City Council Minutes Page 1 of 16 April 13, 2026
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City of Lafayette
City Council Minutes
Lafayette Library and Learning Center – Don Tatzin Community Hall April 13, 2026 3491 Mount Diablo Boulevard, Lafayette, California 6:00 p.m.
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City Council Minutes Page 2 of 16 April 13, 2026
1. CALL TO ORDER – 6:00 P.M.
Mayor Anduri the Regular City Council meeting to order at 6:00 p.m.
2. ROLL CALL
Present: City Council: Mayor Anduri, Vice Mayor McCormick; Councilmember Candell
Absent: Councilmembers Cervantes and Wotherspoon
Staff Present: Niroop Srivatsa, City Manager; Tracy Robinson, Assistant City Manager; Ricki Juster, Senior Transportation Coordinator; Mala Subramanian, City Attorney; Joanne Robbins, City Clerk
Disclosure and/or Take Action on Remote Participation due to Just Cause or Emergency Circumstances Pursuant to AB 2449 (Gov. Code section 54953(f).)
3. ADOPTION OF AGENDA
ACTION: It was M/S/C (McCormick/Wotherspoon) to adopt the agenda. Roll Call Vote: 3-0-2 (Ayes: Anduri, McCormick, Candell; Noes: None; Absent: Cervantes, Wotherspoon).
4. PUBLIC COMMENTS FOR ITEMS ON THE CLOSED SESSION – 6:00 P.M. – None.
5. CLOSED SESSION
A. Conference with Real Property Negotiators (Gov. Code section 54956.8) Property: 986 and 990 Moraga Road, Lafayette, CA
Agency Negotiators: Niroop Srivatsa, City Manager; Tracy Robinson, Assistant City Manager; Joe Kuvetakis, Partner, John Cumbelich & Associates Negotiating Parties: John Richman, Buyer Under Negotiations: Price and terms of payment
B. Conference with Real Property Negotiators (Gov. Code Section 54956.8) Property: 3425 Mt. Diablo Boulevard (APN 233-051-019)
Agency Negotiators: Niroop K. Srivatsa, City Manager and Jonathan Katayanagi, Parks and Recreation Director
Negotiating Parties: Edward Joseph Carey, Property Owner Under Negotiation: Price and terms of payment
REPORT OUT OF CLOSED SESSION – 7:00 p.m.
Mayor Anduri announced there was no reportable action taken in Closed Session.
6. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE – Mayor Anduri led in the Pledge of Allegiance.
7. MAYOR ANDURI – LAND ACKNOWLEDGEMENT STATEMENT
City Council Minutes Page 3 of 16 April 13, 2026
We acknowledge that Lafayette is part of the unceded, ancestral homeland of the Bay Miwok people. The Bay Miwok and neighboring Ohlone people have lived in and moved through this place for thousands of years. They stewarded and shaped this land for hundreds of generations. We express our appreciation and gratitude for this profound legacy, which enhances and contributes to our lives to this day. We will strive to honor this land and strengthen our ties with the Indigenous communities that continue to live and work in our East Bay region as our neighbors and community members. We acknowledge and honor them and their ancestors, elders, and next seven generations.
Mayor Anduri announced the City has received calls and e-mails regarding the activity on the El Curtola overpass bridge. The El Curtola bridge is the property of the State of California and not the City of Lafayette. As such, the City’s sign ordinance and any potential protest regulations that could be adopted would not apply to State property like a freeway facility.
If it is an emergency situation, please call 911. If amplified sound is being used on the bridge or if the protesters are blocking the road or sidewalk, please call Lafayette Police Dispatch. Otherwise, call Caltrans or the California Highway Patrol (CHP).
8. PUBLIC COMMENTS (For items not on the agenda) – None.
9. CITY MANAGER’S UPDATE
City Manager Niroop Srivatsa gave the following update:
• The Public Art Committee invites you to one last look at a closing reception for its Spring Exhibitions, featuring Hearing Shapes-Seeing Sounds by John Poole and Surface by Mary Stets Chabolla. This event will be held at the Library on May 11th from 5 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. • From Engineering and Public Works:
o Things are moving full steam ahead on infrastructure planning. Staff has drafted the proposed 2027 CIP along with a 5-Year CIP Roadmap, both of which will be presented to CPAC this Thursday, April 16th.
o The 2026 pavement project is officially out to bid with the bid opening scheduled for Thursday, April 23rd.
• From Planning:
o Planning Staff will be releasing an RFP for Pre-Approved ADU plans shortly, thanks to the funding secured through Senator Glazer’s Office. This was a grant provided to all jurisdictions within his area and the monies will be used to prepare off-the-shelf permitready ADU plans so a homeowner does not have to invest in an architect or have someone prepare plans. To be more efficient, the City is partnering with the Town of Moraga on this effort.
o Congressman Mark DeSaulnier has advanced over $46.7 million in federal funding for 20 projects in Contra Costa and Alameda Counties, including key investments in Lafayette.
