Concord Celebrates Earth Day, Spruces Up City Parks & Spaces

On Saturday, April 20, more than 200 volunteers came out to participate in Concord's Earth Day events in 10 locations across the City.

Volunteers helped complete multiple projects, including creek clean ups, litter pick up, spreading mulch and gravel, and weeding around newly planted wildflowers and native plants. We even had a special crew work on sprucing up our all-abilities playground Matteo's Dream, located at Hillcrest Park.

Thank you to all of the volunteers who came out to participate and to everyone involved in putting these events together. Thank you for helping to keep Concord clean, beautiful, and a city of the highest quality.

Check out video clips from our April 20 event! Thank you to all of our amazing volunteers!

Rent Stabilization, Just Cause for Eviction Goes into Effect

The City of Concord’s Rent Stabilization and Just Cause for Eviction ordinance, which was adopted by the City Council on March 5, 2024, went into effect on April 19, following a brief pause as some residents tried to gather enough signatures to place a referendum on the November ballot.  

On April 18, the proponent notified the City that they were withdrawing the referendum request because they failed to gather the required number of valid signatures (7,204) by the April 18 deadline. As a result, the ordinance went into effect on April 19. 

In January 2023, the City Council expressed its desire to enact tenant protections and reiterated that goal in Concord’s Housing Element. Since then, the Council has held eight public meetings on this topic and has heard from dozens of property owners and tenants.  

The ordinance amends Concord Municipal Code Chapter 19.40 Residential Tenant Protection Program and increases the “just cause” for eviction protections, expands the City’s rent registry, and establishes a rent stabilization program. 

A summary of the ordinance and a link to the complete ordinance are available here.

Affirmatively Furthering Fair Housing (AFFH) Rezoning Project Hosts Community Meetings

The City of Concord is in the process of soliciting community feedback about its Affirmatively Furthering Fair Housing (AFFH) Rezoning Project.

The first meeting took place on April 22, and the next will be held via Zoom on Thursday, April 25 at 6 p.m. Register here.

At this early stage in the project, we want to hear your thoughts on rezoning select properties in higher resource neighborhoods to allow multifamily development (see the project area map).

While the project is being completed under mandates from the State of California, we aim to partner with residents, businesses, and property owners to address housing inequities and improve the quality of life in Concord. At these meetings, participants got to hear information about the project and got the opportunity to provide input on guiding principles, opportunities and challenges, and site selection criteria.

What is AFFH? 

AFFH stands for Affirmatively Furthering Fair Housing. It is a provision of the Fair Housing Act, Title VIII of the Civil Rights Act of 1968, and a piece of federal legislation that prohibits discrimination in the sale, rental, and financing of housing and ensures equal opportunity in housing for all. While federal law prohibited overt forms of housing discrimination, residential segregation has remained and persists in California today.  

California Assembly Bill 686 created new requirements for cities to affirmatively further fair housing as a part of a jurisdiction’s planning process and take meaningful actions that overcome patterns of segregation and foster inclusive communities free from barriers that restrict access to opportunity. 

For more information, please visit: www.cityofconcord.org/AFFH

Language Access Analysis to Help Inform Emergency Communications Strategy

In July 2022, Concord was awarded a "Prepare California Jumpstart Grant" from California's Office of Emergency Services to undertake a language access analysis and strategy project for emergency management communications.

The grant was mitigation-focused and directed at vulnerable populations. Concord's project focused on five census tracts within the City that the state identified as having a high social vulnerability and disaster risk. These five Census tracts are concentrated within the Monument Corridor.

At the April 23 City Council meeting, Concord's Emergency & Volunteer Services Manager Trish Beirne presented the findings of this project, which confirmed the City's rich diversity with 70 languages spoken in Concord!

The complete project report is now available on the City's Office of Emergency Services web page.

Surveys Now Open to Gather Input on Investing $50M for Housing and Other Needs

The City of Concord, as a partner in the Contra Costa County Consortium (Contra Costa Urban County along with four of the largest cities, including Concord) is beginning to develop the FY 2025-2030 Consolidated Plan.

