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City Council Meeting 4/27/21
by Colleen Coll, Observer
- A Council-driven process with staff returning to the Council after devising a “robust public outreach plan”, seeking public review and comment prior to adapting new district boundaries.
- The Council creates an Advisory Commission, independent of the Council that is staff facilitated. The independent Commission would report back to the Council with findings.
Precinct maps and data are expected to be released by our County Clerk on August 16th. New boundary lines must be adopted by April 17, 2022, according to the State. Staff reminded Council that the City spent $140,000 dollars in 2018, hiring legal consultants and a demographer to devise the current district boundaries. Concord's redistricting methodology and inclusion of multiple public hearings was recognized by the League of California Cities as being a "model," for cities to follow.
Public comments: Council heard from two members of the public. Both advocated for Independent Advisory Commission approach.
Councilmember Laura Hoffmeister advocated for a Council-driven approach, rationalizing that Concord's demographics have not changed since the previous census. Concord is built-out. A few homes have been built, in-fill projects producing five or ten homes. She stressed the need for the Council to conduct multiple public hearings, which engage the community, prior to adoption of new boundary lines.
The State is requiring each city and public entity to conduct at least four public hearings, prior to its targeted adoption date of April 17, 2022. The majority of the Council members concurred with her approach. Staff was directed to return to Council with a "robust," outreach plan for community engagement, prior to Council's adoption of new boundary lines for district elections.
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City Council Meeting 4/13/21 and 4/19/21
by Colleen Coll, Observer
The Concord City Council addressed non-storefront retail and micro business cannabis applicants at both the April 13 and April 19 meetings. All applicants are vying for Concord licenses.
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City Council Meeting 4/6/21
by Colleen Coll, Observer
Concord Naval Weapons Station
- On April 6, 2021, the East Bay Times Editorial riled the Concord City Council with an editorial entitled, "Political stench still lingers over Concord weapons station plans." Immediately, legal language was drafted prohibiting Council members from accepting campaign contributions to influence their selection.
- The Concord City Council members directed staff to seek Request for Qualifications (RFQ) for a new Master Developer commencing April 9th for sixty days.
- Council member Carlyn Obringer raised multiple issues related to the (127) page report.
- Job creation, housing affordability, green space, remediation assurances, on-site and off-site infrastructure costs and sustainability were analyzed by Council members.
- Several non-profit housing advocates and open space organizations spoke and reminded Council members that their decisions must be transparent.
- All stakeholders including labor groups want the developer's commitment to work cooperatively. To rebuild trust in this selection process the Council must be open and transparent.
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City Council Meeting 3/23/21
by Colleen Coll, Observer
- Master Developer selection process and the Request for Qualifications will be deliberated on April 6.
- Concord will receive $13 million from the recent passage of the 1.9 trillion-dollar Relief Bill.
- Per Chief of Police, the numbers of certain felonies in Concord have slowed due to the pandemic.
- The District Attorney’s policies have increased the quick release of some types of criminals. The Chief of Police didn’t sound happy about this - attributed it to the DA’s policies and directed members of the Council to take complaints to the DA.
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Special Meeting: Concord Naval Weapon Station - 12/10/20
- Council directed staff to seek a Request for Qualifications, as the initial step to choose a new Master Developer.
- Council expressed interest in continuing a public/private partnership approach.
- Each Councilmember reaffirmed their interest in 25% of the residential units to be "affordable."
- The Mayor selected an ad hoc committee, consisting of the Vice Mayor and Councilmember Edi Birsan to work with staff and create a Request for Qualifications. The ad hoc committee will report back to full council for discussion and possible adoption.
- The main focus of this council for 2021 will be to select a new Master Developer and workable Term Sheet. Lennar the former Master Developer could not meet the terms of the Labor Agreement, after months of unproductive meetings.
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City Council Meeting – 12/8/20
- Item (5) Routine - Council Annual Reorganization
- City Clerk read aloud results of Nov. 3rd election.
- Incumbents were both re-elected for a four-year term. Both Councilmembers were administered the oath.
- Measure V: Extended sales tax narrowly passed.
- Next item choosing the Mayor and Vice Mayor was not routine. Concord rotates its Mayor. Traditionally, the Vice Mayor is nominated and confirmed; however, the Vice Mayor stated that continuity of leadership was needed due to the pandemic. Note that no other City with a rotating Mayor followed this approach. Only Councilmember Carlyn Obringer dissented. She expressed her interest in nominating the Vice Mayor and did not believe that the council should set precedence. The vote was 4-1.