These include $2.8 million for the Aqueduct Pathway, $2 million for supportive housing at Sunflower Hill, and funding to upgrade Lamorinda’s public safety communication systems and the County’s emergency response and infrastructure. The City thanks the Congressman for his leadership in advancing these projects that directly benefit the residents of Lafayette, Lamorinda and Contra Costa County.
Mayor Anduri opened the public comment period, and there were no speakers.
City Council Minutes Page 4 of 16 April 13, 2026
10. PRESENTATIONS
A. Janet Thomas, Lafayette Community Garden and Outdoor Learning Center Lafayette Civic Values: Lifelong Learning and the Arts
Recommendation: Receive and file.
Mayor Anduri said Lafayette’s Mission Statement calls out the City’s commitment to lifelong learning.
Through the City’s Public Art Committee and its newly expanded focus, the City seeks to embed the arts in their civic life and in the fabric of their community. During 2026 and 2027, the City will help strengthen these civic values through presentations at the beginning of the first Council meeting of each month by an arts organization or an organization that offers lifelong learning opportunities.
This month’s featured organization is the Lafayette Community Garden and Outdoor Learning Center. It’s mission is to provide space and opportunity for community members to learn about, care for, and connect to, their local eco-system and food grown within it, thereby promoting a healthier community and earth.
Founder and Co-Director of the Community Garden, Janet Thomas, will talk about the role of the garden in promoting and facilitating lifelong learning, and he welcomed Ms. Thomas.
Janet Thomas, Founder and Co-Director of the Community Garden, introduced Co-Directors Lynn Jones and Regina McGrath. She gave a PowerPoint presentation and said the Community Garden and Outdoor Learning Center was founded 15 years ago by a small group of Lafayette community members. The mission was to provide a space for members and visitors to learn about their eco-system and the way they grow their food. The garden is located across from the Reservoir and now across from the Cancer Support Center more directly on land owned by EBMUD. Their rent of about $2,500 is paid annually by the Community Garden to EBMUD. To obtain their non-profit status, they formed an agreement with Sustainable Lafayette which acts as their 501.c.3 sponsor.
In 2011, as they broke ground they had about 30 member volunteers and they now have 111 families with a waiting list of over 20. As many of them are aging up, they are very glad that younger individuals such as Regina and Lynn are joining them, and they also have a number of younger families. They are a cooperative community garden and they do most of their work as teams. As well as crop teams, they have an active construction team, native plant team, flower team, education team, monthly meetings, social gatherings, and regular newsletters. They partner with the Contra Costa Master Gardeners, the Mt. Diablo Bee Association, Republic Services, and on Thursday, May 14th at 10 a.m., John Taylor from Republic Services will provide a City co-sponsored talk at the garden addressing food waste and appropriate use of green bins.
They invite anyone in the community to visit during their work hours of Tuesday, 3:30 to 5:30 p.m. and Thursday and Saturday 9:00 a.m. to 12 noon. They host many scout and school groups for tours at other times as well as activities, and have been the lucky beneficiary of about 16 Eagle projects and Gold Award projects.
City Council Minutes Page 5 of 16 April 13, 2026
Their garden and its history can best be described by looking at their website, and she presented various aspects of their garden highlighted in their website. Their crops are seasonal and they are divided into three main crop groups, each led by team or crop leaders. They do not have individual beds owned or rented by individuals, and all work together. Ms. Thomas then described some of their favorite crops, gardening methods and seed starts, meetings, field trips and classes, and offer their Ground Rounds which are offered on the third Saturday of each month at 11:00 a.m. During these Ground Rounds, they walk around the garden with master gardeners. On May 17th this year, they will hold an Open House and they welcome all community members.
She then described their large compost area and active worm bins, winter bed plantings, organic farming practices, planting of drought tolerant and native plants, their efficient drip system, and said they have been asked to be on EBMUD’s Drought Tolerant Garden Tour on June 6th. They understand the benefits of pollinators and they have planted more and more flowers, partnered with the Mt. Diablo Bee Keepers Association that has 12 hives at the garden and were recipients of 120 pounds of honey last year.
They draw many children, have a large chicken coop and now are housing 15 young hens which is their fourth brood of chickens, each laying about one egg a day, so they are able to share the eggs. They have a very active construction team and logs have been donated over the last three years from Brian Gates of Orinda, Excellent Construction. They mill their own wood and build all of their own beds. They must build beds above ground because their site is located on what used to be Old Tunnel Road before Mt. Diablo Boulevard was established.
In 2019, they lost a large Valley Oak tree and decided to use the oak to build a 5-circuit labyrinth which is open to the community during work hours, and each year they celebrate World Labyrinth Day with music the first weekend in May. One of the reasons they chose this site is because of the beauty of the riparian and native plants. The Creekside habitat upon which the garden sits was actually once home to about 200 Native Americans. Because of its access to the creeks, one of their missions is to teach the community about their local creek eco-systems. They built a nature trail and at the back of the garden, they built simulated Miwok dwellings and every October, they have hosted all Lafayette School District’s third graders for a three-hour field trip over a course of two weeks. Kids seem to love it and she thinks this is one of the reasons they have had people interested in joining the garden. In conclusion, she played a video from Jennifer Russell, a garden member.
