REGULAR MEETING OF THE
CONCORD CITY COUNCIL
CITY COUNCIL CHAMBER
1950 PARKSIDE DRIVE
CONCORD, CALIFORNIA AND VARIOUS
TELEPHONIC/ELECTRONIC LOCATIONS
TUESDAY, AUGUST 22, 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 6:00 p.m. on Tuesday, August 22, 2023, with Mayor Hoffmeister presiding. The pledge of allegiance was led by Councilmember Aliano. 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 (Councilmember Birsan
arrived at 6:15 p.m.)
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; James Nakayama, Police Captain; Kevin Marstall, Director of Community Development; William Tarbox, Director of Public Works; Karan Reid, Director of Finance; Kevin Marstall, Director of Community Development; Carlton Thompson, City Engineer; Bernard Enrile, CIP Manager; Justin Bosch, Associate Civil Engineer; Damaris Sambajon, Systems and Programming Manager; Kit Jory, Parks Manager; Aaron Sage, Principal Planner; Joan Ryan, Principal Planner; Leng Power, Community Services Manager
MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC
WHO ADDRESSED THE COUNCIL: Josh Sonnenfield; Hope Johnson, Concord; Aaron Tiedemann, EBHO; Ady Olvera, Concord
PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD
Mayor Hoffmeister opened the public comment period, and upon receiving no public comment, closed the public comment period.
PRESENTATIONS
MAYOR’S CUP GOLF TOURNAMENT
Mayor Hoffmeister presented the proceeds from the Mayor’s Cup Golf Tournament held May 19, 2023, to the Concord Junior Giants (received by Ana Villalobos).
Mayor Hoffmeister opened a public comment period, and upon receiving no public comment, closed the public comment period.
EAST BAY REGIONAL PARK DISTRICT
Mayor Hoffmeister introduced East Bay Regional Park District Ward 6 Board Member John Mercurio, who presented a District update.
City Council Minutes August 22, 2023
2 Mayor Hoffmeister opened a public comment period.
Josh Sonnenfield thanked Board Member Mercurio for his presentation.
Mayor Hoffmeister closed the public comment period.
CITY COUNCIL CONSENT CALENDAR
Mayor Hoffmeister opened a public comment period.
Hope Johnson, Concord, spoke in opposition to Agenda Item No. 4.c, adoption of Ordinance approving an increase in City Council compensation effective after the November 2024 election.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES – August 8, 2023
A motion was made by Aliano and seconded by Birsan to approve the minutes from the August 8, 2023, regular meeting. The motion passed by unanimous vote of the Council.
ADOPTION OF ORDINANCE NO. 23-4 – Amending Concord Municipal Code Chapter 15.08 A motion was made by Aliano and seconded by Birsan to adopt Ordinance No. 23-4 entitled, “An Ordinance Amending Concord Municipal Code Chapter 15.08 (Appeals of the City of Concord Construction Code), Chapter 15.10 (Building Code), Chapter 15.20 (Plumbing Code), and Chapter 15.50 (Multi-Family Rental Dwelling Units)." Ordinance No. 23-4 was introduced on August 8, 2023, by reading of the title only and waiving further reading. The motion passed by unanimous vote of the Council.
ADOPTION OF ORDINANCE NO. 23-5 – Councilmember Compensation This item was pulled from consideration on the Consent Calendar by Councilmember Obringer, who opposed the increase to Council compensation.
A motion was made by Birsan and seconded by Aliano to adopt Ordinance No. 23-5 entitled, “An Ordinance Amending Concord Municipal Code Chapter 2.10 (Officers and Employees), Article II (Compensation), Section 2.10.020 (Councilmembers) increasing Councilmember Compensation to $1,900 per month, to be effective after the November 2024 City Council election." Ordinance No. 23-5 was introduced on August 8, 2023, by reading of the title only and waiving further reading. The motion passed by the following vote of the Council:
AYES: Aliano, Birsan, Nakamura, Hoffmeister NOES: Obringer ABSENT: None AUTHORZING THE MAYOR TO SEND A LETTER IN OPPOSITION TO SENATE BILL 532 A motion was made by Aliano and seconded by Birsan to authorize the Mayor to send a letter that opposes Senate Bill 532, which if signed by the Governor, would increase seven state-owned San Francisco Bay Area bridge tolls by $1.50. The motion passed by unanimous vote of the Council. 2023 WILLOW PASS ROAD PATCH REPAIR AND OVERLAY PROJECT (Project No. 2593-1) – Willow Pass Road from Landana Drive to Avila Road
This item was pulled from consideration on the Consent Calendar by Mayor Hoffmeister, who highlighted the project for the public.
