REGULAR MEETING OF THE
CONCORD CITY COUNCIL
CITY COUNCIL CHAMBER
1950 PARKSIDE DRIVE
CONCORD, CALIFORNIA AND VARIOUS
TELEPHONIC/ELECTRONIC LOCATIONS
TUESDAY, APRIL 1, 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, April 1, 2025, with Mayor Obringer 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, Pablo Benavente, Laura Hoffmeister, Laura Nakamura, Carlyn Obringer
STAFF PRESENT: Valerie Barone, City Manager; Susanne Brown, City Attorney; Justin Ezell, Assistant City Manager; Joelle Fockler, City Clerk; Monique Robinson, Deputy City Clerk; Mark Bustillos, Chief of Police; Greg Taylor, Director of Information Technology; Mindy Gentry, Director of Community Development; Mark Roberson, Police Captain; James Nakayama, Police Captain; Renee
Williams, Police Lieutenant; Matt Cain, Police Lieutenant; Carlton Thompson, City Engineer; Aldrich Bautista, Associate Civil Engineer; Deyuanne Lei, Associate Civil Engineer
MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC
WHO ADDRESSED THE COUNCIL: Kay; Blaine Carter; Craig Shieman; Lisa Delano; Joshua Wagner; Joseph Alvenco, Mandy Lucin; Tyler Miller; Joanna Castillo; Kyle Kando; Anonymous
PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD
Kay Saeyang spoke of divestment.
Blaine Carter, Concord, spoke of the need for additional security at City Council meetings.
Craig Shieman, Concord, expressed concern regarding parking enforcement.
Lisa Dell’Anno, Concord, announced a protest rally and march scheduled for April 19, 2025.
PRESENTATION
PROCLAMATION – Earth Month – Friends of Concord Creek
Public Comment was received from Craig Shieman, Concord.
PROCLAMATION – National Robotics Week, April 5-12, 2025 Public comment was received from:
Joshua Wagner, Ygnacio Valley High School
Joseph Alvarico, Ygnacio Valley High School
City Council Minutes April 1, 2025
2 Ygnacio Valley High School TeacherAmanda Louschin, Ygnacio Valley High School Vice Principal
Tyler Miller, Clayton Valley High School
Joanna Castillo, Clayton Valley High School
Kyle Kondo, Mt. Diablo High School
Mayor Obringer recessed the meeting at 7:53 p.m. The meeting resumed at 7:56 p.m.
FAMILY JUSTICE CENTER UPDATE
Public comment was received from anonymous.
CONCORD POLICE DEPARTMENT UPDATE
.
Public comment was received from Jen Grand-Lejano and Craig Shieman.
ANNOUNCEMENT
OPENINGS ON CITY BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS –Commission on Aging; Community Services Commission; Concord-Pleasant Hill Health Care District Grant Committee; and Parks, Recreation, and Open Space Commission
City Clerk Joelle Fockler announced openings on Concord’s Commission on Aging; Community Services Commission; Concord-Pleasant Hill Health Care District Grant Committee; and Parks, Recreation, and Open Space Commission, and setting a deadline of Friday, May 2, 2025, at 5 p.m. for applications to be due to the City Clerk.
No public comment was received.
CITY COUNCIL CONSENT CALENDAR
No public comment was received.
AWARD CONSTRUCTION CONTRACT, ACCEPT AND APPROPRIATE HIGHWAY SAFETY
IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM GRANT FUNDS, , APPROVE BUDGET TRANSFER AND APPROPRIATE
FUNDS, AND ACCEPT IMPROVEMENTS
A motion was made by Benavente and seconded by Aliano to;
1. Award a construction contract in the not-to-exceed amount of $261,522 to DC Electric Group, Inc., authorize staff to utilize the available project contingency for contract change orders up to an additional 20% of the contract amount for the Rectangular Rapid Flashing Beacons (RFFB) Crosswalk Enhancements (Project No. 2696) at nine locations; and authorize the Mayor to execute the contract in a form acceptable to the City Attorney; and
2. Accept and Appropriate $50,016 of Highway Safety Improvement Program (HSIP) Grant funds (Fund 402) from the State of California (State) for Project No. 2696; and
3. Approve a budget transfer and appropriate $190,000 from Monument Boulevard Signal Upgrade (Project No. 2578) to Project No. 2696 (Funded by Measure V, Fund 407); and
4. Authorize the City Engineer to accept the improvements upon completion of Project No. 2604 and direct the City Clerk to file a Notice of Completion.
The motion passed by unanimous vote of the Council.
City Council Minutes April 1, 2025
3 ACCEPT TRAFFIC SIGNAL IMPROVEMENTS – Clayton Road Traffic Operation Improvement, Phase 1, Project No 2547
A motion was made by Benavente and seconded by Aliano to accept traffic signal fiber optic cable improvements for the Clayton Road Traffic Operation Improvement, Phase 1 (Project No. 2547) located on Clayton Road Between Sutter and Market Streets; and directi the City Clerk to file a Notice of Completion. The motion passed by unanimous vote of the Council.
APPROVE STREAMBED ALTERATION AGREEMENT NOTIFICATION NO. 1600-2017-0582-R3 – California Department of Fish and Wildlife
A motion was made by Benavente and seconded by Aliano to approve the Streambed Alteration Agreement Notification No. 1600-2017-0582-R3 with the California Department of Fish and Wildlife for Newhall Park Water Quality Improvement (Project No. 2353) and authorize the City Engineer to execute the agreement in a form acceptable to the City Attorney. The motion passed by unanimous vote of the Council.
CITY COUNCIL CONSIDERATION ITEM
ADOPT RESOLUTION NO. 25-7 – Approving an Exception to the 180-day waiting period to hire a California Public Employees’ Retirement System (CALPERS) Retiree Matthew Cain, Police Lieutenant, presented the staff report.
No public comment was received.
A motion was made by Benavente and seconded by Nakamura to adopt Resolution No. 25-7 entitled, “A Resolution Approving Exception to the 180-day Waiting Period to Hire a California Public Employees’ Retirement System (CalPERS) Retiree, to Work in 911-Dispatch, in Accordance with Government Code Sections 7522.56 and 21224.” The motion passed by unanimous vote of the Council.
CORRESPONDENCE
a. Letter to Senator Padilla, Senator Schiff, and Congressman DeSaulnier re: Support for the remodeling and expansion of District 4 Youth Center, dated March 6, 2025 b. Letter to Senator Schiff – re: Support of White Pony Express (WPE) grant application for Community Funding Project dated March 26, 2025
c. Agenda Item No. 3.c – Family Justice Center Update – PowerPoint Presentation d. Agenda Item No. 3.d – Public Safety Update 2024 Review– PowerPoint Presentation
COUNCIL REPORTS
There was City Council consensus to have the Policy, Development, and Internal Operations Council Committee (Obringer/Nakamura) consider a Hillcrest Park Community Garden.
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 April 1, 2025, at 10:23 p.m.
City Council Minutes April 1, 2025
4 /s/
CARLYN S. OBRINGER
MAYOR
/s/
JOELLE FOCKLER, MMC
CITY CLERK