Councilmembers thanked Ms. Thomas for her presentation, recognized how the garden and programming has grown, growth in the number of members, and likened the Community Garden as a gem.
Mayor Anduri opened the public comment period, and there were no speakers.
B. Riki Juster, Senior Transportation Coordinator Lamorinda Spirit Van – Celebrating their 20th Anniversary
Recommendation: Receive and file
City Council Minutes Page 6 of 16 April 13, 2026
Transportation Coordinate of the Lamorinda Spirit Van Riki Juster recognized the massive support system from the City of Lafayette over the last 20 years, stating the Lamorinda Spirit Van was awarded funding for operating assistance, along with two new replacement vehicles that will hopefully arrive by 2027. She reported they continue to receive $20,000 annually from the Town of Moraga, spoke of benefits beyond funding such as office space, accounting support, and daily resources that keep them running. She recognized Director Katayanagi and staff who consistently come to their aid when needed. They provided their first ride on June 6, 2006 which means June will be their 20th anniversary, and she said the level of support has sustained the van during this time and she thanked the Council for their trust, support and commitment to this program and those it serves.
Mayor Anduri opened the public comment period.
Suzy Pak, Community Outreach Coordinator, Lamorinda Village, thanked the Council and Ms. Juster and her team for all the work the Spirit Van does for the City of Lafayette and its residents, as well as for Moraga and Orinda residents. Through her work as a volunteer with the Spirit Van, she has seen first-hand the difference it makes in the lives of people who may no longer drive. The service offers people an opportunity to continue to remain independent with the support of valuable transportation. She sees in the work of the Village that they have a great partnership with the Spirit Van and, as a result, have pushed the limits on the number of rides served. They are always looking for volunteers of 3-4 hours per month which makes a difference, and it allows people to form relationships with regular riders. They take a van of people to Costco once monthly, run into people from Lamorinda who ask how to get on the van, and it is amazing to see all of the connections that can be made from a small van. They have 4 vans and are getting 2 new ones and on behalf of Lamorinda Village, they are grateful and thankful for the partnership.
Rik Sheldon said he was inspired by Ms. Pak and Riki Juster to speak and he signed up to be a driver. He cannot say enough how proud he is of the community and the people it serves. As Ms. Pak alluded to, the realization when the van pulls up and helping others, you see others respond and recognize the van, which epitomizes what a lovely place they have here which is community-based. He is proud to be part of the organization, recognized their 20th anniversary, and thanked the Council for its support.
Mayor Anduri said 20 years ago, a great deal of effort went into creating this program and it is great to see where the program is now. He thanked Ms. Juster for her leadership, volunteer drivers, and thinks the program will become even more important so the Council should think about how they can expand it.
The City is an aging community, a larger community, and they will need more means of getting people around other than in their own vehicle. He also thanked the Town of Moraga for their monetary support in recent years.
Councilmember Candell thanked Lafayette staff for assisting in getting the grant and their work.
C. Rob Tygett, Senior Community Library Manager, Lafayette Library and Learning Center Update on Lafayette Library Activities and Request for a proclamation recognizing April 19-25 as National Library Week
Recommendation: Receive update and approve the proclamation recognizing April 19-25 as National Library Week.
City Council Minutes Page 7 of 16 April 13, 2026
Senior Community Library Manager Rob Tygett presented the Lafayette Library and Learning Center’s annual Strategic Plan update, highlighting increased usage, expanded services, and strong community engagement. Library circulation rose by 9%, driven by a 39% increase in digital usage through platforms such as Libby, Hoopla, and Kanopy. In-person visits increased by 10%, while website traffic saw a slight 2% decline. Outreach efforts remained robust, with the Rolling Reader program serving approximately 12,000 individuals, distributing 7,700 books, and issuing 150 new library cards in underserved neighborhoods.
Additional initiatives included Lunch at the Library, which provided 14,000 meals and snacks, and a successful Summer Reading program with about 2,000 new registrations.
New offerings in 2025 include expanded multilingual collections, the Read Contra Costa program, and Tech Exchange for one-on-one technology assistance. The Lafayette branch reported approximately 221,000 annual visitors and 390 programs serving around 7,700 participants, along with increased school outreach reaching over 1,000 students. Summer Reading participation also grew, with 834 finishers, outperforming county averages.
The library continued to offer diverse year-round programming, including cultural events, educational workshops, and community services such as tax assistance and technology classes. Equipment upgrades included a new multi-filament 3D printer. Lafayette ranked among the top libraries in digital circulation systemwide.
Finally, the Friends of the Lafayette Library contributed approximately $40,000 to support collections, programming, and equipment, further enhancing library services.
