MEETING OF
CONTRA COSTA MAYORS CONFERENCE
Thursday, April 2, 2026, 6:30 p.m.
Hosted by the City of Concord
Business meeting & dinner at: Centre Concord, 5298 Clayton Road, Concord, CA 94521 (Map attached)
Presentation: Sharan Dhanoa, Director, South Bay Coalition to End Human Trafficking, will present issues and opportunities for constructive local response to abuses associated with the upcoming World Cup games in June.
Buffet dinner with vegetarian option will follow the business meeting.
DINNER RESERVATIONS MADE THROUGH THE CITY OF CONCORD
RSVP to: Wendy McAuley, Executive Assistant
Office of the City Manager & City Council at: wendy.mcauley@cityofconcord.org
Reservation deadline: NOON, FRIDAY, MARCH 27, 2026
Cancellation deadline: NOON, MONDAY, MARCH 30, 2026
Dinner Reservations: Two dinners are prepaid for each City. Please RSVP with the names and titles of all attendees. Others interested in staying for dinner must contact the City of Concord, as noted above. Dinner Payment by check payable to the City of Concord may be presented at the door or mailed to: Amy Ramirez, City of Concord, 1950 Parkside Dr. MS/01, Concord, CA 94519.
Individuals will be billed for reservations made but not cancelled prior to the deadline.
Dinner Cost: $80.00. Note: This is an increase for 2026.
Directions:
JOINT MEETING OF
CONTRA COSTA MAYORS CONFERENCE &
CONTRA COSTA CITY SELECTION COMMITTEE
Thursday April 2, 2026
6:30 Business Meeting Agenda
Call Mayors Conference (Conference) to order, pledge allegiance to the flag, and roll call.
1. Program: Sharan Dhanoa, Director, South Bay Coalition to End Human Trafficking, will present issues and opportunities for constructive local response to potential abuses associated with the upcoming World Cup games in June.
2. Approval of minutes: (attached) of the March 5, 2026 Conference meeting.
Action: Move to approve March 5, 2026 Conference Minutes.
3. Call for nomination for appointment to full 4-year member terms on the Contra Costa Airport Land Use Commission currently occupied by Concord Council Member Carlyn Obringer and El Cerrito Mayor Gabe Quinto. Both new terms will extend to May 1, 2030. The Conference will be making appointments to new terms for these positions at the May 7, 2026 meeting. Any mayor or council member may serve in either of these positions. The incumbents are eligible to be reappointed.
Nominations for these positions shall be filed by email with Executive Director, Gary Pokorny: gjpokorn@lmi.net no later than 5 p.m., Tuesday, April 21, 2026.
4. Chair Announcements:
5. Conference Appointee Reports: City representatives to area-wide boards, commissions, and agencies may report on activities of the agency to which they are appointed at this time.
6. Mayor Announcements:
7. State and Federal Legislative Update:
8. County Supervisor Announcements:
9. League of California Cities Update: Samantha “Sam” Brightman, East Bay Division Public Affairs Manager.
10. Public Comments: Members of the public are advised that public comments at this place should be confined to items not on the agenda and should be limited to no more than 2 minutes in length. Also, no more than one speaker from any organization should address the mayors on the same evening.
11. Host City Welcome: Mayor Laura Nakamura will welcome all to Concord.
12. Adjourn Conference in memory of Alfred “Al” Dessayer, who served for three terms on the Moraga Town Council, and as Mayor of Moraga. Meeting adjourned to May 7 in Orinda.
Deadline for next agenda is 5:00 p.m. Tuesday, April 21, 2026.
Brown Act Reminder: The Contra Costa Mayors Conference/City Selection Committee has a policy of complying with the letter and spirit of open meeting laws. Generally, off-agenda items maybe taken up only if:
1. Two-thirds of Conference voting members find a need for immediate action exists and the need to take action came to the attention of the Conference after the agenda was prepared (Note: If fewer than two-thirds of Conference members are present, taking up an off-agenda item requires a unanimous vote); or 2. A majority of the Conference finds an emergency (for example: work stoppage or disaster) exists.
A majority of any city council may not, consistent with the Brown Act, discuss specific substantive issues among themselves at Conference meetings. Any such discussion is subject to the Brown Act and must occur in a City Council meeting that complies with Brown Act requirements.
UPCOMING MEETINGS
2026
May 7, Orinda
June 4, Walnut Creek
July 9, San Pablo (One week late avoiding holiday weekend)
August 6, Oakley
September 3, Moraga
October 1, Lafayette
November 5, Clayton
December 3, Pleasant Hill (No Speaker to be programmed)
2027
January 7, Brentwood
February 4, San Ramon
March 4, Antioch
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MINUTES OF THE
CONTRA COSTA MAYORS CONFERENCE
AND CITY SELECTION COMMITTEE MEETINGS
Thursday, March 5, 2026 – 6:30 p.m.