A motion was made by Birsan and seconded by Nakamura to approve the following for the 2023 Willow Pass Road Patch Repair and Overlay Project (Project No. 2593-1) located on Willow Pass Road from Landana Drive to Avila Road:
City Council Minutes August 22, 2023
3 1. Award a construction contract in the amount of $875,648.25 (Measure V Projects Fund 490) to MCK Services, Inc., and authorize Staff to utilize the available project contingency for contract change orders that become necessary up to 10% of the contract amount; and authorize the Mayor to execute the contract in a form acceptable to the City Attorney.
2. Authorize the City Engineer to accept the improvements upon completion of Project No. 2593-1 and direct the City Clerk to file a Notice of Completion.
The motion passed by unanimous vote of the Council.
2023 CITYWIDE ASPHALT PATCH REPAIR PROJECT (Project No. 2593-2) – Ygnacio Valley Road from Alberta Way to Clayton Road
This item was pulled from consideration on the Consent Calendar by Mayor Hoffmeister, who highlighted the project for the public.
A motion was made by Birsan and seconded by Nakamura to approve the following for the 2023 Citywide Asphalt Patch Repair Project (Project No. 2593-2) located on Ygnacio Valley Road from Alberta Way to Clayton Road:
1. Award a construction contract in the amount $480,972.25 to MCK Services, Inc., for the Base Bid of 2023 Citywide Asphalt Patch Repair Project (Project No. 2593-2); authorize staff to utilize the available project contingency for contract change orders that become necessary up to 10% of the contract amount; and authorize the Mayor to execute the contract in a form acceptable to the City Attorney.
2. Approve a related budget transfer of $420,000 (2021 Debt Issuance Measure V Fund 407) from Pavement Management Annual Program - HOLDING ACCOUNT (Project No. 2157) to 2023 Citywide Asphalt Patch Repair Project (Project No. 2593) and appropriate such funds for Project No. 2593-2.
3. Authorize the City Engineer to accept the improvements upon completion of Project No. 2593-2, and direct the City Clerk to file a Notice of Completion.
The motion passed by unanimous vote of the Council.
CITY COUNCIL PUBLIC HEARINGS
ADOPTION OF RESOLUTION 23-60 AMENDING THE 2023-2031 HOUSING ELEMENT UPDATE Principal Planner Aaron Sage presented the staff report and reviewed the project background, HCD comments and recommended amendments, sites inventory and capacity summary, and recommended actions.
Following questions from the Council, Mayor Hoffmeister opened a public comment period.
Aaron Tiedemann, East Bay Housing Organization (EBHO), commented on Regional Housing Needs Requirements (RHNA).
Mayor Hoffmeister closed the public comment period.
Following discussion by the Council, a motion was made by Birsan and seconded by Obringer to adopt Resolution No. 23-60 entitled, “A Resolution Finding the Amendments to the 2023-2031 Housing Element Update (“2023-2031 HEU Amendments”) Consistent with the Initial Study/Negative Declaration for the Adopted 2023-2031 HEU; Finding the 2023-2031 HEU Amendments Exempt Pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Section 15061(b)(3), the Common Sense Exemption; Finding the 2023-2031 HEU Amendments Substantially Comply with Government Code section 65580 et seq. (“Housing Element Law”); Approving a General Plan Amendment adopting the 2023-2031 HEU Amendments; Authorizing City Council Minutes August 22, 2023
4 the City Manager or Designee to Make Changes to the 2023-2031 HEU Amendments to Achieve Internal Consistency or Address Non-Substantive Changes or Amendments Requested by the Department of Housing and Community Development to Certify the 2023-2031 HEU; and Making other Related Findings and Delegations as Appropriate (PL23109 – GP).” The motion passed by unanimous vote of the Council.