Vice Mayor McCormick expressed encouragement at the rise in in-person library visits and inquired about contributing factors. Mr. Tygett attributed the increase partly to expanded programming, as well as a shift in work patterns, with more individuals using the library as a remote work space. He also noted growing engagement from new families who are visiting regularly, attending story times, and borrowing materials.
Mayor Anduri asked about usage by non-residents, and Mr. Tygett confirmed that while there is strong local participation, the library also attracts families and caregivers from neighboring communities who value its services.
Councilmember Candell asked about the new covered deck, and Mr. Tygett reported it has been highly successful as a shaded, flexible space for families to gather, read, and engage with early literacy materials.
While managing food use has been a minor challenge, he noted it reflects the space’s popularity and overall success.
Mayor Anduri opened the public comment period, and there were no speakers.
Mayor Anduri thanked Mr. Tygett on behalf of the Council and he presented him with a proclamation recognizing April 19-25 as National Library Week.
ACTION: It was M/S/C (Candell/McCormick) to receive update and approve the proclamation recognizing April 19-25 as National Library Week. Roll Call Vote: 3-0-2 (Ayes: Anduri, McCormick, and Candell ; Noes:
None; Absent: Cervantes, Wotherspoon).
D. Sharon Smith, Outreach Analyst, California Department of Insurance City Council Minutes Page 8 of 16 April 13, 2026
Legislative Update – Make It FAIR Act, Disaster Recovery Reform Act, and Smoke Damage Recovery Act
Recommendation: Receive and file.
Sharon Smith, Outreach Analyst, California Department of Insurance, gave a PowerPoint presentation, stating the purpose of her talk was to give a legislative analysis of some of the bills the California Department of Insurance is sponsoring.
Due to the growing intensity and severity of climate events, compared with historic inflation and the rising cost of re-insurance, which is insurance for insurance companies. All of these things together is driving this insurance crisis and making it so there are fewer insurance options and an accelerated growth of the FAIR plan, the insurance of last resort. It is usually incredibly expensive since it is the pool of all of the highest risk properties in the state. She highlighted the 94549-zip code and information from the FAIR plan and last year, there was a 91% year over year increase. The year before there was a 200% increase so clearly, Lafayette has fewer and fewer private insurance options.
With previous legislation, they were talking a lot about the Safe from Wildfires Act and this mandated insurers offer premium discounts for homeowners implementing wildfire mitigation, so it gave some sort of reward for risk reduction if they had Zone Zero, defensible space, and home hardening measures.
The sustainable insurance strategy built upon this which allowed for insurers to use catastrophe modeling for precise wildfire risk pricing and they factored in the mitigation being done at the community level, at the property level, the landscape level to ensure market stability. For a long time, homeowners said why it is not being taken into account when they are doing mitigation. A lot of it was due to the regulatory structure in California. Insurers were only able to use the last 20 years of data and not take into account the mitigation being done. This was a problem for homeowners doing this mitigation and for insurers who are seeing risk is increasing and they are not able to account for that in their portfolios.
There is a lot more to the sustainable insurance strategy, but the main thrust was allowing for catastrophe models because it allows for more accurate risk pricing. Since they are asking homeowners to invest, especially those in low-income areas, these homeowners have a high barrier for being able to complete a lot of this mitigation. Last year, a grant program was passed which is being worked out now but it allows for grants for low-income homeowners in these high-fire severity zones to apply to fund defensible space and home hardening.
She said reforms have been introduced to the legislature but have not yet passed. They aim to expand insurance options and enhance post-disaster recovery. They have been informed by a lot of what they saw in Los Angeles after the wildfires in 2025.
The first act is the Make it Fair Act; AB 1680: This mandates compliance with the Insurance Commissioner’s recommendations from exams and operational reports within set timelines. All this means is the Commissioner for several years was asking the FAIR plan to increase their staff, make it easier for homeowners to make payments, and there were a lot of operational improvements that needed to be made to the FAIR plan, and they did not do any of them. This would mandate compliance for this because they saw the rising claims happen after the fires, they were not able to actually withstand that level of complaints and were not able to process claims quickly because they were not set up to do that. Again, this would mandate compliance and impose fees for violations and due process protections through hearings and appeals.
City Council Minutes Page 9 of 16 April 13, 2026
It would also provide a comprehensive coverage option. The FAIR plan is a bare bones policy and this would make it like any other homeowner policy that would reduce the need for separate policies for liability and for water damage. It would also boost accountability in consumer protection and pathways to shift policyholders back to voluntary markets. This would be done through a Clearinghouse program.
Right now, the onus is on the individual to go and ask for different insurers, get quotes from other people or other insurers and see if they are able to get off the FAIR plan. By strengthening the Clearinghouse program would make it so the FAIR plan itself is auctioning off these policies to the private market. The private market funds the FAIR plan so they would go to those insurance companies and say, these are the plans we have, and which ones can they take off of their books.
