REGULAR MEETING OF THE
CONCORD CITY COUNCIL
CITY COUNCIL CHAMBER
1950 PARKSIDE DRIVE
CONCORD, CALIFORNIA AND VARIOUS
TELEPHONIC/ELECTRONIC LOCATIONS
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 2026
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, February 24, 2026, with Mayor Nakamura 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, Pablo Benavente, Carlyn Obringer, Laura Nakamura
COUNCILMEMBERS ABSENT: Laura Hoffmeister
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; Mindy Gentry, Director of Community Development; Guy Bjerke, Director of Economic Development & Base Reuse; Kit Jory, Director of Public Works; James
Nakayama, Police Captain; Aaron Sage, Planning Manager; Abhishek Parikh, Deputy Director Public Works – Transportation; Frank Abejo, Principal Planner
MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC
WHO ADDRESSED THE COUNCIL: Seth Bertolucci; Craig Schiemann, Concord; Natalie; Anonymous; Ramon Amaral, North Coast States Carpenters
Union; Jonathan Drescher, North Coast States Carpenters Union; Kyler Haun, Concord; Cindy Aguilar, Concord; Matthew Brown, IBEW 302; Steve Burnett, Sheetmetal Workers Local 104; Eric Haynes, Sheetmetal Workers Local 104; William Smith, Walnut Creek; Tim Carr, Concord; Joey Flegel-Mishlove, East Bay Housing Organizations: David McEuen, Concord; Rick
Ferreira, Concord; Stephen Stroud, Concord; Rev. Millie Phillips, Faith Alliance for a Moral Economy; Sherry Chaplin, Concord; Jackie Buckland, Concord
PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD
Seth Bertolucci shared that the local news and media app ‘Small World’ is now up and running.
Craig Schiemann, Concord, spoke about debris in and graffiti near Galindo Creek and expressed dissatisfaction with communication from the Police Department.
Natalie spoke of a mold problem and harassment of occupants at the Premier Inn, cautioned about creating a partnership with Lattice Industries, and Artificial Intelligence.
City Council Minutes February 24, 2026
2 PRESENTATIONS
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT STRATEGIC PLAN UPDATE
Public comment was provided by:
Natalie
Craig Schiemann
Anonymous
CITY COUNCIL CONSENT CALENDAR
No public comment was received.
APPROVE MINUTES – February 10, 2026, Special and Regular Meetings A motion was made by Benavente and seconded by Obringer to approve the minutes from the February 10, 2026, Special and Regular Meetings. The motion passed by the following vote to the Council:
AYES: Aliano, Benavente, Nakamura, Obringer NOES: None ABSENT: Hoffmeister
CITY COUNCIL CONSIDERATION ITEM
PROVIDE FEEDBACK ON PRELIMINARY APPLICATION ON PLANS TO REDEVELOP THE 59-ACRE FORMER COAST GUARD SITE – 3295 Haleakala Street
Frank Abejo, Principal Planner, presented the staff report, then turned the presentation over to the applicant’s representatives David Bowlby, Bowlby Group, and Erik Swendseid, EV&A.
Public comment was provided by:
Ramon Amaral, North Coast States Carpenters Union
Jonathan Drescher, North Coast States Carpenters Union
Kyler Haun, Concord
Cindy Aguilar, Concord
Matthew Brown, IBEW 302
Steve Burnett, Sheetmetal Workers Local 104
Eric Haynes, Sheetmetal Workers Local 104
William Smith, Walnut Creek
Tim Carr, Concord
Joey Flegel-Mishlove, East Bay Housing Organizations
David McEuen, Concord
Natalie
Anonymous
City Council Minutes February 24, 2026
3 The consensus of the City Council was to support:
1. The overall concept of developing the site with up to 900 units (not including ADUs) and the housing types proposed.
2. The proposed density of approximately 15 du/ac,
considering the TOC Policy encourages a higher density transit-oriented development for the property.
3. The proposed housing types and mix and potential other housing types such as “missing middle” (i.e. duplexes, triplexes, fourplexes and bungalows).
4. Apartment units with a higher bedroom count (i.e., three or four bedrooms) to provide increased rental housing opportunities for families as the market allows.
