City Council Meeting Page 1 of 10 July 13, 2026
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City of Lafayette
City Council Minutes
Lafayette Library and Learning Center – Don Tatzin Community Hall July 13, 2026 3491 Mount Diablo Boulevard, Lafayette, California 7:00 p.m.
As a courtesy, and technology permitting, members of the public may participate virtually. However, the City cannot guarantee that the public’s access to teleconferencing technology will be uninterrupted, and technical difficulties may occur from time to time. Unless required by the Brown Act, City Council/Board meetings will continue despite technical difficulties for participants using the teleconferencing (Zoom) option. To participate virtually in the City of Lafayette’s public meetings and provide public comment, please follow these steps:
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1. CALL TO ORDER – 7:00 P.M.
Mayor Anduri called the Regular City Council meeting to order at 7:00 p.m.
2. ROLL CALL
Present: Mayor Anduri, Vice Mayor McCormick; Councilmember Candell, and Cervantes City Council Meeting Page 2 of 10 July 13, 2026
Absent: Councilmember Wotherspoon
Staff Present: Niroop Srivatsa, City Manager; Tracy Robinson, Administrative Services Director; Mala Subramanian, City Attorney; Joanne Robbins, City Clerk
3. Disclosure and/or Take Action on Remote Participation due to Just Cause or Emergency Circumstances Pursuant to AB 2449 (Gov. Code section 54953(f).)
4. ADOPTION OF AGENDA
ACTION: It was M/S/C (McCormick/Candell) to adopt the agenda. Roll Call Vote: 4-0-1 (Ayes: Anduri, McCormick, Candell, Cervantes, ; Noes: None; Absent: Wotherspoon).
5. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE – Mayor Anduri led in the Pledge of Allegiance.
6. MAYOR ANDURI – LAND ACKNOWLEDGEMENT STATEMENT
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.
7. PUBLIC COMMENTS (For items not on the agenda) – 7:00 p.m.
MARIO DIPRISCO stated that while Measure H has provided temporary financial stability by maintaining existing City services, it does not address Lafayette's long-term structural fiscal challenges. He encouraged the City Council to use the remaining term of Measure H to develop sustainable financial strategies and proposed expanding the Finance Subcommittee into a standing Fiscal Advisory Committee composed of residents with financial expertise. He said the committee could identify cost-saving opportunities, improve efficiencies, and recommend long-term revenue solutions while operating transparently under the Brown Act. He added that such a committee would strengthen public confidence, demonstrate responsible stewardship of taxpayer funds, and better position the City for future funding measures or bond initiatives.
ROB STURM, speaking as both a Lafayette resident and a member of the Lafayette School District Governing Board, thanked the Mayor, City Council, and staff for their recent actions to enhance school crossing safety, including the City's decision to assume operational and financial responsibility for crossing guard services. He emphasized that the City has the legal authority and responsibility for ensuring the safety of its streets and expressed appreciation for the Council's leadership in addressing this responsibility.
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He also addressed comments made during the prior Council meeting regarding the School District needing to "have skin in the game." While he understood the sentiment, he believes the phrase is not appropriate in this context, explaining that the School District is responsible for educating students and maintaining safe campuses, while the City is responsible for the safety of public streets. Although these responsibilities are complementary and both agencies benefit from one another's success, he argued that they are distinct and should not require one agency to fund the core responsibilities of the other.
He concluded by reaffirming the long-standing partnership between the City and the School District, emphasizing that effective collaboration is built on mutual respect and each organization fulfilling its own responsibilities while supporting shared community goals. He acknowledged that comments made during public deliberations can sometimes carry unintended implications and encouraged thoughtful consideration of terminology such as "skin in the game" and "shared funding." He closed by reiterating his appreciation for the City's leadership and expressing his commitment to continuing the strong partnership that has long benefited the Lafayette community.
JUDY BARRIENTOS, a member of ATU Local 1605 and a transit worker with County Connection, expressed support for SB 63, stating that the measure is important to help sustain BART operations and ensure that County Connection, as well as Delta and West CAT, receive adequate funding to cover transit service costs.
She noted that while the measure may seem premature, she believes it is important to build support early.
She also urged the City Council to advocate with the CCTA to prioritize transit funding if the measure is approved. She expressed concern that transit may not receive sufficient priority within CCTA's spending plan and emphasized that return-to-source funds should be used to support transit services. She stated that she would continue to monitor the issue and return to the Council if transit funding is not adequately prioritized.
