[0:13] And give me. >> good evening. It is 630 and I am calling to order the september 8th, 2026 concord city council meeting to order madam clerk, will you please play the video describing the translation services? There are those as to me there is better competition information so that troublesome

[0:41] complacency can those that reunion as saying as a seamless part all those members of the community then those services that that obligation is done responsiveness to rental transmission.

[1:07] and we will in various idioms see this as cultural not rather now deal on their transcripts young is great and only the o'malley for telling list is concerned cortical cure selection an idea mom click in their sister baltimore wasilla sorry clarissa to the left no but an audio on there he transcripts. Young and so this positive this unfortunate element the insensitivity your noise, the responsiveness you know the repetition there's that in your hello this video is to share information on translation.

[1:27] we are happy to mic our meetings accessible to all community members. Translation services are available during the live broadcast in several languages . If you would like to listen to an audio translation or read a written transcript in the language other than english please scan the qr code, select the language and click attend.

[1:49] lastly, use the headset on your phone for audio or read the transcript on your device. Unfortunately this service is not available if you're watching a replay of this meeting. Right. Thank you very much. So for those who want to participate in tonight's meeting, please review the agenda for instructions on how to participate.

[2:13] the public will have an opportunity for public comment during this meeting at the beginning for general public comment for anything that is not on the agenda, anything beyond the initial 15 minute period will be continued after at the end of the meeting.

[2:28] I do know that we have at least ten cards so I am the public comment at the beginning of the meeting and at the end will be two minute we will get through eight speakers in the first so at two minutes each and then anything after that will continue at the end of the meeting.

[2:48] first up on the agenda is roll call and madam clerk, will you please call the roll? >> council member vina vinci here council member hofmeister here. Council member oh, bring her here. Vice mayor alfano yeah. >> mayor nakamura I am here and council member ben eventi will you lead us in the pledge? Please stand.

[3:05] I pledge allegiance to the flag of the united states of america and to the republic for which it stands one nation under god indivisible with liberty and justice for all. Thank you very much. We will now open up a 15 minute public comment period.

[3:31] monique, will you please call the first three speakers? I have nancy, jim amundson and william collin. >> and for those who are not the first speaker, if you could cue up on the black line so that we an facilitate these comments. Thank you. >> good evening. My name's nancy doherty and I helped coordinate the indivisible resisters contra costa immigrant support team.

[3:58] I also run the neighbor to neighbor food pantry at keller house in concord. Keller house is a is city of concord property leased by monument impact, an organization that for 25 years has helped concord's immigrant community with employment, housing and health services. Every monday our pantry provides food to between 120 and 150 food insecure families.

[4:24] earlier this year ice agents used the keller house parking lot as a staging area. > think about what that means. A city owned property that immigrants know as a place to go for help became a place used by ice to carry out immigration enforcement.

[4:42] >> word spread quickly families who are already frightened by ice activity in concord became even more afraid to come to us for food. We try to mic our clients feel safe during distributions. >> we station volunteers with walkie talkies in front of keller house to watch for ice.

[5:01] >> we moved our distribution behind the building so our clients are less visible from the street. >> we train volunteers on how to get families safely inside if ice appears. And we deliver groceries to families who are simply too afraid to leave their home. We should not have to do this.

[5:24] >> and concord should certainly not allow its own property or resources to contribute to that fear. I am asking the council to act prohibit ice staging on city property, strengthen the city's non-cooperation and data sharing policies, establish clear public communication protocol during immigration enforcement operations and create a concord together committee.

[5:48] so and and create a concord together committee so impacted residents and community organizations have a continuing voice. Thank you, nancy. >> go ahead, gemma.

[6:10] go ahead and I'm going to I'm going to politely ask that those in the in the audience if you support something if you could do us the jazz hands and if you don't just do this, please, this is there are times when his is a this room becomes contentious. So let's adhere to that. Thank you very much. >> good evening. Council members and city staff.

[6:29] my name is gemma monson and I'm a concord resident, a preschool teacher, enterprising hunters. We build community power for racial, immigrant, immigrant, economic and health justice. >> we all deserve to live with dignity in our community that protects our freedom safe, safety and well-being.

[6:46] >> today we are here because we need your leadership our immigrant communities are under attack. Children and families continue to be violently separated by this administration.

[7:13] as a teacher I see the trauma and destabilization our families go through every day children not showing up to preschool parents and unable to work families living in fear and loved nes torn apart with the immigration court now in concord there has been in and in an increase in ice presence in our community we need you as our elected representative to pass an ordinance to prohibit ice from stacking on city property.

[7:39] work with the community to create the clear communications plans that keeps everyone safe and informed during immigration enforcement activity under sb 580 the city is required to take more proactive and protective measure. So let's do it now it in collaboration with the community hat is directly affected. It's time to demonstrate leadership in this moment. Your action will keep families together and help concrete immigrants be more safe.

[8:04] we ask that you agenda and prioritize this ordinance today. Thank you very much. >> good evening, mayor members of the city council on city staff. My name is william colleen. I'm a member of racing hunters and I'm also a department of justice decorative representative to my work. I represent individuals before u.s. Yes.

[8:35] and I have firsthand knowledge of the challenges that immigrants communities are facing accordingly and especially with the immigration court here in concord. I'm speaking to you tonight as someone who has personally experienced the impact of immigration enforcement.

[8:56] my partner was recently apprehended by ice immediately after his court hearing the first hours after an immigration detention are so critical when someone is transferred out of the area or out of a state it ecomes significantly more difficult to their families, attorneys and community advocates to locate them ome meet, communicate with them and provide the assistance that they need when a loved one is detained.

