CITY COUNCIL
Cameron Sasai, Mayor
Anthony Tave, Mayor Pro Tem
Norma Martínez-Rubin,, Council Member
Devin T. Murphy Council Member
Maureen Toms Council Member
PINOLE CITY COUNCIL
SPECIAL MEETING AGENDA
October 14, 2025
5:00 PM
Attend in Person: PINOLE CITY COUNCIL CHAMBERS - 2131 PEAR STREET OR
Attend VIA ZOOM TELECONFERENCE – Details provided below How to Submit Public Comments:
In Person:
Attend meeting at the Pinole City Council Chambers, fill out a yellow public comment card and submit it to the City Clerk.
Via Zoom:
Members of the public may submit a live remote public comment via Zoom video conferencing. Download the Zoom mobile app from the Apple Appstore or Google Play. If you are using a desktop computer, you can test your connection to Zoom by clicking here. Zoom also allows you to join the meeting by phone.
From a PC, Mac, iPad, iPhone or Android:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89335000272
Webinar ID: 893 3500 0272
By phone: +1 (669) 900-6833 or +1 (253) 215-8782 or +1 (346) 248-7799 • Speakers will be asked to provide their name and city of residence, although providing this is not required for participation.
• Each speaker will be afforded up to 3 minutes to speak (subject to modification by the Mayor) • Speakers will be muted until their opportunity to provide public comment.
When the Mayor opens the comment period for the item you wish to speak on, please use the “raise hand” feature (or press *9 if connecting via telephone) which will alert staff that you have a comment to provide and press *6 to unmute. To comment with your video enabled, please let the City Clerk know you would like to turn your camera on once you are called to speak.
Written Comments:
All comments received before 3:00 pm the day of the meeting will be posted on the City’s website on the agenda page (Agenda Page Link) and provided to the City Council prior to the meeting. Written comments will not be read aloud during the meeting. Email comments to [email protected] Please indicate which item on the agenda you are commenting on in the subject line of your email.
City Council
Agenda - October 14, 2025
OTHER WAYS TO WATCH THE MEETING
LIVE ON CHANNEL 26. They are retelecast the following week. The Community TV Channel 26 schedule is published on the city’s website at www.pinole.gov.
VIDEO-STREAMED LIVE ON THE CITY’S WEBSITE, www.pinole.gov and remain archived on the site for five (5) years.
If none of these options are available to you, or you need assistance with public comment, please contact the City Clerk, Heather Bell at (510) 724-8928 or [email protected].
Americans With Disabilities Act: In compliance with the Americans With Disabilities Act of 1990, if you need special assistance to participate in a City Meeting or you need a copy of the agenda, or the agenda packet in an appropriate alternative format, please contact the City Clerk’s Office at (510) 724-8928. Notification at least 48 hours prior to the meeting or time when services are needed will assist the City staff in assuring that reasonable arrangements can be made to provide accessibility to the meeting or service.
Note: Staff reports are available for inspection on the City Website at www.pinole.gov. You may also contact the City Clerk via e-mail at [email protected].
Ralph M. Brown Act. Gov. Code § 54950. In enacting this chapter, the Legislature finds and declares that the public commissions, boards and councils and the other public agencies in this State exist to aid in the conduct of the people's business. It is the intent of the law that their actions be taken openly and that their deliberations be conducted openly. The people of this State do not yield their sovereignty to the agencies, which serve them. The people, in delegating authority, do not give their public servants the right to decide what is good for the people to know and what is not good for them to know. The people insist on remaining informed so that they may retain control over the instruments they have created.
City Council
Agenda - October 14, 2025
1. CALL TO ORDER & PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE IN HONOR OF THE US MILITARY TROOPS
2. LAND ACKNOWLEDGMENT
Before we begin, we would like to acknowledge the Ohlone people, who are the traditional custodians of this land. We pay our respects to the Ohlone elders, past, present, and future, who call this place, Ohlone Land, the land that Pinole sits upon, their home. We are proud to continue their tradition of coming together and growing as a community. We thank the Ohlone community for their stewardship and support, and we look forward to strengthening our ties as we continue our relationship of mutual respect and understanding.
