SPECIAL MEETING OF THE
CONCORD CITY COUNCIL
CITY COUNCIL CHAMBER
1950 PARKSIDE DRIVE
CONCORD, CALIFORNIA AND VARIOUS
TELEPHONIC/ELECTRONIC LOCATIONS
TUESDAY, JANUARY 30, 2024
The Concord City Council met in a special meeting in the Council Chamber, located at 1950 Parkside Drive and via various telephonic/electronic locations at 6:45 p.m. on Tuesday, January 30, 2024, with Mayor Birsan presiding. The pledge of allegiance was led by Vice Mayor Obringer. Minutes follow in abbreviated form per Resolution 3361 and Council Minutes of September 26, 1966.
ROLL CALL
COUNCILMEMBERS PRESENT: Dominic Aliano, Laura Hoffmeister, Laura Nakamura, Carlyn Obringer, Edi Birsan
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; James Nakayama, Police Captain; Kevin Marstall, Director of Community Development; Sophia Huckabay, Housing Manager; Kelly Rush, Housing Program
Analyst
MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC
WHO ADDRESSED THE COUNCIL: Sreenivas Ramiredey, Concord; Linda Mandolini, Eden Housing; Jeff Weil, Alamo; David Schubb, Walnut Creek; Michael Moore, Pleasant Hill; Judy Weil, Danville; Gregg Syrovatka, Concord; Rev. Millie Phillips, Faith Alliance for a Moral Economy; Steve Hong; Devin Williams, Lift Up Contra Costa; Leah Simon- Weisberg, California Center for Movement Legal Service; Marianne Simoni, Walnut Creek; Greg Brumley, Concord;
Maritza Llanos, Concord; Rev. Dr. Leslie Taylor, Faith Alliance for a Moral Economy; Wallace Freddie, Concord; Marty Carbajal, Concord; Lisa Carbajal, GCM Realty; Galina Milman, Concord; Chris Johnston, Community Housing Works; Lisa Carbahal; Ron Arrajj, Concord; Jaime Morales, Monument Impact; Jo Sciarroni, Clayton; Dale Bridges, Alamo; Christos Moulis, Concord; David L. Kreutzinger, Concord; Maria De Sousa, Concord; John De Sousa, Concord; Randolph Hopkins, Concord; Randy Hopkins, Concord; Richard Lewis, Orinda; Jimmy Araujo, Concord; Ed Kellar, Concord; Tammy Chen, Concord; Derek Barnes, East Bay Rental Housing Association; Patricia Granados; Margaret Dzikielewski, Concord; John Sullivan, Castro Valley; Janice Andrews, Pittsburg; Reed Robertson, Concord; Mark Martinez, Walnut Creek; Ali Uscilka, Healthy and Active Before 5; Chris Tipton, East Bay Rental Housing Association; Blane Carter, Concord; Joe Stokley, Stokley Properties; Bob Norri, Concord; Azucena Torres, Concord; Marisol Fuentes, Concord; Dulce Leon, Concord; Ali Missaghl, Concord; Rachita Rawal, Raise the Roof; Gentte Darner, Concord; Renee Seaton, Concord; Alberto Acosta; Maherah Silmi, CRPM Realty; Jessica Ardell-Smith, Oakland; Courtney Pal, Resources for Community Development; LeAnn Matthews, Concord; Rony Joseph, Joseph Holdings;
City Council Minutes January 30, 2024
2 Karen Hernandez, Centro Legal; Betty Gebaldon; Guadalupe Tolento; Anne Kendall, Concord; Joe Raphel, Braddock &
Logan; Rhovy Lyn Antonio, California Apartment Association; Ellen Osmundson, Walnut Creek; Angela Zu, Concord; Bernice Chau, Walnut Creek; Joshua Anijar, Contra Costa Labor Council; Doug Jones, SEIU-UHW; Blanca Colin, Rising Juntos; Danny Espinoza; Kristin Diaz, Concord; Jim Glosli, Oakland; Chris Schildt, Urban Habitat; Holly Chen, Pleasanton; Elena
Lieberman, Concord; Jennifer Morales, Monument Impact; Ady Olvera, Concord; Eduardo Torres; David Mills, Concord; Natalie; Kelly Zhao, EBASE; Nikita Rodgers; Rhea Elina, Rising Juntos
CITY COUNCIL PUBLIC HEARING
INTRODUCTION OF AN ORDINANCE – Residential Rent Stabilization and Just Cause for Eviction Housing Manager Sophia Huckabay presented the staff report, provided background information, and explained that Council was being requested to take the following actions: (1) provide direction on the following matters pertaining to just cause, no-fault evictions for owner move-ins: (a) percentage of ownership required to constitute an owner move-in; (b) the length of time an owner is required to reside in the unit after moving in; and (2) introduce a revised Ordinance amending the Concord Municipal Code by amending Concord Municipal Code Chapter 19.40 “Residential Tenant Protection Program” to increase “just cause” eviction protections, expand the City’s rent registry, and establish a rent stabilization program, by reading of the title only and waiving further reading.
