REGULAR 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, DECEMBER 10, 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 10, 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; 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; Guy Bjerke, Director of Economic Development & Base Reuse; Jasmin Loi, Director of Human Resources; Steve
Voorhies, Director of Recreation Services; Mindy Gentry, Director of Community Development; James Nakayama, Police Captain; Jennifer Ortega, Community Relations Manager; Donna Lee, Budget Officer; R.J. Natal, Program Manager
MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC
WHO ADDRESSED THE COUNCIL: Tari Loring, Walnut Creek; D’Marco Anthony; Judith Ortiz; Betty Gabaldon, Concord; Lupe Tolento, Concord; Debra Ballinger; Cecilia Perez; Eric Haynes; Ajit Kaushal, Concord; Ken Carlson; Graciela Guerrero-Reynoso; Jeff Koertzen, Concord; Ady
Olivera; Robyn Kustlits, Concord; Suzan Requa, Concord; Jill Finn, Alamo; Kay Saeyang, Concord; Lomo Love.
PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD
Mayor Birsan moved the public comment period to the end of the meeting.
PRESENTATIONS
HELEN PUTNAM AWARD – League of California Cities
Mayor Birsan introduced Samantha Caygill, Regional Public Affairs Manager, East Bay Division, League of California Cities, who presented the City Council with a Helen Putnam Award for Excellence in the Economic Development through the Arts Category.
Mayor Birsan opened a public comment period.
Teri Loring, Creative Concord, thanked their partners and the City Council for its support of the project.
City Council Minutes December 10, 2024
2 Mayor Birsan closed the public comment period.
GIFTS FROM CITY OF CONCORD SISTER CITY, KITAKAMI, JAPAN Mayor Birsan introduced Concord Ambassadors Mike Pastrick and Mary Rae Lehman, who presented the Council with gifts from the delegation from Concord Sister City, Kitakami, Japan, during the delegation’s recent visit to Concord in October 2024.
Mayor Birsan opened a public comment period, and upon receiving no public comment, closed the public comment period.
MAYOR’S COMMUNITY SERVICE AWARD – Mike Pastrick and Mary Rae Lehman Mayor Birsan presented Mike Pastrick and Mary Rae Lehman with the Mayor’s Community Service Award.
Mayor Birsan opened a public comment period, and upon receiving no public comment, closed the public comment period.
CITY COUNCIL CONSENT CALENDAR
Mayor Birsan opened a public comment period, and upon receiving no public comment, closed the public comment period.
APPROVE AGREEMENT – MJL Enterprises
A motion was made by Hoffmeister and seconded by Obringer to approve a five-year agreement with MJL Enterprises to provide batting cage services at Willow Pass Park 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.
APPROVE AGREEMENT – Active Network, Inc
A motion was made by Hoffmeister and seconded by Obringer to approve and execute a Product and Services Agreement with Active Network, Inc., in a form acceptable to the City Attorney, for recreation management software for an initial three-year term with two automatic renewal periods of two (2) years each at an estimated cost of $119,057 in Fiscal Year 2024/2025, an estimated cost of $121,033 in Fiscal Year 2025/2026, totaling $363,149 for the first three years and $166,660 in Fiscal Year 2030/2031, and over seven years totaling $977,589. The motion passed by unanimous vote of the Council.
CITY COUNCIL REORGANIZATION PROCEEDINGS
ADOPT RESOLUTION NO. 24-55 – Declaring and Accepting Results of November 5, 2024, General Municipal Election
City Clerk Joelle Fockler presented the results of the November 5, 2024, General Municipal Election.
Mayor Birsan opened a public comment period.
D’Marco Anthony, spoke of a fair election.
Mayor Birsan closed the public comment period.
City Council Minutes December 10, 2024
3 A motion was made by Birsan and seconded by Aliano to adopt Resolution No. 24-55 entitled, “A Resolution Declaring and Accepting the Results of the November 5, 2024, General Municipal Election for the City of Concord.” The motion passed by unanimous vote of the Council.