8. CITY MANAGER’S UPDATE
City Manager Niroop Srivatsa gave the following report:
• From the Public Works and Engineering Department:
• The Mt. Diablo at Hampton Flashing Beacon Crossing project is out to bid. This is a task that has been on the City’s work plan for a couple of years. • Staff is focused on the 2026 Repaving project. This project includes work on 22 different streets and it is happening in multiple phases. Staff truly appreciates the community’s patience as they successfully complete the repaving project. • From the Public Art Committee:
• The Committee has completed the installation of new, standardized plaques for all Public Art commissioned through the City since 2021. Each plaque has a QR code that links to information about the art and the artist. The entire public art collection can be viewed on the City’s website, as well.
• From the Police Department:
• A reminder to the community that Lafayette Police Officers are very strict about enforcing laws associated with the use of E-bikes and they often impound non-street legal Emotorcycles. • In addition, at least one parent has been cited for their liability for their child’s actions on an E-bike, so the City encourages everybody to follow the laws and obey the rules.
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Mayor Anduri opened the public comment period, and there were no speakers.
9. PRESENTATIONS
A. Sue Farmer - Lamorinda Arts Council
Lafayette Civic Values: Lifelong Learning and the Arts
Recommendation: Receive and file.
Mayor Anduri provided introductory and background comments, stating Lafayette’s Mission Statement calls out its commitment to lifelong learning and, through organizations such as the City’s Public Art Committee and its expanded focus, the City seeks to embed the arts in their civic life and in the fabric of the community. During 2026 and 2027, these civic values will be strengthened through presentations at the beginning of the first Council meeting of each month by a local organization that offers lifelong learning opportunities or promotes appreciation of the arts.
This month’s featured organization is the Lamorinda Arts Council. It’s primary mission is to ignite and sustain artistic expression and appreciation for all ages throughout Lamorinda. The City is welcoming them by changing their banners for Lafayette arts and music. Sue Farmer, President of the Lamorinda Arts Council, will tell the Council of their activities, and he welcomed Ms. Farmer.
Sue Farmer, President, Lamorinda Arts Council, said their Arts Council is all of Lamorinda and it began in the 1950’s. They recently celebrated their 75th anniversary this fall and originally they were just the Orinda Arts Council, but they built the Library, have a lovely gallery, and it is for all of the community.
They also started Lamorinda Idol which involves children who have opportunities to perform from kindergarten through high school. She thanked the Council for allowing them to perform for the Rock the Plaza Summer Concert Series on June 26th. The Lamorinda Singers have sung at the Art & Wine Festival and at multiple community events, which she described. It is much more than just singing. It develops their self-esteem and they have about 100 students who apply every year. All teachers are notified K-high school in all of the towns that there is an opportunity to audition. She has been one of the judges serving for years, and they audition in a local school. They usually have about 100 kids who apply and they must screen them down to about 40 kids, who then have many opportunities to perform. The highlight is on August 16th where they sing in the Orinda Theater and they even have an alumni association of previous singers who track each other. Some have made it to Broadway, so they are proud of what they have accomplished with this.
Ms. Farmer then presented a slide show of kids performing at Lamorinda Idol, popular monthly receptions for artists displaying their art work, ceramics and other art on display, two months dedicated to kids noting in March they had art from all local high schools in the gallery, awards program for winners in the Auditorium and in the Orinda Library, Art Embraces Words in the Science Room in the Lafayette Library, fundraising events, Mixology events at Theater Square and the next one held on October 10th to raise funds to support all of their programs.
Mayor Anduri opened the public comment period, and there were no speakers.
Mayor and Councilmembers thanked Ms. Farmer for all of her work with the Lamorinda Arts Council.
B. Tracy Robinson, Assistant City Manager
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Introduction: Scott Watkins, Senior Planner
Recommendation: Receive and file.
Assistant City Manager Tracy Robinson introduced the City’s new Senior Planner, Scott Watkins. He comes from the City of Concord where he worked on housing policies and several award-winning initiatives. He also has private sector environmental planning experience and holds graduate degrees in both Business Administration and Public Policy. Outside of work, Mr. Watkins coaches youth soccer and recently built his own backyard ADU as an owner/builder. His Thomas Jefferson quote is, “I’m a great believer in luck.
He finds the harder he works, the more he has of it.”
Senior Planner Scott Watkins thanked Ms. Robinson for the overview of his background, said he also has experience in public art and he hopes to meet each Councilmember through projects he is assigned over the course of time.
Mayor Anduri and Councilmembers welcomed Mr. Watkins to the City.
