Hoffmeister Selected as New Mayor, Nakamura Sworn In

At the Dec. 6 Concord City Council meeting, outgoing Mayor Dominic Aliano turned over the gavel to Vice Mayor Laura Hoffmeister after she was selected by fellow councilmembers as the City’s mayor for 2023. Hoffmeister has been on the Concord City CouncilCouncilmember Edi Birsan was selected to serve as vice mayor for the year ahead.  

Hoffmeister, Birsan, Councilmember Carlyn Obringer, and outgoing Councilmember Tim McGallian thanked Aliano for his service as mayor. All councilmembers also recognized and thanked McGallian for his years of service as mayor throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, and as councilmember, city treasurer, and planning commissioner.  

In addition, Councilmember-elect Laura Nakamura was sworn in as the newest member of the Council, succeeding McGallian as the representative for Council District 5. Patti Barsotti also renewed her oath of office after being reelected on Nov. 8. 

During the meeting, Aliano also recognized Jacqueline Smith with the Mayor’s 2022 Community Service Award. Smith serves as the Family Engagement Coordinator for the Unity Council, a local nonprofit organization whose mission is to promote social equity and improve quality of life by building vibrant communities.

Read the full press release.

Tree Lighting, Sing-Along Brings Holiday Cheer

Thank you to all who attended Concord's annual tree lighting and Mayor's sing-along on Dec. 2, and a special thank you to the businesses and people who helped make this event happen!

Families enjoyed visiting Santa and Buddy the Elf, writing letters to St. Nick and making crafts, as well as taking rides on horse drawn carriages, feeding the reindeer, and shopping at the various artisan craft booths hosted by the Maker's Boulevard.

The crowd also enjoyed live performances from the Concord High School Jazz Band and Ladies First Choir, D’Ann’s Dance Academy, Queen of All Saints cheerleaders, and the 925 Band, who kicked off the sing-along led by then-Mayor Dominic Aliano. The illuminated tree can now be seen at Todos Santos Plaza.

If you missed the event, you can catch the festivities on Concord TV and on the City's YouTube channel.

Watch now.

Applications Open for Homeless Strategic Plan Working Group

At its Dec. 13 meeting, the Concord City Council approved the formation of a Working Group for the Homeless Strategic Plan. The Working Group will assist the City as it begins developing its Homeless Strategic Plan in 2023. Applications for this recruitment are due to the City Clerk by Tuesday, Jan. 3, 2023, at 5:00 p.m.

The Homeless Strategic Plan Working Group will act as an advisory body to Council, staff and the project consultants, and will meet in person once per month, at minimum, for approximately 9 to 12 months to hear, discuss, and provide feedback as the strategic plan is shaped. Members are expected to attend all meetings, read all materials, and be prepared to listen and engage on the topics discussed.  

The Working Group is comprised of nine (9) members:

• two (2) Concord City Councilmembers
• one (1) representative with lived experience of being homeless
• one (1) representative from a nonprofit homeless services provider
• one (1) substance abuse professional
• one (1) mental health professional
• one (1) Concord resident and property owner
• one (1) representative who is a Concord resident and is either from Concord's business community or an owner of commercial property in Concord
• one (1) representative who is a veteran homeless services provider

For the lived experience, nonprofit homeless services provider, and substance abuse professional and mental health profession positions, preference shall be given to applicants who are either from or based in Concord. 

Learn more about the Homeless Strategic Plan Working Group

Apply Here!

Concord Boards and Commissions Seek Applicants

At its Dec. 13, 2022 meeting, the Concord City Council announced recruitments for openings on several City boards and commissions listed below. Applications are due to the City Clerk by Friday, Jan. 20, 2023, at 5:00 p.m.

Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee – the Committee is seeking two (2) individuals willing to serve a four-year term ending February 28, 2027.

Commission on Aging – the Commission is seeking three (3) individuals willing to serve the remainder of a four-year term ending June 30, 2023, and two (2) individuals willing to serve the remainder of a four-year term ending June 30, 2025.

Community Services Commission – the Commission is seeking one (1) individual willing to serve the remainder of a four-year term ending June 30, 2025.

Concord Pavilion Community Outreach Committee – the Committee is seeking two (2) individuals willing to serve a four-year term ending February 28, 2027, and one (1) individual willing to serve the remainder of a four-year term ending February 28, 2025.

Design Review Board – the Board is seeking one (1) Public Member willing to serve a four-year term ending February 28, 2027, and one (1) Design Professional willing to serve a four-year term ending February 28, 2027.

Parks, Recreation and Open Space Commission – the Commission is seeking one (1) individual willing to serve the remainder of a four-year term ending June 30, 2025.