Mayor Anduri referred to the California Safe Homes grant, and asked what is the channel for dispersal of those grants. Ms. Smith responded this is still being worked out right now. This was passed last year and there is supposed to be a portal completed by mid-year. They are not sure how much grants will be, what exactly it will fund so there is a lot to be decided here. They are sending a lot of information through consumer alerts, and she will present a QR code at the end.
Mayor Anduri asked if this is completely separate from the funds that are available through Contra Costa Fire, and Ms. Smith said yes.
Councilmember Candell referred to AB 1680 and expanding the FAIR plan to be outside of the fire damage, and said it seems like this is the opposite direction and asked what is the justification. She said because of that fourth point, she asked that unless they do that, do they think it will never get picked up in the Clearinghouse by other insurance markets.
Ms. Smith said yes, that is part of it. Also, all of these bills are drafted and what actually gets passed is usually a lot different. She had this same question—this is the one point of the FAIR plan that is getting the most pushback. She thinks it is partially because the had a hard time just passing the fire claims and adding the additional claims process will be difficult. Because it has expanded so rapidly, people need coverage. In the meantime, they have to have something other than that, and the FAIR plan is meant to be a stop gap and not the insurance someone has forever. The thinking behind it is that they have this full coverage option for a period of time as opposed to expanding it so everyone can have this FAIR plan option that covers everything. The plan definitely still is to remove policyholders off the FAIR plan.
Vice Mayor McCormick said this is fine and is sure insurance companies are pushing back on this. To the last point, he thinks people should get off the FAIR plan instead of making this thing sort of competitive.
He thinks they would be better off getting the insurance companies backstopping it.
Ms. Smith agreed and said she thinks the sustainable insurance strategy has a lot to entice insurers to come back to the State to start writing in the state again. Definitely the direction that the department has been going is towards actually having people off of the FAIR plan. Again, this is how it is written now and what exactly passes might be completely different.
City Council Minutes Page 10 of 16 April 13, 2026
Ms. Smith said the other act is the Disaster Recovery Reform Act; SB 876: This is further protections after a declared emergency. This would require insurers to have a disaster recovery plan, including the FAIR plan, for how they are going to meet claims handling and meet timelines, especially after a very big urban fire like they saw in Los Angeles. It would also double penalties on unfair claims practices. Right now, some insurers see penalties from the Department of Insurance as the cost of doing business and they continue doing exactly what they have been doing which is either unfair to homeowners or policyholders, so this would double the penalties on any of those unfair claims practices and also mandate insurers to pay direct restitution to policyholders when they violate the law. There is not any actual verbiage in the law as to what that direct restitution would be like, but that is how it is written in the laws as of now.
This would also require a 5-day status update when a new adjuster is assigned. This is one that seems like it should be common practice but it is not. What many claimants get after any claim from their insurance company is almost a roulette of different adjusters. This would make it so every time a new adjuster is assigned, within 5 days, they have to provide a status update to the policy holder. This would also expand living expenses to 100% of policy limits. Right now, it is only 60% of policy limits, and it would also expand upfront payments and make them payable with interest when they are late.
The other part of the Disaster Recovery Reform Act that is not particularly about after a declared emergency, is mandating replacement cost options. This is something they saw a lot after every single fire. Homeowners do not know they are under-insured until after they have a loss and then they do not have enough coverage to rebuild, to buy elsewhere, and part of that is insurers are not required right now to estimate and update the replacement cost estimate on your home after a new renewal policy. This does not mean a homeowner has to get an increase in coverage or they have to pay more for their coverage.
This bill would make it so there is an option and that there is some discussion about the replacement cost which is incredibly huge. Nobody wants to pay more in insurance, but with inflation and as costs go up, it makes more sense to update coverage annually, and this would force insurers to do that.
This would also require safer rebuilding standards at the time of rebuilding. This is a loophole they have seen exploited a bit. In Altadena, they were not in a high fire severity zone before the fire. Cal Fire maps were redrawn. They are in a higher severity zone and insurance companies are not covering the building code upgrades for a high severity zone because they are saying at the time of the loss it was in a lower severity zone. So, some of the homes being rebuilt might not be rebuilt to the high standards that they should be. This would make it so it closes that loophole so that whatever the building code upgrades are at the time of rebuilding, those are the ones insurers need to cover.
The Smoke Damage Recovery Act; SB 1795: This is another act that really came to light after the fires, but this would establish science based, health driven standards for inspection, testing, and restoration of smoke-damaged homes and create a uniform insurance claims handling process and have required restoration protocols.
City Council Minutes Page 11 of 16 April 13, 2026
A big reason why homeowners in Altadena and the Palisades are getting their smoke damage claims denied is because there are no health-based guidelines to determine when it is safe for rebuilding. Some insurers have some very arbitrary guidelines about what they are going to cover. She has heard homeowners say their insurance company told them if there was no visible smoke damage, if they can smell the smoke then they were not going to cover it, even if their home was testing positive for arsenic, lead, etc. So, this would establish those guidelines and it would designate the appropriate state and local agencies to implement and enforce these standards. In the meantime, it would provide immediate relief to survivors that are being forced to go back to their homes in unsafe conditions. They are able to rely on local public health standards for smoke testing and restoration while these standards are being finalized.
