City Council Regular - February 17, 2026
A.
CALL TO ORDER/ROLL CALL
Councilmembers: Cara Hoxie, Latika Malkani, Janet Riley Vice Mayor Darlene Gee, Mayor Brandyn Iverson
B.
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
C.
ADOPTION OF AGENDA
The City Council may take action on any item listed on the agenda.
D.
ITEMS FOR THE GOOD OF THE CITY
E.
PUBLIC FORUM
The public forum provides an opportunity for members of the public to speak on any item within the jurisdiction of the City Council that is not on the agenda. Additionally, a speaker has the option of addressing the Council on an item listed on the agenda, if the speaker will not be present when that agenda item is taken up. When an item is not listed on the agenda, State law prohibits Council discussion or action. Councilmembers may only “briefly respond” to statements made and questions posed. For example, State law allows Councilmembers to ask questions for clarification and provide a reference to staff or other resources for factual information. Additionally, consistent with the “Matters Initiated” rule contained in its Policies and Procedures Manual, the Council may also direct staff to report back and/or place a matter on a future agenda for discussion.
F.
CONSENT CALENDAR
F.1
Approval of City Council Minutes
1. Staff Report - City Council Minutes for Approval at 021726 Meeting.pdf
2. Attachment A - City Council Minutes of February 3, 2026.pdf The City Council will consider approval of the Meeting Minutes of:
February 3, 2026, Regular Meeting
RECOMMENDATION:
Approve City Council Minutes of:
February 3, 2026, Regular Meeting
F.2
Investment Report for the Quarter Ending December 31, 2025
1. Staff Report - Investment Report for Quarter Ending December 30, 2025.pdf
2. Attachment A - Reserve Portfolio Report for Oct 2025- Dec 2025.pdf
3. Attachment B - LAIF Statements for Oct 2025- Dec 2025.pdf
4. Attachment C - Money Market Account Statements for Oct 2025- Dec 2025.pdf The City Council will receive the quarterly report on the City’s investments, consistent with California Government Code Section 53646(b) and the City's Investment Policy. This report covers the period of October 1, 2025, to December 31, 2025.
RECOMMENDATION:
A
ccept the
Investment Report for the quarter ending December 31, 2025.
F.3
AB 2561 Report on the Status of Vacancies and Recruitment and Retention for Calendar Year 2025 (Public Hearing)
1. Staff Report - Recruitment and Retention 2026.pdf
2. Attachment A - City Administrative Policy - 2.9 Procedures for AB 2561 Status of Vacancies and Recruitment and Retention Efforts.pdf Pursuant to
Assembly Bill 2561, the City Council will receive a report on an overview of employee vacancies, the factors contributing to those vacancies, and the strategies the City of Orinda is implementing to support recruitment, retention, and continuity of municipal services.
RECOMMENDATION:
Review and accept the report on the status of vacancies and recruitment and retention for calendar year 2025.
F.4
Adoption of Ordinance 26-02 Amending Title 17 of the Orinda Municipal Code to Implement Housing Element Program Actions 1.A, 1.B, and 1.J Regarding Streamlined Approvals for Affordable Housing
1. Staff Report - Adoption of Ordinance 26-02 - Zoning Text Amendment for Housing Element Actions 1.A, 1.B, and 1.J 02032026.pdf
2. Attachment A - Ordinance 26-02 Amending Section 17.3.3 (RVL, RL, RM, and RH Districts—Land Use regulations) of the City’s Zoning Code.pdf The City Council will consider adoption of Ordinance 26-02 to make changes to Title 17 of the Orinda Municipal Code to implement certain Housing Element program actions. Specifically, the Ordinance codifies State mandates requiring streamlined approval for multifamily housing developments on certain Housing Element sites, provided the project includes at least 20 percent affordability for lower-income households. The proposed Ordinance would not alter the uses allowed or the procedures Staff would otherwise follow, as State law already mandates these streamlining provisions.
RECOMMENDATION:
Waive the full reading of the text and adopt Ordinance 26-02 amending Title 17 of the Orinda Municipal Code to implement Housing Element Program Actions 1.A, 1.B, and 1.J regarding
streamlined approvals for affordable housing for certain Housing Element sites.
