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
TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 19, 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 6:00 p.m. on Tuesday, September 19, 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; Stefanie Ananthan, Deputy City Clerk; Guy Bjerke, Director of Economic Development and Base Reuse; Will Tarbox, Director of Public Works; Joan Ryan, Community Reuse Area Planner
MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC
WHO ADDRESSED THE COUNCIL: Ajit Kaushal, Concord; Eric Canton, Concord; Hope Johnson, Concord; Suzan Requa, Concord
CITY COUNCIL/LOCAL REUSE AUTHORITY (LRA) CONSIDERATION ITEM ADOPTION OF RESOLUTION NO. 23-50 – Exclusive Agreement to Negotiate (ENA) between the Local Reuse Authority (LRA) and BCUS Acquisitions LLC (Brookfield Properties) regarding the former Concord Naval Weapons Station
Director of Economic Development and Base Reuse Guy Bjerke presented the staff report, provided background on the utilization of a Master Developer for the Concord Naval Weapons Station project, including selection of Brookfield Properties as the Master Developer for the project, and the process of developing the draft Exclusive Agreement to Negotiate (ENA) between the Local Reuse Authority (LRA) and BCUS Acquisitions LLC (Brookfield Properties). Mr. Bjerke then provided an overview of the Master Developer selection timeline, highlighting both past and future dates to outline the process, an overview of the timeline related to consideration of the ENA and next steps, including a flowchart to better detail the ENA consideration timeline; he discussed the key components of the ENA, clarified two corrections made to the draft ENA, explained findings that address the Surplus Land Act as referenced in the draft Resolution, and explained that Council was being requested to adopt a Resolution approving an ENA between the LRA and BCUS Acquisitions LLC (Brookfield Properties) regarding the disposition and development of approximately 2,350 acres of the inland area of the former Concord Naval Weapons Station.
Josh Roden, Brookfield Properties’ President in Northern California, responded to Council questions regarding the Preliminary Stage negotiation period of 120 days in which Brookfield Properties will prepare and propose a Term Sheet to the LRA, confirming Brookfield Properties is prepared to complete the draft Term Sheet within the 120-day timeline.
Following questions from the Council, Mayor Hoffmeister opened a public comment period.
City Council Minutes September 19, 2023
2 Ajit Kaushal, Concord, spoke in support of the ENA.
Eric Canton, Concord, stated the City of Concord is missing an opportunity by not allowing Concord residents to own portions of the project for development rather than using a Master Developer to develop the project.
Hope Johnson, Concord, stated some protections should be added to the ENA for residents and businesses in Concord within Section 6 “Reimbursement of City Costs’ and Section 13 “Campaign Contributions;” and she spoke of her disappointment and concern that this ENA is under BCUS Acquisitions LLC as a third company.
Suzan Requa, Concord, expressed her desire for the City of Concord to develop a Concord Community Advisory Committee to allow the community to be formally recognized and involved in the process of the redevelopment of the Concord Naval Weapons Station.
Mayor Hoffmeister closed the public comment period.
Following clarifying questions and discussion from the Council, a motion was made by Aliano and seconded by Birsan to adopt Resolution No. 23-50 entitled, “A Resolution Approving an Exclusive Agreement (ENA) to Negotiate between the Local Reuse Authority (LRA) and BCUS Acquisitions LLC (Brookfield) regarding the Disposition and Development of Approximately 2,350 Acres of the Inland Area of the Former Concord Naval Weapons Station; and Authorizing the City Manager to Execute the ENA in a form acceptable to the City Attorney.” The motion passed by unanimous vote of the Council.
CORRESPONDENCE
a. Agenda Item No. 2.a – ENA – Benched Exhibit A to Attachment 1 b. Agenda Item No. 2.a – ENA – Benched REDLINE Exhibit A to Attachment 1 c. Agenda Item No. 2.a – ENA – Benched Correspondence
d. Agenda Item No. 2.a – ENA – PowerPoint Presentation
ADJOURNMENT
By order of the Mayor, the meeting was adjourned on September 19, 2023, at 7:17 p.m. /s/
LAURA M. HOFFMEISTER
MAYOR
/s/
JOELLE FOCKLER, MMC
CITY CLERK