Thursday, September 10, 2026, Regular Meeting Minutes Page 1 of 5
CITY OF NEWARK
CITY COUNCIL REGULAR MEETING
Council Chambers, 37101 Newark Boulevard, Newark, CA 94560 | (510) 578-4266 | E-mail: [email protected]
MINUTES
Thursday, September 10, 2026
7:00 P.M.
A. ROLL CALL
Mayor Hannon called the meeting to order at 7:02 p.m. Vice Mayor Jorgens, Council Members Grindall, and Little were present.
Mayor Hannon announced that he would adjourn the meeting in memory of John Matthews, Newark resident.
Mayor Hannon presented a commendation to City Manager David J. Benoun in recognition of his designation as an ICMA-Credentialed Manager.
B. PRESENTATIONS
1. Proclaiming September as Childhood Cancer Awareness Month Mayor Hannon presented a proclamation to Angela Crawford with the Jammers Strong Foundation.
2. Proclaiming September 2026 as Hunger Action Month
Mayor Hannon presented a proclamation President of Viola Blythe Community Services John Becker and Executive Director Linda Leu of Tri-City Volunteer.
3. Proclaiming Newark Days
Mayor Hannon presented a proclamation to the Newark Days Committee members.
4. Introduction of employees
Mayor Hannon introduced new employee Recreation and Community Services Director Alicia Day and announced the promotions of Senior Management Analyst Deepa Iyer and Senior Customer Service Representative Gabriela Mendes.
Mayor called for a recess at 7:49 p.m. The meeting resumed at 7:55 p.m.
C. PUBLIC COMMENT
Eric and Edward, representing STEMbridge, a local volunteer group, addressed the Council regarding their efforts to provide STEM education kits and workshops to children in the Bay Area. They requested City support to establish a permanent STEM Corner at the Newark Library for local youth.
Thursday, September 10, 2026, Regular Meeting Minutes Page 2 of 5 D. CONSENT CALENDAR
No one from the audience requested to speak.
Vice Mayor Jorgens moved, Council Member Grindall seconded, to approve Consent Calendar items D.1, D2, D.3, D.4, D.5, D.6, and D.7, that the resolutions be numbered consecutively, and that reading of the titles suffice for adoption. The motion was passed 5 AYES.
1. Approval of Audited Demands
2. Approval of July 23, 2026, City Council Minutes
3. Adopt a resolution amending the Compensation and Benefits Plans for the Management, Supervisory and Professional Employee Group and the Confidential Employee Group to clarify special assignment pay provisions
Resolution No. 11888
4. Adopt a resolution approving a Side Letter of Agreement with the Newark Police Association (NPA) regarding compensation reporting and special assignment pay Resolution No. 11889
5. Adopt a resolution approving a Side Letter of Agreement with the Newark Association of Miscellaneous Employees to add the Recreation Assistant classification to the memorandum of Understanding (MOU) and amending the Citywide Salary Schedule in conformance with California Code of Regulations, Title 2, Section 570.5
Resolution No. 11890
6. Report on Administrative Actions During August Recess
7. Adopt a resolution approving the First Amendment to the Contractual Services Agreement with KBA Document Solutions, LLC, increasing the total not-to-exceed compensation from $390,000 to $500,000, and amending the 2026–2028 Biennial Budget for Fiscal Year 2026-27 Resolution No. 11891
E. PUBLIC HEARINGS
1. Hearing to consider an Ordinance amending Title 17 (Zoning) of the Newark Municipal Code to add Chapter 17.28 (Residential and Residential Mixed-Use Design Standards) and Chapter 17.42 (Reasonable Accommodation) and amend Division II (Base and Overlay Districts) Chapter 17.17 (General Site Regulations) Chapter 17.21 (Landscaping), Chapter 17.23 (Parking and Loading), Chapter 17.34 (Design Review), Chapter 17.37 (Waivers), and Chapter 17.46 (Definitions), generally affecting development and design standards for residential and residential mixed-use development
City Manager Benoun provided introductory remarks and project background.
Senior Planner Carmelisa Lopez, Housing Policies and Programs Manager Michael Coulom, Nicholas Hamilton and Ralph Robinson from Good City Company gave the presentation. The presentation is on file with the City Clerk.
Thursday, September 10, 2026, Regular Meeting Minutes Page 3 of 5 Mayor Hannon opened the public hearing.
No one from the audience requested to speak.
Mayor Hannon closed the public hearing.
The City Council asked clarifying questions and held discussion.
Vice Mayor Jorgens moved, Council Member Catancio seconded, to adopt an ordinance implementing a Zoning Text Amendment (ZTA) (Z2025-004), which would amend Title 17 (Zoning) of the Newark Municipal Code (Zoning Code) to establish Objective Design Standards (ODS) for residential and residential mixed-use projects and other revisions to implement Housing Element programs, encourage residential development, and streamline project reviews. The motion was passed 5 AYES.
Vice Mayor Jorgens announced that he would recuse himself due to a conflict of interest and left the City Council Chambers.
2. Public Hearing to consider adopting an ordinance amending the Newark Zoning Map to rezone certain property into the - BRH Overlay District
City Manager Benoun provided introductory remarks and project background.
Housing Policies and Programs Manager Michael Coulom gave the presentation. The presentation is on file with the City Clerk.
