Special City Council Meeting Minutes
March 31, 2026
Page | 1
VALLEJO CITY COUNCIL
SPECIAL MEETING MINUTES
MARCH 31, 2026
COUNCIL CHAMBERS
555 Santa Clara Street, Vallejo, California
1. CALL TO ORDER
The meeting was called to order at 7:09 p.m.
2. ROLL CALL
Present: Vice Mayor Matulac, Councilmembers Bregenzer, Gordon, Lediju (arrived at 7:14 p.m. and participated remotely), Matias, and Palmares
Absent: Mayor Sorce
Staff present: City Manager Murray, City Attorney Nebb and City Clerk Abrahamson
3. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
City Attorney Nebb reported the following out of Closed Session held at 5:03 p.m.
Closed Session Item 3A – Council provided direction.
Closed Session Items 3B, 3C and 3D – Council provided direction to its legal counsel.
4. PUBLIC COMMENT REGARDING CONSENT CALENDAR ITEMS
Speakers: None.
5. CONSENT CALENDAR AND APPROVAL OF AGENDA
Action: moved by Councilmember Bregenzer and carried unanimously by members present, unless otherwise noted, approval of the Agenda and the Consent Calendar with the removal of Item 5A from the Consent Calendar and renumbering it as Item 5.1 (Absent: Mayor Sorce and Councilmember Lediju)..
A. CONSIDERATION OF LETTER OF SUPPORT – AB 1761 (ELECTRICITY
RATE TRANSPARENCY)
Recommendation: Authorize the Mayor to execute a Letter of Support for AB 1761, formally expressing the City’s support for increased transparency in electricity rate-setting and encouraging timely legislative consideration.
Contact: Andrew Murray, City Manager (707) 648-4576
[email protected]
Action: item was removed from the Consent Calendar at the request of Councilmember Gordon.
Staff provided context of AB 1761 and Mr. Gonsalves as the City’s State lobbyist, provided comment.
Action: moved by Councilmember Bregenzer and carried unanimously by members present and on a roll call vote, to authorize Mayor to execute a Letter of Support for AB 1761, formally expressing the City’s support for increased Docusign Envelope ID: 1A1355B2-3DE6-8CA6-8125-EC93749702EB Special City Council Meeting Minutes
March 31, 2026
Page | 2
transparency in electricity rate-setting and encouraging timely legislative consideration (Absent: Mayor Sorce).
6. ACTION CALENDAR
A. PRESENTATION OF THE CITY OF VALLEJO'S STATE AND FEDERAL
LEGISLATIVE ADVOCACY FIRMS AND RECEIVE DIRECTION ON
UPDATING THE CITY'S LEGISLATIVE PLATFORM
Recommendation: Receive the presentation and provide direction to staff on whether to schedule a future agenda item or special meeting to update the City’s State and Federal Legislative Platform and legislative priorities.
Contact: Sidney Wilson, Administrative Analyst (707) 648-4576 [email protected]
Administrative Analyst II Wilson introduced the City’s State and Federal lobbying partners.
Susan Lent of Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld, LLP, Mary Bergstrom of Capitol Advocacy Partners, and Paul Gonsalves of Gonsalves & Sons provided an overview of the services their respective firms provide to the City.
Administrative Analyst II Wilson concluded the presentation with a summary of the City’s legislative advocacy procedural history and an overview of its legislative platform.
Staff and the Consultants responded to questions from Councilmembers.
Councilmembers provided comment.
Speakers: Melvin Cowan
Action: moved by Councilmember Gordon and carried unanimously by members present on a roll call vote to invite the City’s state and federal legislative advocacy firms to attend the Council goal setting and, following goal setting, schedule a special meeting with the consultants to further develop the City’s legislative platform in alignment with the Council’s established goals
Absent: Mayor Sorce).
By consensus of the Council, the Action Calendar was reordered to consider items 6D, 6E, 6B and 6C. The minutes reflect the items in the order as they appeared on the Agenda.
B. ADOPT A RESOLUTION ACCEPTING THE GENERAL PLAN AND HOUSING ELEMENT ANNUAL PROGRESS REPORT FOR CALENDAR YEAR 2025
AND DIRECTING STAFF TO SUBMIT THE SAME TO THE GOVERNOR'S
OFFICE OF LAND USE AND CLIMATE INNOVATION AND THE
CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND COMMUNITY
DEVELOPMENT
Recommendation: Adopt a Resolution accepting the General Plan and Housing Element Annual Progress Report for calendar year 2025 and directing staff to Docusign Envelope ID: 1A1355B2-3DE6-8CA6-8125-EC93749702EB Special City Council Meeting Minutes
March 31, 2026
Page | 3
submit the same to the Governor’s Office of Land Use and Climate Innovation and the California Department of Housing and Community Development.
Contact: Kristin Pollot, AICP, Planning & Development Services Director, (707) 648-4326
[email protected]
Planning Manager Rojas provided a progress report on the 2025 General Plan 2040, reviewed the Planning Commission’s acceptance, shared implementation highlights of the Plan, reviewed Housing production numbers and shared Housing Element Program implementation highlights.
Speakers: Eli Smith, Cristal Gallegos (Vallejo Housing Justice Coalition), Melvin Cowan, Leila Walton, and Yessica Martinez.
