Author: Rafael Menis

City Council meeting, 4-7-26

Tuesday, 4-7- City Council meeting, 5:30 PM, Hybrid. You can find the
agenda packet at https://pinoleca.portal.civicclerk.com/event/982/files/agenda/1163. There is also a presentation packet with one letter attached, which you can find at https://pinoleca.portal.civicclerk.com/event/982/files/agenda/1166 .


There are two closed session items- a conference with labor negotiators with agency representatives Garret Evans Interim City Manager, Stacy Shell HR Director, Eric Casher City Attorney, and Gregory Ramirez with IDEA negotiating with the American Federation of State County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) Local 1 under government code subsection 54957.6; and a conference with legal counsel on anticipated litigation under government code subsections 54956.9(d)(2) or (d)(3).


There are four proclamations, recognizing Parkinson’s Awareness Month (page 6), Autism Acceptance Month (page 7), Arab American Heritage Month (page 8), and National Pet Day (page 9).

There are also three presentations- Clean California Community designation sign unveiling (pages 1-11 of the presentations packet), Coordinated Outreach Referral and Engagement (CORE): Fiscal Year 2025- 2026 Update (presentation packet pages 12-23, agenda packet pages 10-21), and Update of the 2008 Neighborhood Traffic Calming Policy (pages 24-30 of the presentation packet, pages 22-28 agenda packet).

Then there’s the consent calendar- There are the normal warrants, along
with the minutes for the March 17th and March 24th city council meetings, adopting a resolution authorizing acceptance of $299,495 from the Caltrans Clean California Local Grant Program and designating the City Manager as the City’s authorized signatory for grant agreement execution to fund the creation of the new Creekside Park (which may be continued to a future meeting by staff request) (staff report pages 95-7, fiscal impact gain of $299,495 page 97, resolution pages 98-9, grant proposal pages 100-11, state grant agreement pages 112-32, park concept pages 133-43),

adopting a side letter between the city and the Pinole Police Employees Association (PPEA) on how to fill vacant shifts (staff report pages 144-5, fiscal impact none page 145, resolution pages 146-7, side letter pages 148-9), adopting a side letter between the city and the PPEA setting the city’s contribution to healthcare costs at the 2025 levels to match other bargaining units (staff report pages 150-1, fiscal impact already included in budget page 151, resolution pages 152-3, side letter pages 154-5),

adopting the Stormwater Utility Area Assessment for Fiscal Year (FY) 2026/7) which maintains the current rate of $35 per unit as capped since 2002 (page 158) (staff report pages 156-9, fiscal impact maintaining funds in amount of $241,309.67 page 158, resolution pages 160-1), and finally adopting a Resolution Approving Contra Costa County Regional Alternative Compliance (RAC) Joint Powers Authority Participation; Approval of Joint Powers Agreement; Authorizing the Joint Powers Authority (JPA) to Establish One or More Community Facilities Districts; and Approving a Joint Community Facilities Agreement (staff report pages 162-6, fiscal impact cost expected nominal due to special taxes linked to JPA page 166, resolution pages 167-70, Joint Powers Agreement pages 171-83, presentation pages 184-224, fact sheet pages 225-6).

There are no public hearing items.

There are no old business items.

There is one new business item- Receive update on capital projects, inspection and permitting, and maintenance operations (staff report pages 227-34). Some highlights of note- improvements to the dog park, and planned future community meetings to guide further improvements (page 228) and a list of streetlight repair locations on page 233.

You can join the meeting by zoom direct link here
<https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89335000272&gt;, entering the webinar ID
893 3500 0272 into zoom directly, or calling +1 (669) 900-6833 or +1
(253)215-8782 or +1 (346) 248-7799, then entering the meeting ID 893
3500 0272#. Once in the meeting by phone, you can raise your hand by
pressing *9, and unmute by pressing *6 once called on. You can also
attend the meeting in person at Pinole City Hall, 2131 Pear St, or for this meeting at 140 E. SHAW AVENUE, FRESNO, CA 9371, the teleconference location of Mayor Pro Tem Devin Murphy.

Special City Council meeting, 3-31-26

Tuesday, 3-31- Special City Council meeting, 5 PM, Hybrid. You can find
the agenda packet at
https://pinoleca.portal.civicclerk.com/event/1125/files/agenda/1160.

