SPECIAL MEETING OF THE
CONCORD CITY COUNCIL/CITY COUNCIL
SITTING AS THE LOCAL REUSE AUTHORITY
CITY COUNCIL CHAMBER
1950 PARKSIDE DRIVE
CONCORD, CALIFORNIA AND VARIOUS
TELEPHONIC/ELECTRONIC LOCATIONS
TUESDAY, MARCH 19, 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 6:00 p.m. on Tuesday, March 19, 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; Thomas Capriola, Senior Assistant City Attorney; Justin Ezell, Assistant City Manager; Joelle Fockler, City Clerk; Stefanie Ananthan, Deputy City Clerk; Greg Taylor, Director of Information Technology; Guy Bjerke, Director of Economic Development and Base Reuse; Joan Ryan, Principal Planner; Israel Mora, Executive Secretary
MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC
WHO ADDRESSED THE COUNCIL: Mark Foley, BART; Scott Wagner, Concord Police Association; Noelani Fixler, Greenbelt Alliance; Tom Hansen, IBEW 302; Eric Haynes, Sheetmetal Workers Local 104; Woody Karp, Eden
Housing/EBHO; Miguel Mauricio, East Bay Leadership Council; Bill Whitney, Contra Costa Building Trades Council; Davina Srioudem, EBHO; Sophia DeWitt, EBHO; Jessica Owens, Nor Cal Carpenters Union; Lorenzo Jimenez, Nor Cal Carpenters Union; Chris Palomo, Nor Cal Carpenters Union; Jaime
Gonzalez, Operating Engineers Local 3; William Smith, Walnut Creek; Randolph Hopkins, Concord; Michael J. Hayes, Benicia; Hope Johnson, Concord; Anonymous
CITY COUNCIL/ LOCAL REUSE AUTHORITY (LRA) CONSIDERATION ITEM CONSIDERING THE LOCAL REUSE AUTHORITY’S ACCEPTANCE OF BCUS ACQUISITIONS LLC’S (BROOKFIELD) TERM SHEET FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF APPROXIMATELY 2,300 ACRES (“THE EDC PROPERTY”) AT THE FORMER CONCORD NAVAL WEAPONS STATION Director of Economic Development and Base Reuse Guy Bjerke presented the staff report, provided background on the project, provided an explanation of a Term Sheet and an overview of the timeline related to the Exclusive Negotiating Agreement (ENA) with Brookfield, gave an overview of BCUS Acquisitions LLC’s (Brookfield) Term Sheet, spoke about the Local Reuse Authority (LRA) and City protections, and explained alternative actions. Director of Economic Development and Base Reuse Bjerke explained the Council was being requested to consider the draft Term Sheet, direct staff to proceed to the Disposition and Development Agreement stage of the negotiation period, as defined in the ENA between the Local Reuse Authority and BCUS Acquisitions LLC (Brookfield), and to make a decision on one of the proposed alternative actions:
1. Choose to approve the Term Sheet as drafted (LRA staff’s recommendation); or City Council Minutes March 19, 2024
2 2. Provide additional direction to LRA staff and Brookfield regarding additional or change provisions for consideration in the Term Sheet and continue this meeting to a date certain; extending the Preliminary Stage negotiation period; or
3. Reject the Term Sheet; direct LRA staff to let the ENA with Brookfield expire on March 30, 2024.
Josh Roden, President of Brookfield Properties Development, presented information on the proposed project, including an overview of the role of Brookfield as Master Developer, Brookfield’s commitment to future Concord communities, and an overview of the proposed Term Sheet.
Barry Long, Principal with Urban Design Associates, continued the presentation and provided additional information on the proposed project, discussing the development of the plan. Mr. Long spoke about site constraints, backbone infrastructure, landform, reoriented campus, open space and community facilities, parks distribution, conceptual project phasing, a conceptual preliminary land use plan, and a conceptual land use plan with detail related to transit-oriented development.
Emily Boyd, Director of Land Acquisition for Brookfield Properties, concluded the presentation discussing outreach sentiment, highlighting project achievements to date, provided a community engagement timeline, and an overview of engagement opportunities beginning in 2024.
Following questions from the City Council, Mayor Birsan recessed the meeting at 7:42 p.m. The meeting resumed at 7:53 p.m.
Mayor Birsan opened a public comment period.
The following people spoke in support of the proposed Term Sheet:
Scott Wagner, Concord Police Association
Tom Hansen, IBEW 302
Eric Haynes, Sheetmetal Workers Local 104
Miguel Mauricio, East Bay Leadership Council
Bill Whitney, Contra Costa Building Trades Council
Jessica Owens, Nor Cal Carpenters Union
Lorenzo Jimenez, Nor Cal Carpenters Union
Chris Palomo, Nor Cal Carpenters Union
Jaime Gonzalez, Operating Engineers Local 3
Mark Foley, BART, spoke in support of the proposed Term Sheet and requested removal of specific language from the Term Sheet related to transit-oriented development.
Noelani Fixler, Greenbelt Alliance, spoke in support of the proposed Term Sheet and requested modifications be made related to affordable housing, veteran’s housing, and creek restoration efforts.
Woody Karp, Eden Housing/EBHO, spoke in support of the proposed Term Sheet and requested that affordable housing be included as an eligible use of funds if an infrastructure finance agreement is established.
Davina Srioudem, EBHO, spoke in support of the proposed Term Sheet and requested a higher developer contribution amount be used towards transit-oriented affordable housing.
City Council Minutes March 19, 2024
3 Sophia DeWitt, EBHO, spoke in support of the proposed Term Sheet and requested specific modifications be made related to affordable housing.
William Smith, Walnut Creek, spoke about affordable housing and transit-oriented development related to the proposed Term Sheet.
Randolph Hopkins, Concord, expressed concern related to affordable housing, the condition of roadways, parks, and existing traffic conditions in the City, and the need to create more permanent, long- term jobs, as it relates to the proposed Term Sheet.
Michael J. Hayes, Benicia, expressed concern related to additional housing development and the subsequent negative impacts.
Hope Johnson, Concord, expressed appreciation for Brookfield’s honesty and for including right- of-way versus fee title related to the Term Sheet, appreciation of Council’s inquiry related to Brookfield’s financing, expressed a need to focus on middle-to-low-income housing, and encouraged the establishment of an Advisory Committee.
Anonymous spoke about various funding sources, greenspace, wetlands, and whether a traffic study will be conducted in relation to the proposed Term Sheet.
Mayor Birsan closed the public comment period.
Following discussion by the Council, a motion was made by Aliano and seconded by Obringer to approve the Term Sheet as drafted with a modification that ‘Transitional Housing’ be changed to ‘Supportive Housing’ throughout the document. The motion passed by unanimous vote of the Council.
CORRESPONDENCE
a. Agenda Item No. 2.a – Brookfield Term Sheet – Benched Correspondence b. Agenda Item No. 2.a – Brookfield Term Sheet – Staff PowerPoint Presentation c. Agenda Item No. 2.a – Brookfield Term Sheet – Brookfield PowerPoint Presentation
ADJOURNMENT
By order of the Mayor, the meeting was adjourned on March 19, 2024, at 9:02 p.m. /s/
EDI E. BIRSAN
MAYOR
/s/
JOELLE FOCKLER, MMC
CITY CLERK