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Meeting of

Contra Costa Mayors Conference

Hosted by the City of Antioch

_________________________________________________________________________

Program:  Congressman Mark DeSaulnier will

give a report on the situation in Washington D.C.

_________________________________________________________________________

Thursday, August 7, 2025

Business Meeting:  6:30 p.m.

Location:  Smith’s Landing Seafood Grill

1 Marina Place, Antioch, CA  94509

Buffet dinner with vegetarian option will follow the business meeting.

Dinner Reservations Are Made Through The City Of Antioch

Please RSVP to: Ashley Martinez at amartinez@antiochca.gov (preferred)

 or by phone at (925) 779-7011

RESERVATION DEADLINE:  NOON, Thursday, July 31, 2025

Dinner Reservations:  Two dinners are prepaid for each City. Please RSVP with the names and titles of all attendees, including prepaid attendees.  Others interested in having dinner should call or e-mail the City of Antioch, as noted above, and pay for their dinners at the door or mail payment to City of Antioch, P.O. Box 5007, Antioch, CA 94531-5007; Attn: Ashley Martinez.

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

Dinner Cost: $70

Directions to Smith’s Landing Seafood Grill

From East County

Take CA-4 west toward Antioch

Take Exit 27 to Contra Loma Blvd. in Antioch

Turn right onto Contra Loma Blvd.

At the traffic circle, take the 2nd exit and turn right

From West County

Take CA-4 east, follow signs to Martinez

Take Exit 27 to Contra Loma Blvd. in Antioch

Turn left onto Contra Loma Blvd.

At the traffic circle, take the 2nd exit and turn right

From Danville/San Ramon

Take I-680 north toward Sacramento

Take CA-242 north, follow signs for Concord/Pittsburg Take CA-4 east toward Stockton/Pittsburg

Take Exit 27 to Contra Loma Blvd. in Antioch

Turn left onto Contra Loma Blvd.

At the traffic circle, take the 2nd exit and turn right

From Orinda/Lafayette

Take CA-24 east toward Sacramento/Concord

Take I-680 north

Take CA-242 north, follow signs for Concord/Pittsburg Take CA-4 east toward Stockton/Pittsburg

Take Exit 27 to Contra Loma Blvd. in Antioch

Turn left onto Contra Loma Blvd.

At the traffic circle, take the 2nd exit and turn right

Or utilize your GPS instructions.

MEETING OF

CONTRA COSTA MAYORS CONFERENCE

Thursday, August 7, 2025

6:30 P.M. BUSINESS MEETING

Call Mayors Conference (Conference) to Order, Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag, & Roll Call. (Note: For roll call, Mayors or representatives authorized to act on behalf of mayors, such as mayors pro tempore, and vice mayors, or a council member authorized by the city council to act in lieu of a mayor are qualified to vote for each city as members of the Conference.)

1.   Program:  Congressman Mark DeSaulnier reporting on the situation in Washington D.C.

2.   Approval of Minutes:  of the July 10, 2025 meeting (attached). 

Action: Move to approve July 10, 2025 Conference minutes.

3.   Call for nomination for appointment to a full member term on the East Bay Regional Communication System (EBRCS) Board currently occupied by Oakley Mayor Shannon Shaw, and for an Alternate Member term currently occupied by Robert Jweinat, San Ramon. Both new terms will extend to October 1, 2028.  The current terms of the incumbents end October 1, 2025. The Conference will be making appointments to new terms for these positions at the September 4, 2025 meeting. Any mayor or council member may serve in either of these positions. The  incumbents are eligible to be reappointed. Nominations should indicate which position is being applied for.

Nominations for this position shall be filed by email with Executive Director, Gary Pokorny: gjpokorn@lmi.net no later than 5 p.m., Tuesday, August 19, 2025.

4.       Call for nomination for appointment to the remainder of a term of a member  position on the East Bay Regional Communication System (EBRCS) Board.  A new appointment needs to be made to the remainder of a term of a full member  EBRCS Board position ending October 1, 2027, currently occupied by Walnut Creek  Council Member Cindy Silva, who has announced her intention to resign such  position as soon as a new member is appointed. The Conference will be making this appointment at the September 4, 2025 meeting. Any mayor or council member may serve. Member Silva has indicated that the reason she is resigning is so that the Conference can make an appointment of a West County member so that Board membership will reflect a better regional balance than is currently the case. 