There is one item on the agenda- a Financial Year (FY) 2026/27 Budget
workshop (staff report pages 4-5). As the staff report does not have
much information in it, I would also suggest looking at the finance
subcommittee presentation on this topic at
https://pinoleca.portal.civicclerk.com/event/1123/files/agenda/1105 ,
pages 19-47. While there will almost certainly be changes in the updated
presentation when that is posted at 3 PM tomorrow (presumably), it
should roughly align with this. The key point is on page 38-

“For FY 2026/27, General Fund revenues are projected to increase 2.7%
(859,103),
while expenditures are projected to increase 5% ($1,578,538)
• Major tax revenues—property tax and sales tax—projected to increase 3%
and 2%,
respectively
• Pension and other benefits projected to increase 9%
• Professional services projected to increase 5%, primarily due to
increases in contract
service agreements
• Pension and OPEB Trust expected to be fully exhausted by FY 2030/31
and deficit is
projected to grow to $5.6 million”

You can join the meeting by zoom direct link here
<https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89335000272&gt;, entering the webinar ID
893 3500 0272 into zoom directly, or calling +1 (669) 900-6833 or +1
(253)215-8782 or +1 (346) 248-7799, then entering the meeting ID 893
3500 0272#. Once in the meeting by phone, you can raise your hand by
pressing *9, and unmute by pressing *6 once called on. You can also
attend the meeting in person at Pinole City Hall, 2131 Pear St.

No Kings Protest, 3-28-26

Saturday, 3-28-  No Kings Protest, 11 AM-12:30 PM, intersection of Tennent and San Pablo Avenues. ”
We have the power and are claiming it together. No Thrones. No Crowns. No Kings.

What began in 2025 as a single day of defiance has become a sustained national resistance to tyranny, spreading from small towns to city centers and across every community determined to defend democracy. Our peaceful movement is bigger than ever.

When our families are under attack and costs are pushing people to the brink, silence is not an option. We will defend ourselves and our communities against this administration’s unjust and cruel acts of violence.

On March 28th, rise up, take to the streets, and say it loud: no thrones, no crowns, no kings. We’re not watching history happen—we’re making it. Join us.

A core principle behind all No Kings events is a commitment to nonviolent action. We expect all participants to seek to de-escalate any potential confrontation with those who disagree with our values and to act lawfully at these events. Weapons of any kind, including those legally permitted, should not be brought to events.

Accessibility
Accessible restrooms
Mainly flat ground
Notes from the organizer: Thank you for registering for this event! March 28 – we so No Kings! Join us! 10 AM – 11 AM – Rally @ Fernandez Park 11 AM – 12:30 PM – Peaceful Protest @ San Pablo and Tennent Avenue, Pinole 12:30 PM – 2:30 PM – Community Picnic at Fernandez Park – bring your own food, your music instruments, and we’ll have community art making and kids crafts! We encourage you to carpool! If you have questions, you can contact us at indivisible.northeastbay@gmail.com or find our website i-neb.org. Please use #nokings or #nokingspinole! You can find us on instagram, facebook, and bluesky. Hosted by Indivisible North East Bay i-neb.org” (https://www.mobilize.us/mobilize/event/902827/)

No Kings Rally, 3-28-26

Saturday, 3-28- No Kings Rally, 10 AM-11 AM, Fernandez Park Gazebo. Advance registration requested due to city capacity limits. “

We have the power and are claiming it together. No Thrones. No Crowns. No Kings.

What began in 2025 as a single day of defiance has become a sustained national resistance to tyranny, spreading from small towns to city centers and across every community determined to defend democracy. Our peaceful movement is bigger than ever.

When our families are under attack and costs are pushing people to the brink, silence is not an option. We will defend ourselves and our communities against this administration’s unjust and cruel acts of violence.

On March 28th, rise up, take to the streets, and say it loud: no thrones, no crowns, no kings. We’re not watching history happen—we’re making it.

WHAT: Rally

Join us for a Rally in community with public speakers and music!

WHEN: Saturday, March 28, 10 AM – 11 AM Peaceful March and Protest to follow, 11-12:30!

WHERE: Fernandez Park (near the Gazebo)

DETAILS: We will rally in Fernandez Park at 10:00 AM. Rally is limited to 99 people!

We will then march together on Tennent Avenue to our peaceful protest site on the streets of San Pablo Ave. We will be two blocks north on San Pablo and two blocks east on Tennent.

To register for the Protest portion, please use this registration link for Turn the Volume UP! (Pinole) and click on 3/28 date to register: https://mobilize.us/s/ibCq7I

A core principle behind all No Kings events is a commitment to nonviolent action. We expect all participants to seek to de-escalate any potential confrontation with those who disagree with our values and to act lawfully at these events. Weapons of any kind, including those legally permitted, should not be brought to events.” (https://www.mobilize.us/mobilize/event/911746/, where you can register).

