REGULAR MEETING OF THE
CONCORD CITY COUNCIL
CITY COUNCIL CHAMBER
1950 PARKSIDE DRIVE
CONCORD, CALIFORNIA AND VARIOUS
TELEPHONIC/ELECTRONIC LOCATIONS
TUESDAY, JANUARY 14, 2025
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, January 14, 2025, with Mayor Obringer 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, Pablo Benavente, Laura Hoffmeister, Laura Nakamura, Carlyn Obringer
CITY TREASURER PRESENT: Patti Barsotti
STAFF PRESENT: Valerie Barone, City Manager; Justin Ezell, Assistant City Manager; Susanne Brown, City Attorney; Monique Robinson, Deputy City Clerk; James Nakayama, Police Captain; Greg Taylor, Director of Information Technology; Guy Bjerke, Director of Economic Development and Base Reuse; Jasmin Loi, Director of Human Resources; Mindy Gentry, Director of Community Development; Ryan Pursley, Chief Building Official; Frank Abejo, Principal Planner, Marie Suvansin, Economic Development Manager; Tianjun Cao, Associate Civil Engineer; Himmat Bains, Senior Financial Analyst; James Peavy, Human Resources
Manager
MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC
WHO ADDRESSED THE COUNCIL: Ramon De La Cruz, Concord; Kay Saeyang, Concord; Philip Kubota, Concord; Lourdes Shota-Uno, Concord; Quincy Shiota, St. Francis Elementary; Ken; Guynne Gilson, Concord; Nick Goodwin, Local 159; Chris Palomo, Local 159; Hope Johnson, Concord; Eric Haynes, Concord; Marsha Bell; Joanna Perry- Kujala, Local 302; Julian Vinatieri, Local 302; Cindy Aguilar, Concord; Roger Leffel, Concord; Daniel Golinveaux, Concord; Paul Giomi; Anonymous; Brandon Hurley, Concord; David
Mevey, Concord; Hope Johnson, Concord; Ken
Prior to starting the meeting, Mayor Obringer requested a moment of silence for the victims of the Los Angeles County fire.
PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD
Ramon De La Cruz, Concord, spoke of East Bay Times article Concord: Vacant K-Mart Site Named One of the City’s First Targets in Rezoning Push to 1,000 New Housing Units.
Kay Saeyang, Concord, spoke of divestment.
Philip Kubota, Concord, expressed concerns of the Affirmatively Furthering Fair Housing (AFFH) Rezoning Project.
City Council Minutes January 14, 2025
2 Lourdes Shota-Uno, Concord, expressed concern regarding community input on the AFFH Rezoning Project.
Quincy Shiota, St. Francis Elementary, stated his ability to walk to the nearby Lucky’s store.
Ken expressed his dissatisfaction with the Director of Economic Development and Base Reuse.
ANNOUNCEMENT
RECRUITMENT – Contra Costa County Iron Horse Corridor (IHC) Management Program Advisory Committee
Deputy City Clerk Monique Robinson announced a recruitment for the City of Concord’s representative on the Contra Costa County Iron Horse Corridor (IHC) Management Program Advisory Committee for a two-year term ending January 31, 2027, and setting a deadline of Friday, February 14, 2024, at 5 p.m. as the deadline for receipt of applications by the City Clerk.
No public comment was received.
CITY COUNCIL CONSENT CALENDAR
No public comment was received.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES – December 3, and 10, 2024, Special Meetings and December 3, and 10, 2024, Regular Meetings
A motion was made by Hoffmeister and seconded by Nakamura to approve the minutes from the December 3 and 10, 2024, special meetings and December 3, and 10, 2024, regular meetings. The motion passed by the following vote to the Council:
AYES: Aliano, Hoffmeister, Nakamura, Obringer NOES: None ABSTAIN: Benavente RECEIVE TREASURER’S REPORT – July 1 – September 30, 2024 This item was pulled from consideration on the Consent Calendar by Concord resident Guynne Gilson.
Public comment was provided by Kay Saeyang.
A motion was made by Aliano and seconded by Hoffmeister to receive the Treasurer’s Report for the period of July 1 – September 30, 2024. The motion passed by unanimous vote of the Council.
REAPPOINTMENT OF KEITH MCMAHON – Contra Costa County Aviation Advisory Committee A motion was made by Hoffmeister and seconded by Nakamura to recommend the reappointment of Keith McMahon to continue to serve as Concord’s Representative on the Contra Costa County Aviation Advisory Committee for a three-year term ending February 28, 2028. The motion passed by unanimous vote of the Council.