Mayor Hannon opened the public hearing.
No one from the audience requested to speak.
Mayor Hannon closed the public hearing.
The City Council asked clarifying questions and held discussion.
Council Member Grindall moved, Council Member Catancio seconded, to adopt an ordinance amending the Newark Zoning Map to include specific additional parcels in the -BRH Overlay District to comply with state law and ensure consistency among the City's code. The motion was passed by the following votes: AYES: Grindall, Catancio, Little, Hannon; RECUSED: Jorgens.
Vice Mayor Jorgens returned to the Council Chambers.
F. OTHER BUSINESS
1. Waive full reading and introduce by title only an ordinance of the City Council of the City of Newark amending Chapter 2.09 of the Newark Municipal Code ("City Councilmembers-Compensation") to increase the salaries of the Mayor and City Councilmembers City Manager Benoun provided introductory remarks and project background.
Assistant City Manager Lenka Hovorka gave the report.
No one from the audience requested to speak.
Council Members asked clarifying questions.
Thursday, September 10, 2026, Regular Meeting Minutes Page 4 of 5 Council Member Little moved, Council Member Catancio seconded, to adopt an ordinance amending Chapter 2.09 of the Newark Municipal Code ("City Councilmembers-Compensation") to increase the salaries of the Mayor and City Councilmembers by seven and one-half percent (7.5%).
The motion was passed by the following votes: AYES: Catancio, Little, Jorgens, Hannon; NOES:
Grindall.
G. CITY MANAGER UPDATES
City Manager Benoun announced:
1. The latest edition of the Newark News weekly newsletter is available at NewarkCA.gov/newsletters.
2. Applications for the six-week Newark Youth Leadership Academy program are now open through Friday, September 13. For more information, visit NewarkCA.gov/YouthLeadershipAcademy.
3. The Newark CERT Open House is scheduled for Saturday, September 12, from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. at Fire Station 27. Attendees can meet the local CERT team, participate in a live HAM radio demonstration and hands-on CPR presentation, and tour the CERT trailer.
4. Newark Days 2026 is scheduled for September 17–20, celebrating Newark’s 71st anniversary. For more information, visit newarkdays.org.
5. The Down Payment Assistance Loan Program is available to first-time homebuyers, with preapplications accepted through October 15, 2026. For more information, visit HelloHousing.org/downpayment-assistance/newark.
6. The Newark Resource Center is now open at Ash Street Park. The August–October schedule is available at NewarkCA.gov/HumanServices.
7. Community members are encouraged to provide input on the future Cultural Arts Center by completing the Newark Community Cultural Arts Center Planning Survey at SurveyHero.com/c/newarkCCAC.
8. Newark was recognized for excellence in financial reporting by the Government Finance Officers Association (GFOA) for its FY 2024–25 annual financial report.
H. CITY COUNCIL MATTERS
1. Provide direction regarding staff preparation of City Council meeting minutes and approve the July 9, 2026, City Council meeting minutes
City Manager Benoun provided introductory remarks and project background.
Assistant City Manager Lenka Hovorka gave the report.
No one from the audience requested to speak.
Council Members asked clarifying questions.
Thursday, September 10, 2026, Regular Meeting Minutes Page 5 of 5 Council Member Grindall moved, Council Member Little seconded, to approve July 9, 2026, meeting minutes as amended and directed staff to proceed with preparing Hybrid Action and Summary Minutes for future meeting minutes. The motion was passed 5 AYES.
City Council Reports:
Council Member Catancio reported on recent community activities, including a National Night Out ridealong with the Newark Police Department, a neighborhood potluck, the Hong Kong Festival, Relay for Life, the Recreation and Regional Parks event, and Assembly Member Alex Lee’s Young Legislators Program. She also participated in the San Jose Parade and attended local community and business events, encouraging residents to shop Newark.
Council Member Little thanked the community for attending the City’s first Sports, Recreation, and Wellness Fair held on August 29. She highlighted the free pop-up roller-skating event on September 12 from 2:00 to 5:00 p.m. at Ash Street Park, Newark Days parking at First Presbyterian Church benefiting Boy Scout Troop 186, the Elmwood Library book drive, and the second annual Heroes in the Community event scheduled for the first Saturday in October from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at the Silliman Community Activity Center.
Council Member Grindall discussed participating in the Newark 4K and noted he would attend the upcoming League of California Cities conference, where he would vote on a measure regarding local control of land use decisions. He also announced that he would participate remotely in the next Council meeting while attending the conference.
Vice Mayor Jorgens shared historical information about Newark’s early fire service, noting that firefighting began in 1910 with volunteer equipment and that the City’s first permanent fire station was dedicated in 1939. He noted that the community continues to celebrate Newark’s fire services as part of Newark Days.
Mayor Hannon recognized a new Newark business, La La La, the Finance Department for its Government Finance Officers Association (GFOA) award, Lori Gates and Joe Stoner for their contributions to Newark Days, and the Newark Police Department for its bicycle and pedestrian safety event and DUI checkpoint. He reminded the community to follow traffic laws and recognized those who serve the public.
I. CLOSED SESSION
None.
J. ADJOURNMENT
Mayor Hannon adjourned the meeting at 9:59 p.m. in memory of John Matthews. _____________________________
Neetu Salwan, City Clerk