3. ROLL CALL, CITY CLERK’S REPORT & STATEMENT OF CONFLICT An official who has a conflict must, prior to consideration of the decision: (1) publicly identify in detail the financial interest that causes the conflict; (2) recuse himself /herself from discussing and voting on the matter; and (3) leave the room until after the decision has been made, Cal. Gov't Code § 87105.
4. CITIZENS TO BE HEARD (Public Comments)
Citizens may speak under any item not listed on the Agenda. The time limit is 3 minutes and is subject to modification by the Mayor. Individuals may not share or offer time to another speaker. Pursuant to provisions of the Brown Act, no action may be taken on a matter unless it is listed on the agenda, or unless certain emergency or special circumstances exist. The City Council may direct staff to investigate and/or schedule certain matters for consideration at a future Council meeting. PLEASE SEE THE COVERSHEET OF THE
AGENDA FOR INSTRUCTIONS ON HOW TO SUBMIT PUBLIC COMMENTS
5. WORKSHOP ITEM
A. Finance Workshop
6. ADJOURNMENT to the Regular City Council Meeting of October 21, 2025 in Remembrance of Amber Swartz.
I hereby certify under the laws of the State of California that the foregoing Agenda was posted on the bulletin board at the main entrance of Pinole City Hall, 2131 Pear Street Pinole, CA, and on the City’s website, not less than 72 hours prior to the meeting date set forth on this agenda. _______________________
Heather Bell, CMC
City Clerk
POSTED: October 10, 2025 at 3:00 pm
CITY COUNCIL
REPORT 5.A.
DATE: OCTOBER 14, 2025
TO: MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBERS
FROM: Kelcey Young, City Manager, 5107248933, [email protected] SUBJECT: FINANCE WORKSHOP
RECOMMENDATION
•Staff recommends the following three strategies for polling and future agenda items:
1. Bond Program for infrastructure
2. Parcel Tax for Public Safety and/or
3. Special Tax for Public Safety
•Determine which strategies council would like placed on a future agenda for further exploration
•Determine which strategies council would like us to include in the polling
BACKGROUND
There are ongoing financial concerns that will need to be addressed in the next few years in order to keep the current service level. There are also additional infrastructure needs that need to be addressed.
REVIEW AND ANALYSIS
A structural deficit of $3.5 million annually is projected to start in FY 2029. Additionally, there is an estimated $60 million dollar need for road rehabilitation, and $60 million in additional infrastructure needs. The cost of public safety is also going to increase with additional equipment needs.
FISCAL IMPACT
There is no fiscal impact to holding this workshop.
ATTACHMENTS
A. PPT Financial Revenue Workshop
Special City Council Meeting
October 14, 2025
FINANCE WORKSHOP
• As discussed in previous council meetings there are ongoing financial concerns that will need to be addressed in the next few years in order to keep the current service level • There are additional infrastructure needs that need discussion of funding • These include but are not limited to:
• $60 Million of road rehabilitation needs
• $60 Million of additional infrastructure need
• Structural deficit of $3.5 million starting in FY 2029 • Ongoing public safety concerns
BACKGROUND
2
POTENTIAL REVENUE STRATEGIES
• Providing some potential revenue strategies
• Most of these strategies would need to go on the ballot for 2026 • Staff is currently looking for direction on which of these strategies to pursue including:
• Future agenda items
• Polling
• 2-4 strategies for staff to focus on
• All of these would need to come back to Council as a future agenda item to be approved 3
Special Tax for Police
• $250 per parcel per year
• $1.5 million annually
• Would maintain service level and add:
• Two new officer positions
• Fleet Program
• Could consider:
• 2% annual inflator cap – this would
reach $305 by the end of 10 years
would then be bringing in about $2
million annually by the end of 10
years
PARCEL TAX
4
Bond programs can be varied and are
very scalable
• Voter Threshold: 2/3 approval (CA
Constitution, Article XIII-A)
• Oversight: Independent Citizens Bond
Oversight Committee (5–7 members)
• Transparency: Annual audits, project
dashboards, and performance reports
• Sunset: 20-year term, with no renewal
unless approved by voters
Bond Summary:
• Amount: $20 million
• Type: General Obligation (Property Tax
Based)
• Term: 20 years
• Interest Rate: 4.25% (conservative
estimate)
• Estimated Annual Payment: $1.52 million
• Total Payoff (Principal + Interest): $30.5
million
BOND PROGRAM
5
At $1.52 million in annual
debt service, the average
property owner would
contribute approximately:
• $217 per parcel per year
• For about $18 per month,
the community can invest
$20 million in essential
safety, street, and park
improvements.
