REGULAR MEETING OF THE
CONCORD CITY COUNCIL
CITY COUNCIL CHAMBER
1950 PARKSIDE DRIVE
CONCORD, CALIFORNIA AND VARIOUS
TELEPHONIC/ELECTRONIC LOCATIONS
TUESDAY, MARCH 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, March 24, 2026, with Mayor Nakamura presiding. The pledge of allegiance was led by Councilmember Obringer. 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, Carlyn Obringer, Laura Nakamura
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; Steve Voorhies, Director of Recreation Services; Mindy Gentry, Director of Community Development; Kit Jory, Director of Public Works; James Nakayama, Police
Captain; Jeff Rayos, Administrative Services Manager; Colleen Awad, Community Relations Manager; Ken Yee, Facilities
Services Manager; Frank Abejo, Principal Planner; Alex
Diosdado, Urban Forester; RJ Natal, Program Manager; Matt Fragoso, Camp Director
MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC
WHO ADDRESSED THE COUNCIL: Peter Carver Bennett, Concord; Vanessa Chena, Monument Impact; Natalie; Tony Braco Raul Arano; John O’Shea; Tracey Hern, BAART
PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD
Peter Carver Bennett, Concord, spoke of a murder of a civil witness Vanessa Chena, Monument Impact, requested an ICE-free zone ordinance.
Natalie spoke of the differences between democrats and republicans and expressed dissatisfaction with the lack of items on City Council meeting agendas.
Tony Braco expressed concern about the City’s immigrant community and requested an ICE-free zone ordinance.
Raul Arano requested an ICE-free zone ordinance.
PRESENTATIONS
PROCLAMATION - WOMEN’S HISTORY MONTH – March 2026
Public comment was provided by John O’Shea.
City Council Minutes March 24, 2026
2 PROCLAMATION – PRESCRIPTION DRUG AWARENESS MONTH – March 2026 Public comment was provided by Tracy Hern, BAART.
ELEVATE CONCORD
Public comment was provided by Vanessa Chena
CITY COUNCIL CONSENT CALENDAR
No public comment was received.
APPROVE MINUTES – March 10, 2026, Regular Meeting
A motion was made by Benavente and seconded by Hoffmeister to approve the minutes from the March 10, 2026, Regular Meeting. The motion passed by unanimous vote of the Council.
ADOPT RESOLUTION NO. 26-6 – Pleasant Hill Landscaping and Lighting Assessment District #20 A motion was made by Benavente and seconded by Hoffmeister to adopt Resolution No. 26-6 entitled, “A Resolution Approving the Request of the City of Pleasant Hill to allow Sunvalley Mall and Certain other City of Concord Commercial Properties to be Included in Pleasant Hill Landscaping and Lighting Assessment District #20 Commercial Area Landscaping and Lighting.” The motion passed by unanimous vote of the Council.
ADOPTION OF RESOLUTION NOS. 26-7, 26-8, 26-9, AND 26-10 – Ordering Preparation of the Engineer’s Report for the Levy of Fiscal Year 2026-2027 Assessments for the City’s Four Landscape and Lighting Maintenance Assessment Districts
This item was pulled from consideration on the Consent Calendar by Mayor Nakamura who recused herself from the item due to economic interest in real property resulting from proximity to her primary residence and left the dais for this item.
No public comment was received.
