CITY COUNCIL MEETING
MINUTES
January 13, 2026
1. CALL TO ORDER & PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE IN HONOR OF THE US MILITARY TROOPS
The City Council Meeting was held in a hybrid format (in-person and via Zoom videoconference and broadcast) from the Pinole Council Chambers, 2131 Pear Street, Pinole, California. Mayoi Tave called the Special Meeting of the City Council to order at 5:00 p.m. and led the Pledge o
2. LAND ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
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.
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.
Code § 87105.
A. COUNCILMEMBERS PRESENT
Anthony Tave, Mayor
Devin Murphy, Mayor Pro Tem
Norma Martinez-Rubin, Council Member*
Cameron Sasai, Council Member
Maureen Toms, Council Member
*Attending Remotely
STAFF PRESENT
Melissa Klawuhn, Acting City Manager/Police Chief
Roxane Stone, Deputy City Clerk
Eric Casher, City Attorney
Heba El-Guindy, Public Works Director
Deputy City Clerk Roxane Stone announced the agenda had been posted on January 9, 2026 at 11:05 a.m. with all legally required written notices. No written comments had been received in advance of the meeting.
Following an inquiry, the Council reported there were no conflicts with any items on the agenda.
Pinole City Council Special Meeting
Minutes - January 13, 2026
Mayor Tave reported Item 4 would be taken out of order and considered upon the conclusion of the meeting agenda following Item 12. Citizens to be Heard.
4. CONVENE TO A CLOSED SESSION
Citizens may address the Council regarding a Closed Session item prior to the Council adjourning into the Closed Session, by first providing a speaker card to the City Clerk.
A. CONFERENCE WITH LABOR NEGOTIATORS
Gov. Code § 54957.6
Agency designated representatives: Human Resources Director Stacy Shell, Finance Director Markisha Guillory and Gregory Ramirez, IEDA Employee organizations: The Pinole Police Employees Association (PPEA) B. CONFERENCE WITH LABOR NEGOTIATORS
Gov. Code § 54957.6
Title: Acting City Manager
C. CONFERENCE WITH LABOR NEGOTIATORS
Gov. Code § 54957.6
Title: Interim City Manager
PUBLIC COMMENTS OPENED
Deputy City Clerk Stone reported there were no comments from the public.
PUBLIC COMMENTS CLOSED
RECONVENE IN OPEN SESSION TO ANNOUNCE RESULTS OF CLOSED SESSION:
None
6. 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.
Deputy City Clerk Stone reported there were no comments from the public.
RECOGNITIONS / PRESENTATIONS / COMMUNITY EVENTS
A. Proclamations
1. Honoring Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
The City Council read into the record a proclamation honoring Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and proclaimed January 19, 2026 as the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday.
Pinole City Council Special Meeting
Mage te - January 13, 2026
2. National Day of Racial Healing
The City Council read into the record a proclamation recognizing January 20, 2026 as National Day of Racial Healing.
3. Holocaust Remembrance Day
The City Council read into the record a proclamation recognizing January 27, 2026 as Holocaust Remembrance Day.
Mayor Tave thanked the City Council and staff for the well written proclamations and urged people to celebrate and share in the remembrances.
B. Presentations
1. Republic Services: Post Collection Agreement and 2026 Rates by Executive Director, Cliff Feldman
Public Works Director Heba El-Guindy introduced Cliff Feldman, Executive Director and Reka Abraham, Deputy Executive Director & Regulatory Manager for the West Contra Costa Integrated Waste Management Authority (WCCIWMA), also known as RecycleMore.
Cliff Feldman, Executive Director, WCCIWMA provided a PowerPoint presentation on the Post Collection Agreement (PCA) with Republic Services and 2026 Rates, which included an overview of the PCA for disposal and recycling processing services with Republic Services for a 15-year term, and the Residential and Commercial Collection Services with Republic Services for a 15- year term; the background of the PCA and the RecycleMore Joint Powers Authority (JPA), which managed the PCA and included member agencies comprised of the cities of Pinole, Hercules, Richmond, El Cerrito, San Pablo and unincorporated Contra Costa County. The PCA terms and conditions and scope of services, value-added provisions, Material and Specific Cost Adjustment Schedule, Blended per Ton Rates, 2026 PCA Rate Setting, 2026 Rate Impact - Residential and Commercial customers and rates comparison were all highlighted.
Responding to questions from the City Council, Mr. Feldman clarified the following:
• The blended per ton rate was applied to every ton of material the same, whether it was a ton of compost or disposal in the black bin, with the cost the same and the same for recycling. Regardless of the tonnage, the blended per ton rate paid for all of the material delivered to the facility by the collection company. (Toms) • A public notice requirement related to rate increases consistent with the provisions of Proposition 218 had been provided to the community but the PCA was managed by RecycleMore and did not require sending out notices to each individual resident. The PCA was precluded from the Proposition 218 process. (Toms)
• Because it was not a service being provided directly to residents, but a component on the collection side, the PCA was precluded from the Proposition 218 notice requirement. (Mayor Tave)
Pinole City Council Special Meeting
Minutes - January 13, 2026
• Highlighted again the Material and Specific Cost Adjustment Schedule. Clarified cost increases related to the PCA had been contained in Slide 6 and clarified the second footnote as shown, which read: the contractor shall be entitled to a one-time compensation adjustment providing the amount of revenue associated with the Consumer Pirce Index (PCI) performance applied to one specific year of the PCA, Year 7 in 2032. A one-time cost adjustment that would not compound. (Martinez-Rubin)
PUBLIC COMMENTS OPENED
Rafael Menis referenced Slide 6 of the PowerPoint presentation, the Material and Specific Cost Adjustment Schedule, and commented based on Table 1 that it appeared that the cost adjustment schedule would be shifted to a fixed-rate increase to a percentile rate increase based on the CPI.