F.5
Adoption of Ordinance 26-01 Zoning Map Amendment and General Plan Map Amendment Resolution 01-26, and Plan Orinda Revised Final EIR and CEQA Consistency Resolution 02-26, Regarding Amendments to the General Plan and Zoning for 23 Altarinda Road
1. Staff Report - Adoption of Ordinance and Resolutions Amending Zoning Code - 23 Altarinda.pdf
2. Attachment A - Ordinance 26-01 Rezoning 23 Altarinda Road.pdf
3. Attachment B - Resolution 01-26 Amending the General Plan_23 Alta.pdf
4. Attachment C - Resolution 02-26 CEQA Findings+SOC_23 Altarinda.pdf
5. Attachment D - Changes to Exhibit A-1 - redlined (attached to Resolution 02-26).pdf
6. Attachment E - Exhibit A-1 - clean copy ( attached to Resolution 02-26).pdf The City Council will consider the adoption of Ordinance 26-01, a proposed zoning change to 23 Altarinda Road, a .60 acre (approx. 26,136 square feet) site located on the north side of Altarinda Road within the area studied in the certified Revised Final EIR (Final EIR) for Plan Orinda and within a half mile of the Orinda BART station. Concurrent with the action to approve the zoning change would be an amendment to the General Plan. The General Plan and zoning designation changes were included as part of Plan Orinda and evaluated in the Final EIR.
The City Council will also consider adoption of Resolution 01-26 amending the General Plan Map, and adoption of Resolution 02-26 affirming the consistency of the 23 Altarinda Road Project with Plan Orinda and its Certified Revised Final EIR and adopting a Statement of Overriding Considerations. Two updates to the information previously presented are included to first, reflect the discussion regarding the Findings of Fact and Statement of Overriding Considerations and, second, complete additional wildfire analysis using Ladris software displayed in an update results table.
RECOMMENDATION:
Take the following actions:
Waive the full reading and adopt Ordinance 26-01 Amending the Zoning Map to change the zoning designation for 23 Altarinda Road (APN 260-192-013) from ”DO (Downtown Office)” to ”DG (Downtown General).” Adopt Resolution 01-26 Amending the General Plan Map to change the land use designation from ”Business and Professional Offices” to ”Downtown - General” for 23 Altarinda Road (APN 260-192-013).
Adopt Resolution 02-26 Affirming the Consistency of the 23 Altarinda Road Project with Plan Orinda and its certified revised Final EIR; Adopting Findings Under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA); and Adopting a Statement of Overriding Considerations for Those Impacts that were Found to be Significant and Unavoidable.
G.
PUBLIC HEARING
H.
POLICY MATTERS
H.1
Art in Public Places Committee 2025 Annual Report
1. Staff Report - APPC Annual Report.pdf
2. Attachment A - APPC Annual Report 2025.pdf
3. Attachment B - Art in Public Places Committee and Policy.pdf
4. Attachment C - Loaned Artwork.pdf
5. Attachment D - Owned Artwork.pdf
The City Council will receive the annual report from the Arts in Public Places Committee with information highlighting the goals and objectives for the year.
RECOMMENDATION:
Accept the report.
H.2
Accept Artwork Donations of Current Loaned Artwork to Allow for Continued Public Display through the Art in Public Places Program
1. Staff Report - Accept Artwork Donations of Current Loaned Artwork 1.13.26 Meeting.pdf
2. Attachment A - Resolution 06-26 Authorizing the Donation of Artworks Offered by Kati Casida, Ted Urban, and Gyongy Laky.pdf
3. Attachment B - Public Artwork Loan Agreements_Casida_Urban_Laky.pdf The City Council is being asked to consider Resolution No. 06-26 authorizing the City
to accept the permanent donation of five currently loaned artworks recommended by the Art in Public Places Committee. Acceptance of these donations would allow the artworks to remain on public display, transfer ownership to the City, and ensure appropriate rights
for display and reproduction, subject to agreements approved by the City Manager and City Attorney. The recommended pieces have been favorably received by the community, and, at this time, there is no direct fiscal impact to the City
associated with accepting the donations.
RECOMMENDATION:
Approve Resolution No. 06-26 the Donation of Artworks Offered by Kati Casida; Ted Urban; and Gyongy Laky.
