Upcoming Meeting 6.16.26

At our next meeting, we will be discussing several signficant items:

- We will discuss  the annual update to the City's salary schedule.

- We will be discussing the annual update and levy of several special taxes related to various districts across the City including the Community Facilitiies District (Grove Park), High Street, Lydia Lane, Oak Street, and Diablo Estates.  These are existing levys that get updated each year.

- We will discuss the placement of a sales tax measure on the November ballot.

- We will discuss the creation of an ad hoc committee to author the direct and (if necessary) rebuttal arguments for the Sales tax measure on the Novermber ballot.

If you have any thoughts or questions on the above, please let me know.

Additional Updates - Housing Element, Projects, and Financial Information and Newsletter

At our last meeting, there were a few informational items raised by our City Manager that I would like to highlight:

- At long last, our Housing Element (HE) for the 6th Cycle (2023 - 2031) has been approved and certified by CA Housing and Community Development (HCD).  While the City officially adopted the update to the HE back in January of 2023, our update was not approved and certified at that time.  Despite the fact tha tthe City complied with all requirements of the Housing Element, HCD requested that the City zone for a greater numberr of units than was required, and allow more permissive rules regarding housing mobility, ADUs, units per parcel, etc.

Each time a modification is requested by HCD, the City has complied.  To do so, the law requires that the change first be heard by the Planning Commission, then at times be heard two separate times by Council.  There have been at least 3 such requests, and with each the City asks if we make the requested changes would it be sufficient.  Unfortunately those questions were left unanswered - there is no rule that governs how HCD operates and they have complete discretion whether the certify a proposed HE regardless whether it is compliant with the law.  Nevertheless, the City resubmitted the HE with changes requested several times.  Each time carried long delays in responses, and the responses were to ask for additional changes thus beginning the process again.

I'm pleased to report the HE was finally approved and found in compliance as of April 2026.

- We also received a report of ongoing projects related to overall City beautification, traffic safety, and weed abatement.  I have asked for a schedule of regular maintenance so residents can be aware of what to expect in their neighborhoods.  And while this list is focused on what is immediate, it is a great start to sharing the work that is going on throughout the City.

- The City has also begun publishing information around City finances, and a City Manager Newsletter regarding the overall financial outlook.

My 6.2.26 Meeting Summary

At our last meeting we discussed several signficant items.  Some of the items on the agenda were tabled due to an error in the new agenda management software the City is rolling out. This included item 7a, 8b, and 8c.

- We received an annual report on workplace vacancies and recruitment efforts.  Good news is that while there are still some open positions, all have offers out and candidates have accepted.  As thinnly as the City operates, if any one position is vacant it has the potential to have an impact on operations not only in that role, but the other roles that need to backfill in the interim.

- We received a report from the Assistant Chief / Fire Marshal, Chris Bachman.  He presented a proposal whereby Contra Costa Fire would perform wildfire mitigation efforts including creating shaded fuel breaks (raising the canopy of trees to clear underneath them reducing available fuel in the event of a fire), and mowing or grazing various areas of grass and other fuels.  This would take place over approximately 100 acres, and be covered by a grant from CAL Fire.  The Chief was asking for the City's support as all of the land affected was owned by either the City of Concord, the City of Clayton, or Oakhurst Country Club.  The Council supported this grant application.

- We adopted resolutions regarding the updated annual levy of the LMD - this needs to be done each year and is routine.  We also adopted a resolution codifying what the City will do in the event of a disruption of telphone or internet service during a Council meeeting.  We will pause for up to one hour then decide whether or not to continue.

- We set the public hearing date of july 7 for the proposed extension of the Landscape and Maintenance District by a ballot measure in the November election.

Upcoming Meeting 6.2.26

At our next Council meeting, there are several significant items we will discuss:

- We will have our annual public hearing on workforce matters such as vacancies, recruitments, and retention.

- We will discuss supporting an application from the Contra Costa Fire Protection District for a grant application

- We will discuss annual updates to the salary schedule

- We will discuss the annual levy of various special taxes related to specific areas in the City

- We will discuss the a policy on the disruption of remote access during City Council meetings

- We will set a public hearing date for the proposed extension of the Landscape Maintenance District (LMD)

If you have any thoughts or questions on the above, please let me know.

Memorial Day 2026

My 5.19.26 Meeting Summary

Last night the Council met and discussed one signficant item - the Transaction and Use Tax (sales tax) and the Landscape Maintenance District (LMD) renewal that will be on the November ballot.  The LMD is a large source of funding for City operations, and the Sales Tax is intended to shore up structure deficits where there are no other ways to continue to provide the current level of services in the long term.

Overall the Council aligned on details of each.  

For the Sales Tax this includes:

- Ballot language

- Timing and sequence of events (resolutions at our June 16 meeting, submission to County no later than August 7)

- Authors of the argument in favor (whole Council if permissible.  City Attorney will verify)

For the LMD renewal:

- Length of extension (10 years)

- New base rate and potential annual adjustments (No change to method of apportionment.  Existing rate +10% for capital projects and to keep up with inflation.  A CPI based riser each year)

- Oversight body (Yes, the TLC)

- How many members of the oversight body (down from 11 to 5)

- Description of services (same, with updates for clarity and consistency)

- Timing and sequence of events (resolutions at our June 16 meeting, submission to County no later than August 7)

- Authors of the argument in favor (whole Council if permissible.  City Attorney will verify)

For each, there are townhall events planned for Aug 26 and Oct 7.  More information will be shared when available.

Upcoming Meeting 5.19.26

At our next meeting, there is one significant item on the agenda, and that is a workshop on the Transaction and Use Tax (Sales Tax), and the Landscape Maintenance District (LMD) renewal.  This will include discussing the timing, language, and content of each.

If you have any thoughts on the above, please let me know.