REGULAR MEETING OF THE
CONCORD CITY COUNCIL
CITY COUNCIL CHAMBER
1950 PARKSIDE DRIVE
CONCORD, CALIFORNIA AND VARIOUS
TELEPHONIC/ELECTRONIC LOCATIONS
TUESDAY, OCTOBER 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 5:30 p.m. on Tuesday, October 14, 2025, with Mayor Obringer presiding. The pledge of allegiance was led by Counclmember Benavente. Minutes follow in abbreviated form per Resolution 3361 and Council Minutes of September 26, 1966.
ROLL CALL
COUNCILMEMBERS PRESENT: Pablo Benavente, Laura Hoffmeister (arrived at 5:42 p.m.), Laura Nakamura, Carlyn Obringer
ABSENT: Dominic Aliano
STAFF PRESENT: Valerie Barone, City Manager; Justin Ezell, Assistant City Manager; Susanne Brown, City Attorney; Joelle Fockler, City Clerk; Monique Robinson, Deputy City Clerk; Jeffrey Lara, Administrative Secretary; Greg Taylor, Director of Information Technology; Margaret O’Brien, Director of Finance; Mindy Gentry, Director of Community Development; James Nakayama, Captain; Suzanne McDonald, Financial Operations Manager; Ryan Pursley, Chief Building Official; Colleen Awad, Community Relations Manager; Carlton Thompson, City Engineer; Bruce Davis, Senior Civil Engineer; Kylie Hicks, Acting Budget and Treasury Officer; Himmat Bains, Senior Financial Analyst; Meredith Rupp, Principal Planner; Benjamin Ulrey, Associate Planner; Deyuanne Lei, Associate Civil Engineer; Justine Gee, Associate Civil Engineer; Kevin Wheat, Associate Civil Engineer; James Rael, Video Services Coordinator
MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC
WHO ADDRESSED THE COUNCIL: Lisa Chow, Chief of Staff, Supervisor Ken Carlson’s Office; Shanise Thomas, District Representative, Supervisor Ken Carlson’s Office; John Ebert, Concord; Rev. Millie Phillips, Concord; Joey Flegel-Mishlove, East Bay Housing Organization; Anna Rikkelman, Concord, Tahirah Dean, Public Advocates
PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD
Lisa Chow, Chief of Staff, Supervisor Ken Carlson’s Office, introduced Shanise Thomas, Supervisor Carlson’s District Representative and liaison for the City of Concord.
John Ebert, Concord, spoke about housing.
PRESENTATIONS
PROCLAMATION – Hispanic Heritage Month
No public comment was received.
City Council Minutes October 14, 2025
2 PROCLAMATION – United Against Hate Week, October 19-25, 2025 Public comment provided by John Ebert, Concord.
YOUTH ENVIRONMENTAL ART COMPETITION AWARDS
Public comment provided by Colleen.
COMMUNITY MEDIA DAY – October 20, 2025
Public comment provided by John Ebert, Concord.
ANNOUNCMENTS
ANNOUNCE TWO (2) OPENINGS – Measure V Oversight Committee No public comment was received.
City Clerk Joelle Fockler announced two (2) openings on Concord’s Measure V Oversight Committee for four-year terms ending December 31, 2029, and setting a deadline for Friday, November 14, 2025, at 5 p.m. for applications to be due to the City Clerk.
ANNOUNCE RECRUITMENT – Contra Costa County Iron Horse (IHC) Management Program Advisory Committee
City Clerk Joelle Fockler 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 for Friday, November 14, 2025, at 5 p.m. for applications to be due to the City Clerk.
CITY COUNCIL CONSENT CALENDAR
No public comment was received.
APPROVE MINUTES – September 23, 2025, Special and Regular Meetings and September 30, 2025, Special Meeting
A motion was made by Nakamura and seconded by Benavente to approve the minutes of the September 23, 2025, Special and Regular meetings and September 30, 2025, Special Meeting. The motion passed by the following vote to Council:
AYES: Benavente, Hoffmeister, Nakamura, Obringer NOES: None ABSENT: Aliano APPROVE PROFESSIONAL SERVICES AGREEMENT AND TASK ORDER – Civic Center Roof Replacement (Project No. 2429)
A motion was made by Nakamura and seconded by Benavente to;
1. Approve Amendment No. 2 to the Professional Services Agreement No. 16489 with Swinerton Management Consulting for additional construction management and inspection services in the amount of $161,306 (for a new not to exceed amount of $682,723.40) for the Civic Center Roof Replacement (Project No. 2429); and authorize the City Manager to execute the amendment in a form acceptable to the City Attorney.
2. Approve a Task Order with Comstock Johnson & Associates (CJA) in the not to exceed amount of $45,291, for additional design and construction support for Project No. 2429; and City Council Minutes October 14, 2025
3 authorize the City Engineer to execute the Task Order in a form acceptable to the City Attorney.
The motion passed by the following vote to Council:
AYES: Benavente, Hoffmeister, Nakamura, Obringer NOES: None ABSENT: Aliano ADOPT RESOLUTION NO. 25-43 – Authorizing Appropriation of Various Capital Projects Funds A motion was made Nakamura and seconded by Benavente to adopt Resolution No. 25-43 entitled, “ A Resolution Authorizing the Appropriation of Various Capital Projects Funds (Funds 400, 401, 490, and 407) to Reallocate Spending the Remaining $25 million 2021 Certificates of Participation (COP) Proceeds (Fund 407) to Allowable Capital Projects, to Appropriate and Reallocate such other Funds as Necessary or Desirable to Ensure all COP Proceeds are Fully Expended in Accordance with the COP Debt Covenants and Approved Project Plan.” The motion passed by the following vote to the Council:
AYES: Benavente, Hoffmeister, Nakamura, Obringer NOES: None ABSENT: Aliano AWARD CONSTRUCTION CONTRACT, APPROVE TASK ORDER NO. 2, AND ACCEPT IMPROVEMENTS – Galindo Street / Monument Boulevard Pavement Rehabilitation (Project No. 2452) This item was pulled from consideration on the Consent Calendar by Councilmember Hoffmeister.