10. CONSENT CALENDAR
Mayor Anduri asked if the Council or the public wished to remove any items, and there were no requests or public comments.
A. June 22, 2026 Minutes
Recommendation: Approve.
B. Reassignment of City Council Liaison Appointments
Recommendation: Adopt the proposed reassignment of City Council Liaison Appointments ACTION: It was M/S/C (Cervantes/Candell) to approve Consent Calendar Items A and B. Roll Call Vote: 4- 0-1 (Ayes: Anduri, McCormick, Candell, Cervantes; Noes: None; Absent: Wotherspoon).
11. COUNCIL / COMMISSION REPORTS
A. Councilmembers report on activities and consideration of matters a Councilmember wishes to initiate for placement on a future agenda.
Councilmember Cervantes reported that he and Vice Mayor McCormick attended the Emergency Preparedness Commission meeting earlier this month. They are working through concepts that could return as programs that would fit the budget with respect to emergency preparedness.
Mayor Anduri reported the City had its 250th Anniversary Celebration on July 2nd. They purposely held it on the Thursday before the 4th of July so as not to interfere with Moraga’s or Orinda’s celebrations. They focused on their theme of lifelong learning on the role of the Marquis de Lafayette in winning their independence. There were many city partners involved which he described, along with the City staff taking the lead in planning. A meeting was held afterwards which highlighted its success, and they are thinking about doing this in future years prior to the 4th of July events.
B. Councilmember Candell and Cervantes, Legislation Committee Position on Bills of Local Importance
1. AB 1751 (Quirk-Silva): Missing Middle Townhome Ownership Act Recommendation: Oppose.
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Councilmember Candell said they held a meeting in late June and they discussed an additional bill; AB 2433 but decided not to bring that to this meeting tonight and will have it return after amendments are made.
Under AB 1751, she received a report from Casey Elliott about the details of amendments. Since the Council meeting, it has gone through the Senate Housing and Senate Local Government Committees and both passed. Amendments include some definition of townhomes, ministerial approval standards, work standards and clarified, limits on project eligibility and some density and affordability requirements. This bill is trying to have the same ministerial approvals like large multi-family projects but apply to townhomes as well.
Some people are supporting it. The League has consistently opposed it because of the ministerial aspect of approving these things. Labor wants to add the wage language which they always do, so their thought is they would oppose AB 1751 and support the League’s position.
Councilmember Cervantes said the other issue the League noted is if you have a site zoned for multifamily, you could end up with less density as a result because townhomes are approved and multi-family was approved for each no net loss issues for a community like Lafayette. If they approved a site for multifamily nearby here and a developer could put in townhomes instead with less density, leaving the City with less units than they counted on.
Councilmember Candell said this happened to the City and this is why they want to oppose AB 1751.
Vice Mayor McCormick said this is quite incredible, but it has been unanimously passed by both the Assembly and the Senate, including their representatives. He shared opposition, said because Lafayette is over 25,000 in population, their default density is 30 du/acre, so the townhomes have to be 75% which is 22 units/acre which is challenging, but he will support opposition.
Councilmember Cervantes said if you have a jointly cooperation committee formed where there could be civil action for certain labor and contractor licensing laws, including payment of “reasonable attorney fees” there is a lot in there that will make developers look twice.
Vice Mayor McCormick noted that the labor language is out of the bill now and it is just ministerial approval for townhomes that meet the density requirements.
Mayor Anduri suggested doing each of the bills individually. He opened the public comment period, and there were no speakers.
ACTION: It was M/S/C (Cervantes/Candell) to oppose AB 1751. Roll Call Vote: 4-0-1 (Ayes: Anduri, McCormick, Candell, Cervantes; Noes: None; Absent: Wotherspoon).
2. SB 876 (Padilla): Fire and residential property insurance Recommendation: Support.
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Councilmember Candell stated SB 876; fire and residential property insurance. The bill is massive and it covers many aspects of fire insurance, but mostly to address post-disaster rebuilding after a massive fire.
It also adds provisions to update actual replacement costs and updated building codes estimates, which is a gap for many people who get insurance. It also gives new powers to the Insurance Commissioner to penalize bad actors. It has now passed the Assembly Judiciary and Insurance Committees. It is very broad and no doubt there will be some amendments to get it passed. They likely will delay the implementation until 2028. On a side note, Senator Ben Allen who is likely to be their next Insurance Commissioner, also supports it and is a co-sponsor of it. Their position was to support it even though it is very broad, and there will likely be some amendments.