[9:16] it's a nightmare filled with terror and ndless hours with no answers. This personally made me something very clear to me. It's someone who works in immigration is struggles to navigate the process. Imagine whether an immigrant family with no legal knowledge,no resources and no connection is going to.

[9:35] the question is not whether a community is impacted the question is whether the city of concord is prepared to respond. That is why I am asking this city council to establish a concord together ad hoc committee focused on connecting the city with community based organizations immigrant families affected business legal service providers.

[9:54] I'm asking council to do what is within your authority. Bring people together, connect families to resources, support community based organizations, improve access to accurate information, create a coordinated community response. This is not about politics. This is about whether people in our community have somewhere to turn when heir families are facing this crisis.

[10:16] thank you so much for your time. >> thank you. The next three speakers event mary lou talento and engage macduff. Hello my name is yvette murray and I've been a resident of concord for over 35 years and I spent many of those years trying to protect and stand up for the most vulnerable of our

[10:47] city like the unhoused and undocumented. Throughout this time I've seen many residents and families become displaced as a result of rising rents and greedy landlords. While you the city council stood by refusing to protect people with strong rent control policies, I've watched many people become unhoused and left with no resources or protections specially during the pandemic.

[11:07] and now again people and families are struggling and living in ear with the threat of ice and you city concord city council refuses to take action to protect them. You show up at rallies or events in an effort to get our vote. Yet your votes never reflect the community's best interest.

[11:24] I hope today you actually listen and protect concord residents, families, local businesses and workers by agenda housing a discussion on sb 580 that includes community input to ensure that policies and procedures implemented are strong enough to truly protect our community and mic concord a safe place for everyone to live, visit, shop and work.

[11:44] >> last a couple of weeks ago I wasn't able to finish what wanted to say so I just wanted to add that because I have 40s tomorrow tps ends for salvadorians and we do have a large salvadorian population here in concord.

[12:06] so I just want you also to think about that these are people that have had protections for had a status of being protected for ten, 20, 30 years they've lived here, they've had families, they've had good jobs, they've had jobs that they've worked at for 20 years and tomorrow that ends that ends for them.

[12:27] they maybe not have a job that they dedicate their life to now now the breadwinner for their family can't bring any money home. So I want you to think this is just one example, you know, and this starts tomorrow and I feel like every every day there's like a new thing. A new thing. But you understand what I'm saying. >> thank you.

[12:41] that when I started this the second cycle is so well I loop so resident that I concur. But wayne daniels is the representan de la comunidad immigrant worker so he must have orlando cornelius is a not tell me look at the annin al-sharia trabajar as their

[13:09] compress while scola yeah jose and then this proto he those terrorists are those will stay this nominal middle get your stand and forgive even then through the superbook are they catholic study in peru so listen to have most capital taken immigrant the aqui tenemos malaysian sphere mask is a regulator on corner company that activate conquer I

[13:39] will translate an english hello I'm while the loop I'm a resident of concord for over 20 years I am here representing our community of immigrants because we have been in contact and trying to really mic sense of the terror and you know the terror they feel going to work ,going to school, just leaving their homes.

[14:06] they feel completely unprotected and vulnerable and terrorized. >> you all live in a bubble quite frankly nd their fear is very palpable and real. So we are here asking and demanding protection for our community of immigrants and here we present to you over 600 signatures that we've btained from the community. >> thank you. Thank you.

[14:33] look, you can hand them to monique, please. Our city clerk. It's intimidating. Hi, my name is gaye mcduff and for 26 years I've had the pleasure of living in the fruit bowl neighborhood right next to monument boulevard. And it's been a peaceful, happy life until now. >> and now I can see that my community is being threatened.

[15:08] my neighbors are being threatened by lawless masked armed men and women that are dangerous to our community. And history has shown us that this sort of lawlessness and disregard of the rule of law will lead to more than just immigrants being attacked.

[15:25] but we will be seen we will be seen a threat to anybody that loves freedom, anybody that loves justice. And thus I think we have some good news though because we do have some power now and the power we have is umber one to do a strict non-cooperation mandate of some sort.

[15:50] and the idea is to bar ice and any of the federal agents from city property and also tighten limits on data sharing. >> also we have community resilience acts that we can use. And that is by building trust real trust between our local law enforcement, our community members and our city representative.

[16:17] now we we can't control and we can't control what ice is going to do. But what we can do is stand together and we can collaborate with each other but not with them.

[16:37] so we ask you to please pass strong ordinances or ordinance to protect our community to uphold our local values and to stand with our immigrant neighbors. Our solidarity will mic us strong. >> thank you again. Go ahead, bonnie. You've got how many was that? That's six. Two more please. I have gary crawshaw and micah pearce. >> hello. I'm gary krochmal. I live in district four just south of monument.

[17:17] been there for a few years now. Um, yeah. Honestly, I'm a little shocked that this is an already policy with concord is kind of news to me. I know that state has made this a mandate already so it should be kind of a no brainer.

[17:31] I've got these two young kids now so I'm really started thinking more about the safety my community and everyone behind me has got stories about families being torn apart. You know, um, what immigration enforcement has done to communities all over the country like, uh, you know, it's not really about worrying about just immigrant communities anymore.

[17:54] lke no one is safe. That's kind of why I think this is in the best interest of literally everyone in the city and like it's been said before, this is definitely something that is going to affect concord more than other cities especially with the closing of the immigration court in san francisco.

[18:11] clearly there's been a lot more activity in the city and it's time that we actually have some strict policies like has been said before. >> again, sharing our data seems like a terrible idea and just making sure that I mean the story of ice doing staging on city property that's also has got to stop.

