REGULAR MEETING OF THE
CONCORD CITY COUNCIL CITY COUNCIL
CHAMBER
1950 PARKSIDE DRIVE
CONCORD, CALIFORNIA AND VARIOUS
TELEPHONIC/ELECTRONIC LOCATIONS
TUESDAY, DECEMBER 3, 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, December 3, 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; Monique Robinson: Deputy City Clerk; Greg Taylor, Director of Information Technology; Mark Bustillos, Chief of Police; Will Tarbox, Director of Public Works; Karan Reid, Director of Finance; James Nakayama, Police Captain; Kit Jory, Parks Manager; Donna Lee, Budget Officer; Bruce Davis, Senior Civil Engineer; Deyuanne Lei, Associate Civil Engineer; Melissa Rea, Economic Development Specialist; James Lacey, Maintenance Superintendent
MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC
WHO ADDRESSED THE COUNCIL: Pete Bennett; Fro Schmidt, Concord; Suzan Requa, Concord; Natalie; Dena Acosta-Beere, Concord; Brian Davis
PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD
Pete Bennett spoke of the losses he has endured over the years.
Fro Schmidt, Concord, spoke of recent crime within a two-block radius of her home/work.
Suzan Requa, Concord, requested that the City Council form a Community Advisory Commission to provide input for the Reuse Project at the former Naval Weapons Station.
Natalie suggested that the City partner with Contra Costa County to keep people out of Walnut Creek to preserve the salmon population.
Dena Acosta-Beere, Concord, spoke of condominiums and rent stabilization regulations.
PRESENTATIONS
MAYOR’S ART COMPETITION WINNERS
Mayor Birsan presented certificates to the Mayor’s Art Competition winners Samantha Gasper Mejia, Sun Terrace Elementary; Sophia Hernandez, Oak Grove Middle School; Marco Gnusti, De La Salle High School; and Jenner Breward, Sequioa Elementary.
City Council Minutes December 3, 2024
2 Mayor Birsan opened a public comment period, and upon receiving no public comment, closed the public comment period.
BUSINESS RECOGNITION AWARDS – Bayshore Supply, Lisa V’s, Pacific States Petroleum, and Sugar Plum Coffee Shop
Mayor Birsan introduced Economic Development Specialist Melissa Rea, who presented an overview of the program and introduced Greater Concord Chamber of Commerce President/CEO Kevin Cabral, who presented Business Recognition Awards to Bayshore Supply, Lisa V’s, Pacific States Petroleum, and Sugar Plum Coffee Shop.
Mayor Birsan opened a public comment period, and upon receiving no public comment, closed the public comment period.
URBAN FORESTRY PROGRAM UPDATE
Mayor Birsan introduced Kit Jory, Parks Manager, who provided an overview of the Urban Forestry and introduced Chris Peiffer, Director of Urban Forestry Strategy, PlanIT Geo, who, along with team members TJ Wood, Director of Field Services; Rocky Yosek, Field Services Operations and Account Manager, and Alex Hancock, Director of Urban Forestry Consulting Services, presented an update on the Tree Maintenance Plan, inventory, and tree management software.
Following questions from the City Council, Mayor Birsan opened a public comment period.
Natalie requested citizen training on the software so that community members can easily report issues.
Mayor Birsan closed the public comment period.
ANNOUNCEMENT
RECRUITMENT FOR OPENINGS ON CITY BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS – Concord’s Bicycle and Pedestrian, Advisory Committee; Concord Pavilion Community Outreach Committee; Design Review Board; and Planning Commission
Deputy City Clerk Monique Robinson announced openings on Concord’s Bicycle and Pedestrian, Advisory Committee; Concord Pavilion Community Outreach Committee; Design Review Board; and Planning Commission; and setting a deadline of Friday, January 10, 2025, at 5 p.m. for applications to be due to the City Clerk.
CITY COUNCIL CONSENT CALENDAR
Mayor Birsan opened a public comment period, and upon receiving no public comment, closed the public comment period.