A motion was made by Hoffmeister and seconded by Benavente to adopt Resolution No. 26-7 entitled “A Resolution Ordering the Preparation of an Engineers Report for the Downtown Landscape Maintenance District.” The motion passed by the following vote:
AYES: Aliano, Benavente, Hoffmeister, Obringer NOES: None ABSENT: Nakamura A motion was made by Hoffmeister and seconded by Benavente to adopt Resolution No. 26-8 entitled “A Resolution Ordering the Preparation of an Engineers Report for the Pine Hollow Landscape and Lighting Maintenance District.” The motion passed by the following vote:
AYES: Aliano, Benavente, Hoffmeister, Obringer NOES: None ABSENT: Nakamura A motion was made by Hoffmeister and seconded by Benavente to adopt Resolution No. 26-9 entitled "A Resolution Ordering the Preparation of an Engineer’s Report for the Landscape and Lighting Maintenance District No. 3.” The motion passed by the following vote:
AYES: Aliano, Benavente, Hoffmeister, Obringer NOES: None ABSENT: Nakamura City Council Minutes March 24, 2026
3 A motion was made by Hoffmeister and seconded by Benavente to adopt Resolution No. 26-10 entitled “A Resolution Ordering the Preparation of an Engineer’s Report for the Citywide Street Lighting Assessment District.” The motion passed by the following vote:
AYES: Aliano, Benavente, Hoffmeister, Obringer NOES: None ABSENT: Nakamura ADOPT RESOLUTION NO. 26-11 – Approving Use Permit Amendment for Shell Gas Station Expansion, 1500 Concord Avenue
A motion was made by Benavente and seconded by Hoffmeister to adopt Resolution No. 26-11 entitled, “A Resolution Approving a Use Permit Amendment to Reduce the Length of a Required Perimeter Masonry Wall for the Shell Gas Station Expansion at 1500 Concord Avenue (APN 126-043- 034; PL26022 – UPA.” The motion passed by unanimous vote of the Council.
ADOPT RESOLUTION NO. 26-12 – Approving Street Names for Subdivision No. 9729 located at 1836 Clayton Way
This item was pulled from consideration on the Consent Calendar by Councilmember Hoffmeister, who requested to change the name ”Hidden Willow Way” to “Hidden Willow Place.” No public comment was received.
A motion was made by Hoffmeister and seconded by Benavente to adopt Resolution No. 26-12 entitled, “A Resolution Approving the Street Names “Hidden Willow Place,” if Supported by the Street Naming Committee, or “Hidden Willow Way”, “Meadow Ridge Court,” and “Laurel Leaf Court” for Subdivision No. 9729, Located at 1836 Clayton Way. The motion passed by unanimous vote of the Council.
APPROVE A UNITED STATES FOREST SERVICE TERM SPECIAL USE PERMIT – Camp Concord A motion was made by Benavente and seconded by Benavente to approve a United States Forest Service Term Special Use Permit expiring December 31, 2046, for Camp Concord at Lake Tahoe, and authorize the City Manager to execute the Use Permit in a form acceptable to the City Attorney. The motion passed by unanimous vote of the Council.
ADOPT RESOLUTION NO. 25-13 – Accept and Approve Caltrans Community Cleanup and Employment Pathway Grant
This item was pulled from consideration on the Consent Calendar by Councilmember Obringer.
No public comment was received.
A motion was made by Obringer and seconded by Benavente to adopt Resolution No. 25-13 entitled, “A Resolution of City of Concord City Council Accepting and Appropriating Grant Funding from Caltrans and Authorize the City Manager to Execute Agreements with the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) for the City of Concord’s Community Cleanup Project.” The motion passed by unanimous vote of the Council.
APPROVE FISCAL YEAR 2025-26 FLEET REPLACEMENT PLAN
This item was pulled from consideration on the Consent Calendar by Mayor Nakamura.
No public comment was received.
City Council Minutes March 24, 2026
4 A motion was made by Nakamura and seconded by Obringer to approve the FY 2025-26 Fleet Replacement Plan and authorize staff to procure 23 replacement vehicles for various departments through the following vendors; Downtown Ford Sacramento, 72 Hr. DBA National Auto Fleet Group, Coast Counties Peterbilt, Terex Utilities, Peoria Ford, Folsom Lake Ford, Freeway Toyota, and Model 1, Creative Business Solutions; in an amount not to exceed $1,742,549. The motion passed by unanimous vote of the Council.
CORRESPONDENCE
a. Letter to Honorable Mark DeSaulnier re: Support for BART’s District’s Station Safety, Security, and Rider Experience Program – March 9, 2026
b. Letter to Honorable Alex Padilla re: Support for White Pony Express Grant Application for Community Project Funding for FY 27 – March 9, 2026
c. Letter to Bureau of Land Management re: Comments on the Central Coast Field Office Oil and Gas Leasing and Development Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement (SEIS) - March 11, 2026.
d. Agenda Item 3.c – Elevate Concord PowerPoint Presentation e. Agenda Item 4.e – Benched Correspondence
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 March 24, 2026, at 8:30 p.m. /s/
LAURA M. NAKAMURA
MAYOR
/s/
JOELLE FOCKLER, MMC
CTY CLERK