City Council Special Meeting Page 1 of 5 August 20, 2026 *
City of Lafayette
City Council Special
Meeting Minutes
Lafayette Library and Learning Center – Don Tatzin Community Hall August 20, 2026 3491 Mount Diablo Boulevard, Lafayette, California 5:00 p.m.
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City Council Special Meeting Page 2 of 5 August 20, 2026 -
1. CALL TO ORDER – 5:00 P.M.
Mayor Anduri called the Regular City Council meeting to order at 5:00 p.m.
2. ROLL CALL
Present: Mayor Anduri, Vice Mayor McCormick; Councilmember Candell, and Cervantes Absent/Excused: Councilmember Wotherspoon
Staff Present: Niroop Srivatsa, City Manager; Mala Subramanian, City Attorney; Suzanne Iarla, Communications Analyst; 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 (Candell/McCormick) to adopt the agenda as amended to add Item 4A; Public Comments. Roll Call Vote: 4-0-1 (Ayes: Anduri, McCormick, Candell, Cervantes; Noes: None; Absent:
Wotherspoon).
4. PUBLIC COMMENTS – None.
5. STAFF REPORTS
A. Joanne Robbins, City Clerk
Consider Resolution 2026-50 to Appoint Candidates in Lieu of Election and Cancelling the November 3, 2026 General Election Pursuant to Elections Code §10229 Recommendation: 1) Adopt Resolution 2026-50 Appointing James Cervantes and Stella Wotherspoon to the four-year Councilmember terms ending in 2030 and Mario DiPrisco to the two-year Councilmember term ending in 2028, and cancelling the November 3, 2026 General Municipal Election for these offices or 2) Decline to adopt the resolution and continue to hold the General Municipal Election on November 3, 2026.
City Clerk Joanne Robbins stated before the Council is Resolution 2026-50 with the option to appoint in lieu of an election since they have no more candidates than positions that are open.
Mayor Anduri opened the public comment period.
DAVID CLARK asked if there is a correct term to refer to the person who has been elected in this manner.
Mayor Anduri replied it is “Councilmember.” It is as if there are no changes.
ACTION: It was M/S/C (McCormick/Candell) to 1) Adopt Resolution 2026-50 Appointing James Cervantes and Stella Wotherspoon to the four-year Councilmember terms ending in 2030 and Mario DiPrisco to the two-year Councilmember term ending in 2028, and cancelling the November 3, 2026 General Municipal Election for these offices. Roll Call Vote: 3-0-1-1 (Ayes: Anduri, McCormick, Candell; Noes: None; Abstain:
Cervantes; Absent: Wotherspoon).
City Council Special Meeting Page 3 of 5 August 20, 2026 B. Joanne Robbins, City Clerk
Consider revising the City Council’s August 10, 2026 designation of the City’s Voting Delegate and Alternate for the League of California City Annual Conference, September 23-25, 2026 Recommendation: Discuss and direct the City Clerk to notify the League of California Cities of any changes to Lafayette’s Voting Delegate and Alternate for the 2026 Annual Conference.
City Clerk Joanne Robbins stated Councilmember Candell has indicated she would like to attend the League of California City Annual Conference, and she asked the Council to appoint a Delegate and Alternate.
Mayor Anduri noted that the Council had appointed Vice Mayor McCormick as Delegate, and he asked and confirmed he was comfortable with the Council appointing Councilmember Candell.
Councilmember Cervantes noted he was appointed as the Alternate and has a conflict, and Vice Mayor McCormick agreed to serve as the Alternate.
ACTION: It was M/S/C (Cervantes/Candell) to notify the League of California Cities that Councilmember Candell is Lafayette’s Voting Delegate and Vice Mayor McCormick is the Alternate for the 2026 Annual Conference. Roll Call Vote: 4-0-1 (Ayes: Anduri, McCormick, Candell, Cervantes; Noes: None; Absent:
Wotherspoon).
C. Niroop Srivatsa, City Manager
1. Resolution 2026-52 - Support for California Tort Reform Efforts Recommendation: Authorize the City to add its name and logo to the Protect Public Funds Coalition letter; and authorize the City Manager or designee to advocate for tort reform measures consistent with the adopted platform.
City Manager Niroop Srivatsa presented an overview of two proposed legislative matters concerning California tort reform and wildfire liability and local government cost recovery. She noted that legislative language has not yet been finalized and negotiations remain ongoing in Sacramento. The League of California Cities and the California State Association of Counties (CSAC) have encouraged local governments to communicate their concerns to the Governor and his staff.
Regarding tort reform, she stated Casey Elliott had provided an update and noted that current discussions are focused primarily on claims involving childhood sexual assault. The potential impact on cities, including increased insurance costs, has received less attention, making it less likely that Lafayette’s concerns will be addressed in the current legislation. Staff indicated that efforts are underway to introduce legislation next year that may address the City’s concerns. Staff recommended submitting a letter outlining the financial impacts and increased costs facing cities and considering an update to the City’s legislative platform during its regular December/January review.
Regarding wildfire liability reform, staff expressed concern about proposals that could limit local jurisdictions’ ability to recover costs from utilities when a wildfire is utility-caused. While recognizing the importance of reducing costs to taxpayers, staff noted that local governments may be left responsible for significant infrastructure and emergency response expenses resulting from utility-caused fires. Staff recommended authorizing the City Manager to submit a letter expressing concern about protecting local jurisdictions. If the final legislation does not adequately address these concerns, staff would follow up with a letter opposing the reform.
