JOINT MEETING OF

CONTRA COSTA MAYORS CONFERENCE &

CONTRA COSTA CITY SELECTION COMMITTEE

Thursday, December 5, 2024, 6:30 p.m.

Hosted by the City of San Pablo

Business meeting & dinner at: Maple Hall, 1000 Gateway Ave., San Pablo, CA

                      Presentation: This is our annual Holiday Meeting, with a short business meeting and a focus on celebrating 

                                     the end of a successful year. Members are encouraged to bring and host guests.

Dinner follows business meeting: Buffet dinner with vegetarian options.

RSVP Deadline: Nov. 27, 2024.

Cancellation Deadline: Dec. 2, 2024.

DINNER RESERVATIONS ARE MADE THROUGH
THE CITY OF SAN PABLO

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 RSVP, as noted below: Dinner Cost: $70.00. 

Point of Contact for Reservations and Cancellations: Casey Erlenheim, Administrative Clerk caseye@sanpabloca.gov

Dinner Payment by check payable to the City of San Pablo may be presented at the door or mailed to: Attn. Casey Erlenheim, Administrative Clerk, City of San Pablo, City Hall, 1000 Gateway Ave., San Pablo, CA 94806.

Individuals will be billed for reservations made but not cancelled prior to the deadline.

JOINT MEETING OF

 CONTRA COSTA MAYORS CONFERENCE &

CONTRA COSTA CITY SELECTION COMMITTEE

Thursday, December 5, 2024

6:30 P.M. BUSINESS MEETING

AGENDA

Call Mayors Conference (Conference) to Order, Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag, & Roll Call.

1. Program: None. This is the annual holiday social meeting.

2. Approval of Minutes: (attached) of the November 14, 2024 meetings.

Action: Move to approve November 14, 2024 Conference & City Selection Committee (CSC) minutes.

3. Call for nominations for Chair and Vice-Chair of the Mayors Conference for 2025: Conference bylaws provide that the Chair and Vice-Chair of the Conference shall each serve a term of office for the calendar year. Nominations are solicited in December. Elections of Chair and Vice-Chair will take place at the January 2025 meeting. Nominees for Chair shall be a mayor for 2025 or the 2024 Conference Vice-Chair. Nominees for Vice-Chair may be either a mayor or a council member at the time of election.

Nominations for these positions (and for other positions to follow) shall be filed by email with Executive Director, Gary Pokorny: gjpokorn@lmi.net no later than 5 p.m., Monday, December 23, 2024.

4. Appointments to the Contra Costa Hazardous Materials Commission (HMC): The current appointment of Peter Cloven as an alternate on the HMC will expire December 31, 2024. The Conference needs to make a recommendation for appointment to an alternate term ending December 2028. There were no nominations by the deadline.

Action: Accept nomination(s) from the floor and appoint someone to the HMC for a new alternate member term ending Dec. 2028. Alternatively carry the appointment to the January meeting.

5. Recess Conference and call CSC to order for items 6 & 7, below:

6. Call for nominations for Chair and Vice-Chair of the City Selection Committee (CSC) for 2024. CSC Bylaws provide that the Chair and Vice-Chair of the CSC shall each serve a term of office for the calendar year. Nominations are solicited in December. Elections of Chair and Vice-Chair will take place at the January 9, 2025 meeting. State law requires that the Chair and Vice-Chair of the CSC must each be the mayor of a Contra Costa city or town for the year 2025.

Nominations for these positions (and for other positions to follow) shall be filed by email with Executive Director, Gary Pokorny as noted above.

7. Call for Appointment to the Bay Area Air Quality Management District (BAAQMD) Board. Mark Ross is retiring from Martinez council service and a new member needs to be appointed to the BAAQMD Board for a two-year term ending in January 2027. The City Selection Committee will be making an appointment for this position at the January 9, 2025 meeting. Any mayor or council member may serve on this Board. Nominations for these positions (and for other positions to follow) shall be filed by email with Executive Director, Gary Pokorny as noted above.