He was unclear whether that would be strictly related to CPI or whether there was a cap. If the CPI was 6 percent, the increase could only be 5 percent, but if the CPI was two percent, it could still be 5 percent. He also commented it appeared that the allowable percent increase itself, increased over time, and he was curious as to the reasoning for that adjustment, specifically the increase each year from 2031 to 2034. He would have expected that the percentile increase by default would be accounting for inflation, which tied back to his first question. He sought clarification as to why the allowable percentage increase, increased over the lifetime of the schedule.
Mr. Feldman clarified the percentages represented were the caps placed on the applicable CPI for each year. The reason why the percentages went up from 5, 6, 7 and 8 percent was what had been negotiated between the JPA and Republic Services. The rationale the company had for increasing its rate from $98 per ton to $144 per ton, a significant increase, was due to the ending years of the prior agreement where Republic Services' costs far surpassed the inflationary adjustment afforded them in the prior agreement. Republic Services had not wanted to have another contract where they were not getting their cost adjustments related to inflation in the later years of the agreement. The schedule had been negotiated with Republic Services with the primary goal of keeping rates down for the ensuing five or six years of the agreement given significant increases that had been imposed on ratepayers in the recent year and a half.
PUBLIC COMMENTS CLOSED
Council member Murphy thanked Mr. Feldman for the presentation. He acknowledged and appreciated the fact Mr. Feldman had started with RecycleMore in July 2025, and he commended him on his leadership for this endeavor. He thanked Mr. Feldman for discussing the PCA with the City Council, with the PA's continued support of many programs including hazardous waste, continued school tours and public education. He understood much of RecycleMore's work was about Senate Bill (SB) 1383, but the additional services through the PCA were critical and he wanted to thank RecycleMore and ensure ratepayers that while funds were directed towards the larger SB 1383 programs, they also supported educational and public education programs.
Council member Murphy also recognized that even with the increases, the City of Pinole's 35- gallon cart rate remained within the countywide median and was lower than the cities of El Cerrito and Richmond and was comparable to West County. He added this context mattered in that residents deserved to know how the City of Pinole compared regionally.
Pinole City Council Special Meeting
Minutes - January 13, 2026
Council member Murphy stated the City Council's role within RecycleMore was to ensure the PCA, while long-term, had rate predictability and the responsibility of ensuring Republic Services met its required standards. He also wanted to see SB 1383 funded at the state level and recognized the work being done at the local level. He was pleased to see the public facing reports from RecycleMore around diversion rates, contamination levels and projected versus actual operating costs and requested that RecycleMore continue to provide that information, continue the partnership with City staff and educate the City Council and staff about the numbers, statistics and process.
Council member Murphy also thanked Mayor Tave for serving as the RecycleMore Chair in the past and his work to have the tough conversations. He commended the Mayor for his leadership on the RecycleMore Board of Directors.
Mayor Tave thanked Mr. Feldman for the presentation.
8. CONSENT CALENDAR
All matters under the Consent Calendar are considered to be routine and noncontroversial. These items will be enacted by one motion and without discussion. If, however, any interested party or Council members) wishes to comment on an item, they may do so before action is taken on the Consent Calendar. Following comments, if a Council member wishes to discuss an item, it will be removed from the Consent Calendar and taken up in order after adoption of the Consent Calendar.
A. Adopt a Resolution Approving the Engineer's Report, Declaring Intent to Form Appian Village Residential Lighting Assessment District and Levy and Collect Assessments for Fiscal Year 2026-27, and Setting January 20, 2026 as the Date for the Public Hearing. Action: Adopt Resolution per Staff Recommendation (Lilly Whalen, David Hanham)
PUBLIC COMMENTS OPENED
Deputy City Clerk Stone reported there were no comments from the public.
PUBLIC COMMENTS CLOSED
ACTION: Motion by Council members Toms/Sasai to approve Consent Calendar Item A, as shown.
Vote: Passed 5-0
Ayes: Tave, Murphy, Martinez-Rubin, Sasai, Toms
Noes: None
Abstain: None
Absent: None
PUBLIC HEARINGS: None
10. OLD BUSINESS: None
Pinole City Council Special Meeting
Minutes - January 13, 2026
11. NEW BUSINESS: None
12. CITIZENS TO BE HEARD (Continued from Item 6) (Public Comments) Only open to members of the public who did not speak under the first Citizens to be Heard, Agenda Item 6.
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.
Rafael Menis reported the rate of COVID-19 in Contra Costa County based on recent wastewater data appeared to be low in contrast to other parts of the country, which increased sharply but he encouraged people to get vaccinated and get booster shots. He was unsure why the region had a lower rate than the country as a whole and was uncertain how long it would last but more information was available at www.cdc.gov/nwss. He added there was one outlier, and it could be a data collection error, with one site in Alameda County, which had a very high activity level noted with the first sample collected in November 2025. It was possible there was an issue with the data collection since every site in Contra Costa, Santa Clara, Alameda and San Francisco Counties had low levels.
Mr. Menis asked that the meeting adjourn in memory of Renee Good, killed by an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agent in the State of Minnesota.
Mayor Tave reiterated the City Council would adjourn to Closed Session Item 4 at this time.
13. ADJOURN to Closed Sesson and to a Regular City Council Meeting of January 20, 2026 in Remembrance of Amber Swartz.
At 5:42 p.m., Mayor Tave adjourned to Closed Session and to a Regular City Council Meeting on January 20, 2026 in Remembrance of Amber Swartz.
Submitted
Deputy City Clerk
Approved by City Council: January 20, 2026
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Pinole City ia Meeting
Minutes Tanuary 13.8302