Senior Food Distribution 1-28-2025

Tuesday, 1-28- Senior Food Distribution, Pinole Senior Center, In person 10-11 AM. “
*SENIOR FOOD PROGRAM*

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 pantry 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, January 28, 2025, from 10:00 am – 11:00 am.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 <https://www.pinole.gov/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/SFP-Application.pdf> [link replaced by direct link to the PDF].”(Pinole pulse, 1/24)

Planning Commission meeting 1-27-2025

Monday, 1-27- Planning Commission Meeting, 7 PM, Pinole City Hall, Hybrid. You can find the agenda packet here https://pinoleca.portal.civicclerk.com/event/124/files/agenda/775 (note the new URL).

There will be 2 items on the agenda- the minutes from the prior meeting, and initial review of municipal code amendments (pages 22-25 for staff report, 26-27 for resolution, 28-50 for text of amendments, 51-56 for highlighted programs addressed by amendments). Broadly speaking, this batch of amendments is to make SB9 projects simpler, reduce parking requirements, and reduce the level of approval required for parking reductions and lot consolidations (see pages 51-56).

You can join the meeting by zoom direct link here, 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.

Pinole City Council meeting, 1-21-25

Tuesday, 1-21- City Council meeting, 5 PM, Hybrid. You can find the
agenda packet at
https://pinoleca.portal.civicclerk.com/event/1014/files/agenda/769.

There is one closed session item- Conference with labor negotiators,
with the city manager, city attorney and the human resources director
negotiating with AFSCME Local 1, AFSCME local 512, and the Management
Compensation Plan. I would expect this one to take a while- 30 minutes
at least, possibly longer.

There are seven proclamations- Dr. Martin Luther King Jr Day (page 6),
National Day of Racial Healing (page 7), Holocaust Day of Remembrance
(page 8), Lunar New Year (page 9), Fred Korematsu Day of Civil Liberties
(page 10), Recognizing the City of Pinole’s Police Officer of the Year
(page 11), and recognizing the Contra Costa County Fire Protection
District’s Firefighter of the Year (page 12). There are two
presentations- a summary of “Glow Pinole” by Community Services Director
Andrea Dwyer, and an overview of the Community Services department by
Director Dwyer.

Then there’s the consent calendar- There are the normal warrants, along
with the minutes for the December 17th city council meeting, an update
on the city’s progress on implementing preapproval for accessory
dwelling unit (ADU) plans (staff report pages 55-6), a resolution to
accept a grant from Marin Clean Energy (MCE) (to support the city’s
community outreach program under the Climate Action and Adaptation Plan
and implement a one-stop energy efficiency permitting program (page 72
for detailed table) (staff report pages 57-60, resolution pages 61-2,
letter of application pages 63-71 fiscal impact gain of $7500 for city
page 60),

and last a resolution to increase the amount allocated to Coastland
Civil Engineering Inc for inspection and construction management
services for the Pinon Trunk Sewer Capacity Phase 2 project, increasing
the amount paid by $276,261 for a total contract amount of $315,261
(page 73), to be paid for from allocated funds (presumably the
contingency funds for SS2401, see page 32 of the final proposed FY24-25
Capital Improvement Plan at
https://www.pinole.gov/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/Final-Proposed-FY-2024-45-through-2028-29-CIP-6-18-24.pdf)
(staff report pages 73-4, resolution pages 75-6, task order proposal
pages 77-84).

There are 2 public hearings- considering adoption of updated development
impact fees, and the first read of municipal code amendments related to
housing element programs number 4,5,12 and 13, focusing on Accessory
Dwelling Units (ADUs), junior accessory dwelling units (JADUs), and unit
and lot split projects proposed under Senate Bill 9 and regulatory
consistency.

For the development impact fees, I think the most relevant pages are
162-3, which has a series of charts showing Pinole’s existing and
proposed fees by type compared to regional cities (Antioch, Lafayette,
Moraga, Hercules, Richmond and Brentwood). For a 2000 square foot (SF)
single family home, fees would rise from $22,594 to $30,277- about the
middle of the range, with Hercules and Antioch below and other
jurisdictions higher. For a 33 unit apartment complex with average unit
size 800 SF, fees would rise from $398,661 to $418,613 which remains on
the lower end of the scale- only Antioch would have less. For a 2000 SF
food service commercial building, there would now be fees of $31,040,
which places Pinole towards the upper end of the scale- only Lafayette
and Moraga would have higher. For a 15000 SF non-food service commercial
building, fees would *decrease* from $104,400 to $69,000- this is lower
than all communities other than Antioch. For a 20000 SF office building,
fees would increase from $84,450 to $127,800, remaining in the middle of
the range- Hercules, Richmond and Brentwood would have higher. And
finally for a 50000 SF industrial building, fees would rise from
$234,500 to $422,500- near the top of the range, with only Hercules
being higher. You can find the staff report on pages 85-7, resolution on
pages 88-90, the proposed fees on page 91, the nexus study on pages
92-145, the wastewater capacity charge study on pages 146-160, the
development impact fee comparisons on pages 161-175, and a summary
explaining why the fees are the way they are on pages 176-178.