Hosted by the City of Hercules
CALL TO ORDER: Chair Anissa Williams called the meeting to order at 6:30 p.m.
ROLL CALL OF CITY DELEGATES:
Antioch: Mayor Ron Bernal
Brentwood: Mayor Susannah Meyer
Clayton: Mayor Jeff Wan
Concord: Mayor Laura Nakamura
Town of Danville: Mayor Neil Arnerich
El Cerrito: Mayor Gabe Quinto
Hercules: Mayor Christine Kelley
Lafayette: Mayor Carl Anduri
Martinez: Mayor Brianne Zorn
Moraga: Absent
Oakley: Mayor Hugh Henderson
Orinda: Vice Mayor Darlene Gee
Pinole: Mayor Anthony Tave
Pittsburg: Mayor Dionne Adams
Pleasant Hill: Mayor Zac Shess
Richmond: Council Member Cesar Zepeda
San Pablo: Mayor Elizabeth Pabon-Alvarado
San Ramon: Mayor Mark Armstrong
Walnut Creek: Mayor Kevin Wilk
Presiding: Conference Chair: Anissa Williams.
The above delegates comprised a quorum for the meetings.
1. Program: President Brian Bucklew and Regional Vice-President Rebecca Rozen of the Hospital Council of Northern and Central California described the situation in health care finance and accessibility of care under the current national administration and answered many questions.
2. Approval of Minutes: of the February 5, 2026 Conference Meeting.
Action: Motion to approve the minutes of the February 5, 2026 Conference meeting passed unanimously. Voting aye were delegates from Antioch, Brentwood, Clayton, Concord, Danville, El Cerrito, Hercules, Lafayette, Martinez, Oakley, Orinda, Pinole, Pittsburg, Pleasant Hill, Richmond, San Pablo, San Ramon, and Walnut Creek. Moraga was absent.
3. Chair Announcements: Chair Anisa Williams announced that the Executive Committee for 2026 consists of herself; Conference Vice-Chair Brianne Zorn, Martinez; Past Chair Alex Walker-Griffith, Hercules; Second Past Chair, Sue Noack, Pleasant Hill; Laura Nakamura, Concord; Ron Bernal, Antioch; and City Selection Committee Chair, Newell Arnerich, Danville. She indicated that the Committee would meet at 6 p.m. prior to the April 2 meeting in Concord.
4. Conference Appointee Reports: Kevin Wilk noted that the Family Justice Center served over 700 clients in 2025. Gabe Quinto noted that the League of Cities Board interviewed several gubernatorial candidates. Newell Arnerich noted that a smart signals project is being implemented by CCTA countywide. Dionne Adams noted that the Air Board is engaging communities on future rule development. Sue Noack noted that MTC has finalized the TOD policy and that work is starting on Plan 2060.
5. Mayor Announcements: Various mayors announced events and programs in their communities. Pittsburg has started a new police hiring approach that will result in full staffing sooner after retirements and resignations. Danville was recently recognized as the safest city in California, mainly due to very robust volunteer activity. El Cerrito had a groundbreaking for a new affordable housing project at the Plaza BART station. Concord has developed new zoning rules to facilitate more intensive housing development. Martinez announced recent Air Board settlements. Pinole announced the appointment of interim City Manager Garrett Evans. Walnut Creek noted changes in State Law regarding on-line auto sales and the allocation of sales tax from those sales. San Ramon commented on earthquake experience.
6. State and Federal Legislative Update: Staff for Congressmen DeSaulnier and Garramende as well as various State elected official staff members noted various pieces of pending legislation and town halls.
7. County Supervisor Announcements: Supervisor Shanelle Scales-Preston welcomed all to District 5 and commented on various County actions.
8. League of California Cities Update: Samantha “Sam” Brightman announced the deadline for Helen Putnam Awards nominations and discussed various League advocacy priorities.
9. Public Comments: Various speakers described events in various locations. Speakers for BART and A.C. Transit discussed dire service cutbacks if the funding measure on the November ballot fails.
10. Host City Welcome: Mayor Christine Kelley welcomed all to Hercules and introduced current and former council members and mayors as well as City staff.
11. Chair Anissa Williams adjourned the meeting to April 2 in Concord.
Deadline for next agenda is 5:00 p.m. Tuesday, March 17, 2026.
Brown Act Reminder: The Contra Costa Mayors Conference/City Selection Committee has a policy of complying with the letter and spirit of open meeting laws. Generally, off-agenda items maybe taken up only if:
1. Two-thirds of Conference voting members find a need for immediate action exists and the need to take action came to the attention of the Conference after the agenda was prepared (Note: If fewer than two-thirds of Conference members are present, taking up an off-agenda item requires a unanimous vote); or 2. A majority of the Conference finds an emergency (for example: work stoppage or disaster) exists.
A majority of any city council may not, consistent with the Brown Act, discuss specific substantive issues among themselves at Conference meetings.