REGULAR MEETING OF THE
CONCORD CITY COUNCIL
CITY COUNCIL CHAMBER
1950 PARKSIDE DRIVE
CONCORD, CALIFORNIA AND VARIOUS
TELEPHONIC/ELECTRONIC LOCATIONS
TUESDAY, OCTOBER 8, 2024
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, October 8, 2024, with Mayor Birsan 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, Laura Hoffmeister, Laura Nakamura, Carlyn Obringer, Edi Birsan
STAFF PRESENT: Valerie Barone, City Manager; Justin Ezell, Assistant City Manager; Susanne Brown, City Attorney; Joelle Fockler, City Clerk; Monique Robinson, Deputy City Clerk; Greg Taylor, Director of Information Technology; Mark Bustillos, Chief of Police; Guy Bjerke, Director of Economic Development and Base Reuse; Marie Suvansin, Economic Development Manager;
Melissa Rea, Economic Development Specialist
MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC
WHO ADDRESSED THE COUNCIL: Peter Carver Bennett, Concord; Marie and Eli, Concord; Veronica, Concord; Eric Antonick, Concord; Natalie; Mitch; Bruce Olson; Matt Dashner, Concord
PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD
Peter Carver Bennett, Concord, spoke of the murder of Floyd Brown, Jr.
Marie and Eli, Concord, stated that they fear for their safety and spoke of how homelessness is affecting their quality of life.
Veronica, Concord, stated that she fears for her safety and spoke of how homelessness is affecting her quality of life.
Eric Antonick, Concord, stated that it has taken too long to solve homelessness and of the Concord Community Reuse Project.
Natalie spoke of the use of a stay away order as a tool for the neighbors who are having issues with homelessness.
PRESENTATION
UPDATE ON THE CONCORD COMMUNITY REUSE PROJECT AT THE FORMER CONCORD NAVAL WEAPONS STATION – BCUS Acquisitions LLC (Brookfield Properties) Director of Economic Development and Base Reuse Guy Bjerke introduced Josh Roden, President, NorCal Land & Housing, Brookfield Properties, who provided an update on 2024 quarter three progress, community outreach and engagement, and 2024 quarter four and 2025 quarter 1 priorities.
City Council Minutes October 8, 2024
2 Following questions from the City Council, Mayor Birsan opened a public comment period.
Mitch inquired about the bunker and ammunition clean-up process.
Bruce Olson spoke of lack of bike trail continuity.
Eric Antonick, Concord, requested more details for transparency and proposed citizen ownership of the project.
Peter Carver Bennett, Concord, spoke of his website, concordnavalweaponsstation.com.
Matt Dashner, Concord, stated that a sports complex should be included in the project.
CITY COUNCIL CONSENT CALENDAR
Mayor Birsan opened a public comment period, and upon receiving no public comment, closed the public comment period.
APPROVE PROFESSIONAL SERVICES AGREEMENT – East Bay Small Business Development Center A motion was made by Hoffmeister and seconded by Obringer to approve a three-year Professional Services Agreement with the East Bay Small Business Development Center in the amount of $134,504, to administer a Small Business support program and authorize the City Manager to execute the agreement in a form acceptable to the City Attorney. The motion passed by unanimous vote of the Council.
CITY COUNCIL CONSIDERATION ITEM
WORKPLAN/PROJECT APPROACH – Economic Development Strategic Plan Economic Development Manager Marie Suvansin presented the staff report, providing background, elements of the Strategic Plan, guiding priorities, baseline conditions analysis, community involvement, proposed timeline, and estimated cost of an Economic Development Strategic Plan.
Following questions from the City Council, Mayor Birsan opened a public comment period.
Peter Carver Bennett, Concord, spoke of the need for technology.
Natalie spoke of outreach to renters and Gen Z.
Eric Antonick, Concord, stated that the workplan should have been pursued and implemented already.
Mayor Birsan closed the public comment period, and councilmembers provided feedback to staff.
CORRESPONDENCE
a. Agenda Item No. 2.a, Written Public Comment
b. Agenda Item No. 3.a, BCUS Acquisitions PowerPoint Presentation c. Agenda Item No. 5.a, Economic Development Strategy, Benched Staff Report d. Agenda Item No. 5.a, Economic Development Strategy, 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.
City Council Minutes October 8, 2024
3 ADJOURNMENT
By order of the Mayor, the meeting was adjourned on October 8, 2024, at 8:45 p.m. in memory of Bette Boatmun.
/s/
EDI E. BIRSAN
MAYOR
/s/
JOELLE FOCKLER, MMC
CITY CLERK