For the municipal code amendments see pages 179-182 for staff report,
183-5 for ordinance, 186-227 for text of amendments, 228-231 for
highlighted programs addressed by amendments. Broadly speaking, this
batch of amendments is to make SB9 projects simpler, implement objective
standards for SB9 units, and update the city’s ADU ordinance to align
with state law (see pages 228-231).

Finally, there will be one item under new business- the Fiscal Year
2023/24 Annual Comprehensive Financial Report (which apparently is ACFR
rather than CAFR now). The staff report is on pages 232-234, the AFCR
itself is pages 235-432, and the auditor’s reports are on pages 433-452.
I would also note within the report itself the statistical section
starting on page 397 and continuing to page 432- there are quite a few
interesting items here, including a rise in the city’s net property tax
assessed valuation from $1,974,488,120 in FY 2014-15 to $3,137,568,457
in FY 2023-24 (page 411), a rise in taxable sales from $3,072,548 in FY
2014-15 to $3,696,309 in FY 2023-24 while the fiscal year totals rose
from $5,318,751 in FY 2014-15 to $9,430,218 in FY 2023-24, mostly due to
the local transaction tax (i.e, Measure S 2014) (pages 414-15), and that
the city’s population continued to decline (though not as sharply as in
recent years) while median household and per capita income continued to
rise, and the unemployment rate rose to 3.3% (page 423). Also worth
noting is that the city’s total workforce more than doubled since 2015-
from 4,299 in 2015 to 9,300 in 2024 (page 425).

You can join the meeting by zoom direct link here
<https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89335000272>, 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 Distribution 1-14-25

Tuesday, 1-14- Senior Food Distribution, Pinole Senior Center, In person 10-11 AM. “

*SENIOR FOOD PROGRAM*

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 pantry 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, [January 14th] from 10:00 am – 11:00 am*. 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 <https://www.pinole.gov/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/SFP-Application.pdf> [link replaced by direct link to the PDF]. For questions, contact, mpicazo@pinole.gov.”(Pinole pulse, 11/7, updated with information from 12/20 pulse)

General Produce Distribution, 1-13-25

Monday, 1-13- General produce distribution, 9-10 AM, Pinole Senior Center, in Person. “

The Food Bank of Contra Costa and Solano County will be providing free bags of fresh produce every second Monday of the month. The next drive-thru distribution is *Monday, [January 13], from 9 AM to 10 AM* (or as supplies last) at the Pinole Senior Center parking lot, (2500 Charles Avenue) You do not need to be a member of the Pinole Senior Center or a senior to receive food. One bag per household and this will be a contactless event, please follow the directions from staff and volunteers when you arrive. Parking or exiting your vehicle will not be allowed. Please open your vehicle’s trunk when you enter the parking lot. Food items will be placed in the trunk only by staff/volunteers. If you have any questions, contact mpicazo@pinole.gov<mailto:mpicazo@pinole.gov> or call us at (510) 724-9800.” (Pinole Pulse, 12/5, amendment from 12/20 pulse)

Pinole City Council meeting, 12-17-24

Tuesday, 12-17- City Council meeting, 5 PM, Hybrid. You can find the
agenda packet at  https://pinoleca.portal.civicclerk.com/event/76/files/agenda/752 .

There are no closed session items- so you should expect the meeting to start at 5.

There is one presentation, from Friends of the Pinole Creek Watershed on the possible establishment of a new Creekside Park (pages 7-21).