City Council Special Meeting Page 4 of 5 August 20, 2026 Mayor Anduri asked whether the City Manager was recommending against adopting the Resolution. Ms.
Srivatsa clarified that the Resolution would establish the City’s legislative platform, which has not yet been reviewed by the Legislative Committee. She noted that Council could either adopt the Resolution or defer the matter until the Legislative Committee’s next platform review, typically conducted in December or January. In the interim, the City could submit a letter supporting the League’s position while expressing the City’s specific concerns.
Councilmember Cervantes noted that, because the Legislature was scheduled to conclude its session at the end of the month, the Legislative Committee would not meet until the following month. Mayor Anduri indicated that the City’s advocacy efforts would continue, and Ms. Srivatsa suggested authorizing the City to add its name and logo to the list of supporting jurisdictions.
Vice Mayor McCormick asked whether any legislation was still pending this year. Ms. Srivatsa confirmed that legislation remained under development, with only one week remaining in the legislative session, prompting increased activity and uncertainty. Vice Mayor McCormick expressed support for moving forward but indicated he was also comfortable deferring the matter.
Mayor Anduri opened the public comment period, and there were no speakers.
ACTION: It was M/S/C (Candell/Cervantes) to authorize the City to add its name and logo to the Protect Public Funds Coalition letter; and authorize the City Manager or designee to advocate for tort reform measures consistent with the adopted platform. Roll Call Vote: 4-0-1 (Ayes: Anduri, McCormick, Candell, Cervantes; Noes: None; Absent: Wotherspoon).
2. Proposed Wildfire Liability Reform – Local Government Cost Recovery Recommendation: 1) Authorize the City Manager to communicate the City's concern to the Governor, Legislature, Cal Cities, CSAC, and other stakeholders regarding potential legislation that could limit local governments' ability to recover extraordinary costs resulting from utility-caused wildfires and shift those costs to local taxpayers; and 2) If legislation is introduced that would limit local governments' ability to recover extraordinary costs resulting from utility-caused wildfires, authorized the City Manager to communicate the City's opposition to the legislation to the Governor, Legislature, Cal Cities, CSAC, and other stakeholders.
Mayor Anduri asked and confirmed there were no questions on this item. He then opened the public comment period, and there were no speakers.
Councilmember Cervantes provided background on California’s wildfire liability framework, noting that a $24 billion wildfire fund was established in 2017, with contributions from utilities and ratepayers. He stated that approximately $3 billion has been spent, leaving roughly $21 billion, which could potentially be depleted by a major wildfire event such as the Eaton Fire. He explained that SB 254 would establish an approximately $18 billion supplemental fund and noted that the original framework was intended to provide utilities with a 10-year period to strengthen and protect their systems.
City Council Special Meeting Page 5 of 5 August 20, 2026 He expressed concern that the current proposal is being developed shortly before the legislative deadline and may not adequately address the broader financial challenges facing the state. He noted that requiring utilities to absorb the full cost of another catastrophic wildfire could create a significant risk of bankruptcy, while shifting those costs to ratepayers would require CPUC approval. He characterized the situation as one in which utilities, ratepayers, insurance companies, and trial attorneys all have competing interests, suggesting that a sustainable solution will likely require shared financial responsibility.
He also questioned whether the current approach sufficiently reflects the changed circumstances since 2017, particularly the impacts of climate change and evolving environmental conditions. While he found the CSAC position less helpful, he supported the League’s efforts to ensure that cities have a voice in the legislative process. He emphasized that meaningful reform will likely require all affected stakeholders to make compromises.
Mayor Anduri described the matter as an example of the challenges associated with considering a complex legislative issue shortly before the end of the legislative session. He clarified that the Council’s action would authorize the City Manager to communicate the City’s concerns, while recognizing the limited ability to influence legislation at this stage.
Ms. Srivatsa noted that the League’s letter addressed the legislation more broadly, while Casey Elliott recommended that the City focus specifically on the potential impacts to local jurisdictions.
Councilmember Cervantes agreed that focusing on local impacts was an appropriate approach, particularly because some legislative action is necessary to address the underlying problem. He reiterated that a sustainable solution will likely require all parties to make compromises and supported addressing the specific provision affecting local governments rather than opposing the legislation as a whole.
Ms. Srivatsa further reported that Townsend representatives were scheduled to meet with the Governor’s staff that afternoon to seek clarification regarding the legislation’s potential impacts on local jurisdictions.
ACTION: It was M/S/C (Cervantes/Candell) to: 1) Authorize the City Manager to communicate the City's concern to the Governor, Legislature, Cal Cities, CSAC, and other stakeholders regarding potential legislation that could limit local governments' ability to recover extraordinary costs resulting from utilitycaused wildfires and shift those costs to local taxpayers; and 2) If legislation is introduced that would limit local governments' ability to recover extraordinary costs resulting from utility-caused wildfires, authorized the City Manager to communicate the City's opposition to the legislation to the Governor, Legislature, Cal Cities, CSAC, and other stakeholders. Roll Call Vote: 4-0-1 (Ayes: Anduri, McCormick, Candell, Cervantes; Noes: None; Absent: Wotherspoon).
6. ADJOURNMENT – 5:20 p.m.
APPROVED:
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Carl Anduri, Mayor
ATTEST:
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Joanne Robbins, City Clerk