They can take these to their insurance companies and say they cannot force them back into their home if it is unsafe.
Ms. Smith said she would love the Council to support these legislative reforms. There are three different draft letters of support she can follow-up with in an email afterwards so the Council can see those. This would encourage the Council and its constituents to support this legislation and to engage with their department. Most of these are being heard within the next few weeks and sooner than later would be best to have the letters sent, and if the Council or staff had any questions, she can be available.
If the Council would like to stay updated on legislation and regulations that have already passed, fraud prevention, unfair and deceptive business practices, she presented their consumer alerts link which is updated twice monthly. This is a good resource, especially for the California Safe Homes grant. There is a statewide education series designed to help consumers better understand important insurance topics, and the department is spearheading this, as well. They are seeing there is not a fluency around insurance and it is very confusing. Every other month, they are tackling a different type of insurance, and there is the ability to ask questions and have them answered by staff and also platform the types of resources the department does have available.
Mayor Anduri asked if there were additional questions.
Councilmember Candell thanked Ms. Smith for her presentation. They have a very active Legislation Committee in Lafayette and one of the things they were looking at today is around the fire hazard severity maps and the other one is on insurance. She asked if Ms. Smith was familiar with SB 1076 by Perez, which is the admitted insurers residential property insurance. It does not let insurers deny coverage if the home has a proven fire safety mitigation. Ms. Smith said this is not one being sponsored by the Department of Insurance. There are many insurance regulations that have come out, but these are the ones the Commissioner worked with the drafters to work on, but she has heard of SB 1076.
Councilmember Candell thanked Ms. Smith for bringing these bills to the City’s attention and she is sure they will be considering them.
Vice Mayor McCormick thanked Ms. Smith and said the Council had a presentation 18 months ago that shed light on the subject, and he thinks this presentation was good. It is tempting to bang hard on insurance companies, but at the same time they need to be held accountable and get more of them here.
So, he appreciates anything the Commissioner can do.
Mayor Anduri opened the public comment period, and there were no speakers.
City Council Minutes Page 12 of 16 April 13, 2026
Mayor Anduri thanked Ms. Smith for meeting with the Council, and Councilmembers welcomed her back again.
11. CONSENT CALENDAR
Mayor Anduri requested pulling Item A and said with respect to Item D, there will be some housekeeping changes in references to exhibit numbers. He confirmed no other Councilmembers or members of the public wished to remove any other items, and there no public comments.
B. Core Area Landscaping and Lighting District 1979-1 - Approving the Preliminary Engineer’s Report and Announcing the City’s Intention to Levy and Collect Assessment for Fiscal Year 2026-2027 Recommendation: Adopt Resolution 2026-29 Approving the Preliminary Engineer’s Report and Announcing the City’s Intention to Levy and Collect Assessment for Fiscal Year 2026-2027.
C. Residential Lighting District 1979-2 -Approving the Preliminary Engineer’s Report and Announcing the City’s Intention to Levy and Collect Annual Assessments for Fiscal Year 2026-2027 Recommendation: Adopt Resolution 2026-25 Approving the Preliminary Engineer’s Report and Announcing the City’s Intention to Levy and Collect Assessments for Fiscal Year 2026-2027.
D. Approval of Purchase and Sale Agreement for the property located at 986-990 Moraga Road (Campana) and return net proceeds to Fund 75.
Recommendation: Approve the Purchase and Sale Agreement for the property located at 986-990 Moraga Road (Campana) and return net proceeds to Fund 75 ACTION: It was M/S/C (McCormick/Candell) to approve Consent Calendar Items B, C, and D. Roll Call Vote:
3-0-2 (Ayes: Anduri, McCormick, and Candell ; Noes: None; Absent: Cervantes, Wotherspoon).
12. OLD BUSINESS – None.
13. STAFF REPORTS – None.
14. PUBLIC HEARING – None.
15. ITEM REMOVED FROM CONSENT
A. City Council Minutes – March 23, 2026
Recommendation: Approve.
Mayor Anduri referred to page 9 of 20, second paragraph which states: “Mayor Anduri confirmed key pedestrian design elements including an 8.5-foot-wide sidewalk….” He asked to revise the sentence to:
“Mayor Anduri asked the applicant to confirm there will be an 8.5’ wide sidewalk along Mt. Diablo Boulevard. The applicant confirmed that there will be.” ACTION: It was M/S/C (Anduri/McCormick) to approve Consent Calendar Item 11 A, as amended. Roll Call Vote: 3-0-2 (Ayes: Anduri, McCormick, and Candell; Noes: None; Absent: Cervantes, Wotherspoon).
16. COUNCIL / COMMISSION REPORTS
City Council Minutes Page 13 of 16 April 13, 2026
A. Councilmembers report on activities and consideration of matters a Councilmember wishes to initiate for placement on a future agenda.