RECOGNITION OF AND COMMENTS BY OUTGOING MAYOR – Edi Birsan Mayor Birsan opened a public comment period. The following people spoke in recognition of Mayor Birsan:
Judith Ortiz, Executive Director, Monument Impact
D’Marco Anthony
Betty Gabaldon, Concord
Lupe Tolento, Concord
Debra Ballinger, United Latino Voices of Contra Costa County Cecilia Perez, Rising Juntos
Eric Haynes
Ken Carlson, Contra Costa County Supervisor, District IV Ajit Kaushal, Concord
Mayor Birsan closed the public comment period.
Following comments by the Council, Mayor Birsan made comments regarding his tenure on the Concord City Council, thanked his colleagues, and shared his accomplishments during his time served on the City Council.
Mayor Birsan left the dais, and Vice Mayor Obringer took over the meeting.
OATH OF OFFICE – Councilmembers-elect Obringer and Benavente, City Clerk Joelle Fockler administered the Oath of Office to Carlyn S. Obringer, Councilmember, District 2, and Pablo Benavente, Councilmember, District 4.
Mayor Obringer opened a public comment period. The following people spoke in recognition of those receiving their Oath of Office:
D’Marco Anthony
Ken Carlson, District IV, Supervisor
Graciela Guerrero-Reynoso
Jeff Koertzen
Debra Ballinger
Ajit Kaushal
Eric Haynes
Ady Olivera
Robyn Kustlits
Mayor Obringer closed the public comment period.
City Council Minutes December 10, 2024
4 COMMENTS – Councilmembers-elect
Councilmembers each made comments, thanking their colleagues, staff, and families for support.
ADOPT RESOLUTION NO. 24-56 – Confirming and Designating the Mayor A motion was made by Aliano and seconded by Nakamura to nominate Vice Mayor Carlyn S.
Obringer as Mayor of the City of Concord and adopt Resolution No. 24-56 entitled, “A Resolution Designating Carlyn S. Obringer as Mayor of the City of Concord.” Mayor Obringer opened a public comment period, and upon receiving no public comment, closed the public comment period.
The motion passed by unanimous vote of the Council.
ADOPTION OF RESOLUTION NO. 24-57 – Confirming and Designating the Vice Mayor A motion was made by Aliano and seconded by Benavente to nominate Councilmember Laura M.
Nakamura as Vice Mayor of the City of Concord and adopt Resolution No. 24-57 entitled, “A Resolution Designating Laura M. Nakamura as Vice Mayor of the City of Concord.” Mayor Obringer opened a public comment period.
Suzan Requa, requested consideration of Councilmember Benevente for Vice Mayor and Vice Chair of the Local Reuse Authority.
Mayor Obringer closed the public comment period.
The motion passed by unanimous vote of the Council.
CONFIRMATION OF LOCAL REUSE AUTHORITY REORGANIZATION
A motion was made by Aliano and seconded by Hoffmeister confirming the designation of Mayor Obringer and Vice Mayor Nakamura to serve as the Chair and Vice Chair of the Local Reuse Authority for the Concord Naval Weapons Station Reuse Plan respectively, as authorized by Resolution No. 06-01, adopted January 10, 2006.
Mayor Obringer opened a public comment period, and upon receiving no public comment, closed the public comment period.
The motion passed by unanimous vote of the Council.
PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD
Jill Finn, Design Review Board Chair, spoke about the restrooms being closed at sundown at the Willow Pass Center.
Kay Saeyang, Concord, spoke regarding divestment.
D’Marco Anthony, spoke regarding United Against Hate week.
Lomo Love, spoke about human rights.
Anonymous, spoke of her abuse by someone at a massage parlor..
City Council Minutes December 10, 2024
5 CORRESPONDENCE
a. Agenda Item No. 5.a – Benched Correspondence
b. Agenda Item No. 5.f – Benched Correspondence
c. Agenda Item No. 5.a – Results of the November 5, 2024, General Municipal Election – PowerPoint Presentation
ADJOURNMENT
By order of the Mayor, the meeting was adjourned on December 10, 2024, at 8:45 p.m. in memory of Norma Griffin.
/s/
CARLYN S. OBRINGER
MAYOR
/s/
MONIQUE ROBINSON
DEPUTY CITY CLERK