REGULAR MEETING OF THE
CONCORD CITY COUNCIL/CITY COUNCIL
SITTING AS THE LOCAL RESUSE
AUTHORITY
CITY COUNCIL CHAMBER
1950 PARKSIDE DRIVE
CONCORD, CALIFORNIA AND VARIOUS
TELEPHONIC/ELECTRONIC LOCATIONS
TUESDAY, JANUARY 28, 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 6:00 p.m. on Tuesday, January 28, 2025, with Mayor Birsan presiding. The pledge of allegiance was led by Councilmember Benavente. Minutes follow in abbreviated form per Resolution 3361 and Council Minutes of September 26, 1966.
ROLL CALL
COUNCILMEMBERS PRESENT: Dominic Aliano (arrived at 6:11 p.m.), Pablo Benavente, Laura Hoffmeister, Laura Nakamura (remotely per action
below), Carlyn Obringer
STAFF PRESENT: Valerie Barone, City Manager; Justin Ezell, Assistant City Manager; Susanne Brown, City Attorney; Monique Robinson, Deputy City Clerk; James Nakayama, Police Captain; Mark Robison, Police Lieutenant; Renee Williams, Police Lieutenant; Greg Taylor, Director of Information Technology; Mindy Gentry, Director of Community Development; Suzanne McDonald, Acting Finance Director; Marie Suvansin, Economic Development
Manager; Meredith Rupp, Principal Planner
MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC
WHO ADDRESSED THE COUNCIL: Ruth; Natalie; Gail Van Tassell, President of the Concord Historical Society; Alec Dufurrena, Concord; Peter Bennett, Concord; Andrew Schwartz, Concord; Suzanne Requa, Concord; Kevin Cabral, President of Greater Concord Chamber of
Commerce; Tim McGallian, Greater Concord Chamber of
Commerce; Ajit Kaushal, Concord; Ken
APPROVAL OF REQUEST PURSUANT TO AB 2449
No public comment was received.
A motion was made by Benavente and seconded by Hoffmeister to authorize Councilmember Nakamura’s remote participation as a result of an emergency circumstance.
AYES: Benavente, Hoffmeister, Obringer NOES: None ABSENT: Aliano
PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD
Ruth spoke about the proposed Hillcrest Park Community Garden.
Natalie spoke about her dissatisfaction with City staff regarding the Hilcrest Park Community Garden.
Gail Van Tassell, President of Concord Historical Society, shared news about the upcoming Tunes from our Backyard event.
City Council Minutes January 28, 2025
2 Alec Dufurrena, Concord, spoke about the proposed Hillcrest Park Community Garden.
Peter Bennett, Concord, spoke about the murder of Floyd Lawton Brown, Jr.
Anderw Schwartz Concord, spoke in support of the proposed Hillcrest Park Community Garden.
Suzanne Requa, Concord, encouraged the Council to form a Community Advisory Committee for the Concord Naval Weapons Station Reuse Project.
Mayor Obringer continued the public comment period to the end of the meeting.
PRESENTATIONS
PROCLAMATION – Floyd Rosenberry’s Years of Service
Public comment provided by Tim McGallian, Greater Concord Chamber of Commerce.
JOHN MUIR HEALTH – Community Benefit
Public comment provided by:
Kevin Cabral, President, Greater Concord Chamber of Commerce Tim McGallian, Greater Concord Chamber of Commerce
Ajit Kaushal, Concord
Peter Bennett, Concord
TODAS SANTOS BUSINESS ASSOCIATION (TSBA) – Downtown Safety and Cleanliness Downtown Pilot Program
Public comment provided by:
Kevin Cabral, President, Greater Concord Chamber of Commerce Tim McGallian, Greater Concord Chamber of Commerce
Ajit Kaushal, Concord
Pete Bennett, Concord
Mayor Obringer recessed the meeting at 7:43 p.m. The meeting resumed at 7:53 p.m.
Mayor Obringer took the Consent Calendar out of agenda order.
CITY COUNCIL CONSENT CALENDAR
No public comment was received.
APPROVE AGREEMENT – Contra Costa County Health Services (CORE) A motion was made by Benavente and seconded by Aliano to approve an agreement with Contra Costa County Health Services to provide a three-member team working fulltime in Concord to provide Coordinated Outreach Referral and Engagement (CORE) services for three years within the City of Concord in a not-to-exceed amount of $1,277,706 ($397,594 for FY2023-24, $427,912 for FY2024-25, and $452,200 for FY2025-26), and authorizing 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 Minutes January 28, 2025
3 ACCEPT ANNUAL COMPREHENSIVE FINANCIAL REPORT – Independent Auditors Report A motion was made by Benavente and seconded by Aliano to accept the Annual Comprehensive Financial Report with the Independent Auditors' Report and Required Communications Letter for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2024. The motion passed by unanimous vote of the Council.