8. Recess CSC Meeting & Call Mayors Conference back to order for balance of agenda.

9. Call for Appointment to the East Bay Regional Communications System  (EBRCS) Board. As noted, Mark Ross is retiring from council service and a new alternate member needs to be appointed to the EBRCS Board for the balance of a term ending in October 2025. The Conference will be making an appointment for this position at the January 9, 2025 meeting. Any mayor or council member may serve on this Board. Nominations for this position shall be filed as noted above.

10. Call for Appointments to the Contra Costa Transportation Authority (CCTA) Board. The terms of Newell Arnerich as member and of Brianne Zorn as alternate member of the CCTA Board will end January 31, 2025. The Conference will be making appointments for these positions at the January 9, 2025 meeting. Any mayor or council member may serve on this Board. The incumbents are eligible to be reappointed. Nominees should indicate the position applying for. Nominations for these positions shall be filed as noted above.

11. Chair Announcements: There will be significant turnover among elected officials this year as many retired. At the January meeting we will be calling for nominations to a fairly large number of boards and commissions as a result. We encourage all newly elected council members and mayors as well as continuing members to carefully consider whether you are interested in serving in such capacity. Such service can be very rewarding. Feel free to contact current appointees for information about any service opportunities you might be interested in.

12. 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.

13. Mayor Announcements:

14. State and Federal Legislative Update:

15. County Supervisor Announcements:

16.  League of California Cities Update:  Samantha “Sam” Caygill, East Bay Division Public Affairs Manager.

17. 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.

18. Welcome to San Pablo by Mayor Patricia Ponce:

19. Adjourn meetings to January 9 in Oakley.

Deadline for next agenda is 5:00 p.m. Monday, December 23, 2024. Note deadline is earlier than usual because of the holidays.

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.

MINUTES OF THE

 CONTRA COSTA MAYORS CONFERENCE

AND CITY SELECTION COMMITTEE MEETINGS

Thursday, November 14, 2024 – 6:30 p.m.

Hosted by the City of Concord

CALL TO ORDER: Chair Haskew called the meeting to order at 6:30 p.m.

ROLL CALL OF CITY DELEGATES:

Antioch: Absent

Brentwood: Vice Mayor Susannah Meyer

Clayton: Mayor Jim Diaz

Concord: Mayor Edi Bursan

Town of Danville: Mayor Karen Stepper

El Cerrito: Mayor Tessa Rudnick

Hercules: Council Member Alex Walker-Griffin

Lafayette: Absent

Martinez: Mayor Brianne Zorn

Moraga: Council Member Kerry Hillis

Oakley: Mayor Anissa Williams

Orinda: Mayor Darlene Gee

Pinole: Mayor Maureen Toms

Pittsburg: Absent

Pleasant Hill: Mayor Matthew Rinn

Richmond: Council Member Cesar Zepeda

San Pablo: Mayor Patricia Ponce

San Ramon: Mayor Dave Hudson

Walnut Creek: Mayor Loella Haskew

Presiding: Conference Chair: Loella Haskew.

The above delegates comprised a quorum for the meetings.

1. Program: Presentation on Concord Naval Weapons Station Reuse Project by Josh Roden, President, Brookfield Properties Northern California and Guy Bjerke Director of Base Reuse, City of Concord.

2. Approval of Minutes: of October 3, 2024, Conference and City Selection Committee (CSC) meetings, attached.

Action: Motion to approve the minutes of the October 3, 2024 Conference and CSC meetings passed. Voting aye were delegates from Brentwood, Clayton, Concord, Danville, El Cerrito,

Hercules, Martinez, Moraga, Oakley, Orinda, Pinole, Pleasant Hill, Richmond, San Pablo, San Ramon, and Walnut Creek. Antioch, Lafayette, and Pittsburg were absent.

3. Appointment to East Bay Regional Communications System Board (EBRCSB): The appointment of Tessa Rudnick, as an alternate on the EBRCSB expired in October.  There were no nominations by the deadline. Pinole Mayor Maureen Toms volunteered from the floor for this appointment. There were no other nominations.

