My 7.7.26 Meeting Summary

Last night the Council met to discuss several significant items:

- We interviewed candidates for three open Planning Commission seats.  After the interviews, we appointed three applicants - two incumbents and one new member.  Congratulations to Commissioners Nate Brzovich, Charlie Schmidt, and Maria Shulman.

- We renewed the levy of assessments at Diablo Estates Beneftis Assessment District.  While the levy is allowed to be increased each year, due to healthy reserves and being able to manage expenses in the district, the City left the levy flat from prior year, as was also done previously.  There were comments from residents regarding the level of service and some improvements that could be made which were referred to staff.

- We approved the action necessary to place the renewal of the Landscape Maintenance District (LMD) assessment on the November ballot.  This funding source is critical for the City's current operations and renewing it for the third 10 year period is necessary to maintain the level of service in the LMD that our residents expect.  We also selected Councilmembers Tillman and Trupiano to write the argument in favor of the assessment for the November ballot.

- We adopted a process that provides for the electronic filing of campaign documents.  The target is to have this up and running for the upcoming November election.

- We approved the annual levy of assessments in the Streetlight Assessment District.  This levy is fixed and does not increase each year, though costs have risen over time such that the District is underfunded.  The financial outlook for the District is improving with lower cost LED lights replacing older lights.

- We approved a contract with Bay Cities Paving and Grading for our bi-annual street work.  The streets selected were from last year and those went out to bid.  Bay Cities was the lowest bidder and happens to be a local company as well.

Upcoming Meeting 7.7.26

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

- We will hold a public hearing for the Benefits Assessment District at Diablo Estates (BAD) and the proposed annual levy.  While the levy may be increased, the City is proposing to leave the levy flat as the current assessment covers the needs of the district.

- We will hold a public hearing regarding the renewal of the Landscape Maintenance District (LMD) assessment and have it placed on the November ballot.

- We will discuss appointing an ad hoc committee to author direct and rebuttal arguments for the LMD renewal.

- We will make appointments for the Planning Commission.

- We will discuss the Streetlight Assessment District and updated annual levy.

- We will discuss the contract for the City's bi-annual street repaving project.

- We will discuss electronic filing of the Fair Political Practicies Commission campagin disclosure statements.  These were previously done in hard copy and we are moving to electronic.

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

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