ACTION MINUTES
CITY COUNCIL
ABBREVIATION KEY Page 1 of 5
CMR – City Council Member | VM – Vice Mayor | CT – City Treasurer | CM – City Manager | ACM – Assistant City Manager | CA – City Attorney | CC –City Clerk | PWD – City Engineer | CED – Community Economic Development Director | FD – Finance Director DATE: Wednesday, October 1, 2025
TIME: 7:00 PM
PLACE: Council Chamber, 525 Henrietta Street, Martinez, CA 94553; and Vice Mayor Howard participated remotely from Reedley Inn, located at 802 West Manning Avenue, Reedley, CA 93654
Full details are available via audio/video recording on the City website. Additional documents pertaining to City Council meetings (i.e. written public comment, presentations) can be found on the City website .
REGULAR SESSION
CALL TO ORDER
• Mayor Zorn called the meeting to order at 7:03 PM.
ROLL CALL (00:11:41)
• Present: Mayor Zorn, Vice Mayor Howard, Councilmembers Young, Malhi and McKillop. • Excused: None
• Absent: None
PRESENTATIONS (00:12:07)
1. Introduction of New City Staff Members.
• Community and Economic Development Department - Director Bergman introduced new staff member Salmana Shah, Associate Planner.
• Finance Department – Director Du introduced new staff member Fernando Lara.
2. Proclamation - Community Planning Month
• Proclamation reading by CMR Malhi.
• Accepted by Planning Commissioners John Klopp, Paul Sonnikson, Rochelle Johnson, Helena Culik-Caro.
3. Proclamation - Indigenous Peoples' Day
• Proclamation reading into the record by Mayor Zorn.
4. Proclamation - Italian Heritage Month
• Proclamation reading by CMR McKillop.
• Accepted by Frank Bruno and Mike Inzerillo, on behalf of Friends of Isola; Bob Cellini, on behalf of Joe DiMaggio Hometown Hero Project; Danny Pellegrini, Martinez Resident; and many more.
5. Chamber of Commerce September Business of the Month - William Welch Winery Action Minutes
10-01-2025
ABBREVIATION KEY Page 2 of 5
CMR – City Council Member | VM – Vice Mayor | CT – City Treasurer | CM – City Manager | ACM – Assistant City Manager | CA – City Attorney | CC –City Clerk | PWD – City Engineer | CED – Community Economic Development Director | FD – Finance Director • Chamber Chair Adam Hoffert presents award to Aaron Alencastre and Steve Welch. • The Office of Senator Tim Grayson presented a Certificate of Recognition to Aaron Alencastre and Steve Welch.
6. Presentation of Alhambra Decade #7 Committee Donation to Martinez Police Department • Committee Chair Mary Perez presents donation to the Martinez Police Department, accepted on behalf of the Department by Chief White.
7. Presentation - Community Groups Funding Program Fiscal Year 2025-2026 Awards • Presentation by Interim President Marta Van Loan, Martinez Community Foundation.
8. Presentation from Bay Area Rapid Transit
• Presentation by BART Director Mark Foley.
9. Presentation of New Internet Services in the City of Martinez by Sonic Broadband Internet Provider.
• Presentation by Sonic Broadband Internet Provider Representative Tal Strolicht.
PUBLIC COMMENT (01:11:28)
• Public Comment was received from: Chapman Davyikin, Eldar Akayev, Jason Garry and Tyler Harding.
CONSENT CALENDAR (01:23:59)
• Mayor Zorn pulled Consent Calendar item #17
• Public Comment: Jeff Sherwin.
• Closing Council Comments: Mayor Zorn pulled to acknowledge the art policy and would like to re-open the policy for review and updating as it’s several years old; McKillop supports option B (staff recommendation) and VM Howard supports option C, each making their own motion for their preferred option.
• First motion by CMR McKillop, seconded by Mayor Zorn, to approve staff recommendation of Design Option B.
Motion carried; 3 Ayes (Zorn, Malhi, McKillop), 2 Noes (Howard, Young). • Second Motion by VM Howard, seconded by CMR Young, to move forward with Design Option C.
Motion failed; 2 Ayes (Howard, Young), 3 Noes (Zorn, Malhi, McKillop)
• Consent Calendar items #10 through 16
• Public Comment: None.
• Closing Council Comments: None.
• Motion by CMR McKillop, seconded by CMR Young, to approve Consent Calendar Items #10 through 16. Motion carried; All Ayes (Zorn, Howard, Young, Malhi, McKillop).
10. Motion waiving reading text of all Resolutions and Ordinances.
Action Minutes
10-01-2025
ABBREVIATION KEY Page 3 of 5
CMR – City Council Member | VM – Vice Mayor | CT – City Treasurer | CM – City Manager | ACM – Assistant City Manager | CA – City Attorney | CC –City Clerk | PWD – City Engineer | CED – Community Economic Development Director | FD – Finance Director
11. Motion to approve City Council Action Minutes for September 3, 2025.
12. Motion to approve City Council Action Minutes for September 18, 2025.
13. Motion approving Check Reconciliation Registers dated August 21, 27 and 28, 2025.
14. Motion to approve rejection of claim submitted by Jacqueline Lopez-Aguilar (GL-21686-MZ).
15. Motion to approve rejection of claim submitted by John and Sylvia Todor (GL-21695-MZ).
16. Motion to direct staff to expedite the processing of a design review application to install an Albatross Sea Scouts medallion on the City gateway signs, located on the east side of Alhambra Avenue directly north and adjacent to the freeway exit from westbound SR-4 and within the landscaped median between Marina Vista and Escobar Streets.
