REGULAR MEETING OF THE
CONCORD CITY COUNCIL
CITY COUNCIL CHAMBER
1950 PARKSIDE DRIVE
CONCORD, CALIFORNIA AND VARIOUS
TELEPHONIC/ELECTRONIC LOCATIONS
TUESDAY, OCTOBER 22, 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 22, 2024, with Mayor Birsan presiding. The pledge of allegiance was led by Councilmember Hoffmeister. 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; James Nakayama, Police Captain; Carlton Thompson, City Engineer; Tianjun Cao, Associate Civil Engineer
MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC
WHO ADDRESSED THE COUNCIL: Ady Olvera, Concord; era, Suzan Requa, Concord; Krish Veluthakkal, Walnut Creek; Pete Bennett, Concord; Edward Disibio, Concord; Hope Johnson, Concord; Frank Sterling, Antioch; Erica Dahl, Concord; Blaine Carter, Concord; Nicole Arrington; Patricia Granados; Sara; Jennifer Gibbons, Concord; Eric Antonic; Jesse Robins; Leanne Matthews; Anonymous
PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD
Adi Olvera, Concord, commented on a police report she filed regarding Mayor Birsan.
Suzan Requa, Concord, spoke of the lack of leadership with the Naval Weapons Station Project and conduct unbecoming of a councilmember by Mayor Birsan.
Krish Veluthakkal, Walnut Creek, announced the 4Vets Recognition Golf Tournament to be held at the Diablo Creek Golf Course on Monday, November 11, at 2 p.m.
Pete Bennett, Concord, spoke about crimes committed against him and his family.
Edward James DiSibio, Concord, spoke about individuals at the city parks and stated that he is looking for employment with the City of Concord.
CITY COUNCIL CONSENT CALENDAR
Mayor Birsan opened a public comment period, and upon receiving no public comment, closed the public comment period.
APPROVE MINUTES – August 13, 2024, Regular Meeting
City Council Minutes October 22, 2024
2 A motion was made by Hoffmeister and seconded by Obringer to approve the minutes from the August 13, 2024, Regular meeting. The motion passed by unanimous vote of the Council.
ACCEPT GRANT FUNDS – Metropolitan Transportation Commission A motion was made by Hoffmeister and seconded by Obringer to accept and appropriate $90,000 Transportation Development Act – Article 3 (TDA) Grant funds from Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC) for the Village Rd/Cowell Rd Crossing Improvements Project (Project No. 2717). The motion passed by unanimous vote of the Council.
CITY COUNCIL CONSIDERATION ITEM
HOMELESS STRATEGIC PLAN IMPLEMENTATION
Assistant City Manager Justin Ezell presented the staff report, providing background, strategies, Ad Hoc Committee recommendations, recommended ranking criteria, proposed schedule of events, and recommended action/next steps.
Following questions from the City Council, Mayor Birsan opened a public comment period.
Hope Johnson spoke of her disappointment with an Ad Hoc committee running the process and felt that interest earned on the funds while waiting to implement the program should be used by the program.
Jesse Robbins, NAMI Contra Costa, thanked the Council and spoke in support of the Resolution.
Leanne Matthews stated that she doesn’t qualify for services.
Anonymous asked how the Coast Guard property site is being used.
Eric Antonick, Concord, requested a flow chart for a path foward and stated that this project is putting the cart before the horse.
Mayor Birsan closed the public comment period.
Following discussion by the City Council, a motion was made by Nakamura and seconded by Aliano to adopt Resolution No. 24-51 entitled, “a Resolution Authorizing the Dsbursement of $5 Million to Nonprofits and Authorizing the City Manager to Disburse Funds and Execute all Attendant Documents and Agreements in a Form Acceptable to the City Attorney”. The motion passed by unanimous vote of the Council.
A motion was made by Nakamura and seconded by Aliano to award an agreement to Homebase in the amount of $126,500 for grant program reviewand reporting and authorize the City Manager to disburse funds and execute all attendant documents and agreements in a form acceptable to the City Attorney. The motion passed by unanimous vote of the Council.
PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD (CONTINUED)
The following people spoke of conduct unbecoming of a councilmember by Mayor Birsan:
Hope Johnson, Concord
Erica Dahl, Concord
Cora Mitchell
City Council Minutes October 22, 2024
3 Frank Sterling, Antioch, spoke of his cousin, Timmy Charles Lee, and invited the City Council to attend the Timmy Charles Lee Third Annual Memorial Walk to be held on November 2 2024.
The following people spoke requesting the case of Timmy Charles Lee be reopened:
Nicole Arrington
Patricia Granados, Antioch
Sara
Jennifer Kathleen Gibbons, Concord
Blaine Carter, Concord, spoke about Measure V and the lack of civility in this election cycle.
Eric Antonick, Concord, spoke of lack of leadership by the City Council.
Anonymous spoke of his distrust of the Concord Police Department.
CORRESPONDENCE
a. Agenda Item No. 2.a – Written Public Comment
b. Agenda Item No. 4.a – Benched Correspondence
c. Agenda Item No. 4.a – 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 October 22, 2024, at 8:33 p.m. in memory of Jerilynn “Jeri” Ann Rueff.
/s/
EDI E. BIRSAN
MAYOR
/s/
JOELLE FOCKLER, MMC
CITY CLERK