Following questions from the Council, Mayor Birsan opened a public comment period.
The following people spoke in support of the proposed draft Ordinance related to rent stabilization and just cause for eviction:
Rev. Millie Phillips, Faith Alliance for a Moral Economy Steve Hong
Devin Williams, Lift Up Contra Costa
Leah Simon-Weisberg, California Center for Movement Legal Service Rev. Dr. Leslie Taylor, Faith Alliance for a Moral Economy Jaime Morales, Monument Impact
Patricia Granados
Ali Uscilka, Healthy and Active Before 5
Azucena Torres, Concord
Marisol Fuentes, Concord
Dulce Leon, Concord
Rachita Rawal, Raise the Roof
LeAnn Matthews, Concord
Karen Hernandez, Centro Legal
Betty Gebaldon
Guadalupe Tolento
Joshua Anijar, Contra Costa Labor Council
City Council Minutes January 30, 2024
3 Doug Jones, SEIU-UHW
Blanca Colin, Rising Juntos
Danny Espinoza
Chris Schildt, Urban Habitat
Jennifer Morales, Monument Impact
Ady Olvera, Concord
Eduardo Torres
Kelly Zhao, EBASE
Rhea Elina, Rising Juntos
The following people spoke in opposition of the proposed draft Ordinance related to rent stabilization and just cause for eviction:
Sreenivas Ramiredey, Concord
Jeff Weil, Alamo
Michael Moore, Pleasant Hill
David Schubb, Walnut Creek
Judy Weil, Danville
Gregg Syrovatka, Concord
Marianne Simoni, Walnut Creek
Greg Brumley, Concord
Maritza Llanos, Concord
Wallace Freddie, Concord
Marty Carbajal, Concord
Lisa Carbajal, GCM Realty
Galina Milman, Concord
Chris Johnston, Community Housing Works
Ron Arrajj, Concord
Jo Sciarroni, Clayton
Dale Bridges, Alamo
Christos Moulis, Concord
David L. Kreutzinger, Concord
Maria De Sousa, Concord
John De Sousa, Concord
Randolph Hopkins, Concord
Randy Hopkins, Concord
Richard Lewis, Orinda
Jimmy Araujo, Concord
Ed Kellar, Concord
City Council Minutes January 30, 2024
4 Tammy Chen, Concord
Derek Barnes, East Bay Rental Housing Association
Margaret Dzikielewski, Concord
John Sullivan, Castro Valley
Janice Andrews, Pittsburg
Reed Robertson, Concord
Mark Martinez, Walnut Creek
Chris Tipton, East Bay Rental Housing Association
Blane Carter, Concord
Joe Stokely, Stokely Properties
Bob Norri, Concord
Ali Missaghl, Concord
Gentte Darner, Concord
Renee Seaton, Concord
Alberto Acosta
Maherah Silmi, CRPM Realty
Jessica Ardell-Smith, Oakland
Rony Joseph, Joseph Holdings
Anne Kendall, Concord
Joe Raphel, Braddock & Logan
Rhovy Lyn Antonio, California Apartment Association
Ellen Osmundson, Walnut Creek
Angela Zu, Concord
Bernice Chau, Walnut Creek
Kristin Diaz, Concord
Jim Glosli, Oakland
Holly Chen, Pleasanton
Elena Lieberman, Concord
David Mills, Concord
Linda Mandolini, Eden Housing, spoke about including separate requirements for affordable housing providers.
Courtney Pal, Resources for Community Development, echoed comments made by Linda Mandolini and requested the addition of a separate petition process for affordable housing providers.
Natalie stated that landlords who are experiencing financial hardships should unite with the renters, and due to hardships not all landlords should be held to the same rules and regulations.
Nikita Rodgers spoke about unforeseen circumstances that could impact an individual’s finances from year to year and that alternatives related to rent increases should be considered.
City Council Minutes January 30, 2024
5 Mayor Birsan recessed the meeting at 8:26 p.m. The meeting resumed at 8:42 p.m.
Mayor Birsan recessed the meeting at 10:04 p.m. The meeting resumed at 10:15 p.m.
Following discussion by the Council, a motion was made by Aliano and seconded by Obringer to continue Agenda Item No. 2.a to Tuesday, February 13, 2024, at 6:30 p.m. The motion passed by the following vote:
AYES: Aliano, Hoffmeister, Nakamura, Obringer NOES: Birsan
CORRESPONDENCE
a. Agenda Item No. 2.a – Rent Stabilization and Just Cause for Eviction – Benched Correspondence
b. Agenda Item No. 2.a - Rent Stabilization and Just Cause for Eviction – PowerPoint Presentation
ADJOURNMENT
By order of the Mayor, the meeting was adjourned on January 30, 2024, at 11:43 p.m. /s/
EDI E. BIRSAN
MAYOR
/s/
JOELLE FOCKLER, MMC
CITY CLERK