17. Adopt a resolution approving mural design modification option “B”, extending the mural onto a portion of the east-facing wall of the Universal Sports Academy Complex, located at 330 Ferry Street, and adding sponsor acknowledgements, and authorizing the City Manager to execute an addendum to the Memorandum of Understanding (“MOU”) between the City of Martinez (“City”), Tim Hon (“Artist”), and non-profit organization Joe DiMaggio Hometown Hero Project, in a form approved by the City Attorney.
GENERAL BUSINESS ITEMS (01:39:30)
18. Receive presentation from Contra Costa Health on the County’s Industrial Safety Ordinance (“ISO”) and provide direction to staff on developing a Martinez ISO. • Presenter: Contra Costa County Health Representatives Michael Dossey and Nicole Heath. • Public Comment: Wahyet Li, Sean Wilson and Kayla Turnage, Ricky Mincey, Sara Dalling, Daniel Matheson, Sara Stout, Courtney Ayers, Jim Blair, Marta Van Loan, Tom Lewis, Stuart McCullough, Peter Ringenberg, and Chapman Davyikin. • Closing Council Comments:
• In-depth conversation held between staff and City Council. Council provided feedback and direction to staff.
PUBLIC HEARING ITEMS (03:11:28)
19. Hold a public hearing to consider the proposed Martinez Terminal Rail Restoration Project, Final Environmental Impact Report (FEIR), the information presented in this report, and the public comments received to date, and adopt the following resolutions:
1. Resolution certifying the Final Environmental Impact Report and CEQA Findings of Fact for the Martinez Terminal Rail Restoration Project
2. Resolution approving the Martinez Terminal Rail Restoration Project • Presenter: PWD Enke; Frankie Tong and Cristina Lowery, MBI Project Manager. • Public Comment: Eldar Akayev.
• Closing Council Comments: None.
Action Minutes
10-01-2025
ABBREVIATION KEY Page 4 of 5
CMR – City Council Member | VM – Vice Mayor | CT – City Treasurer | CM – City Manager | ACM – Assistant City Manager | CA – City Attorney | CC –City Clerk | PWD – City Engineer | CED – Community Economic Development Director | FD – Finance Director • Motion by by CMR Young, seconded by VM Howard, to adopt as written the resolution certifying the Final Environmental Impact Report and CEQA Findings of Fact. Motion carried; All Ayes (Zorn, Howard, Young, Malhi, McKillop). • Motion by by CMR Malhi, seconded by CMR McKillop, to adopt as written the resolution approving the Martinez Terminal Rail Restoration Project. Motion carried; All Ayes (Zorn, Howard, Young, Malhi, McKillop).
20. Conduct a public hearing, waive the reading, and introduce an Ordinance of the City Council amending Martinez Municipal Code ("MMC") Chapter 1.3 (Nuisance Abatement), amending Chapter 1.15 (Administrative Citations), and repealing Chapter 1.16 (Graffiti Abatement) of Title 1 (General Provisions); amending Chapter 8.28 (Graffiti Abatement), amending Section 8.36.030 (Property Nuisance) of Chapter 8.36 (Property Nuisances), amending Chapter 8.38 (Regulation of Vacant Structures), and amending Section 8.40.040 to correct cross-references in Chapter 8.40 (Regulation of Vacant Property) of Title 8 (Health and Safety). • Presenter: City Building Officer Mike Leontiades
• Public Comment: Larry Lippo and Eldar Akayev.
• Closing Council Comments: Council supported two corrections made by staff:
1. CED Bergman noted a correction to the time limit under Section 8.28.050 should read as “10 to 20 days”; and
2. City Attorney and Chief White noted a correction to the Graffiti Abatement Appeals Process in which the word “public” is to be stricken out from “public hearing” (multiple locations in Ordinance).
• Motion by CMR Malhi, seconded by Mayor Zorn, to move staff recommendation and the corrections to the Ordinance made by Staff. Motion carried; All Ayes (Zorn, Howard, Young, Malhi, McKillop).
CHIEF OF POLICE (04:10:29)
21. Comments/Updates
• Chief White provided comments/updates on the following: Internal staff promotions and press release regarding a homicide arrest.
CITY MANAGER (04:10:29)
22. Comments and Updates
• CM Chandler provided comments/updates on the following: Marina Waterfront ENA (Item #23).
23. Marina and Waterfront Revitalization Update: Status of Exclusive Negotiation Agreement between City of Martinez and Tucker Sadler
APPOINTMENTS TO COMMISSIONS AND/OR AGENCIES
SUBCOMMITTEE REPORTS (04:12:46)
24. Subcommittee Report Out(s)
• Mayor provides pre-meeting announcement for the City Council Policies & Procedures Ad Hoc.
Action Minutes
10-01-2025
ABBREVIATION KEY Page 5 of 5
CMR – City Council Member | VM – Vice Mayor | CT – City Treasurer | CM – City Manager | ACM – Assistant City Manager | CA – City Attorney | CC –City Clerk | PWD – City Engineer | CED – Community Economic Development Director | FD – Finance Director
25. Outside Agency Report Out(s)
• CMR Malhi provided verbal report out for the recent League of California Cities East Bay Division meeting.
CITY COUNCIL (04:17:23)
26. Comments/Updates
• Mayor Zorn provided comments/updates on: Upcoming city and holiday events; upcoming Mayor’s Conference.
• VM Howard provided comments/updates on: Rotary Ribbon Cutting. • CMR Young provided no comments/updates.
• CMR Malhi provided comments/updates on: Amtrak Community Clean-Up event; upcoming Mayor’s Conference.
• CMR McKillop provided comments/updates on: Upcoming city events.
ADJOURNMENT
• Mayor Zorn adjourned the meeting at 11:12 PM.
* * * * *
Prepared by: Approved by:
Kat Galileo, City Clerk
10/01/2025
________________________
Brianne Zorn
Mayor of the City of Martinez