Councilmember Cervantes said he thinks a conveyance of insurance policies that do not include building code upgrade provisions is that the homeowner may get stuck with significant costs. This is a complicated bill and one of the consequences might be its impact on the insurance market, but they did not want homeowners having inadequate policies where they think they are covered and they are really not.
Councilmember Candell said they could have the Lamorinda Coalition also try to send a letter, and they will bring this up at the Lamorinda Legislative meeting, and their recommendation is to support.
Mayor Anduri opened the public comment period, and there were no speakers.
ACTION: It was M/S/C (Cervantes/Candell) to approve the position of support for SB 876. Roll Call Vote:
4-0-1 (Ayes: Anduri, McCormick, Candell, Cervantes, McCormick; Noes: None; Absent: Wotherspoon).
3. SB 894 (Allen): Wildfire resiliency: financial assistance Recommendation: Support.
Councilmember Candell said this is wildfire resiliency: financial assistance which is a new loan program called the California Wildfire Resilience Loan Program, but does not actually fund it yet. It is aimed at getting more community hardening as the full target which will benefit from loans from the state to achieve. It could be residents, the City of Lafayette, and it will be set up to be a gambit of people who could be set up to get loans from the state to achieve hardening. They found out during their visit to Sacramento that there is an entire movement towards community hardening. This is what the State is trying to set up to achieve, and this is part of that plan. They want to promote this, help residents or the City who need it by getting loans for community hardening. So, this is a definite support position.
Councilmember Cervantes added that it seems community hardening is the holy grail in terms of wildfire preparedness and safety. Senator Allen’s bill could provide a key missing piece in the financing of that because costs could be considerable for homeowners. It creates a mechanism. There is work that still must be done on this, but it is a template where the state could be a resource and in his view, it is a good first step.
Vice Mayor McCormick asked where the money is coming from, and possibly enabling legislation is first needed and then actual funding is needed.
Mayor Anduri opened the public comment period, and there were no speakers.
ACTION: It was M/S/C (Cervantes/Candell) to approve the position of support for SB 894. Roll Call Vote:
4-0-1 (Ayes: Anduri, McCormick, Candell, Cervantes, McCormick,; Noes: None; Absent: Wotherspoon).
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C. Mayor Anduri
Recognizing all commission and committee members whose service ended on June 30, 2026 Recommendation: Recognize Design Review Commissioners Jon Gray for 6 years of volunteer service and Arman Hadilou for 6½ years of volunteer service; Banner Advisory Committee Member Judith Klein Flynn for 10 years of volunteer service; and Capital Projects Assessment Committee Member Lee Thompson for 32 years of volunteer service.
Mayor Anduri said under the City’s current system, when Commissioners are appointed, they serve for two years and, unless there are extenuating circumstances, they are renewed for two more years up to six years. When it comes to the six year period, a Commissioner would reapply and be interviewed with other applicants. Some Commissioners take that opportunity to end at their six years of service which is a great contribution to complete their terms and move onto other things. So, the Council does not have an opportunity to thank them.
He said the Council wishes to recognize DRC member Jon Gray and Arman Hadilou for their six years of volunteer service, Banner Advisory Committee member Judith Klein Flynn for her 10 years of service, and CPAC member Lee Thompson for his 32 years of volunteer service.
12. Closed Session
A. Conference with Legal Counsel – Existing Litigation
Gov. Code section 54956.9(d)(1)
Brian J. Vesce, et al. v. City of Lafayette
Contra Costa Superior Court, Case No. MSC20-01130
Mayor Anduri opened the public comment period.
DAN MULLER, attorney representing the members of the public who for decades have been using what is a pathway called “the Dips” that run through the property purchased by the Vesce family around 2016 or 2017. Their rather large group is known as Save the Dips, and he thanked the Council for letting him speak on this issue. In case the Council has not seen it because the email came in around 1:14 p.m. today, one of their Save the Dips representatives, Mr. Colby Powell, has provided staff and hopefully the Council hard copies of the short email he sent.
He summarized the email, stating they have been actively involved in this dialogue for as far as the Vesce’s lawsuit has been of record which has been since 2020 and are respectfully asking that the Council please not agree to any settlement agreement that is proposed by the Vesces or otherwise unless it reasonably and clearly protects the public’s long-standing access rights to the pathway known as “the Dips.” As he discussed with both the City’s counsel involved in the lawsuit and the Vesce’s attorneys, it does not appear to him that the Vesces proposed draft settlement agreement does what is needed. They believe all that is needed to make it work for them is about 20 words in addition to what is in the agreement. The City seems to be deferring to the Vesce’s on the wording of the settlement and the Vesces are not telling them to date why. They will not edit the agreement to make sure the public is okay. They are asking the City to take a break from signing that agreement to talk and engage with them, and they are ready, willing and able to try to resolve this pretty simple predicament. If there is anything the Council or staff has in terms of questions, he is available.
