City of San Pablo
Meeting Minutes - Final
City Council
6:00 PM City Council Chambers
Members of the public may view this meeting online by using this URL
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89046076519
Monday, July 21, 2025
CITY COUNCIL/LOCAL SUCCESSOR AGENCY
CALL TO ORDER
The meeting was called to order at 6:00 p.m. in the Council Chambers.
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
Mayor Cruz led the Pledge of Allegiance.
ROLL CALL
Councilmember Patricia Ponce, Councilmember Rita Xavier, and Mayor Arturo CruzPresent: 3 - Councilmember Abel Pineda, and Vice Mayor Elizabeth Pabon-AlvaradoAbsent: 2 - Staff Present:
City Manager, Matt Rodriguez
Assistant City Manager, Maria Ojeda
City Attorney, Brian P. Hickey
Police Chief, Brian Bubar
Community Development Director, Libby Tyler
City Clerk, Dorothy Gantt
Administrative Clerk II, Casey Erlenheim
ORAL COMMUNICATIONS
There were three Public Comments: Marco Rodriguez, Ryan Lau, Ali Essa
CITY MANAGER REMARKS
City Manager Matt Rodriguez made the following announcements:
1. Following Republic Services solid waste pick up service interruption that began on July 8, an agreement with the Teamsters Labor group was reached, services resumed as of July 21, 2025. Discussions exploring rate relief with Republic services are occurring.
2. Temporary solid waste drop off services offered by the City at 2600 Moraga Road are discontinued.
3. Virtual Town Hall with Republic Services in Spanish on Wed July 23, 2025.
4. Dumpster Day August 2, 2025
5. Tuesday, Aug 5, 2025 is 2025 National Night Out Event
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CONSENT CALENDAR
No Public Comments were received on the Consent Calendar.
MINUTES
1. CONSIDER APPROVING MINUTES OF THE CITY COUNCIL MEETING OF MARCH 10, 2025
CEQA: This proposed action is not a project as defined by CEQA. 25-313
Approved.
2. CONSIDER APPROVING MINUTES OF THE SPECIAL CITY COUNCIL MEETING OF JULY 1, 2025
CEQA: This proposed action is not a project as defined by CEQA. 25-319
Approved.
PERIODIC REPORTS
3. CONSIDER APPROVING VENDOR CHECK REGISTER REPORT FOR THE MONTH OF JUNE 2025
CEQA: This proposed action is not a project as defined by CEQA. 25-028
This Periodic Report was Received and Filed.
LIABILITY CLAIMS
4. CONSIDER DENYING LIABILITY CLAIM OF ABASI BUFORD (DOL 06/21/25) CEQA: This proposed action is not a project as defined by CEQA. 25-314
Denied.
CITY COUNCIL AUTHORIZATION
5. CONSIDER ADOPTING RESOLUTIONS OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY
OF SAN PABLO AND THE SAN PABLO LOCAL SUCCESSOR AGENCY
BOARD APPROVING AND ADOPTING A REVISED INVESTMENT POLICY FOR FY 2025-26
CEQA: This proposed action is not a project as defined by CEQA. 25-265
Adopted.
Enactment No: 2025-098 and LSA 2025-001
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6. CONSIDER ADOPTING RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SAN PABLO AUTHORIZING: ( 1) AN EVENT SPONSORSHIP FOR THE 2025 FIESTAS PATRIAS EVENT / LATIN AMERICAN INDEPENDENCE DAY PARADE ($5,000); (2) TEMPORARY CLOSURE OF STREETS FOR THE FOR THE PARADE; (3) WAIVER OF TRAFFIC CONTROL FEES; AND (4)
PROVISION OF POLICE, COMMUNITY SERVICES, AND PUBLIC WORKS STAFF TO SUPPORT THE PARADE (ESTIMATED $ 25,000 OF IN -KIND
SERVICES) FOR A TOTAL SPONSORSHIP AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $30,000
CEQA: This proposed action is not a project as defined by CEQA. 25-269
Adopted
Enactment No: 2025-099
7. CONSIDER ADOPTING RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY
OF SAN PABLO APPROVING THE APPLICATION FOR THE LAND AND WATER CONSERVATION FUND FOR THE MCNEIL PARK PROJECT (0501) CEQA: The McNeil park project (previously called the SPARC project) has been determined to be categorically exempt from environmental review pursuant to Section 15304 of the State CEQA Guidelines. DEQA Guidelines Section 15304 exempts from environmental review “minor public or private alterations in the condition of land, water, and /or vegetation which do not involve removal of healthy, mature, scenic trees except for forestry and agricultural purposes .” The Project would involve alteration of the site from an empty lot with demolition debris to a park, including grading, new landscaping, and minor trenching and backfilling where the surface is restored. The Project would not remove any mature trees; the trees within and adjacent to the Project site would be preserved in place.