[18:32] so again for everyone in the community I think this is a good idea and it's again the state is telling us to do this already. >> so it seems like a no brainer. And thank you for your patience y'all. W respect what you o and um, keep up the good work. >> thank you. And our last speaker.

[18:59] hi. My name's micah. I've lived in concord almost my entire life. Um, I'm six generations bay area and I live on the monument, which means that when raids occur they happen down the street from my house. Um,I don't often feel threat. I don't know. Like I'm a large white man.

[19:19] but having black suvs parking my parking lot, having my neighbors abducted. Having the people that I care about, the people that I've lived with my entire life I'm terrified to go to the grocery store, terrified to go to school is unconscionable.

[19:35] and now the state of alifornia has given you as close to a promise as it probably ever will that it will back you up, that you have the opportunity to mic a strong non-cooperation ordinance that has no loopholes for third party contractors is your opportunity to sk yourself if not me who if not now when?

[20:02] so I'm going to we're going to move on with the rest of the meeting. I do want to say mayor, do you have a do you have a question for the city attorney? Okay, go ahead. Yes, go ahead. Yes.

[20:21] uh, senior assistant city attorney I have just guess one question divided into three parts do we does the city of concord intend to comply with sb 580? Yes. >> and then I just want to reiterate because there was some of the comments made today. Sb we are complying by sb 34 in sb 54, yes.

[20:41] so we're not sharing any data or anything with federal agents? No, we've already adopted all of those policies. No thank you. Okay. So what I'm going to do right now at this time is we are going to move on to our next item which is a presentation we will continue with public comment at the end of the

[20:57] meeting and right now we have a recap and recognition of the 4th of july in the city of concord with tim mcgowan coming up from the greater chamber of commerce. Mr. Mcgowan go ahead and come on up. All right. Yeah, yeah. Give us a second.

[21:28] and is this vote is it both in the galleons giving the presentation kristen peterson and kristin okay, great. >> so this is the 4th of july committee is the crew okay, great. So happy to have you all here tonight to share more about the 4th of july that happened on that just gorgeous day in july.

[21:49] >> you moved it there. We get that give it just another second. >> do you have the button on? Right.

[22:01] let's go up oh yeah I to where we could see it I know I think it's always been there it's not there for a long time now it's anyway the red because I had to tell many people okay so I know tim you may proceed. >> okay we'll go ahead and get started here. >> all right. Well, thank you, everyone.

[22:23] good evening, mayor and the entire city council michelle, kristen and myself are really happy to be in front of you today to give a brief report of the 2026 4th of july celebration here in the city of concord.

[22:44] so 026 marked our 13th year of producing the concord 4th of july festivities from the kids run and the five k to the parade through downtown concord to the festival entertainment and fireworks the activities created a kind and welcoming family friendly celebration that we want recognized as a signature vent for the city of concord this year. Theme celebrating america's 250th and california 175 gave us a special opportunity to recognize our nation's 250th anniversary california's 175th anniversary and the people who've helped build and serve our community.

[23:09] but it's always about celebrating concord and so that is going to be our theme every year. >> so before we get into the individual parts of the day, I want to thank our team that has made this all possible. S we've brought our team up here. Michelle mccallion who has led the parade.

[23:25] kristin peterson she's led our vip and sponsor efforts turtle phifer he's our director of operations and tim allen he's our director of technical production. So all the fun staging stuff you see I also want to thank our volunteers, city employees, our public afety personnel, community partners, vendors and everyone who worked before, before, during and after the event.

[23:49] this celebration is such a success because of all the people who have stepped forward. >> so I'd like to go ahead and have kristen come up and give a little recap on her staff. >> all right. Thank you, tim. >> good evening, madam mayor and council members.

[24:03] >> it is my privilege really to recognize the businesses and organization whose financial support mic the whole day the parade, the festival and the fireworks possible just so you're aware of the concord businesses that are supporting this signature event. So first and foremost thank you to marathon marathon is our title sponsor.

[24:24] their continued support really gives our team the foundation we need to provide a full day of activities for the concord community. >> also our stripes level sponsors this year were mount diablo resource recovery and the hop grenada taproom and bottle shop so a special thank you to them as well.

[24:44] our stars level sponsors were john muir health asset mark and pacific service credit union and our sparkle sparkler level sponsors where brendan theaters iab ibew local 302 pacific states petroleum brookfield residential the local 3104 union and tim mcgowan state farm insurance and we also want to extend a special thanks to visit concord the city of

[25:11] concord and mount diablo unified school district. Their essential partnership up and support does not go unnoticed and would not his event wouldn't be able to happen without it so to every sponsor and community partner thank you for elieving in this celebration and helping us provide a welcoming family friendly event for concord.

[25:36] now I'd like to turn it over to our parade director michelle mcgowan to share some highlights of the parade. >> thank you kristen and good evening mayor and council members.

[25:58] this year's parade made it through downtown concord and included more than 50 entries representing public safety, veterans schools, youth organizations, service clubs, local businesses, cultural organizations, elected leaders,musicians and car clubs. One of our proudest moments was honoring rosie the riveter as our grand marshals these remarkable women stepped up during world war two to do the work our community needed having them with us on that day brought the meaning of service,patriotism and sacrifice directly to the parade route.

[26:21] so the parade opened with the concord police department motors and our scout color guards from troop 444 along with the marathon fire truck we had a local singer ellie ramos perform the national anthem and she helped us begin the morning on a really beautiful and patriotic note along the route spectators saw classic cars scouts, first responders,

[26:41] community organizations and local schools dance and martial arts groups, faith communities and organizations representing the many cultures that mic up concord. >> the blue devils helped us bring the parade to a strong and memorable finish. So this was also the most the most efficient parade since I started. I feel like you're three.