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Mayor Anduri noted that each Councilmember has received and has read the email. He asked if there were any questions from Councilmembers.
Councilmember Candell said Mr. Muller mentioned there are 20 words he wants the Council to include.
She did not see that in his email and she asked if he or the City’s Attorney has those 20 words. Mr. Muller said they did submit those words to the Mr. Ditfurth, the attorney, and he has said it depends on what the Vesces feel about those words. So, those words are with the attorney. He did not want to get into too much nitty gritty details because this matter did get mediated and there is a lot of confidentiality about mediation, so he is treading lightly on these details.
Councilmember Cervantes said he was not on the Council when this matter was considered before. He wants to understand the nature of the request which is that in his email, he wanted not have the City enter into a settlement agreement that leaves the public in jeopardy or worse, but protects and preserves the public on-going use of “the Dips” by “maintaining the status quo.” If there is no easement recorded that would still allow public access on the pathway, he asked if the request is to have that codified somehow in a settlement agreement.
Mr. Muller said he might be a bit obscure, but what the request is, is to clarify in the settlement agreement or proposed settlement agreement or any settlement agreement that, as a result of the settlement between the City and the Vesces that the lawsuit that is in play be dismissed in its entirety, including against the public because the public was named at the behest of the court and at the behest of the City a year or so ago. The lawsuit the Vesces filed was formally amended to include any persons, any members of the public who have any claims or interests in the subject Vesce property, and they believe this clearly was not an invite to anybody who crosses through that property on a regular basis that might have prescriptive easement rights or implied rights of public dedication to the pathway, which is paved and has been used by people to cross for decades.
So, they are not asking so much to protect affirmatively the public’s rights to continue using “the Dips.” They are trying to avoid any kinds of trips or traps for the unwary or other untoward consequences and they think the language provided to the City’s counsel does that job. They have not heard from anybody why that cannot work.
Councilmember Cervantes said he is not an attorney, but if the City were not a party to this but the public remained in place, he asked if Mr. Muller would have the option to litigate his position with the property owner.
Mr. Muller said theoretically, yes, but the way the settlement agreement is written and proposed, it leaves a huge vulnerability for the public and he thinks it is intentional. It is not the City who is doing it, but he thinks the City rationally would like to rid itself of this issue and problem which he understands. But, his fear is the way that the proposal is written now, it seriously compromises the public’s ability to maintain the status quo. He does not know if it is intentional, but when he asked the people involved to please insert this language so they do not feel there will be any jeopardy to the public, the answer was, “We don’t have authority to agree to the change you are asking for, Mr. Muller” without any explanation.
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So, if the City bows out, the public could theoretically do something, but the Council would be surprised at the kind of interesting litigation steps that he thinks are being put in place and that this settlement agreement could seek to achieve, which he does not think anybody is intending except certain people.
He would love to explain it more but was unsure if he has the ability without running over time, but he believes strongly that having litigated for 33 years there is a problem with this settlement agreement and they ought to fix it before anybody signs it.
Mayor Anduri asked if Mr. Muller was saying in the beginning of his response to Councilmember Cervantes that he did not want the settlement to basically take the City out of the case and leave the public; that he would rather have the public out as well?
Mr. Muller said yes. It is hard to explain, but there is a way he believes that things could go very badly if the City is signing this agreement with the Vesces. There is a possibility that the public is not a party to this agreement because they are not a party at the moment, and if they cannot enforce how this settlement goes down in terms of enforceability and implementation, there is a real possibility in his opinion that there could be serious problems that leave the public “holding the bag.” It is a weird technical litigation issue and he does not know how much the Council wants to hear about it. He frankly would love it if the City is free of this lawsuit. He just does not want them to be free of this lawsuit and us them holding the bag in a certain technical way that this settlement agreement seems to do, and he thinks it is intentionally that way.
Mayor Anduri thanked Mr. Muller and the City Council then adjourned to Closed Session at 7:58 p.m.
Thereafter, the Council reconvened to Open Session at 9:08 p.m. He announced no reportable action had been taken in Closed Session.
13. ADJOURNMENT – 9:08 p.m.
APPROVED:
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Carl Anduri, Mayor
ATTEST:
_________________________
Joanne Robbins, City Clerk