REGULAR MEETING OF THE
CONCORD CITY COUNCIL/CITY COUNCIL
SITTING AS THE CONCORD-PLEASANT HILL
HEALTH CARE DISTRICT
CITY COUNCIL CHAMBER
1950 PARKSIDE DRIVE
CONCORD, CALIFORNIA AND VARIOUS
TELEPHONIC/ELECTRONIC LOCATIONS
TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 7, 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, November 7, 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
STAFF PRESENT: Valerie Barone, City Manager; Susanne Brown, City Attorney; Justin Ezell, Assistant City Manager; 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, Director of
Community Development; ; Leng Power, Community Services Manager
MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC
WHO ADDRESSED THE COUNCIL: Deberal Hickey, Mt. Diablo High School; Dr. Sediquu Popal, New Islamic and Cultural Community Center; David Litty, Windows & Beyond; Timothy Carr, Concord; Janette Kennedy, Loaves and Fishes of Contra Costa; Joleen Lafayette, Loaves and Fishes of Contra Costa; Eric Rehn; Natalie; Kelly McKinley
PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD
Deberal Hickey, Mt. Diablo High School, spoke about the removal of three crosswalks including one that was ADA compliant in front of Mt. Diablo High School and the reinstallation of both ADA and non-ADA compliant crosswalks.
Dr. Sediquu Popal, New Islamic and Cultural Community Center, expressed his appreciation for the support received from Councilmembers related to the resettlement programs for Afghan refugees.
CITY COUNCIL/CITY COUNCIL SITTING AS THE CONCORD-PLEASANT HILL HEALTH CARE
DISTRICT CONSENT CALENDAR
Mayor Hoffmeister opened a public comment period, and upon receiving no public comment, closed the public comment period.
CITY COUNCIL CONSENT CALENDAR
APPROVAL OF MINUTES – October 24, 2023
A motion was made by Birsan and seconded by Aliano to approve the minutes from the October 24, 2023, regular meeting. The motion passed by unanimous vote of the Council.
City Council Minutes November 7, 2023
2 ACCEPT AND APPROPRIATE GRANT FUNDS AND APPROVE BUDGET TRANSFERS – Sun Terrace Elementary School Crossing Enhancements Project (Project No. 2712) This item was pulled from consideration on the Consent Calendar by Councilmember Obringer who wanted to express appreciation of staff’s success in securing grant funds for the project and the importance of transportation-related improvements, especially to increase safety around schools.
Mayor Hoffmeister opened a public comment period, and upon receiving no public comment, closed the public comment period.
A motion was made by Obringer and seconded by Nakamura to approve the following:
1. Accept and appropriate $175,000 Transportation Development Act – Article 3 (TDA) Grant funds from the Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC) for the Sun Terrace Elementary School Crossing Enhancements Project (Project No. 2712); and
2. Approve budget transfers to the Sun Terrace Elementary School Crossing Enhancements Project (Project No. 2712) in the amounts of $37,000 from West Concord Bikeways Phase 2 (Project No. 2524) and $23,000 from Pothole Base Repair #2 Project (Project No. 2556) for local match funds required by the grant.
The motion passed by unanimous vote of the Council.
CITY COUNCIL/CITY COUNCIL SITTING AS THE CONCORD-PLEASANT HILL HEALTH CARE
DISTRICT CONSENT CALENDAR
ADOPTION OF RESOLUTION NO. 23-043 – John Muir Health Bylaws A motion was made by Birsan and seconded by Aliano to adopt Resolution No. 23-043 entitled, “A Resolution Amending John Muir Health Bylaws to Reflect the Dissolution of the John Muir Association and the Transfer of the Association’s Previous Responsibilities for Appointing Five Members to the Community Health Fund Board to John Muir Health.” The motion passed by unanimous vote of the Council.
CITY COUNCIL CONSIDERATION ITEM
UPDATE ON THE STATUS OF THE HOMELESS STRATEGIC PLAN – Homeless Strategic Plan Working Group’s Established Goals and Feedback on Proposed Strategies Community Services Manager Leng Power presented the staff report and provided an overview of the project background and timeline for the Homeless Strategic Plan.