Vice Mayor McCormick reported on his participation in the Cal Cities Environmental Policy Committee meeting in Southern California, where discussions focused on environmental issues including water, wildfire, smoke impacts, electricity, and community choice aggregators’ ability to procure power.
He also attended the Mayors’ Conference on April 2 in Mayor Anduri’s absence, where regional concerns such as human trafficking were addressed, particularly in relation to large-scale events, along with efforts by a dedicated task force to combat the issue.
Additionally, Vice Mayor McCormick said he met with the City Manager and Cal Cities leadership regarding proposed reforms to the Bradley-Burns sales tax to create a more equitable distribution of revenue from online sales. While a proposal to establish a 50/50 revenue split between warehouse locations and delivery destinations was not approved by the Cal Cities Board, discussions clarified distinctions between in-state and out-of-state distribution centers. Legislative changes may address out-of-state centers, while in-state reforms would require a constitutional amendment. Cal Cities plans to continue refining the proposal, with further consideration expected next year.
Mayor Anduri inquired about the proportion of in-state versus out-of-state revenues. Vice Mayor McCormick responded that the current ratio is approximately $1 billion from out-of-state sources compared to $400 million in-state. He explained that legislative pressures have discouraged warehouse development within California, leading to increased construction just across state borders, which is contributing to a growing share of deliveries originating out-of-state. Revenues from out-of-state centers present a more feasible opportunity for legislative reform and offer greater potential impact.
Mayor Anduri also highlighted the environmental consequences of this trend, noting the increase in longdistance truck traffic. Vice Mayor McCormick expressed optimism that future legislative action may help address these concerns.
Mayor Anduri reported presenting proclamations at two community events on Saturday. The first was hosted by the Acalanes Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution, honoring the Marquis de Lafayette with a ceremonial procession to the plaza statue. He noted ongoing collaboration with the Historical Society and other partners, including the DAR, as part of upcoming activities commemorating the 250th anniversary of America’s independence and France’s role in supporting it.
The second event, “Lead the Way – Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, Belonging,” was organized by Acalanes students in partnership with the DEIB Committee. Despite inclement weather, the event was well attended and highlighted strong community and student engagement.
B. Councilmember Candell and Cervantes, Legislation Committee Bills of Local Importance: The committee recommends support for:
a. AB 1942 (Bauer-Kahan) E-Bike Accountability Act
Recommendation: Support.
City Council Minutes Page 14 of 16 April 13, 2026
Councilmember Candell provided an update on AB 1942, noting it aims to enhance E-bike safety by requiring Class II and III E-bikes to be registered with the DMV and display license plates. While the proposal is straightforward, feedback from rider David Dondero raised concerns and suggested aligning the legislation more closely with European standards. In response, she and Councilmember Cervantes sought additional input, including a report from Emergency Services Coordinator Andy Comly, which recommended supporting the bill as a practical measure to aid law enforcement. Based on this assessment, the Council is recommending support for AB 1942 and plans to use insights from both reports to guide future E-bike policy. Staff were also directed to explore further recommendations from Comly, particularly in the areas of training and education. Candell formally moved to support the bill.
Vice Mayor McCormick said the Council heard that most of these licensing bills have failed because of the cost required to register them with the DMV. He asked if this would come out of the General Fund or asked if it was self-funding. Councilmember Candell replied it would be self-paying when users register with the DMV.
Mayor Anduri opened the public comment period, and there were no speakers.
ACTION: It was M/S/C (Candell/McCormick) to support AB 1942. Roll Call Vote: 3-0-2 (Ayes: Anduri, McCormick, and Candell; Noes: None; Absent: Cervantes, Wotherspoon). b. AB 2517 (Calderon) Fire Hazard Severity Zone Maps
Recommendation: Support.
Councilmember Candell said this bill covers the responsibilities of the State Fire Marshal regarding the designations of local responsibility zones into the moderate, high, and very high severity zones. The real meat of this bill is that it will require the State Fire Marshal to update the fire zones every 5 years. Right now, the updates are haphazard and unpredictable, so this will force a 5-year review, and they recommend supporting this bill.
Mayor Anduri asked what is the fiscal impact of this, and Councilmember Candell said they did not receive a report of that.
Mayor Anduri opened the public comment period, and there were no speakers.
ACTION: It was M/S/C (Candell/McCormick) to support AB 2517. Roll Call Vote: 3-0-2 (Ayes: Anduri, McCormick, and Candell; Noes: None; Absent: Cervantes, Wotherspoon). c. AB 1557 (Papan) Vehicles: Electric Bicycles
Recommendation: Support.
Councilmember Candell stated they recommend support of this bill which reduces the speeds an E-bike can add with assistance. It does not reduce top speeds of the bikes, but it cannot add any more speed to it. Now, the maximum speed of assist is 20 mph for Class I and II, and this bill reduces this to 16 mph. It also ensures manufacturers cannot allow these bikes to get power upgrades like so many do now, and it has large fines if they do. This is why the Legislative Committee supports this bill.
Mayor Anduri opened the public comment period, and there were no speakers.
