget transfers for the Mid-Cycle Adjusted CIP Budget – Project-specific funding allocations.
Mayor Hoffmeister recessed the meeting at 8:57 p.m. The meeting resumed at 9:10 p.m.
CITY COUNCIL CONSIDERATION ITEM
SELECTION OF APPLICANTS TO INTERVIEW FOR HOMELESS STRATEGIC PLAN WORKING GROUP – Active Owner or Manager of a Business Based in Concord and LGBTQI+ Community City Clerk Joelle Fockler presented the staff report, provided background related to the development of the Homeless Strategic Plan Working Group, discussed the current composition of the Working Group, explained the addition of two categories to the Working Group for a representative from the LGBTQI+ Community, and a representative who is an Active Owner or Manager of a Business Based in Concord, highlighted the number of applications received for both new categories, and explained that City Council Minutes June 6, 2023
5 the Council was being requested to select applicants to interview for the two newly added categories, LGBTQI+ Community, and Active Owner or Manager of a Business Based in Concord.
Following questions from the Council, Mayor Hoffmeister opened a public comment period.
Hope Johnson, Concord, stated it was difficult to provide public comment on the item before Council discussion, and in opposition to appointing a representative from the Chamber of Commerce.
Ady Olvera, Concord, spoke about the number of applicants who applied in both categories and her appreciation for their interest to serve on the Working Group, noting her preference for the Council to consider applicants who have compassion and real experience serving or helping the unhoused in a tangible way.
Mayor Hoffmeister closed the public comment period.
Following discussion from the City Council, a motion was made by Aliano and seconded by Nakamura to select applicants Dana Johnson and Tijuk Fong Kurniadi to be interviewed for the category of LGBTQI+ Community, and Myles Burks, Amber Hom, David Litty, and Melissa Rea to be interviewed for the category of Active Owner or Manager of a Business Based in Concord. The motion passed by unanimous vote of the Council.
CORRESPONDENCE
a. Agenda Item No. 7.b – Contra Costa Water District – PowerPoint Presentation b. Agenda Item No. 8.b – Treasurer’s Report – Benched Correspondence c. Agenda Item No. 8.c – Purchase of Ford trucks – Benched Correspondence d. Agenda Item No. 8.e – PSA with SZS Engineering Access, Inc. – Benched Correspondence e. Agenda Item No. 9.a – Homeless Strategic Plan Working Group – PowerPoint Presentation f. Agenda Item No. 10.a – Annual Sewer Service Charges – Benched Correspondence g. Agenda Item No. 10.a – Annual Sewer Service Charges – PowerPoint Presentation h. Agenda Item No. 10.b – Mid-Cycle CIP Adjustments – PowerPoint Presentation
COUNCIL REPORTS
Councilmembers shared information on events and activities in which they had participated since the last meeting and commented on items of interest.
ADJOURNMENT
By order of the Mayor, the meeting was adjourned on June 6, 2023, at 9:57 p.m. in honor of D-Day and in memory of the service men and women who lost their lives in the line of duty on D-Day. /s/
LAURA M. HOFFMEISTER
MAYOR
/s/
JOELLE FOCKLER, MMC
CITY CLERK