[27:02] I'm kind of getting my groove down from the arrival of the concord police motors to the blue devils reaching the review stand the parade lasted just over an hour so hat was a significant operational improvement help to keep the parade running smoothly and mic it nice condensed fun event for the participants and the spectators.

[27:22] I want to thank the arade volunteers, the city's maintenance staff and concord police department and police volunteers, our wonderful local announcers and our audio visual team headed up by james reale and every participant who registered decorate decorated, organized and arrived ready to represent their community. The parade truly looked and sounded like concord.

[27:44] it was joyful, diverse, patriotic and filled with people who care deeply about the city. >> so now I'll turn it back to tim to give the the final wrap up. Okay so after we do all the fun activities downtown we move to mount diablo high school in the afternoon to the both festival and fireworks.

[28:03] so gates opened to all of our guests to the food vendors, exhibitors and the stars and stripes midway which is sponsored by john muir health gave the kids all inds of fun and won as many prizes as they could possibly get their hands on. >> the turnout honestly was incredible this year we had an absolute packed house.

[28:21] I mean this place was wall to wall and in some cases we thought oh, it's a you know, it's a long eekend. People will go away. No, they celebrated it right here with us and it was truly incredible. >> the entertainment was fantastic. We had brooks on our local favorite. I absolutely love this guy.

[28:37] he also was like year here year one and so it's super fun to have him be able to come back and join us on stage. And another favorite are the three day weekend. >> both did a fantastic job.

[28:52] the fireworks show brought an entire day to a fitting close and gave concord families a chance to celebrate together right here in our own community. >> so the results that we're especially proud of is the continuing that this event continues to be a safe event even with such a packed house we gave away four band-aids. >> that's it I think two to the same person.

[29:12] >> so and yes, there was probably a little bit of traffic but the best thing one of the best things about our local residents say no to attend a large community event, enjoy themselves, look out for the people around them and then go home safely.

[29:24] >> the spirit is a big part of what makes this celebration truly concord signature family friendly event and he event the event of this size is possible only because our organization works together.

[29:40] we want to think again concord police department public works parking rec city maintenance personnel mount unified school district all of our security personnel, our production team vendors, all of our all of our parking and traffic and safety cleanup crews. I mean so many people kind of pulled together to mic this happen. So we cannot thank all of our volunteers enough.

[29:57] I also want to give a big shout out of course to my family. Audrey's here as well you know will be the director of the of the midway very very soon of course taking over from her sister right so you know that's what happens when you're 12. >> right.

[30:11] and she's supposed to be able to just manage that at 12 because she can. >> but what's that? >> yeah exactly. Go the other way. We got this so but again I just can't speak enough to all the people that kind of made it just a fun family event. Thank you to everybody that made it possible.

[30:28] so on behalf of the total seattle's business association arts foundation and the entire 4th of july team, thank you to the city of concord city staff, our sponsors, our volunteers and the community for continuing to support this concord tradition and we look forward again to doing it next year. >> so thank you everyone.

[30:45] thank you very much to all of you who were part of the committee and to audrey who's going to run this committee and what another year or two I will say michel, your timing on the parade probably would have been improved had you not had to chase me down on multiple

[31:03] occasions including over the stage there were people trying to chase me down. I was having so much fun I was just really enjoying the day and I just want to thank you all for further efforts.

[31:19] it as just a great celebration the whole the whole day from beginning to end and I especially for those of you who don't know the blue devil b corps that wrapped up the parade went on to win their their dci category. So they brought home a championship in august and so they are, you know, truly award winning. And so we're we're very fortunate to have them as part of the parade.

[31:40] I've got a light on here. I'm going to call on my my colleague ouncilmember hofmeister. >> yes, definitely. I want to give a special thanks to all of you and the whole team because this wouldn't happen without the volunteers and you keeping this event going and being so wonderful in

[31:53] our community and the rest of your family not just audrey but the others that were here that stepped up I know mom and dad and in-laws were there and everybody was staff and grandma was there too.

[32:08] I did see her and also the beautiful sunset that michelle brought just before the fireworks started that everybody went up and ah and filmed and watch the sunset but it was a great day. The timing of the parade was great. I'm so glad the flow worked really, really well and I know that was with the help of all the volunteers and the coordination that goes on.

[32:24] so look forward to many more happening in our community and this was just a wonderful, wonderful day if people participate I saw a lot of the medals on the runners that had run in the morning now eating their pancakes and while they were watching the parade. So thank you again for for doing this for our community.

[32:42] it's out of your love and passion for concord that I know you all step up to the plate and the rest of the volunteers as well so I can't thank you enough or bringing this event and keeping this event going in our community. Right. And councilmember o'brien, thank you. Very well said.

[32:57] councilmember hofmeister and I too wanted to express my thanks and also you didn't mention it specifically in any of your remarks but you've been doing that since 2014.

[33:17] and if I remember correctly, there used to be another tradition that the bay hurch, whatever it was called before a calvary temple calvary temple when they did the singing flag and then when they had new pastors they came here and said we're not doing that anymore.

[33:33] and so you did step up, tim, even efore you were serving on the city council and this really has become a mcgaffigan family tradition as someone who did chair the parade for a while, I know it's a lot of work so thank you michel for doing it and doing it very well and just really appreciate everything that the mccallion family has done and will continue to do to mic 4th of july special here in the city of oncord. Thank you. Thank you very much.

