City of San Pablo
Meeting Minutes
City Council
4:00 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 13, 2026
Special Meeting
CALL TO ORDER
The meeting was called to order at 4:02 PM in the Council Chambers.
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
Mayor Pabon-Alvarado led the Pledge of Allegiance.
ROLL CALL
Councilmember Arturo Cruz, Councilmember Patricia Ponce, Councilmember Abel Pineda, Vice Mayor Rita Xavier, and Mayor Elizabeth Pabon-Alvarado
Present: 5 -
*Note that Vice Mayor Xavier arrived at 4:04 PM and Councilmember Pineda arrived at 4:08 PM Staff Present:
City Manager, Matt Rodriguez
Assistant City Manager, Maria Ojeda
City Attorney, Brian P. Hickey
Police Chief, Brian Bubar
City Clerk, Dorothy Gantt
Deputy City Clerk, Casey Erlenheim
Administrative Clerk, David Gonzales
ORAL COMMUNICATIONS
No Public Comments were received for Oral Communications.
July 13, 2026City Council Meeting Minutes
CITY COUNCIL DISCUSSION/CONSIDERATION
CONSIDER RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SAN PABLO PLACING A PROPOSED MEASURE ON THE NOVEMBER 3, 2026
BALLOT SEEKING VOTER APPROVAL OF A GENERAL TEN -YEAR
TRANSACTIONS AND USE (SALES) TAX WITH FIVE YEARS AT ONE -HALF OF ONE PERCENT (0.50%), REDUCING TO ONE -QUARTER OF ONE PERCENT (0.25%) FOR THE NEXT FIVE YEARS, THEN TERMINATING ALTOGETHER, TO FUND GENERAL MUNICIPAL SERVICES; AND
REQUESTING THAT CONTRA COSTA COUNTY CONSOLIDATE THIS
ELECTION WITH THE STATEWIDE ELECTION SET TO OCCUR ON THE
SAME DATE
26-379
There were three Public Comments received from the following: Genoveva Calloway; Shawn Ray, SPPEA and Eugene Kolosov, SPPEA.
Received and Filed.
A motion was made by Councilmember Ponce, seconded by Councilmember Cruz, to receive and file Survey Results on Voter Support for Increasing Sales Tax. The Motion carried by the following vote:
Aye: 5 - Cruz, Ponce, Pineda, Xavier, and Pabon-Alvarado Adopted.
A motion was made by Councilmember Ponce, seconded by Councilmember Pineda, to adopt resolution to place the attached Transactions and Use (Sales) tax measure (Ordinance) on the November 3, 2026 election ballot. The Motion carried by the following vote:
Aye: 5 - Cruz, Ponce, Pineda, Xavier, and Pabon-Alvarado
Enactment No: RES 2026-121
July 13, 2026City Council Meeting Minutes
CONSIDER (1) RECEIVING A REPORT PURSUANT TO ELECTIONS CODE SECTION 9212 ON THE EFFECTS OF AN INITIATIVE ORDINANCE TO
IMPOSE RENT CONTROL AND TO ESTABLISH JUST -CAUSE EVICTION CRITERIA (INCLUDING MOBILEHOMES ); AND (2) CONSIDER ADDITIONAL
ACTIONS TO (A) ADOPT THE INITIATIVE ORDINANCE, OR (B) SUBMIT THE
INITIATIVE ORDINANCE TO THE VOTERS OF SAN PABLO AT THE
GENERAL MUNICIPAL ELECTION OF NOVEMBER 3, 2026
CEQA: This proposed action is not a project as defined by CEQA. 26-378
There were nine Public Comments received from the following: Genoveva Calloway, Ruthie Abelson, Jennifer Rizzo, Joe Stokley, Linda Jackson, Rolanda Wilson, Clara Farias, Rosas, and Rhea Elina. *Note: Councilmember Ponce departed the meeting at 5:49 PM Received.
A motion was made by Councilmember Pineda, seconded by Councilmember Cruz, to receive the RSG, Inc. report pursuant to Elections Code Section 9212 on the effects of an Initiative Ordinance to Impose Rent Control and to Establish Just -Cause Eviction Criteria (including mobilehomes). The Motion carried by the following vote:
Aye: 4 - Cruz, Pineda, Xavier, and Pabon-Alvarado
Absent 1- Ponce
A motion was made by Councilmember Pineda to adopt resolution calling for submission of the Initiative Ordinance to the City of San Pablo voters pursuant to Elections Code Section 9215(b) and authorizing the Mayor and Vice Mayor to prepare and file the written argument against the Initiative Ordinance on behalf of the City Council pursuant to Elections Code Section 9282(a). The motion failed for lack of a second, and no vote was taken.
A motion was made by Councilmember Cruz and seconded by Councilmember Xavier to adopt a resolution calling for submission of the Initiative Ordinance to the City of San Pablo voters with revised language prepared by the City Attorney and distributed on the dais and to the public (including online posting to the agenda ), pursuant to Elections Code Section 9215(b), and authorizing the Mayor and Vice Mayor to prepare and file the written argument against the Initiative Ordinance on behalf of the City Council pursuant to Elections Code Section 9282(a). The motion carried by the following vote:
Adopted as Amended.
Aye: 4 - Cruz, Pineda, Xavier, and Pabon-Alvarado
Absent 1- Ponce
Enactment No: RES 2026-122
July 13, 2026City Council Meeting Minutes
SUPPLEMENTAL MATERIALS (IF ANY)
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.
26-366
MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL ASSIGNMENTS REPORTS
(a) Councilmember Arturo Cruz
(b) Councilmember Patricia Ponce
(c) Councilmember Abel Pineda
(d) Vice Mayor Rita Xavier
(e) Mayor Elizabeth Pabon-Alvarado
ADJOURNMENT
Adjourned at 6:19 PM to the Regular City Council Meeting of Monday, July 20, 2026 at 6:00 PM.
Respectfully Submitted,
____________________________
Casey Erlenheim, Deputy City Clerk