APPROVE THIRD AMENDMENT TO PROFESSIONAL SERVICES AGREEMENT – Robert Half International, Inc
A motion was made by Benavente and seconded by Aliano to approve the third amendment to the Professional Services Agreement, Agreement No. 3328, for financial, accounting, and administrative services with Robert Half International, Inc. in the amount of $241,000 for a not-to-exceed amount of $361,000 for the term of this agreement, and authorizing the City Manager to execute the agreement in a form acceptable to the City Attorney. The motion passed by unanimous vote of the Council.
REAPPOINT TIJUK FONG KURNIADI – Central Contra Costa Transit Authority Advisory Committee A motion was made by Benavente and seconded by Aliano to reappoint Tijuk Fong Kurniadi to continue to serve as Concord's Representative on the Central Contra Costa Transit Authority Advisory Committee (County Connection) for a four-year term ending December 31, 2028.
PRESENTATIONS CONTINUED
BCUS ACQUISITIONS LLC (BROOKFIELD PROPERTIES) – Concord Community Reuse Project at the Former Concord Naval Weapons Station
Public comment was provided by:
Suzanne Requa, Concord
Ken
CITY COUNCIL CONSIDERATION ITEMS
ADOPTION OF AGREEMENT WITH STRATEGIC ECONOMICS, INC. – Economic Development Strategic Plan
Marie Suvansin, Economic Development Manager, presented the staff report.
Public comment was provided by:
Suzanne Requa, Concord
Natalie
Ken
Following discussion by Council, a motion was made by Aliano and seconded by Benavente to adopt an agreement with Strategic Economics to create a new Economic Development Strategic Plan for a total not-to-exceed amount of $107,750 (base contract of $97,935 and inclusion of an approximately 10% contingency). The motion passed by unanimous vote of the Council.
SIDEWAK VENDING WORK PLAN
Meredith Rupp, Principal Planner, presented the staff report.
Public comment was provided by:
Tim McGallian, Greater Concord Chamber of Commerce
City Council Minutes January 28, 2025
4 Ken
Natalie
Following discussion by Council, A motion was made by Aliano and seconded by Hoffmeister to move forward with the proposed work program to establish regulations addressing sidewalk vending. The motion passed by unanimous vote of the Council.
PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD CONTINUED
Ken spoke about the Coast Guard property and open space.
CORRESPONDENCE
a. Agenda Item No. 2.a – Written Public Comment
b. Agenda Item No. 3.b – John Muir Health – PowerPoint Presentation c. Agenda Item No. 3.c – Todos Santos Business Association – PowerPoint Presentation d. Agenda Item No. 3.c – Todos Santos Business Association – Correspondence Received during meeting
e. Agenda Item No. 3.d – Brookfield Update – PowerPoint Presentation f. Agenda Item No. 4.a – Benched Correspondence
g. Agenda Item No. 5.a – Strategic Economics Agreement – PowerPoint Presentation h. Agenda Item No. 5.b – Sidewalk Vending Work Plan - PowerPoint Presentation
COUNCIL REPORTS
Mayor Obringer appointed herself and Councilmember Aliano to serve on a Council Ad Hoc Committee to advise the City Manager on efforts to pursue state and federal grants and other funding opportunities throughout the calendar year 2025.
No public comment was received.
Mayor Obringer presented City Manager Valerie Barone with a plaque honoring her 30 years of service and recognition of significant contributions and achievements in advancement of local government administration awarded by the IMCA at its 110th Annual Conference in September 2024.
Due to technical problems, Mayor Obringer recessed the meeting at 9:54 p.m. The meeting resumed at 10:00 p.m.
There was Council consensus to consider the GROW agreement at a future Council meeting. (Ayes: Aliano, Benavente, Hoffmeister, Obringer Abstain: Nakamura)
There was Council consensus to consider how single-family homes are impacted by just cause for eviction and the rent registry and the rent cap in the Residential Tenant Protection Ordinance at the February 4, 2025, City Council meeting. (Ayes: Aliano, Benavente, Hoffmeister, Obringer Noes:
Nakamura)
Councilmember Benavente, Vice Mayor Nakamura, and Mayor Obringer reported on their attendance at the League of California Cities Mayors and Councilmembers Academy held January 22-24, 2025, in Sacramento.
A motion was made by Nakamura and seconded by Benavente to have the Council Committee on Policy, Development & Internal Operations review the Investment Policy through a socially responsible lens after the Director of Finance is onboarded and with the collaboration of the City Treasurer. The motion passed by the following vote:
Ayes: Benavente, Nakamura, Obringer Noes: Aliano, Hoffmeister Absent: None City Council Minutes January 28, 2025
5 ADJOURNMENT
By order of the Mayor, the meeting was adjourned on January 28, 2025, at 10:19 p.m. in memory of Ruth Eseltine.
/s/
CARLYN S. OBRINGER
MAYOR
/s/
MONIQUE ROBINSON
DEPUTY CITY CLERK