H.3
Update on the Transit-Oriented Communities Policy and Acceptance of a $300,000 Parking Management Grant from the Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC)
1. Staff Report - MTC TOC Update and Parking Grant Resolution 02172026.pdf
2. Attachment A - Proposed City Council Resolution 09-26.pdf
3. Attachment B - MTC 2024 TOC Parking Management Grant Application.pdf In November 2024, the City was awarded a $300,000 grant to fund consultant services for a comprehensive evaluation of parking strategies in Downtown Orinda. The Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC) established compliance with its Transit-Oriented Communities (TOC) Policy as a prerequisite for future funding eligibility under the upcoming fourth round of One Bay Area Grant Funding (OBAG 4) in Fiscal Years 2026-30.
To address this uncertainty, the proposed Resolution specifies that the City commits to evaluating the suitability of policies emerging from the grant funded work. Future implementation of any resulting parking management strategies remains at the City Council’s discretion, determined primarily by alignment with Orinda’s local needs. While the study scope anticipates analysis of potential TOC guidelines, acceptance of this technical assistance grant does not mandate compliance with TOC Policy.
RECOMMENDATION:
Take the following actions:
Adopt Resolution 09-26, accepting a $300,000 grant for technical assistance for parking management in Downtown Orinda; Consider suggestions for staff on potential additions to the scope of work that align with both City goals and TOC Policy; Defer consideration of any formal commitment to MTC TOC Policy compliance until the assessment methodology has been finalized by MTC.
H.4
Orinda BART Station – Update from BART Board Workshop from February 12
1. Orinda BART Station Staff Report.pdf
2. Attachment A - BART Closure Opposition Letter.pdf
The City Council receive a report on the February 12, 2026, BART Board Workshop where the possibility of station closures was discussed. As part of the packet for that workshop, the Orinda BART station was included for possible closure if there is no revenue measure to support operations. The Mayor sent in a public comment letter to the BART Board on February 11.
RECOMMENDATION:
Receive the report and provide comment.
H.5
City of Orinda 2026 Legislative Platform
1. Staff Report - City of Orinda 2026 Legislative Platform. .pdf
2. Attachment A - 2026 Legislative Platform - Clean.pdf
3. Attachment B - 2026 Legislative Platform - Redlined.pdf The City Council will consider the proposed 2026 Legislative Platform. The Platform is consistent with the adopted 2025 Platform with some refinements and reorganization of information within the document itself. The Guiding Principles and the Public Policy Priority Categories remain the same.
RECOMMENDATION:
Approve the City’s 2026 Legislative Platform.
I.
COUNCILMEMBERS' REPORTS
J.
CITY MANAGER'S REPORT
K.
MATTERS INITIATED
L.
ADJOURNMENT
Please visit the City's website at www.cityoforinda.gov to view the City Council Meeting Calendar.
I, Sheri Marie Smith, City Clerk, declare under penalty of perjury under the laws of the State of California that this special meeting agenda has been posted at least 24 hours in advance at the Orinda City Hall, 22 Orinda Way and the Orinda Library, 26 Orinda Way. Additional copies are available at the Orinda Library, 26 Orinda Way, and at the City's website at www.cityoforinda.org. At Least 24 hours in advance of the meeting, this agenda was also delivered to and received by each member of the City Council as well as each local newspaper, radio station and television station requesting written notice of special meetings.
I, Sheri Marie Smith, City Clerk, declare under penalty of perjury under the laws of the State of California that this regular meeting agenda has been posted at least 72 hours in advance at the Orinda City Hall, 22 Orinda Way and the Orinda Library, 26 Orinda Way. Additional copies are available at the Orinda Library, 26 Orinda Way, and at the City's website at www.cityoforinda.gov. ~Notices~
There is a 90-day limit for the filing of a challenge in Court to certain City decisions that require a hearing by law, the receipt of evidence, and the exercise of discretion. The 90-day limit begins on the date the decision is final (Code of Civil Procedure 1094.6). Further, if you file a challenge in Court, you may be limited by California law, including but not limited to Government Code 65009, to those issues raised in connection with the public hearing. The City Council may be requested to reconsider a decision if the request is made prior to the next City Council meeting. For information on the next City Council meeting, please call 925.253.4221 or visit the website at www.cityoforinda.org. Unless otherwise noted, City Council actions include a determination that the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) does not apply. ~Accessible Public Meetings~
The City of Orinda will provide special assistance for disabled citizens to participate in public meetings upon advance notice. If you need auxiliary hearing aid or sign language assistance at least two (2) working days advanced notice is necessary. Please contact the City Clerk's Office, 22 Orinda way, Orinda, CA 94563 or 925.253.4221 or [email protected]
with the following information: name, mailing address, phone number and type of assistance requested.