Over the five-year period, more than $50 million in funding administered by the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) could be used to a wide variety of uses, including:

• Build new affordable rental housing 
• Provide first-time homebuyer assistance
• Rehabilitate existing housing, rehabilitate homes for lower income and senior households
• Build new supportive housing for people with special needs
• Improve or construct public facilities, including community centers and parks 
• Improve infrastructure (streets, sidewalks, etc.) in lower income neighborhoods
• Provide employment training and training to small business owners 
• Provide a wide variety of services for lower income families and individuals, and homeless person

As part of this effort, residents are being asked for input through two surveys – one focuses on housing and homelessness, and the other focuses on general services for low-income individuals. Both surveys are available in English, Spanish, Tagalog, and Simplified Chinese.

Access all Surveys here.

Learn more and stay updated on this process by visiting the Contra Costa County web site.

County Offering Paid Elections Ambassador Training

Are you passionate about democracy and want to share facts about how elections work? Apply for a paid training session, hosted by the Contra Costa County Elections Division, to learn first-hand about election processes and security. 

Elections Social Media Ambassador Training: A virtual training opportunity for people who want to learn about how the county secures its elections and how to share fact-based election information on social media. The training is open for people ages 16 and older who live in Contra Costa County. Participants will receive a $50 stipend for completing the training. 

Elections Community Ambassador Training: An in-person training opportunity for people who want to learn about how the county secures its elections and share that information with their communities. The training is open for people ages 18 and older who live in Contra Costa County. Participants will receive a $150 stipend for completing the training.

Apply by May 14!

This program is funded by a voter education grant.

County to Host Asian American Native Hawaiian Pacific Islander Commemorative Celebration

May is Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) Heritage Month. You are invited to join Contra Costa County for their 2nd Annual Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander Celebration. This year’s event theme is “Building on Our Legacies.” The celebration will showcase dance, music, food, and unique customs from AANHPI communities.

The celebration will be held at 9:30 a.m. on Tuesday, May 14, at the Board Chambers at 1025 Escobar Street in Martinez. It will also be televised live on Comcast Cable 27, ATT/U-Verse Channel 99, Astound Channels 32 & 1027, and streamed live at www.contracostatv.org.

View the 2023 Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) Celebration program here.

ConFire to Hold Town Hall Meeting on Pre-Season Wildfire Preparedness

The Contra Costa Fire Protection District (ConFire) is hosting a town hall meeting in Concord regarding pre-season wildfire preparedness on Wednesday, May 8. This event will educate local residents on how to join in the fight against wildfires, featuring a presentation on, "How You Can be Wildfire Ready!" It will address how to protect your home, family, and neighbors from wildfire danger, and will also allow ample time for ConFire leaders to answer your questions.

Check out this flyer from ConFire for more information. 

When: Wednesday, May 8, 7-8 p.m. 

Where: Contra Costa Fire Protection District Administrative Building, 4005 Port Chicago Hwy. Suite 250 in Concord

Can’t join in-person? 

Watch the Town Hall meeting the next day, Thursday, May 9, on the ConFire Facebook page.

Concord's Got Talent 50 & Better Talent Show Seeks Performers

Do you dance or act or write poetry that you'd like to share at our talent show?

We invite you to audition for the second annual Concord’s Got Talent, 50 & Better Show scheduled for Saturday, May 18! Be a part of the this amazing production by calling 925-671-3171.

1. At least one member of your group must be 50 years or older.
2. Acts cannot exceed 3 minutes.
3. Performers should plan to attend the final dress rehearsal on Monday, May 13 at 5:00 p.m.
4. Performers can reserve additional rehearsal space by calling 925-671-3171
5. All comedic acts must submit their jokes in writing.

The City of Concord's upcoming public meetings include:

• Thursday, April 25: Concord/Pleasant Hill Health Care District Grant Committee - Special Meeting
• Thursday, April 25: Design Review Board
• Thursday, April 25: Community Meeting (virtual) on Affirmatively Furthering Fair Housing
• Wednesday, May 1: Planning Commission
• Thursday, May 2: Concord/Pleasant Hill Health Care District Grant Committee
• Tuesday, May 7: City Council
• Wednesday, May 8: Zoning Administrator
• Wednesday, May 8: Community Services Commission -- CANCELLED
• Thursday, May 9: Design Review Board

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.