Then there’s the consent calendar- There are the normal warrants, along with the minutes for the November 19th and December 3rd city council meetings, a resolution to accept a 2-year policy fund grant from the partnership for the bay’s future (to develop an affordable housing fund policy guide, design and implement a social impact bond and rehabilitation program, and redesign and launch rental registry program (pages 79-80, with more detail on pages 80-81)) (staff report pages 78-82, resolution pages 83-4, memorandum of understanding pages 85-100, letters of support pages 101-6), 

second read and adoption of an ordinance amending chapter 10.56 “speed zones” of the Pinole Municipal code, which seems like it is different than the previous resolution- looking at pages 113-114, where the text of the ordinance is, it shows Pinole Valley Road between Tennent and Granda (I assume spelling error for Granada there) at 25, Pinole Valley Road between Granda Court and Simas Avenue at 30 and Pinole Valley Road between Simas and south city limit at 30 as previously, along with San Pablo avenue between Oak Ridge Road and Sunnyview Drive at 25 and San Pablo Avenue between Sunnyview and the west city limit at 30 as previously. However, it strikes the old speed limits for Appian Way, Fitzgerald Drive, and Pinon Avenue (page 114), which seems odd because the report in the December 3rd agenda packet (which you can find at https://pinoleca.portal.civicclerk.com/event/64/files/agenda/739) explicitly calls out all of those except Pinon as being areas where the city was keeping those speed limits (page 148, December 3rd agenda packet). However, the ordinance in the December 3rd packet does have the same limits listed (pages 196-7 December 3rd agenda packet), so it seems as though the report is out of line with the ordinance. 

There is another consent calendar item to amend the consulting services agreement with R3 consulting group with regards to the solid waste franchise agreement negotiations to add $25,000 to the total cost to pay for a nexus fee study (page 116, also notes funds coming from Solid Waste Fund budget) (staff report pages 115-16, resolution pages 117-19, amendment text page 120).

There are several linked resolutions (as a single consent calendar item) to adopt the sales tax passed by measure I (staff report pages 121-2, though I think there would be substantial financial impact if these resolutions were *not* adopted, administrative agreement pages 123-9, preparation payments agreement 130-1, duplicate staff report pages 132-3, resolutions pages 134-7), another consent calendar item accepting and declaring the results of the canvass of the November 5th 2024 Municipal election (staff report page 138, election results pages 139-162 (with the relevant results for Pinole being on pages 161 for measure I, 151 for city council, and 152 for treasurer), the certification on page 163, and the resolution on pages 164-5), and for the last consent calendar item, a resolution to adopt a rate increase of 2.39% for Republic Services waste collection as per their contract (pages 166-7 for the staff report, 168 for the rate sheet, 169 for the letter from Republic Services).

This will be followed by the Council Reorganization- a presentation to Mayor Toms, remarks by Mayor Toms, Selection of the new Mayor and Mayor Pro Tem (which per tradition and resolution should be Cameron Sasai as Mayor and Anthony Tave as Mayor Pro Tem, see item 10C on page 170, with the new Mayoral Rotation on page 173 and the relevant resoluton on pages 174-5), administering the oaths of office to the Mayor and Mayor Pro Tem, and transfer of Gavel and comments by the New Mayor. There will then be a recess for a reception.

Finally, there will be one item under new business- nominating council members to serve on Boards and Commissions (with the staff report being on pages 177-8). The current assignments are listed on pages 179-181, and the draft proposed assignments are on pages 182-4.

You can join the meeting by zoom direct link here <https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89335000272>, 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.

Holiday breakfast 12-14-24 (registration limited)

Saturday, 12-14-

“We invite you to celebrate the holidays with us by joining our annual Holiday Breakfaston Saturday, December 14th from 9 am – 11 am at the Pinole Senior Center. Enjoy a delicious breakfast of pancakes, scrambled eggs, sausage, bacon, coffee, and orange juice.

Tickets will be priced at $10 and will include a special visit from Santa and Mrs. Claus. Advanced ticket purchase is required.

Purchase your ticket at PinoleRec.com“(https://www.pinole.gov/event_list/holiday-breakfast/)

Traffic and Pedestrian Safety Committee meeting, 12-11-24

Wednesday, 12-11- Traffic and Pedestrian Safety Committee meeting, 6 PM, hybrid. You can find the agenda packet here https://pinoleca.portal.civicclerk.com/event/111/files/agenda/745.
TAPS will be discussing their minutes, Traffic and pedestrian safety issues (traffic calming policy, 6 citizen requests, list of traffic issues and status , caltrans issues, staff updates from the police department,  development projects, the active transportation plan (with the draft being most of the agenda packet). There’s also a slide on how to make maintenance service requests- via email at pwservicerequests@pinole.gov or online at https://pinole.gov/services/contact-us/report-a-problem.
You can join the meeting by zoom direct link here <https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85670839226> , entering the webinar ID 856
7083 9226 into Zoom directly, or calling +1 (669) 900-6833, then
entering the meeting ID 856 7083 9226#. 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.