APPROVE MINUTES – October 8, 22, and November 12, 2024
A motion was made by Aliano and seconded by Obringer to approve the minutes from the October 8, 22, and November 12, 2024, meetings. The motion passed by unanimous vote of the Council.
EXTEND AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN ACT (ARPA) GRANT ALLOCATIONS A motion was made by Aliano and seconded by Obringer to authorize the City Manager to grant six-month extensions to nine nonprofit groups that received American Rescue Plan Act grant allocations from the City of Concord in a form acceptable to the City Attorney. The motion passed by unanimous vote of the Council.
City Council Minutes December 3, 2024
3 ADOPT RESOLUTION NO. 24-53 – Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant (JAG) Program A motion was made by Aliano and seconded by Obringer to adopt Resolution No. 24-53 entitled, “A Resolution Accepting and Appropriating Grant Funding from the Fiscal Year 2024 Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant (JAG) Program in the Amount of $41,920 to the City of Concord as a Second-Tier Sub-Grantee and the Contra Costa County Office of the Sheriff as the Direct Awardee.” The motion passed by unanimous vote of the Council.
ACCEPT IMPROVEMENTS – Police Department Generator and Transfer Switch Replacement Project (Project No. 2653)
A Motion was made by Aliano and seconded by Obringer to accept improvements for Police Department Generator and Transfer Switch Replacement Project (Project No. 2653); and directing the City Clerk to file a Notice of Completion. The motion passed by unanimous vote of the Council.
APPROVE PROFESSIONAL SERVICE AGREEMENT – PlanIT Geo, Inc A motion was made by Aliano and seconded by Obringer to approve a Professional Services Agreement with PlanIT Geo, Inc. in the not-to-exceed amount of $247,263 (base agreement of $224,785 plus staff authority to spend up to a 10% contingency of $22,478) to conduct an Urban Forest Management Plan; 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 ITEMS
ADOPTION OF RESOLUTION NO. 24-54 – Accepting and Appropriating Grant Funding from the Department of Justice (DOJ) for the Tobacco Grant Program
Captain James Nakayama presented the staff report, explaining that the City Council was being requested to adopt a Resolution accepting and appropriating grant funding from the Department of Justice (DOJ) in the amount of $68,744 for the Tobacco Grant Program and enter into a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Department of Justice to provide for retail tobacco enforcement and education in the City of Concord.
Following questions from the City Council, Mayor Birsan opened a public comment period.
Brian Davis, Concord, spoke of program enforcement.
Mayor Birsan closed the public comment period.
Following discussion by Council, a motion was made by Nakamura and seconded by Aliano to adopt Resolution No. 24-54 entitled, “A Resolution Accepting and Appropriating Grant Funding from the State of California Department of Justice, Office of Attorney General, Tobacco Grant Program in the amount of $68,744 for Retail Tobacco Enforcement and Education and Appropriation of Funds and Approval for Use for the City’s Retail Tobacco Enforcement and Education Program.” The motion passed by unanimous vote of the Council.
ENTERPRISE RESOURSE PLANNING (ERP) SYSTEM
Greg Taylor, Director of Information Technology presented the staff report, provided background information on the current Lawson system, an overview of the ERP system including the selection process, benefits to the City, and implementation timeline.
Following questions from the City Council, Mayor Birsan opened a public comment period, and upon receiving no public comment, closed the public comment period.
City Council Minutes December 3, 2024
4 Following discussion by Council, a motion was made by Hoffmeister and seconded by Nakamura to approve various actions and associated contracts related to the acquisition of a new financial Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) System for a total not-to-exceed amount of $11,192,780 over 10 years, including a 20% contingency; and authorizing the City Manager to execute the ERP agreements in a form acceptable to the City Attorney. The motion passed by unanimous vote of the Council.
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 December 3, 2024, at 9:02 p.m. in memory of John V. Howard.
/s/
EDI E. BIRSAN
MAYOR
/s/
MONIQUE ROBINSON
DEPUTY CITY CLERK