Planning Commission – the Commission is seeking two (2) individuals willing to serve a four-year term ending February 28, 2027.

Learn more about each of the City's boards and commissions.

Apply here!

Housing Element: Next Steps

Concord's Planning Division continues to work through the process of updating the City's Housing Element, which contians goals, polocies and programs to address the housing needs of all Concord residents from 2023 to 2031.

As the team moves toward adoption of the Housing Element Update (HEU), they have scheduled several activities in January:

• On Tuesday, Jan. 10, the City Council will consider comments from HCD (the California Department of Housing and Community Development) on the City’s draft HEU, and will provide direction on revisions to address HCD’s comments. Council will also receive a copy of all public comments submitted on the draft HEU. The meeting agenda and staff report will be posted here by Friday, Jan. 6.
• No later than Tuesday Jan. 17 (and earlier if possible), a revised draft HEU will be released, incorporating Council’s direction. The draft will be provided in strikethrough/underline format, to allow easy identification of changes from the previous draft.
• On Thursday, Jan. 19, the Planning Commission will conduct a Special Meeting to consider the revised draft and make a recommendation to Council regarding adoption. The meeting agenda and staff report will be posted here by Wednesday, Jan. 18.
• On Tuesday, Jan. 31, at a special meeting, the City Council will consider adoption of the revised draft HEU. The meeting agenda and staff report will be posted here by Friday, January 27.
•  If Council adopts the HEU, it will be submitted to HCD on the following day (February 1). HCD will then have 60 days to review the HEU and determine whether to certify it, or provide further comments.
• If HCD certifies the document, then the HEU process is complete. If not, then the above steps will repeat, with new Council and Planning Commission meetings announced via e-mail and the website.

The City welcomes your input, and the above meetings will all provide an opportunity for public testimony and two-way Spanish translation. If you have any questions, please reach out to Planning division staff at info@concordhousingelement.org or (925) 671-3465.

Take Our Survey: Mitigating Local Hazards

Concord is in the process of updating its local hazard mitigation plan to reduce loss of life and property by minimizing the impact of disasters.

Help us identify projects that can reduce damage from future hazards by taking our quick survey. It is available in English, Spanish, Chinese, Dari (Persian), Tagalog, and Vietnamese.

We are seeking input from those who live and/or work in Concord. Share your thoughts on the natural hazards that affect you most.

Base Reuse Meetings Scheduled, Term Sheet to be Reviewed

The next steps for the development of the former Concord Naval Weapons Station have been scheduled. 

Developer Concord First Partners and Local Reuse Authority (LRA) staff are hosting two community meetings in December to discuss and present the proposed Term Sheet before it goes to the City Council for consideration on Saturday, January 7, 2023. 

All meetings will be held in person at the Concord Senior Center located at 2727 Parkside Circle, and can be viewed on Concord TV (Astound/Wave 1026, Comcast 28, AT&T U-verse 99) or streamed online through the City's website.

The meetings are scheduled as follows:

• Thursday, Dec. 1: Community Meeting #1 -- Watch the Video
• Thursday, Dec. 15 at 6 p.m.: Community Meeting #2 and Presentation of the Term Sheet
• Saturday, Jan. 7, 2023 at 9 a.m.: Special City Council Meeting, featuring an opportunity for public comment on the Term Sheet prior to Council decision 

The Term Sheet and accompanying staff report are available for public review.

The City of Concord's upcoming public meetings include:

• Wednesday, Dec. 14: Community Services Commission - CANCELLED
• Wednesday, Dec. 14: Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee
• Wednesday, Dec. 14: Zoning Administrator Meeting - CANCELLED
• Wednesday, Dec. 14: Parks, Recreation, and Open Space Commission Meeting
• Thursday, Dec. 15: Concord Community Reuse Project Term Sheet Meeting
• Wednesday, Dec. 21: Planning Commission
• Thursday, Dec. 22: Design Review Board Meeting
• Wednesday, Dec. 28: Zoning Administrator Meeting - CANCELLED
• Saturday, Jan. 7: Special City Council Meeting: Base Reuse Project

See the full calendar.

To receive email or text notifications when the meeting agendas are posted, please subscribe to alerts using the "Notify Me" tool on the City's website.

City Council and Planning Commission meetings are broadcast live on Concord TV (Astound/Wave 29 and 1026, Comcast 28, U-verse 99) and streamed through the City's website as well as rebroadcast at later times.

Happy Holidays!

Happy Holidays, Concord! Your next issue of this e-newsletter will be published on Jan. 4, 2023.

Don't forget that your winter/spring issue of the City News & Activity Guide should be in your mailbox, and is also available online here.

Tambien las noticias estan disponibles en español.