INTRODUCTION OF ORDINANCE NO. 23-6 – Objective Design Standards Principal Planner Joan Ryan presented the staff report and reviewed the project background, goals, standards, revisions, and updates.
Following questions from the Council, Mayor Hoffmeister opened a public comment period, and upon receiving no public comment, closed the public comment period.
Following discussion by the Council, a motion was made by Obringer and seconded by Hoffmeister to introduce Ordinance No. 23-6 entitled, “An Ordinance Amending the City of Concord’s Development Code (Title 18) by Adding Chapter 18.152 – Objective Design Standards (2023-2031 Housing Element Objective 15.3) (PL23101 – DC)” by reading of the title only and waiving further reading, with two modifications including adding the word “similar” to Table 1 and adding a footnote stating “City staff will maintain a list of acceptable materials” on page 14. The motion passed by unanimous vote of the Council.
Mayor Hoffmeister recessed the meeting at 9:03 p.m. The meeting resumed at 9:17 p.m.
CITY COUNCIL CONSIDERATION ITEM
UPDATE ON THE STATUS OF THE HOMELESS STRATEGIC PLAN
Community Services Manager Leng Power introduced D. Scott Thurmond, Principal, and Isaiah Rich-Wimmer, Director of Projects & Programs, Thurmond Consulting, LLC, who presented the staff report on the Homeless Strategic Plan draft vision and goals, ending by reviewing the requested Council action including:
Endorsing the Vision Statement;
Providing feedback on goals and additional focus areas; and Providing feedback for the types of strategies the Working Group should consider.
Following questions from the Council, Mayor Hoffmeister opened a public comment period.
Ady Olvera, Concord, spoke in support of the proposed goals.
Hope Johnson, Concord, stated that the Plan should focus on and incorporate strategies that are known to work.
Mayor Hoffmeister closed the public comment period.
Following discussion, Council expressed broad support for:
The Vision
Goal I: Increase Homeless Prevention Services
Goal III: Increase Coordination of Emergency Response Efforts Goal V: Explore Avenues of Equitable Support for Target Populations Goal VI: Strengthen System Support
City Council Minutes August 22, 2023
5 The Council expressed support for the following themes:
Focus on those that can or are willing to accept help; Prevention services;
Increased advocacy at the state level;
Leveraging the City’s $5 million through grants, etc.; Partner with private, nonprofit, and faith-based organizations; Openness to scattered site housing;
Support faith-based organizations that want to implement tiny home concepts; and Include proven results and data on strategies in Strategic Plan A motion was made by Birsan and seconded by Obringer to endorse the vision as follows: “The City of Concord envisions a community where every person has a safe, affirming, and stable place to live.
This vision endeavors to reduce homelessness through community involvement, collaboration with partner agencies, and enhanced services that are carried out in a dignified, compassionate, and equitable manner.” The motion passed by unanimous vote of the Council.
CORRESPONDENCE
a. Agenda Item No. 3.a, Update on East Bay Regional Park District PowerPoint b. Agenda Item No. 4.d, Oppose Senate Bill 532 Benched Correspondence c. Agenda Item No. 5.a, Housing Element Update PowerPoint d. Agenda Item No. 5.b, Objective Design Standards PowerPoint e. Agenda Item No. 6.a, Homeless Strategic Plan Update Benched Correspondence f. Agenda Item No. 6.a, Homeless Strategic Plan Update PowerPoint
COUNCIL REPORTS
Councilmembers shared information on events and activities in which they had participated since the last meeting and commented on items of interest.
There was consensus of the Council to put support of SB 43 on a future agenda if necessary.
ADJOURNMENT
By order of the Mayor, the meeting was adjourned on August 22, 2023, at 11:20 p.m. /s/
LAURA M. HOFFMEISTER
MAYOR
/s/
JOELLE FOCKLER, MMC
CITY CLERK