SPECIAL MEETING OF THE
CONCORD CITY COUNCIL/CITY COUNCIL
SITTING AS THE LOCAL REUSE AUTHORITY
CITY COUNCIL CHAMBER
1950 PARKSIDE DRIVE
CONCORD, CALIFORNIA, VARIOUS
TELEPHONIC/ELECTRONIC LOCATIONS
SATURDAY, AUGUST 26, 2023
The Concord City Council met in a special meeting in the Council Chamber, located at 1950 Parkside Drive, via various telephonic/electronic locations at 9:10 a.m. on Saturday, August 26, 2023, with Mayor Hoffmeister presiding. The pledge of allegiance was led by Vice Mayor Birsan. 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; Guy Bjerke, Director of Economic Development and Base Reuse; Greg
Taylor, Director of Information Technology; Steve Voorhies, Director of Recreation Services; Damaris Sambajon, Systems and Programming Manager; Joan Ryan, Community Reuse Area Planner; Israel Mora, Executive Assistant
MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC
WHO ADDRESSED THE COUNCIL: Bill Whitney, Contra Costa Building Trades; Aram Hodess, Orinda; Timothy Carr, Concord; Kyle Swarens, Carpenters Union Local 152; Carlos Gama, Concord; Sonya Karabel, Unite Here Local 2; Jose Guiterrez, Unite Here local 2; Josh Anijar, Contra Costa Council; Michael Hayes, Benicia; Anonymous; Judith Herman, Concord; Hope Johnson, Concord; Matthew Estipona, Associated Builders and Contractors; Aaron Tiedemann, East Bay Housing Organization; Ady Olvera, Concord
CITY COUNCIL/LOCAL REUSE AUTHORITY (LRA) CONSIDERATION ITEM
SELECTION OF A PREFERRED MASTER DEVELOPER FOR THE FORMER CONCORD NAVAL
WEAPONS STATION
Director of Economic Development and Base Reuse Guy Bjerke introduced the Local Reuse Authority Team and reviewed the meeting agenda.
The City Council disclosed their meetings or communications with Master Developer teams, community stakeholders, and/or other organizations.
Director Bjerke reviewed the Master Developer selection process and steps that will be taken after the Master Developer selection, including negotiation of the Exclusive Negotiating Agreement.
The Brookfield Properties team presented its proposal for the Community Reuse Project at the Former Concord Naval Weapons Station.
City Council Minutes August 26, 2023
2 Following questions from the Council, Mayor Hoffmeister opened a public comment period.
Bill Whitney, Contra Costa Building Trades, spoke in support of Brookfield Properties.
Aram Hodess, Orinda, spoke in support of Brookfield Properties.
Timothy Carr, Concord, asked questions about underground wiring, purple pipe to all areas, using solar as standard, and why the North Concord BART project stopped.
Kyle Swarens, Carpenters Union Local 152, spoke in support of Brookfield Properties.
Carlos Gama, Concord, requested affordable housing for lower income workers.
Sonya Karabel, Unite Here Local 2, spoke in support of a Project Labor Agreement and affordable housing at 25 percent of total housing unit count.
Jose Gutierrez, Unite Here Local 2, spoke in support of affordable housing.
Josh Anijar, Contra Costa Council, spoke in support of Brookfield Properties.
Michael Hayes, Benicia, spoke of the cost of growth being passed down to the public via taxes.
Anonymous stated that he wished there was more competition and noted that Brookfield walked away from the North Concord BART Station project.
Judith Herman, Concord, questioned the campus district priority with students taking more remote classes and requested affordable housing and a detailed, transparent pro forma.
Hope Johnson, Concord, stated that the infrastructure will be paid for by taxpayers.
Matthew Estipona, Associated Builders and Contractors, requested that Associated Builders and Contractors be included as a stakeholder in discussions.
Aaron Tiedemann, East Bay Housing Organization, spoke of affordable housing.
Ady Olvera, Concord, requested a commitment for affordable housing, housing for the unhoused, and a transparent, detailed pro forma.
Mayor Hoffmeister closed the public comment period.
Following clarifying questions and comments from the Council, a motion was made by Aliano and seconded by Birsan to identify Brookfield Properties as the preferred Master Developer to work with staff on the next step in the selection process, preparing an Exclusive Negotiating Agreement that will require subsequent Council/LRA action. The motion passed by unanimous vote of the Council.
CORRESPONDENCE
a. Agenda Item No. 2.a Benched Correspondence
b. Agenda Item No. 2.a Staff PowerPoint Presentation
c. Agenda Item No. 2.a Brookfield Properties PowerPoint Presentation City Council Minutes August 26, 2023
3 ADJOURNMENT
By order of the Mayor, the meeting was adjourned on August 26, 2023, at 12:36 p.m. /s/
LAURA M. HOFFMEISTER
MAYOR
/s/
JOELLE FOCKLER, MMC
CITY CLERK