A motion was made by Hoffmeister and seconded by Benavente to;
1. Award a construction contract to MCK Services, Inc. in the amount of $2,640,810.15; authorize staff to utilize the available project contingency for contract change orders up to 15% of the contract amount ($396,121.52); and authorize the Mayor to execute the contract in a form acceptable to the City Attorney;
2. Approve Task Order No. 2 with Ghirardelli Associates in the not-to-exceed amount of $298,267.43; authorize staff to utilize up to a 15% contingency ($38,904.45) to provide construction management, materials testing, and related services; and authorize the City Engineer to execute the Task Order in a form acceptable to the City Attorney; and
3. Authorize the City Engineer to accept the improvements upon completion and direct the City Clerk to file a Notice of Completion.
The motion passed by the following vote to Council:
AYES: Benavente, Hoffmeister, Nakamura, Obringer NOES: None ABSENT: Aliano ADOPT RESOLUTION NO. 25-44 – Banking Services with J.P. Morgan Chase This item was pulled from consideration on the Consent Calendar by Mayor Obringer.
Public comment provided by John Ebert, Concord.
A motion was made by Benavente and seconded by Nakamura to adopt Resolution No. 25-44 entitled, “A Resolution Authorizing the Utilization of the City of South San Francisco’s Competitively Awarded Banking Services Contract with J.P. Morgan Chase through a Cooperative Purchasing Agreement and Authorizing the City Manager to Execute all Documents Necessary and to Take Such Actions as may be Necessary or Desirable to Implement this Transition in a Form Acceptable to the City Attorney.” The motion passed by the following vote to Council:
AYES: Benavente, Hoffmeister, Nakamura NOES: Obringer ABSENT: Aliano City Council Minutes October 14, 2025
4 APPROVE AMENDMENT NO. 1 TO TASK ORDER NO. 1 – Sewer Assessment and Replacement – Project 3 (Project No. 2735)
A motion was made by Nakamura and seconded by Benavente to approve Amendment No. 1 to Task Order No. 1 with Sandis Civil Engineers Surveyors and Planners in the amount of $298,180 for a new not-to-exceed amount of $399,970, for design services for the Sewer Assessment and Replacement – Project 3 (Project No. 2735) in the neighborhoods bound by Willow Pass Road, Concord Boulevard, and Clayton Way; and authorize the City Engineer to execute the agreement in a form acceptable to the City Attorney. The motion passed by the following vote to Council:
AYES: Benavente, Hoffmeister, Nakamura, Obringer NOES: None ABSENT: Aliano ADOPT RESOLUTION NO. 25-45 – Appropriating Grant Funding from the California Department of Housing and Community Development’s Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) Accelerator Program A motion was made by Nakamura and seconded by Benavente to adopt Resolution No. 25-45 entitled, “A Resolution Appropriating Grant Funding from the California Department of Housing and Community Development’s Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) Accelerator Program in the Amount of $227,226.08 to Issue Rebates for the Construction of New ADUs and $50,000 for Updating Concord’s Pre-approved ADU Plans (Project No. 2803). The motion passed by the following vote to the Council.
AYES: Benavente, Hoffmeister, Nakamura, Obringer NOES: None ABSENT: Aliano
CITY COUNCIL CONSIDERATION ITEM
UPDATE ON CHANGES TO STATE LAW THAT AFFECT THE AFFIRMATIVELY FURTHERING FAIR
HOUSING (AFFH) OVERLAY ZONING PROJECT
Justin Ezell, Assistant City Manager, presented the staff report.
Public comment provided by:
Rev. Millie Phillips, Concord
Joey Flegel-Mishlove, East Bay Housing Organization
Anna Rikkelman, Concord
Tahirah Dean, Public Advocates
John Ebert, Concord
CORRESPONDENCE
a. Agenda Item No. 3.c – Youth Environmental Act PowerPoint Presentation b. Agenda Item No. 6.a – Update on the Affirmatively Furthering Fair Housing (AFFH) Program PowerPoint Presentation
c. Agenda Item No. 6.a – Benched Correspondence
d. Agenda Item No. 7.a – Letter to Hon. Gavin Newsom, Governor, State of California re: SB 707 – Open Meetings: Meeting and Teleconference Requirements Request for Veto, dated September 22, 2025
e. Agenda Item No. 7.b – Letter to Bay Area Metro Center re: Transit-Oriented Communities (TOC) Policy, dated October 3, 2025
City Council Minutes October 14, 2025
5 COUNCIL REPORTS
Mayor Obringer appointed Councilmember Aliano and Councilmember Hoffmeister to serve on a Council Ad Hoc Committee to support the City’s efforts to recruit a new City Manager to replace retiring City Manager Barone. The Ad Hoc Committee will advise staff and the Council in two areas: (1) the process to identify and select a recruiting firm to assist the City in this process, and (2) the process for recruiting a new City Manager. The Ad-Hoc Committee will exist until the Council completes its selection of a recruiting firm and subsequent approval of the recruitment process or until October 13, 2026, whichever comes first.
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 October 14, 2025, at 8:00 p.m. /s/
CARLYN S. OBRINGER
MAYOR
/s/
JOELLE FOCKLER, MMC
CITY CLERK