Nominations for this position shall be filed by email with Executive Director, Gary Pokorny: gjpokorn@lmi.net no later than 5 p.m., Tuesday, August 19, 2025.

5.   Chair Announcements:

6.   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.

7.   Mayor Announcements:

8.   State and Federal Legislators Update:

9.   County Supervisor Announcements:

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

11.   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. No more than one speaker from any organization should address the mayors on the same evening.

12.   Welcome to Antioch by Mayor Ron Bernal:

13.   Adjourn Conference to September 4, 2025 in El Cerrito.  

Deadline for next agenda is 5:00 p.m. Tuesday, August 19, 2025.

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 may be taken up only if: 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 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 at a City Council meeting that complies with Brown Act requirements.

UPCOMING MEETINGS

2025

September 4, El Cerrito

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

November 6, Danville

December 4, Pinole

2026

January 8, Pittsburg (One week late because of holiday)

February 5, Richmond

March 5, Hercules

April 2, Walnut Creek

May 7, Orinda

June 4, Concord

July 9, San Pablo (One week late because of holiday)

August 6, Oakley

September 3, Moraga

October 1, Lafayette

November 5, Clayton

December 3, Pleasant Hill

MINUTES OF THE

CONTRA COSTA MAYORS CONFERENCE

Thursday, July 10, 2025 – 6:30 p.m.

Hosted by the City of Brentwood

CALL TO ORDER: Chair Walker-Griffith 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 Kim Trupiano

Concord: Vice Mayor Laura Hoffmeister

Town of Danville: Mayor Renee Morgan

El Cerrito: Mayor Carolyn Wysinger

Hercules: Vice Mayor Christine Kelley

Lafayette: Mayor Susan Candell

Martinez: Council Member Greg Young

Moraga: Mayor Steve Woehleke

Oakley: Mayor Shannon Shaw

Orinda: Mayor Latika Malkani

Pinole: Absent

Pittsburg: Mayor Jelani Killings

Pleasant Hill: Mayor Susan Noack

Richmond: Absent

San Pablo: Mayor Arturo Cruz

San Ramon: Mayor Mark Armstrong

Walnut Creek: Mayor Cindy Darling

Presiding: Conference Chair: Alex Walker-Griffith, Hercules

The above delegates comprised a quorum for the meeting.

1. Program: District Attorney Diana Becton provided updates regarding activities of the D. A.’s office.

2. Approval of Minutes: of the June 5, 2025 meeting.

Action: Motion to approve the minutes of the June 5, 2025 Conference meeting passed:  Voting aye were delegates from Antioch, Brentwood, Clayton, Concord, Danville, El Cerrito,  Hercules, Lafayette, Moraga, Oakley, Orinda, Pittsburg, Pleasant Hill, San Pablo, San Ramon, and  Walnut Creek. Pinole and Richmond were absent. Martinez abstained.

3. Adoption of Port Chicago Remembrance Day Proclamation (Attached): 

Action: Motion to adopt Proclamation of Port Chicago Remembrance Day passed  unanimously. Voting aye were delegates from Antioch, Brentwood, Clayton, Concord, Danville,  El Cerrito, Hercules, Lafayette, Martinez, Moraga, Oakley, Orinda, Pittsburg, Pleasant Hill, San  Pablo, San Ramon, and Walnut Creek. Pinole and Richmond were absent.

4. Chair Announcements: None.

5. Conference Appointee Reports: Chris Kelley noted that the Economic Dev. Alliance Small  Business conference proceedings are available on U-Tube. Sue Noack noted that S.B. 63 is going  through several legislative committees. Cindy Silva noted that she has become aware of the need 

for the East Bay Regional Communications System Authority Board to have a more balanced  member representation from all parts of the county. As a result she announced that she is willing to  resign her seat in favor of a new representative from West County cities that are not now  represented by a full Board Member. She requested that the Conference advertise for a full member  position on the Conference August agenda and then when a new West County Board Member is  appointed, she will resign her seat to allow the new member to be seated. Newell Arnerich noted  that CCTA received a new $58 million grant to make additional improvements to the Highway  4/680 interchange, the Iron Horse Trail bridge in San Ramon is now finished, a survey is coming to  gather input for the Trans-Plan 2050, and CCTA has a new logo. Dionne Adams noted that the Air  District has voted to oppose S.B.34. The District Board is working on a new approach to disbursing  penalty revenues to benefit affected communities. Gabe Quinto noted that the Air Board is aware of  the need to balance concern for protecting air quality while recognizing that refineries provide  many jobs and that the price of refinery products might rise if any of the local refineries  permanently close. Laura Nakamura noted that LAFCO completed work on merging the  Kensington Fire District and the Kensington Police and Community Services District into one  entity.