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City Council Meeting – 11/12/20
by Colleen Coll, LWVDV Observer
- Concord City Council convened on Tuesday, Nov. 10, 2020. All members were present.
- Item 9a, under Public hearings generated the most community interest.
- Several non-profit agencies lobbied their tenant organizations to participate and support establishing a "Rent Registry." A professional service firm would administer the three-year program. The firm would collect rent data and any ancillary costs charged to the tenants, such as parking spaces, for three years. All data collected would be made public.
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Council members deliberated for hours. The item was passed and the landlords will be charged $5.25 per unit. The data will drive future Tenant policies in our community.
- Click here to see the agenda and a recording of the meeting.
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City Council Meeting - 9/8/2020
by Colleen Coll
On September 8, 2020 the Concord city Council convened for the first time since their annual August recess. All members were present.
Mayor Tim McGallian opened the public comment period. Three members of the public addressed the council regarding the homeless, rent protection and a neighborhood noise complaint.
- The council considered increasing the micro business licenses from (4) to (6) storefronts with a retail component.
- Staff endorsed amending the ordinance to allow two more micro business licenses.
- The Mayor opened the public comment period and only one member of the public spoke and advocated for (2) more licenses to be authorized. The council deliberated and voted in favor of allowing two more licenses to be allowed. The vote was 4-1.
- The dissenting voice raised the concern of allowing a Cannabis storefront near the Bart Stations.
- The council will issue a Request for Proposals from certified Cannabis operators, in October. The council intends to select qualified operators, after public hearings have been conducted in March 2021.
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City Council Meeting - 8/5/2020
by Colleen Coll, LWVDV Observer
All Council Members were present. Mayor McGallian opened the public comment period. Members of the public continue to ask Council to "Defund the Police."
The item that generated the most interest was the CARE Act Funding expenditure plan. Concord will receive $1.6 million Federal funds to assist both residents and small businesses that have been impacted by the COVID-19 crisis.
The Mayor appointed himself and Council member Obringer as an Ad Hoc Committee to make recommendations to the full council. The Committee instructed staff to reach out to Chamber of Commerce, Mount Diablo Unified School District (MDUSD), Shelter Inc., and other community non-profit organizations.
Based on their findings the Council recommended:
- $450,000 be used to make the necessary structural changes to minimize risk of COVID-19 exposure to city employees and members of the public. Equipment is needed to be purchased to improve staff response to the public during the pandemic.
- Shelter Inc. should be appropriated $375,000 to administer assistance to low-income families to pay rent due to COVID-19 impact.
- $725,000 be administered by the Concord Chamber of Commerce. The Chamber will screen eligible small Concord businesses to receive a $5000 grant. The Chamber hopes to assist over 130 Concord businesses.
- The Committee's final recommendation was to give $50,000 to MDUSD to improve low-income neighborhoods access to technology. The proposed CARE Act Investment Plan was thoroughly discussed, analyzed and adopted.
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City Council Meeting - 7/28/2020
by Colleen Coll, LWVDV Observer Team
All members were present. During the public comment period several members called in asking Council to reallocate money from the Police department to local mental health organizations. Some callers asked the city to partner with the school district by offering city-owned facilities to be used as classrooms, allowing for social distancing.
The consent calendar relating to the city’s response to the Grand Jury report stating that all Police Departments are underfunded has been pulled, since it was written and submitted prior to Mr. George Floyd’s death.
Members of the public asked the City Council to submit a letter to the Grand Jury referencing a national shift in the public's discussion regarding Police funding. The City Manager explained the city's legal options and time frame as it related to the Grand Jury's findings. The 2020 Grand Jury members have disbanded. Members of the public were encouraged to write a letter to a future Grand Jury. The City Manager educated the public on role and function of the Grand Jury.
The City Council agenda focused on two topics:
- Cannabis Review Process: A Cannabis Review Process was presented by consultants who have extensive background in the Request for Proposal processes. The Council devised a merit-based process for applicants to apply. Due to the nature of the business, the Council is imposing conditions and assigning points for competition in multiple categories. The process is complex and has not been finalized. The public will continue to be part of the process.
- Measure Q extension: The Concord City Council voted to place a local revenue extension measure on the November 2020 ballot. The measure would extend the City’s existing Measure Q local funding at a one-cent rate to assure adequate funding for the delivery of general fund services. Godbe Research, a consulting firm, was hired to conduct a poll. The results of this poll demonstrated that the citizens of Concord support the sales tax increase. The poll prioritized using funding for 911 responses, infrastructure, roads, and gang prevention. Council members unanimously supported placing the measure on the ballot. Staff was directed to inform the County.
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