[33:55] I've got one more comment over here from councilmember buenaventura. >> don't go sit down michelle tim and ask for of course you two. Thank you so much. I thought it was a great event being there. It was my daughter's first 4th of july.

[34:09] she was not keen of the fireworks but nonetheless I thought it was run so well and it's thanks to all of your work. So I ant to thank you all for the amazing work that you guys did. So I'm not going to echo what carter and councilmember springer and hofmeister said, but thank you so much.

[34:25] I want to say thank you. >> okay. And also definitely thanks to tsb and their involvement. So e certainly appreciate that as well. And pacific's service credit union because kristin is always out there in the golf cart from early until late on. >> I think she was the best driver of the golf course. >> thank you, christine.

[34:45] thank you, christine. I'm going to go ahead and we're going to open it up to public comment at this time. Thank you very much. Did you know is there any public comment on this item from the chamber city clerk or is there anyone on zoom that would like to mic a public comment?

[35:05] mayor that we have two individuals with their hands where they've been raised since the the general public comment okay. Do we want to go ahead and see if they'd like to mic a public comment on this item? Okay.

[35:18] >> amy h or samsung assume s 9 to 8 you if you go ahead if ou would like to mic a public comment on this item, if you can put your hand down and then raise it back up if you keep it up we know that's for general public comment. Okay.

[35:41] I'm going to go ahead and close public comment and thank you very much for all your efforts on this and the success. We're going to move it on now to our council consent items.

[36:02] we've got a, b, c, d, e and f so anyone here on the council that would like to pull an item council member of an event no, no. Okay. So we will go ahead and open it up to public comment on the council consent calendar.

[36:24] is there anyone here in the chamber that would like to mic a comment on the consent items now how about anyone on zoom? Okay seeing none I will close public comment and bring it back to the council and I will entertain a motion.

[36:48] >> madam mayor I move item for a all the way through f thank you and we have a second second from councilmember aliana vice mayor alfano my apologies and if you could please call the vote councilmember benevento yes. Councilmember hofmeister yes. Councilmember bringer yes. Vice mayor albano. Yes. Mayor nakamura. Yes. So we will at this time continue to public comment at this time we have I have four cards here and hands raised on zoom. Okay. Go ahead and okay, let's go. This is for hold on.

[37:24] let me just look but let me just back up for a second. >> we do have five a which is correspondence but we don't typically take any public comment on that. We just accept it and we do have reports and announcements and closed session announcements. Let's go ahead and roll through these.

[37:45] are there any closed session announcements? There was no closing session this evening. Your city manager are there any staff reports? >> city manager has nothing to report and council reports would you like to hold? Yeah to do them at public public comment. >> okay so we will now move on to the continuation of public comment and we will start with those on zoom.

[38:07] >> the first hand I have on zoom is iphone and so and city clerk they need to accept panelist when they do this correct I an you hear me okay yes yes we can hear you in great hi my name is molly radio and I am a current resident.

[38:40] I'd like to request that item four to be removed from the consent calendar for separate consideration I did read through the r three report and I also researched it states that it's worked with concord for a melody 15 years. Yes, go ahead. Continue with your comment. >> okay.

[39:04] and I conducted the previous basis review that is now being hired to evaluate in the mdr reviews I have been able to locate I have not found an instance where our three recommended rejecting a rate increase or reducing a rates in the past 15 years in at least

[39:20] one review it's calculated increase was actually slightly higher than what was requested before increasing our series contact contract to $160,000. Was this work competitive solicited other california cities competitive bid the same type of solid waste consulting work and received proposals from multiple qualified firms

[39:45] and I have researched there are several highly qualified firms in this market after 15 years with the same consultant I think concord should at least consider fresh independent eyes are all franchise agreement and rate settings manual provide for much more than checking mdr hours math they contemplate comparing projections against actual results investigating

[40:12] unusual cost increases and outliers examining allowable and necessary costs, reviewing performance and requesting rate payers that affect satisfaction surveys are three proposed scope appears heavily financial and does not include that broader performance and customer satisfaction review.

[40:39] >> I'm also concerned that mdr receives ur three preliminary findings and can comment before the city receives the draft council should receive the original findings. Thank you elody should read and and in moll oh excuse me is this molly or melody? Molly.

[40:59] molly I'm sorry molly your we we were doing two minute comments of hold on molly so she could get three unless I am going to go ahead and give you one more minute. >> molly I apologize for the interruption. >> this was on for four b go ahead and doc yes, I finished speaking so thank you. >> I appreciate it. Molly let me just explain.

[41:22] we had you were you had pulled for d or b for d, okay. And when when we were asking for public comments on zoom, we we had noticed that there were a lot of hands up that were still up from general public comment we asked people if they wanted to pull anything.

[41:42] they did not unmute me okay so I didn't have an opportunity. >> thank you. And so what I want to say is that we the council did vote to approve these.

[41:59] if you have any questions if you could send those into staff she did so so through the mayor I just would request she she's done an extensive public comment. I'm happy to forward it to the city manager and there are questions in there and so I'm jst wondering I don't know if there's any staff left here who can answer but she did have

[42:12] some questions that she aised again now I think at this point maybe staff should just reach out. >> okay. Yeah. Okay. So I will forward her email to you j if you did not already receive it I will have public works get a hold of her and we can discuss this. >> thank you. Okay.

[42:29] so the city manager molly is going to have public works reach out to you with your questions that were submitted today during public comment and your benched correspondence and apologies for the confusion here on my part I'm going to now we have wrapped up those e are now going back into general public comment.