5. The Applicant’s affordable housing plan of 72 deed-restricted rentals and 56 non-deed-restricted ADUs as an acceptable alternative to providing 122 of the 812 single-family homes as ownership inclusionary units.
6. Deed-restricted units built during the first phase of development.
7. Community benefits provided in the Willow Pass Park area (flexible) or anywhere in District 2.
In addition, there was consensus for the Mayor to create an Ad Hoc committee consisting of Councilmembers Obringer and Hoffmeister to review the project.
Mayor Nakamura recessed the meeting at 9:10 p.m. The meeting resumed at 9:23 p.m.
CITY COUNCIL PUBLIC HEARING
ADOPT RESOLUTION NO. 26-4823.1 AMENDING GENERAL PLAN LAND USE ELEMENT AND INTRODUCE ORDINANCE NO. 26-425.1 – AMENDING CONCORD MUNICIPAL CODE TITLE 18 (DEVELOPMENT CODE AND ADDING CHAPTER 18.120 AFFIRMATIVELY FURTHERING FAIR
HOUSING OVERLAY DISTRICT
Aaron Sage, Planner Manager, presented the staff report.
Public comment was provided by:
Rick Ferreira, Concord
Stephen Stroud, Concord
Rev. Millie Phillips, Faith Alliance for a Moral Economy Sherry Chaplin, Concord
Jackie Buckland, Concord
Joey Flegel-Mishlove, East Bay Housing Organizations
Eric Haynes, Sheetmetal Workers Local 104
Anonymous
A motion was made by Benavente and seconded by Aliano to adopt Resolution No. 26-4823.1 entitled, “A Resolution Finding the Affirmatively Furthering Fair Housing Overlay District Statutorily Exempt from CEQA Pursuant to Public Resources Code 21080.085, Enacted by Senate Bill 131 (2025); and/or not a Project/Exempt Pursuant to Public Resources Code Section 21065 and CEQA Guidelines City Council Minutes February 24, 2026
4 Sections 15060(c)(2), 15061(b)(3), and 15378; and Approving an Amendment to the General Plan Land Use Element.” The motion passed by the following vote to the Council:
AYES: Aliano, Benavente, Nakamura, Obringer NOES: None ABSENT: Hoffmeister A motion was made by Benavente and seconded by Aliano to introduce Ordinance No. 26-425.1 entitled, “An Ordinance Amending Concord Municipal Code, Title 18 (Development Code), Chapters
18.15 (Zoning Districts and Zoning Map), 18.25 (Development and Land Use Approvals), 18.30 (Residential Districts), 18.40 (Office and Commercial Districts), and 18.410 (Zoning Clearance); Adding Chapter 18.120 (Affirmatively Furthering Fair Housing Overlay District); and Rezoning Approximately 28 Acres to Apply the Affirmatively Fair Housing Overlay District (PL25166-MC)” by reading of the title only and waiving further reading The motion passed by the following vote to the Council:
AYES: Aliano, Benavente, Nakamura, Obringer NOES: None ABSENT: Hoffmeister
CORRESPONDENCE
a. Agenda Item 7.a – Letter to California Delegation re: Centra Contra Costa Sanitary District – Membrane Aerated Biofilm Reactor (MABR) and Densified Activated Sludge (DAS) Bay Area Regional Wastewater Demonstration Site, FY2027 Community Project Funding Request dated February 10, 2026
b. Agenda Item 3.a – Benched Correspondence
c. Agenda Item 3.a – Economic Development Strategic Plan Update PowerPoint Presentation d. Agenda Item 5.a – Concord Townsquare (former Coast Guard Property) PowerPoint Presentation e. Agenda Item 6.a – Benched Correspondence
f. Agenda Item 6.a – Affirmatively Furthering Fair Housing Program PowerPoint Presentation
COUNCIL REPORTS
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 February 24, 2026, at 10:07 p.m. in memory of Reverend Jesse Jackson, Sr.
/s/
LAURA M. NAKAMURA
MAYOR
/s/
JOELLE FOCKLER, MMC
CTY CLERK