6. Mayor Announcements Various Mayors announced July 4 events in their communities.  Danville announced the appointment of Tai Williams as their new Town Manager. Martinez has  opened a new all-abilities park. Clayton announced a new police chief. 

7. State and Federal Legislators Update: Janessa Oriol, District Director for Congressman  DeSaulnier reported that he attended several July 4 Celebrations and hosted town halls. Staff for  Senator Grayson reported on the Wildfire Round Table that he hosted in Orinda and introduced  District Field Director Rachael Zenner. The Senator looks forward to working with the League of  Cities and receiving city feedback on budget priorities and other issues of importance. 

8. County Supervisor Announcements: Supervisor Diane Burgis welcomed the Conference to  District 3. She expressed concern about State and Federal cuts to medical care funding as well as  other funding. She noted July 4 fires were down 15% this year, probably mostly due to favorable  weather conditions.

9. League of California Cities Update: East Bay Division Public Affairs Manager Sam  Brightman reported on the work of Cal Cities and current legislation moving through both houses  of the Legislature. There will be a webinar on July 29 on key bill positions the League is taking.  Registration for the LOCC Annual Conference is now open.

10. Public Comments: BART Director Mark Foley reported that BART has a balanced budget for  2025-’26 but that the “fiscal Cliff” is looming for subsequent years. Yulie Padmore of the Port  Chicago Alliance thanked mayors for passing the Port Chicago Resolution. Various speakers  criticized the County Supervisors and the Brentwood City Council for actions regarding the siteing  of a new fire station in Brentwood.

11. Host City Welcome: Mayor Susannah Meyer welcomed the Conference to Brentwood and  introduced current and past Mayors, Council Members, and City Staff. 

12. Conference adjourned to August 7, 2025 in Antioch.  

Deadline for next agenda is 5:00 p.m. Tuesday, July 22, 2025.

PROCLAMATION OF PORT CHICAGO REMEMBRANCE DAY

WHEREAS, on July 17, 1944, the deadly munitions explosion known as the Port  Chicago Disaster occurred and most of the dead and injured were African-American  sailors with no formal training in the handling and loading of explosives, and 

WHEREAS, from April-July, loading officers pushed the enlisted men to load the  explosive cargoes very quickly, placing bets with each other on whose 100-man crew  would be fastest, and 

WHREAS, the enlisted men were told by officers that the larger munitions were not  active and so could not explode; and

WHEREAS, on July 17, 1944 a loud noise, described as a “metallic sound and  rending timbers” was heard, immediately followed by an explosion, and then a fire;  seconds later, the majority of the ordinance exploded, resulting in a fireball, and all  320 men on duty died instantly, with 390 civilians and military personnel being  injured; and

WHEREAS, the Disaster played a critical role in exposing the systemic weakness of  racist segregation in the military as 50 African-American survivors were charged  with mutiny for refusing, after the explosion, to continue the status quo, and 

WHEREAS, in 1994, the Pt. Chicago Naval Magazine National Memorial was  dedicated in memory of the lives lost in the explosion.

NOW THEREFORE, WE, THE MAYORS OF THE CITIES OF CONTRA COSTA  COUNTY, on behalf of our cities, do hereby proclaim Thursday, July 17, 2025 as  “Port Chicago Remembrance Day” to commemorate the 81st Anniversary of the Port  Chicago explosion. In addition, we recognize the sacrifice and suffering of the  residents of the town of Port Chicago who also suffered greatly that day and had the  unfortunate fate of experiencing their town being absorbed by the federal government  when it became part of a new safety zone around the weapons station.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, we, the mayors of Contra Costa hereby adopt this  proclamation on July 10, 2025.