[42:55] those comments will be two minutes as they were earlier and these are on non agenda items. Yes. Thank you. So city clerk if you could call a name and when we ask you when we call your name please respond to becoming a panelist when you were asked to do so the next speaker I have is amy h.

[43:36] amy, you have to unmute amy if you can hear us unmute please. Okay. Sorry my name yes my name is amy dewey and I've been a resident of contra costa county for almost 40 years living in walnut creek at the border of concord.

[44:10] I do the majority of my business in concord such as shopping at costco 99 ranch, other businesses near the park and shop lassman tanners the willows shopping center total santos farmer's market and having coffee with friends 3 to 4 times a week at the oak grove

[44:29] and tree boulevard pete's after our exercise classes at dance connection which are all in concord. I'm also a native born u.s. Citizen and person of color who since the start of this administration and second term have become anxious and fearful though not nearly to the degree of my immigrant neighbors ever

[44:51] since ice came into being with their threats and actions of snatching people off the streets, detainment and family separation. Furthermore, the transfer of thousands of cases from the san francisco immigration court to concord to immigration court is adding further targeting and harmful consequence sense to our community including what appears to be mecca hearings with performative due process

[45:16] resulting in accelerated deportations. Many of our concord neighbors of which 25% are mmigrants are afraid to go to work to grocery shop or take their kids to school. Concord must join other california counties and cities in taking proactive, concrete legal actions to protect our residents and businesses to deter immigration raids and resulting harmful consequences.

[45:44] I along with many asset the council put in a robust ordinance in place to prohibit ice from staging on city properties, update and strengthen prohibitions on data sharing and non cooperate and policies in compliance with statewide law. Sb 580 that includes public input a assure public safety with a collaborative public communication protocol regarding immigration enforcement.

[46:12] okay thank you. Bye. And our next caller please. >> when you're asked to become a panelist, lease accept I have a samsung esim geetings. My name is pete bennett. You might know me. I've lived here for 30. I've lived here since 1978.

[47:06] I have a very long story of murder, arson, extortion, racketeering,false arrest beatings, muggings, murders of family employees, friends customers. It's too many people. I've had a conversation with your chief who told me they don't know where the witnesses are and bennett vs southern pacific.com which was southern pacific railroad my 18 year old witness was gunned down and killed in concord in 1990. I have tried to reach the city.

[47:45] I have talked to one of your staff members very polite. The problem is I don't have any money to sue. I don't have any money. Take a case. I'm broke. I'm actually living in a homeless shelter or homeless housing now I've lost everything repeatedly in the last 3540 years. You kill my witness, you covered it up.

[48:12] you never delivered the case to the coroner. And that's a major flaw right there because the boy was murdered. Nice young man with good cabinetmaker. I knew him. He witnessed my hand getting blown off in 1987 or 88. This has gone on too long way too long I've gone through too much had had hectic events.

[48:37] we considered normal. You need to step up to the plate and reach out and pay me the 2.5 million that I lost in the courtroom. This is unacceptable what's happened? Thank you, mr. Bennett. I thank you. Monique.

[48:57] is there another hand up? Are there any other I have gwen gilson okay, so gwen, when you are asked to become a panelist please accept and unmute yourself. Hi there. >> I already submitted a written comment so I don't think I need to repeat what was in my comment and I it basically mirrors what you just shared.

[49:30] >> I just want to add that as far as the city having a contract with block cameras that that is a piece of not only security for immigrants but for the general population . And I keep hearing I heard it on board of supervisors meeting today oh doesn't share any data with federal agents.

[49:57] we're in a new time. Nothing is the same. You cannot assume that the way that laws have been followed in the past is going to continue to be followed by this regime which is authoritarian in nature. They take no pains to hide it. They take no pains o hide how they just break the law with impunity.

[50:16] everything that's happened with ice across the country doesn't matter. So we can't say that block is going to continue not haring data plus we have seen how block has been used for data sharing and there's no reason to think that that can happen here. We have seen how ice can just pull up on people.

[50:38] they are obviously tracking them with license plate readers when they pull up on people in the middle of the street, pull them out of their cars and take them away. So really I urge the city council to begin to consider ending the contract with block because it puts us all in danger.

[50:54] we have seen block actual video of block trains ing police departments on how to track no kings protesters peaceful protesters we can't have this concord should be a safe place for everybody and this is also part of the immigrant protection piece. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.

[51:18] are there any other comments? I have no more hands raised on zoom. I have four speaker cards. Okay, great. Go ahead and call those. I have chappie durkin chappie is not here.

[51:59] dan bronson, gene davis can you can hear I think they're outside and and natalia natalia natalia here a current district two constituent but my story doesn't start here starts back in psychotic as meccanismo ranjeet cheeto that at the age of four I didn't care to leave behind as I was promised to be reunited with my dad here in the states but guess what now he's buried over there and I'm stuck here.

[52:11] in 2005 my mother migrated here with my seven year old brother at the time and me a four year old. That's where my story begins at the car wash of bay point, the one next to the produce store.

[52:29] but today my story continues here in a city that lacks to protect me you and our community, our elected officials say just keep swimming but we are running out of water. They say advocate, scream, shout but they don't they don't listen. I stand in front of you today not because my voice is louder or my story has been harder but because I am and I am echoing our echoing our community's reality and needs.

[52:48] we are immigrants but specifically we as immigrants but specifically as undocumented immigrants live in fear every day since they live in fear. But we are living in survival mode that doesn't allow us o stop and we continue to swim even when there's no water since my exposure to advocacy and community college I have

[53:08] continued the endless fight to be considered human with rights even when I am often categorized as other. Or as uscis labels me an alien or how are bias I say mohalla I lave you all by saying what you are doing is not enough.