Isaiah Rich-Wimmer, Director of Projects and Programs with Thurmond Consulting, gave a presentation on the Homeless Strategic Plan and provided an update of the progress made by the Homeless Strategic Plan Working Group. He reviewed the Strategic Plan Vision Statement, the draft Plan Goals pending City Council adoption, and a summary of the explored Plan Strategies, including the two strategies approved by the Working Group along with a comparison of their associated costs. He explained the concept of a mobile decentralized resource center, one of the strategies approved by the Working Group, including an overview of services provided, goals addressed, and associated costs. He then explained temporary housing support, the second strategy approved by the Working Group, including a summary of the three models currently under consideration, an overview of services provided under each of the three models, including goals addressed, resources needed, and the respective costs associated with each of the three models. He discussed the project implementation approach, strategies for future consideration, next steps and explained that Council was being requested to adopt the draft Plan Goals and provide input on the Plan Strategies.
City Council Minutes November 7, 2023
3 Following questions from the City Council, Mayor Hoffmeister recessed the meeting at 8:15 p.m.
The meeting resumed at 8:33 p.m.
Mayor Hoffmeister opened a public comment period.
David Litty, Windows & Beyond, spoke as a representative for the Homeless Strategic Plan Working Group and asked for Council support of the proposed strategies identified by the Working Group.
Timothy Carr, Concord, asked for additional clarification related to the Strategy of Rapid Rehousing, stated regardless of the strategies chosen by City Council, they will all require land to be operational and Council should assist in locating such land, and suggested the use of FEMA trailers.
Janette Kennedy, Loaves and Fishes of Contra Costa, spoke of the services offered to the City and provided information on their new mobile unit that provides hot lunches to those within Contra Costa County, and for those who can’t access a physical location, the delivery of food to different locations.
Joleen Lafayette, Loaves and Fishes of Contra Costa, spoke of their desire to be centered in Concord and that they’re currently serving several other cities within Contra Costa County by providing hot food. She also spoke of their free culinary program for individuals seeking an occupation in the culinary field.
Eric Rehn spoke of the importance of leasing property rather than purchasing it, felt that Scattered Sites Tiny Homes is a viable strategy, suggested reviewing San Diego’s program, and emphasized the need for mental health and drug use services.
Natalie spoke about Tiny Homes and the ability for them to be 3D printed prior to construction as an effort to save money in constructing the homes.
Kelly McKinley spoke about the importance of mobile units being made available to the unhoused and the difficulty for the unhoused to find accessible locations for shower and restroom facilities.
Mayor Hoffmeister closed the public comment period.
The Council provided feedback on the proposed strategies as follows:
Direct staff to gather additional information on all the explored strategies to be brought back to Council for further discussion, including other services or programs that currently exist that can be incorporated into a mobile resource center, with preference to three strategies:
Decentralized Resource Center, Rapid Rehousing, and Scattered Site Interim Housing Research and confirm the proposed strategies align with what other local agencies and jurisdictions have implemented
Use the allocated $5.2 million without expending additional funds from other sources Following discussion by the City Council, a motion was made by Aliano and seconded by Birsan to adopt the draft Plan Goals, with a modification to the Goal entitled, “Strengthen System Support” to include “Strengthen System Support in Partnership with Government and non-Government Agencies.” The motion passed by unanimous vote of the Council.
Council directed staff to reach out to May Patel, Valley Motel, for additional information to be brought back to Council regarding potential opportunities to use the proposed site for Scattered Site Interim Housing.
City Council Minutes November 7, 2023
4 CORRESPONDENCE
a. Agenda Item No. 4.a – Homeless Strategic Plan – Benched Correspondence b. Agenda Item No. 4.a – Homeless Strategic Plan – PowerPoint Presentation c. Agenda Item No. 4.a – Homeless Strategic Plan – Benched 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 November 7, 2023, at 9:34 p.m. /s/
LAURA M. HOFFMEISTER
MAYOR
/s/
JOELLE FOCKLER, MMC
CITY CLERK