Motion to appoint Pinole Mayor Maureen Toms to the alternate member position on the EBRCSB for a new term ending October 2027 passed unanimously. Voting aye were delegates from Brentwood, Clayton, Concord, Danville, El Cerrito, Hercules, Martinez, Moraga, Oakley, Orinda, Pinole, Pleasant Hill, Richmond, San Pablo, San Ramon, and Walnut Creek. Antioch, Lafayette, and Pittsburg were absent.

4. Appointments to the Contra Costa Hazardous Materials Commission (HMC): The current appointment of Peter Cloven as an alternate on the HMC will expire December 31, 2024. The Conference needs to make a recommendation for appointment to an alternate term ending December 31, 2028. There were no nominations by the deadline.

There were no nominations by the deadline or from the floor for the alternate position and the appointment carried over to the December meeting.

5.  Conference Appointee Reports: Carlyn Obringer noted that the Parks District completed a financial review. She also noted that the District is evaluating the balance between recreation and conservation in its operations. Scot Perkins noted that LAFCO is evaluating the possible expansion of the sphere of influence of the Contra Costa Fire District to include the possible incorporation of the Rodeo-Hercules Fire District. He also noted that the Regional Communication System Board has received a report on a comprehensive capital equipment replacement program that indicates the need for expending $67 million over the next 15 years. The good news is that the majority of the need occurs in years six through fifteen so there is time to begin building the reserve needed to replace the equipment which will cause the annual per-radio charge to increase substantially for several years. Finally, he noted that MCE, which provides electricity to most utility customers in the county, delivered power that was 99.9% fossil fuel free in 2023. He encouraged any cities that are not yet in the MCE service area to join the program. Kevin Wilk announced the grand opening of the South County Family Justice Center December 10.

6. Chair Announcements: Chair Haskew noted that she did not run for re-election and thanked all for their support this past year.

7. Mayor Announcements: Martinez thanked retiring Council Member Mark Ross for his years of service in Martinez and on the Air Board as well as in other venues over two decades. Mayor Zorn noted that the City will be honoring him December 11 at 6 pm and invited all to join the celebration. Moraga celebrated their 50th anniversary, adopted a new General Plan, and is recruiting for a Planning Director. Orinda introduced their new City Manager, Linda Smith. Danville will be

 doing a substantial street repaving project in the months ahead. San Ramon noted that the citizen-initiated, one-cent, sales tax measure passed in the November election assuring fiscal stability for the City.

8. State and Federal Legislative Update: Staff for Congressman DeSaulnier noted that there would be a short, post-election House session.

9. County Supervisor Announcements: Ken Carlson welcomed all to District 4 and noted that the County was able to allocate new revenue from Measure X to many worthy projects around the county.

10.  League of California Cities Update: Sam Caygill encouraged all newly elected mayors and council members to attend the Northern California New Members Academy in Sacramento January 22-24. She recapped the ballot measure results and noted that the League Board is actively planning for 2025. She thanked all retiring members for their service to their communities and announced the Annual East Bay Holiday Reception.

11. Public Comments: Bradley Dunn of BART noted that new fare gates have been installed in 10 stations and are working well. The rollout will continue at other locations.  Improved ridership continues. Central Sanitary District invited all to visit to see their facilities. Kim Trupiano of Clayton noted that the East Bay Economic Leadership Council would be hosting Judy Woodruff at the Leadership USA conference January 29 in Concord. Mark Ross thanked all retiring mayors and council members for their service.

12. Host City Welcome: Mayor Edi Bursan introduced current and past council members, past mayors, city staff, highlighted several Concord programs of which he is particularly proud, and welcomed all to Concord.

13. Chair Haskew adjourned the meeting to December 5 in San Pablo.

Deadline for next agenda is 5:00 p.m. Tuesday, November 19, 2024.

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

2025

January 9, Oakley (One week late because of Holidays)

February 13, Moraga (One week late because of League of Cities Conference.)

March 6, Lafayette

April 3, Clayton

May 1, Pleasant Hill

June 5, Brentwood

July 10, San Ramon (One week late because of holiday)

August 7, Antioch

September 4, El Cerrito

October 9, Martinez (One week late because of holiday)

November 6, Danville

December 4, Pinole.