[53:26] >> we want more waking up with the label of being undocumented continues to frighten me every day. Thank you. Thank you and city clerk could you call those other names one more time? Open the door. I have chappy durkin, dan bronson and gene davis.

[53:58] >> would you check to see if anyone is outside that was waiting to mic a public comment because they might not know that they can because tonight's meeting did go quickly. Thank you, justin yeah, apologies in the door. >> okay. >> go ahead and introduce yourself and you've got a two minute public comment. Thank you.

[55:00] I'm tracy durden and I would encourage you to prohibit ice from staging on public property, strengthen prohibition on data sharing in accordance with state law sb 580 with public participation develop public communications to assure public safety and reduce misinformation during immigration operations and create a standing committee to

[55:29] respond to the evolving situation together with the impacted community members and have regular, transparent and accessible contact accessible to impacted residents. I have grown up in this area my whole life and lived here my whole ife and we need to love our neighbors. >> they do not deserve to live in fear for their lives.

[56:12] we're better than this. I encourage you to do something right away. This is an emergency and we need to protect our community. >> thank you. Thank you, tracy. >> would you like me to call the yes, the three. You could call those again. Yes. Okay. I have chappy durkin, dan bronson, gene davis. Okay.

[56:46] those people are not here. Do you have any other additional. Hello. My name's serena saldivar. I'm from concord and I was born here and raised. I'm here with some fellow young people f concord and we're here to push for the community to have a voice in the upcoming decision regarding undocumented people in our community.

[57:16] I'm a ittle nervous right now but yeah, I think it's important that you see young people talking about this topic because this affects us. It affects our future, it affects our families, it affects our community.

[57:38] the people that are important to us are scared are going missing, are being threatened, are being harassed and allowing ice to terrorize people in our community allows people that are violent, that are racist to come out and start committing acts of violence towards them as well. So if you can please consider listening to the public in their experiences you'll get a better understanding of how to go forward. Thank you. Thank you.

[58:09] were there any others? I have no more speaker cards and there's no more hands raised on so I'm going to go ahead and close public comment. I'm going to bring it back to the council for council reports. Do we have any council reports? Council member hoffmeister oh yeah, council reports.

[58:28] I do want to just indicate that there is a comment made about our three and I will let staff know when we bring this forward to the committee that the typical process I believe both pittsburgh and rio vista went out for proposals and did a full rfq rfp process for their

[58:45] consultant in my understanding is out of all the requests they got our three was selected by both those agencies so that would be helpful to know others that have gone through the process ended up with the same consultant that staff had recommended that was in the consent calendar item.

[59:02] I just want to mic sure people do recognize that this thursday it's the 25th I'm sorry friday monday was a holiday I will get this down. Okay. But friday is the 25th anniversary of 911 that we do take time to not forget.

[59:19] that was the motto that as shared back 25 years ago is to never forget and there as 3017 lives lost between those four at three locations the twin towers, the pentagon and shanksville, pennsylvania, including those that were on the plane.

[59:42] and then obviously we've known after that terrible incident and terrorist attack that we have thousands and thousands of personnel that were impacted from the dust and that you know ,that just the impacts from the dust and everything else that went on that have died both from those injuries, both our first responders as well as community members that pitched

[1:00:00] in to help and remember everybody started to run toward the towers to try to help people out and were there for 24 seven just working their butts off trying to find survivors.

[1:00:19] and so I know many of us here today that were around but there's a whole new generation that has grown up that they weren't even born yet when 911 happened or they were very, very little that we continue to share the stories so that they also will ot forget and we remember because I certainly remember where I was at 545 that morning I happened to be

[1:00:36] up early and watching the tv and watch it all unfold with katie couric and happened to be mayor at that time and that was a day that was really changed in terms of how cities and what we had to do to respond and putting together all of our responses in coordination with

[1:00:51] what the federal government was having done nationwide. So please take time out to remember those that lost and the families that are left behind and how they were impacted as well as all those who have been impacted from the dust and the other secondary effects that helped out on that day. Thank you.

[1:01:10] and I will add on to that that on friday morning our first responders do the stair climb at 2300 layton road. They do 13 flights of stairs, 13 and a twice something like that 13 flights of stairs. It's a lot of stairs.

[1:01:28] it's more than I'm going to be able to do but I will go down there and cheer them on in the morning and then councilmember obering or you have your light on. Thank you. Yes.

[1:01:45] so I'd like to thank carmel, gail tom and his wife for organizing a vigil for he victims of the earthquake and flood in nepal. That igil happened on sunday evening and so I had the opportunity to attend and represent the council that that occurred until the santos plaza and it drew individuals from across the county and not just concord residents but there there were definitely stories shared.

[1:02:12] people in contra costa county lost relatives and so there is a fund if folks would like to contribute since unfortunately usaid no longer exists. So it is called the prime minister's fund and I'll be posting on social media.

[1:02:35] so the prime minister of nepal is raising money and the point was noted that nepal is not a country that well they generated their their power from hydropower and dams and so they were not contributing in any way to climate change and yet they were impacted by it.

[1:02:53] so that was a point that several young people in particular who are of nepalese descent but are growing up here in contra costa raised and wanted me to to pass along on a slightly less somber note, the mayor and I had a chance to attend the evo union yam and thanksgiving festival and so that was two saturdays ago until the santos plaza.

[1:03:10] so the igbo tribe is one of I believe 12 tribes in nigeria and they have held their am and thanksgiving their fall festival into the santos plaza attracting members from across the greater bay area for t least what was this the third year I believe.