City Council Minutes January 14, 2025
3 APPROVE 2025 CITY COUNCIL MEETING CALENDAR
A motion was made by Hoffmeister and seconded by Nakamura to approve the 2025 City Council Meeting Calendar. The motion passed by unanimous vote of the Council.
ADOPTION OF RESOLUTION NO. 25-4735.1
A motion was made by Hoffmeister and seconded by Nakamura to adopt Resolution No. 24- 4735.1 entitled, “A Resolution Approving and Ratifying a Letter of Agreement with the Concord Police Association Amending Section 13 – Holidays of the Concord Police Managers’ Representation Unit Memorandum of Understanding Executed by the Director of Human Resources in her capacity as the City Manager’s Designee.” The motion passed by unanimous vote of the Council.
AWARD CONSTRUCTION CONTRACT, APPROVAL OF BUDGET TRANSFERS, AND ACCEPTANCE OF IMPROVEMENTS – Citywide Accessibility Improvements No. 11 Project (Project No. 2725) A motion was made by Hoffmeister and seconded by Nakamura to approve the following:
1. Award a Construction Contract in the amount of $366,407 to Rapid Grading Services and authorize staff to utilize the available project contingency for contract change order up to 10% of the contract amount; and authorize the Mayor to execute the contract in a form acceptable to the City Attorney; and make the NEPA and CEQA determination as provided in this staff report;
2. Approve a budget transfer from the Grant Street/East Street Pavement Rehabilitation Project (Project No. 2525) to the Grant Street/SR-242 Bike Undercrossing Project (Project No. 2785) in the amount of $300,000 from Measure J (Fund 475) to the project; and
3. Accept improvements for the Grant Street/East Street Pavement Rehabilitation Project (Project No. 2525); and direct the City Clerk to file a Notice of Completion.
The motion passed by unanimous vote of the Council.
APPROVE TASK ORDER NO. 2 – Unico Engineering
A motion was made by Hoffmeister and seconded by Nakamura to approve Task Order No. 2 with UNICO Engineering in the not-to-exceed amount of $581,877.06 to provide constructability review of bid documents, construction management, material testing, and related services for the Residential Pavement Maintenance Phase E Project (Project Nos. 2613 & 2621); 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.
ADOPT RESOLUTION NO. 25-1 – Accepting Development Impact Fee Report for FY 2024-25 – AB 1600 A motion was made by Hoffmeister and seconded by Nakamura to adopt Resolution No. 25-1 entitled, “Accepting the Development Impact Fee Report for Fiscal Year 2024-2025 and making findings in compliance with AB 1600. (Government Code Section 66000 et. seq.).” The motion passed by unanimous vote of the Council.
ADOPT RESOLUTION NO. 25-3, ACCEPT AND APPROPRIATE GRANT FUNDING, ALLOCATE AND APPROPRIATE FUNDS THROUGH BUDGET TRANSFERS – Court Lane and Joan Ave Bicycle Improvements Project.
This item was pulled from consideration on the Consent Calendar by Councilmember Benavente who recused himself from the item due to economic interest in real property resulting from proximity to his primary residence and left the dais.
City Council Minutes January 14, 2025
4 Public comment was provided by Kay Saeyang.
Following discussion by Council, a motion was made by Nakamura and seconded by Aliano to:
1. Adopt Resolution No. 25-3 entitled, “A Resolution Approving a Request to the Metropolitan Transportation Commission by the City of Concord for an Allocation of $192,000 of Transportation Development Act Article 3 Pedestrian and Bicycle Project Funding for Fiscal Year 2025-26.”
2. Authorize the City Manager to accept and appropriate grand funding up to allocation amount of $192,000 from MTC and execute all necessary documents in a form acceptable to the City Attorney.
3. Allocate the City’s local match by appropriating funds to the project through budget transfers in the amount of $40,873.53.
AYES: Aliano, Hoffmeister, Nakamura, Obringer NOES: None ABSENT: Benavente Councilmember Benavente returned to the dais.
CITY COUNCIL CONSIDERATION ITEMS
ADOPT RESOUTION NO. 25-2 – Accepting the 180 day Waiting Period to Hire a California Public Employees’ Retirement System Retiree
Public comment was provided by Ramon De La Cruz, Concord.