25-316
Adopted.
Enactment No: 2025-100
A motion was made by Councilmember Ponce, seconded by Councilmember Xavier, to Adopt all items on the Consent Calendar. The motion carried by the following vote:
Aye: 3 - Ponce, Xavier, and Cruz
Absent: 2 - Pineda, and Pabon-Alvarado
* * * * END OF CONSENT CALENDAR * * * *
PUBLIC HEARINGS
8. CONSIDER AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SAN PABLO AMENDING THE SAN PABLO MUNICIPAL CODE (TITLE 17 - ZONING ORDINANCE) CHAPTER 17.32, RESIDENTIAL DISTRICTS, ALLOWED 25-225
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USES, AND DEVELOPMENT STANDARDS, CHAPTER 17.34 ,
COMMERCIAL AND INDUSTRIAL DISTRICTS, ALLOWED USES, AND
DEVELOPMENT STANDARDS AND CHAPTER 17.38, OVERLAY AND
SPECIAL DISTRICTS, SECTION 17.38.080, SPECIFIC PLAN DISTRICTS; AMENDMENTS TO THE SAN PABLO ZONING MAP TO REDESIGNATE 139
LAND PARCELS TO BE CONSISTENT WITH THE LAND USE
DESIGNATIONS OF THE SAN PABLO GENERAL PLAN UPDATE 2035; AND AMENDMENTS TO THE SAN PABLO AVENUE SPECIFIC PLAN FIGURE 2-4, LAND USE DIAGRAM, TO REDESIGNATE 18 PARCELS TO BE
CONSISTENT WITH THE LAND USE DESIGNATIONS OF THE SAN PABLO GENERAL PLAN 2035.
CEQA: The proposed zoning text amendments, zoning map amendments, and San Pablo Avenue Specific Plan amendments implement the updated land use map and policies of the San Pablo General Plan Update 2035. An Addendum to the General Plan 2030 EIR (certified on April 18, 2011) has been prepared for the proposed San Pablo General Plan Update 2035, which found that there would not be any new or additional significant environmental impacts that have not been previously evaluated.
The public hearing opened at 6:45 PM
One Public Comment was received by the following: Olivia Liou The public hearing closed at 6:49 PM
A motion was made by Mayor Cruz, seconded by Councilmember Xavier, that the First Reading be waived and the ORDINANCE introduced. The motion carried by the following vote:
Aye: 3 - Ponce, Xavier, and Cruz
Absent: 2 - Pineda, and Pabon-Alvarado
Enactment No: ORD 2025-002
SUPPLEMENTAL MATERIALS (IF ANY)
9. MATERIALS SUBMITTED AFTER PUBLICATION OF THE AGENDA WILL BE APPENDED AFTER THE COUNCIL MEETING. THIS IS NOT AN ACTION ITEM
BUT MERELY A MECHANISM FOR MATERIALS SUBMITTED AFTER
PUBLICATION OF THE AGENDA TO BE APPENDED TO THE PUBLISHED AGENDA AFTER THE COUNCIL MEETING.
CEQA: This is not a project as defined by CEQA.
25-328
MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL ASSIGNMENTS REPORTS
(a) Mayor Arturo Cruz
(b) Vice Mayor Elizabeth Pabon-Alvarado
(c) Councilmember Rita Xavier
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(d) Councilmember Abel Pineda
(e) Councilmember Patricia Ponce
ADJOURNMENT
Adjourned at 7:00 PM to the Regular City Council meeting of Monday, August 4, 2025.
Respectfully Submitted,
____________________________
Dorothy Gantt, City Clerk
____________________________
Arturo Cruz, Mayor