[1:03:30] mayor yes, and it was actually the it was the ibo union which is made up of about 13 tribes. Thank you for clarifying that. So we are delighted to have them on that same day there was also a baby shower held at first point christian church around the corner for african american families as well as a

[1:03:52] memorial at the rainbow community center for dr. Kent sack who had been foundational and helping to establish the rainbow community center here in contra costa.

[1:04:09] and I did want to invite folks we're going to be doing september of service again this year and so on september 12th, 19 and 26 there are different events on the 12th and 19th you can join me up at bayview circle park.

[1:04:25] we're going to be planting and mulching trees also on the 19th you can come over to hillcrest park to clean up the creek and on september 20th and that's with friends of concord creeks and friends of lime ridge will be there on september 26th doing tree planting and beautification at lime ridge. So if you're interested in more information you can just email me at karlin the number for city council at gmail.com. Thank you.

[1:04:50] and I think I will also add he sptember 19th. Previously we had spoken about it being an event at new hall community park but there is the water improvement the water quality improvement project happening there as well as a cross-country meet and so that that action that september of service item has been moved to

[1:05:09] hillcrest for september 19th. >> councilmember benevento yes. I just want to give some reports first of all I want to thank everyone who attended the emergency preparedness fair this past thursday. It's basically how to prepare for earthquakes, wildfires, power outages, emergencies that can happen. And when we least expect them.

[1:05:35] so it was a great event to see everybody come out and learn more from our police, from our firefighters. Our first responders. So I want to thank and give a shout out to the staff who was there as well.

[1:05:53] I also want to mic a little quick plug plug music and market continues and ends this so if you haven't been to it I highly encourage you to attend. It's every thursday through september 24th so sad then we have all but here's still time you know fall is good but I mean I like music in market.

[1:06:07] and then last but not least I do want to mention if you happen to miss one of day of service we are also having another tree planting october 3rd with friends f lime ridge next month so feel free to email me at pablo dot ben of antioch to get concrete out of

[1:06:26] it and hopefully this thursday it won't rain. We got the concert almost all the way and they pushed on the last set to finish it off and some people were smart and brought umbrellas and were prepared yeah so that's right. >> all right.

[1:06:40] and we have councilmember hofmeister you have your light on or was that it and I'm going back over here to the vice may actually got something to share please share yeah I hink I have some good news.

[1:07:02] >> I don't know if you guys have heard but I don't know if I should share right now this the suspense is killing us. >> I guess you know, maybe we can turn our senior 20s you know. >> oh no. I don't know if the governor signed it or not but we potentially got $4 million for redoing ellis lake. >> oh, I'm far from yes, assembly member anna-marie I will love her. >> yes.

[1:07:18] who advocated for that and I'm grateful for her for doing that. >> you know the last year she helped us get $2 million for the don salvia pacheco building which we showed her.

[1:07:35] another project at that time was ellis lake project and in the way it was playing out in sacramento she couldn't have two projects to be awarded funding so we were done salvia last year she was gracious enough to push or this this year and so we've been awarded 4 million now I don't know if the governor signed the bill yet so I don't know if I'm saying it saying things before a shooting or chicken.

[1:07:54] yeah, knock on wood but we're not going e got 4 million for that. I would at some point led to have a conversation ow we actually implement that sooner than later than going through the cip project because I, I don't know I think it already

[1:08:11] is a project in or c I p but we had no money for it. >> well okay well all right but anyways wanted to share that information so thank you. >> yeah I think I think thank you to the assemblywoman. >> yes yes thank you very much.

[1:08:23] okay so it's usually like a very big thank you to the assembly member because she heard us out for two years. >> she supported the city with these two projects and as you know, it's very competitive out there when it comes to receiving these what is it prop or prop for grant money? So anyways thank you.

[1:08:45] >> she's only a freshman and she's already brought so much money to the city of concord. >> so thank you assemblywoman anna marie abela for us for the 2 million last year and for the 4 million this year yes she delivers for concord unlike others.

[1:08:55] so I'll be bringing some other projects to her that did not move forward under someone else. >> we should coordinate councilman, let's bring it back here any more. Are there any more council reports? Thank you for that news. Let's hope that we on on september 22nd we are celebrating that that is a done deal.

[1:09:14] I will mention there's one other item that no one has mentioned up here on september 27th that's a sunday happening at baldwin park, concord petal fest in it is a city sponsored bike eastbay bike concord event that is going to be an all day walk from 10 to 2 at baldwin

[1:09:36] park there will be music and food trucks and bicycles and all sorts of pedal powered fun. There will be a band we don't have a pedal powered toilet but we do have a band quatro will be playing.

[1:09:52] they are a band that sprung up out of the pandemic from the neighborhood in near baldwin park and so quatro will be playing. There will be bicycles to pedal the band and power the band there will be bicycles to power blenders bicycles to power spin art. It's going to be a wonderful, cool and very unique special concord event and bicycle bingo. Yes, lots of fun. Oh one oh.

[1:10:14] there was one last development on that brendan theater's walter eichenberg from eichinger. Thank you, walter eichinger from brendan is doing 100 tickets to a special showing that day for t the movie we picked a theme a bicycle themed movie and articipants at

[1:10:35] concord pedal fest will be able to receive if hey participate and sign up it'll be random drawings throughout the day for tickets at 430 that day for a special showing at the brennan theaters. So lots of fun to be had that day. Yes, it's phoned home and on that note I am adjourning this meeting.

[1:10:55] thank you so much.

City Council Meeting 9-8-26

Transcript