Staff responded to questions from Councilmembers. Councilmembers provided comment.
Action: moved by Councilmember Bregenzer and carried unanimously by members present on a roll call vote to adopt Resolution No. 26-033 N.C.(Absent: Mayor Sorce).
C. RECEIVE UPDATE ON THE CITY OF VALLEJO’S UNHOUSED STRATEGIC
PLAN AND PROVIDE DIRECTION ON NEXT STEPS, RECIEVE AN UPDATE
ON THE WHITE SLOUGH SITUATION, AND APPROVE ALLOCATING UP TO $1,000 TOTAL FOR A LIVED EXPERIENCE STIPEND PROGRAM
Recommendation: Receive an update on the City of Vallejo’s Unhoused Strategic Plan, receive an update on the White Slough situation, and approve allocating up to $1,000 total for a lived experience stipend program.
Contact: Natalie Peterson, Assistant to the City Manager [email protected]
Assistant to the City Manager Peterson provided an update on the Unhoused Strategic Plan, discussed the Lived Experience Stipends Program and provided an update on White Slough.
Speakers: Eli Smith, Anne Carr, Louis Michael, Cristal Gallegos (Vallejo Housing Justice Coalition,) and Leila Walton
Staff responded to questions from Councilmembers. Councilmembers provided comment.
Action: Moved by Councilmember Bregenzer and carried unanimously by members present on a roll call vote (Mayor Sorce and Councilmember Lediju absent) to:
• Support the general concept of the Unhoused Strategic Plan outline. • Direct staff to meet with Councilmembers Lediju, Palmares, and Gordon to review the document and provide feedback prior to community outreach.
Docusign Envelope ID: 1A1355B2-3DE6-8CA6-8125-EC93749702EB Special City Council Meeting Minutes
March 31, 2026
Page | 4
• Direct staff to work with Councilmembers Lediju and Palmares, as CAP Solano JPA representatives, to bring forward a request for lived experience stipends to be administered through CAP Solano JPA, with a portion designated for Vallejo-specific initiatives.
Regarding White Slough:
• Council expressed support for the eventual clean-up of the properties. • Directed staff to engage with and support community-led clean-up efforts where appropriate, and to coordinate with outside agencies for potential City-led clean-up.
• Requested increased action related to RV encampments and development of a strategy to address associated community impacts.
Additionally, staff was directed to:
• Explore Encampment Resolution Funding (grant) opportunities, including transitional housing options; and
• Continue pursuing enforcement-based strategies as part of a broader response.
D. DISCUSS OPTIONS, DETERMINE FINAL LOCATION FOR PLACEMENT OF
THE ONIGAWARA, APPROVE GARDEN RESTORATION IN ACCORDANCE
WITH THE DESIGN PLANS, AND PROVIDE DIRECTION TO STAFF
REGARDING SAME
Recommendation: Approve plans for restoration of Japanese Garden located between City Hall and the JFK Library which includes the installation of the restored Onigawara on a concrete Pedestal and new plants in the Japanese garden located adjacent to City Hall.
Contact: Erik Rzomp, Executive Assistant to Mayor Sorce (707) 648-4377 [email protected]
Executive Assistant to the Mayor Rzomp provided background and context, discussed options for the Japanese Garden, requested Council input to assist in determining the final location for Onigawara placement, shared the recommended approval for garden restoration in accordance with the design plans and requested direction from Council.
Speakers: Rick Weyrich (Beautification Commission).
Action: Moved by Councilmember Bregenzer and carried unanimously by members present on a roll call vote to approve the plans for restoration of the Japanese Garden located between City Hall and the JFK Library. The approved scope includes installation of the restored Onigawara on a concrete pedestal and new plantings within the Japanese Garden adjacent to City Hall. The action also authorizes the addition of up to $10,000 in funding for lighting improvements for three garden beds (Absent: Mayor Sorce and Councilmember Palmares).
E. PROVIDE FEEDBACK REGARDING FUNDING PRIORITIES FOR BAY AREA
AIR QUALITY MANAGEMENT DISTRICT (BAAQMD) COMMUNITY
BENEFITS FUND GRANT
Recommendation:
Docusign Envelope ID: 1A1355B2-3DE6-8CA6-8125-EC93749702EB Special City Council Meeting Minutes
March 31, 2026
Page | 5
Provide feedback regarding the funding areas/categories for the BAAQMD Community Benefits Fund Grant.
Contact: Nalungo Conoley, Assistant City Manager
[email protected]
Assistant City Manager Nalungo outlined the recommendation, provided background information and reviewed the lead application proposals for the City, outlined feedback requested from Council and next steps.
Speakers: Loreno Allio, Louis Michael and Leila Walton.
Staff responded to questions from Councilmembers. Councilmembers provided comment and direction to staff on the funding areas/categories for the BAAQMD.
7. ADJOURNMENT
The meeting adjourned at 12:47 a.m.
________________________________
ANDREA SORCE, MAYOR
ATTEST:
_________________________________
DAWN G. ABRAHAMSON, CITY CLERK
Docusign Envelope ID: 1A1355B2-3DE6-8CA6-8125-EC93749702EB