Following discussion by Council, a motion was made by Aliano and seconded by Benavente to adopt Resolution No. 25-2 entitled, “A Resolution Approving Exception to the 180-day Waiting Period to Hire a California Public Employees’ Retirement System Retiree in Accordance with Government Code Sections 7522.56 and 21224.” The motion passed by unanimous vote of the Council.
CONSIDER TERMS AND EXPECTATIONS FOR THE REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL (RFP) – Town Center II Disposition
Public comment was provided by:
Nick Goodwin, Local 159
Chris Paloma, Local 152
Hope Johnson, Concord
Eric Haynes, Concord
Marsha Bell
The City Council provided the following direction to staff:
1. Respondents to provide the percentage of union labor to be used in the project.
2. A decrease in the fair market value may be considered to achieve a public benefit.
3. Land use should be consistent with the Downtown Mixed-Use (DMX) zoning district.
Proposals that do not meet the Housing Element requirement of 309 lower-income units or the Downtown Specific Plan requirement of 11,309 square feet of retail may be considered.
Mayor Obringer recessed the meeting at 8:45 p.m. The meeting resumed at 9:00 p.m.
City Council Minutes January 14, 2025
5 STUDY SESSION - CONSIDER PRELIMINARY APPLICATION TO PROVIDE FEEDBACK ON THE RENOVATION OF EXISTING 206 MULTIFAMILY UNITS – Concord Crossing Public comment was provided by:
Joanna Perry-Kujala, International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local 302 Julian Vinatier, International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local 302 Cindy Aguliar, Concord
Roger Leffel, Concord
Daniel Golinveaux, Concord
Ramon De La Cruz, Concord
Paul Giomi
Anonymous
Brandon Hurley, Concord
David Mevey, Concord
Hope Johnson
Ken
Following discussion by the City Council, a motion was made by Aliano and seconded by Benavente to continue this item to the March 4, 2025, City Council meeting. The motion passed by unanimous vote of the Council.
CORRESPONDENCE
a. Agenda Item No. 2.a – Written Public Comment
b. Agenda Item No. 2.a – Written Public Comment received after 3 p.m. c. Agenda Item No. 4.i – Benched Correspondence - Court Lane and Joan Avenue Bicycle Improvements Project
d. Agenda Item No. 4.i – Benched Correspondence received after 3 p.m. e. Agenda Item No. 4.b – Attachment to Treasurer’s Report f. Agenda Item No. 5.b – Benched Correspondence – Town Center II g. Agenda Item No. 5.b – Restarting Disposition of Town Center II PowerPoint Presentation h. Agenda Item No. 5.c – Concord Crossing - Applicant PowerPoint Presentation i. Agenda Item No. 5.c – Concord Crossing - PowerPoint Presentation
COUNCIL REPORTS
APPOINTING COUNCILMEMBERS TO REPRESENT THE CITY COUNCIL ON COUNCIL
COMMITTEES, REGIONAL BODIES, AND BOARDS OF VARIOUS EXTERNAL ORGANIZATIONS Mayor Obringer announced appointments to the Council Committees, Regional Bodies, and Boards of Various External Organizations for 2025 as follows:
City Council Minutes January 14, 2025
6 APPOINTEES
CHAIR MEMBER
Standing Committees
Policy Development and Internal Operations Obringer Nakamura Housing and Economic Development Hoffmeister Obringer
Infrastructure and Franchise Aliano Hoffmeister
Recreation, Cultural Affairs & Community Services Nakamura Benavente Youth and Education Benavente Aliano
MEMBER SECOND MEMBER
OR ALTERNATE
External Council Appointments
Association of Bay Area Governments (ABAG)
General Assembly Benavente Nakamura
Central Contra Costa Transit Authority (The
County Connection) Hoffmeister Nakamura
Contra Costa Mayors Conference Obringer Nakamura
League of CA Cities Board of Directors (East Bay
Division) Aliano Hoffmeister
Transportation Partnership and Cooperation
Regional Committee (TRANSPAC) Obringer Nakamura
Marin Clean Energy Board Nakamura Benavente
Green Empowerment Zone Obringer Nakamura
Innovate 680 PAC Obringer Hoffmeister
No public comment was provided.
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 January 14, 2025, at 10:46 p.m. /s/
CARLYN S. OBRINGER
MAYOR
/s/
MONIQUE ROBINSON
DEPUTY CITY CLERK
City Council Minutes January 14, 2025
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