City Council Minutes Page 15 of 16 April 13, 2026
ACTION: It was M/S/C (Candell/McCormick) to support AB 1557. Roll Call Vote: 3-0-2 (Ayes: Anduri, McCormick, and Candell; Noes: None; Absent: Cervantes, Wotherspoon). d. SB 868 (Wiener) Portable solar generation devices.
Recommendation: Support.
Councilmember Candell said this bill defines portable solar generation devices and allows residents to use them in their homes to power any devices they choose. It also makes sure the system cannot be attached and feeding in the grid during a power outage which is a real safety concern. It is thought that many residents might choose this to offset their high energy bills and the bill gives renters access to these devices that they may not have in their buildings otherwise. It does not let PG&E have any control over these devices and no fees can be attached, so the Legislative Committee supports the bill.
Vice Mayor McCormick said he thinks this is excellent and while they talk about electric vehicles, they ignore the fact that many of these things are not practical for people who live in apartments, and it can be addressed now.
Mayor Anduri opened the public comment period, and there were no speakers.
ACTION: It was M/S/C (Candell/McCormick) to support SB 868. Roll Call Vote: 3-0-2 (Ayes: Anduri, McCormick, and Candell; Noes: None; Absent: Cervantes, Wotherspoon). e. SB 1076 (Perez) Admitted insurers; residential property insurance Recommendation: Support.
Councilmember Candell said this bill does not let insurers deny coverage if the home has proven fire safety mitigations implemented according to standards established by the Insurance Commissioner, such as home hardening and defensible space. The Insurance Commissioner has to define these things and you have to get sign-off that homeowners have done these things. It penalizes insurance companies who still deny insurance the ability to sell home and auto insurance in the state for five years. So, if they do not follow it, they cannot sell home or auto insurance in the state. The Committee discussed how the penalties might not be in California’s best interests, but think that this will provide some leverage over the insurers as more of a threat, and the Committee supports it.
Mayor Anduri opened the public comment period, and there were no speakers.
ACTION: It was M/S/C (Candell/McCormick) to support SB 1076. Roll Call Vote: 3-0-2 (Ayes: Anduri, McCormick, and Candell; Noes: None; Absent: Cervantes, Wotherspoon).
C. Legislative Matrix
Recommendation: Receive and file.
Councilmember Candell asked for any questions on the Legislative Matrix, and there were none.
Mayor Anduri opened the public comment period, and there were no speakers.
Mayor Anduri thanked Councilmembers Candell and Cervantes for their work in reviewing bills and in bringing forward Legislative Committee recommendations.
City Council Minutes Page 16 of 16 April 13, 2026
ACTION: It was M/S/C (Candell/McCormick) to receive and file the Legislative Matrix. Roll Call Vote: 3-0-2 (Ayes: Anduri, McCormick, and Candell; Noes: None; Absent: Cervantes, Wotherspoon).
17. WRITTEN COMMUNICATIONS
A. E-mail from Larry Blodgett, Keep On Truckin Committee Coordinator, Rotary Club of Lafayette, requesting the closure of both lanes on Golden Gate Way from First Street to the Lafayette Library and Learning Center Parking Entrance on Saturday, October 3, 2026, from 7:00am to 3:00pm.
Recommendation: Approve street closure with the adoption of Resolution 2026-28. The Rotary Club of Lafayette agrees to notify affect businesses, requests permission to borrow necessary equipment from the Public Works Department and provide insurance naming the City of Lafayette as an additional insured.
Mayor Anduri stated the recommendation is to approve the street closure and adoption of a resolution.
Mayor Anduri opened the public comment period, and there were no speakers.
ACTION: It was M/S/C (McCormick/Candell) to approve street closure with the adoption of Resolution 2026-28. The Rotary Club of Lafayette agrees to notify affect businesses, requests permission to borrow necessary equipment from the Public Works Department and provide insurance naming the City of Lafayette as an additional insured. Roll Call Vote: 3-0-2 (Ayes: Anduri, McCormick, and Candell; Noes:
None; Absent: Cervantes, Wotherspoon).
B. E-mail from Roger Deming, resigning from the Planning Commission.
Recommendation: Accept resignation and thank Roger Deming for his volunteer service.
Mayor Anduri said Mr. Deming was a strong member of the Planning Commission and he will be missed.
Vice Mayor McCormick echoed comments, agreed he was a great addition to the Commission, and hopes he can return once his life/work is better balanced.
ACTION: It was M/S/C (McCormick/Candell) to accept resignation and thank Roger Deming for his volunteer service. Roll Call Vote: 3-0-2 (Ayes: Anduri, McCormick, and Candell; Noes: None; Absent:
Cervantes, Wotherspoon).
18. ADJOURNMENT – 8:25 p.m. in memory of Norm Tuttle, elected to the City Council in 1976 and serving as Lafayette’s Mayor in 1979.
APPROVED:
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Carl Anduri, Mayor
ATTEST:
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Joanne Robbins, City Clerk