Community Service Commission meeting, 3-25-26

Wednesday, 3-25- Community Service Commission meeting, 5 PM, Hybrid. You can find the agenda packet at https://pinoleca.portal.civicclerk.com/event/1094/files/agenda/1146.

Under Community Events there is one item- Community Service Day.

Under new business, there are five items-  approving the minutes of the meeting for February 25th 2026 (pages 5-11), Egg Hunt Recap, Swim Center Overview, Summer Preview, and Community Outreach.

You can join the meeting by zoom direct link here <https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82770240301&gt;, entering the webinar ID 827-7024-0301 into zoom directly, or calling +1 (669) 900-6833 or +1 (253) 215-8782 or +1 (346) 248-7799, then entering the meeting ID 827-7024-0301#. Once in the meeting by phone, you can raise your hand by pressing *9, and unmute by pressing *6 once called on. You can also attend the meeting in person at Pinole City Hall, 2131 Pear St

Special Pinole City Council meeting, 3-24-26

Tuesday, 3-24- Special City Council meeting, 6 PM, Hybrid. You can find the agenda packet at https://pinoleca.portal.civicclerk.com/event/1124/files/agenda/1150.

There are two items on the agenda- one old business item for a commercial cannabis workshop (staff report pages 4-9, fiscal impact initial cost of $25,000-50,000, potentially greater with more analysis offset by potential revenue page 9, communications plan pages 10-11, Contra Costa comparison chart page 12, county regulatory framework page 13, presentation pages 14-23), and one new business item to report voter survey results on potential tax measures (staff report page 24, survey presentation pages 25-73).

You can join the meeting by zoom direct link here
<https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89335000272&gt;, entering the webinar ID
893 3500 0272 into zoom directly, or calling +1 (669) 900-6833 or +1
(253)215-8782 or +1 (346) 248-7799, then entering the meeting ID 893
3500 0272#. Once in the meeting by phone, you can raise your hand by
pressing *9, and unmute by pressing *6 once called on. You can also
attend the meeting in person at Pinole City Hall, 2131 Pear St.

Senior Food Program, 3-24-26

Tuesday, 3-24- Senior Food Program, 10-11 AM, in person (Pinole Senior Center). “The Senior Center partners with the Food Bank of Contra Costa and Solano County to offer the Senior Food Program. Low-income senior citizens ages 55+ to receive free groceries, including healthy staples, eggs, cheese, and assorted meats twice a month. The program is available for Pinole senior residents only. This program takes place every second and fourth Tuesday of the month. The next distribution will be on Tuesday, March 24, 2026, from 10-11am. Individuals interested in the program must complete the Senior Food Program Application. Applications are available at the Senior Center and can also be found on the Pinole Senior Center website: http://www.pinole.gov/seniors. Please note, the Senior Food Program is switching to the choice method, where you will now need to bring your own bag with you, and you will select the items you want.” (Pinole Pulse 3-19-26, hyperlink changed to a direct link to remove trackers).

Pinole Planning Commission meeting, 3-23-26

Monday, 3-23- Planning Commission meeting, 7 PM, Hybrid.

You can find the agenda packet at https://pinoleca.portal.civicclerk.com/event/1047/files/agenda/1148.

There are two items- the meeting minutes for the February 23rd meeting (pages 5-16),

and a new business item to evaluate the general plan conformity of selling the post office land at 2101 Pear St to the post office (staff report pages 17-20, resolution pages 21-2, legal description and map pages 23-4).

You can join the meeting by zoom direct link here <https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86505375301&gt;, entering the webinar ID 865 0537 5301 into zoom directly, or calling +1 (669) 900-6833 or +1 (253) 215-8782 or +1 (346) 248-7799, then entering the meeting ID 865 0537 5301#. Once in the meeting by phone, you can raise your hand by pressing *9, and unmute by pressing *6 once called on. You can also attend the meeting in person at Pinole City Hall, 2131 Pear St.

Creek Cleanup, 3-21-26

Saturday, 3-21- Creek cleanup event, 10 AM, creek trail behind the sprouts parking lot. “

Join all Pinole Creek Allies on Saturday March 21 at 10 am on the Creek Trail
behind the Sprouts parking lot. There is still a lot of trash to clean up, so
bring your positive attitude and sunny smiles to the Creek!”
(Friends of Pinole Creek Watershed email, 3-3-26)