Category Amount Example Projects
Streets &
Pavement
Management
$15,000,000 Street rehabilitation, pavement
preservation
Public Safety &
Facility
Resilience
$1,000,000 EOC equipment, vehicles, PS Building
roofs
Parks &
Recreation
$1,000,000 Park restrooms, playgrounds, pool
restoration/possible expansion
Infrastructure
and CAAP
$3,000,000 Upgrade public buildings including
electrification and solar
Downtown &
Community
Vitality
$1,000,000 Streetscape improvements, lighting,
façade grants
Program
Management &
Issuance Costs
$2,000,000 Bond issuance, construction
management, contingency, project
management
BOND PROGRAM CONTINUED:
6
CANNABIS TAX OR REVENUE SHARE
Approved by Ballot (Tax)
• With 2-3 Dispensaries approx. $200k-
$300k annually
• General election
• Or can be a special tax if desired
Approved by Ordinance Rev. Share
• With 2 Dispensaries approx. $200K-
$300K annually
• Voted on by Council
7
• The City of Pinole currently prohibits
marijuana dispensaries and commercial
marijuana cultivation under Pinole
Municipal Code Sections 5.64.030 and
5.64.040
• Zoning would be necessary for
establishing where facilities could be
located
• Community engagement would be
important for both options
• There are potential security concerns that
will be discussed during the agenda item
on October 21st.
CANNABIS TAX OR REVENUE SHARE
8
Proposal: Establish a special 0.25% local
sales tax
• Purpose: Generate approximately $1.3
million annually
• Funding could be directed toward:
• Infrastructure improvements
• Public safety (Police services)
• Parks and recreation enhancements
• Would require a legislative
exemption to move forward
Why Consider a Special Sales Tax
• Pinole’s infrastructure, safety, and
recreation needs exceed current
General Fund capacity
• A 0.25% increase equals only 25¢
per $100 spent locally
• Visitors contribute — spreading the
impact beyond residents
• Provides a reliable, locally controlled
revenue stream for community
priorities
SPECIAL SALES TAX OPTIONS:
9
POTENTIAL BALLOT IMPLEMENTATION
TIMELINES
Year Key Milestone
2025-
May 2026
Financial modeling, community engagement, engagement
with financial firms, and polling
June 2026 Council approval of resolution and ballot language Nov 2026 Target election date for voter consideration
2027 Bond issuance and first wave of capital projects (streets & safety)
2028–2032 Major infrastructure and facility projects implemented 10
ESTIMATED COSTS:
Item Estimated Costs
Polling $50,000
Ballot (per measure) $14,000
Public Information $20,000
11
NEXT STEPS:
• Council to determine which items for staff to focus on • Which items we should poll for
• Which items to bring back as future agenda items
• Cannabis is scheduled to be discussed at discussed at the Nov. 4 th
Council meeting
12
COUNCIL RECOMMENDATIONS:
• Staff recommends the following three strategies for polling and future agenda items:
• Bond Program for infrastructure
• Parcel Tax for Public Safety and/or
• Special Tax for Public Safety
• Determine which strategies you would like placed on a future agenda for further exploration • Determine which strategies you would like us to include in the polling 13
City of Pinole
THANK YOU
QUESTIONS?