Tuesday, June 27, 2023

The council will consider $30 million worth of road materials contracts with three companies to supply asphalt and concrete for street repairs over the next three years. The meeting also includes waiving competitive bidding rules for city vehicle purchases after supply chain delays caused the city to lose five Ford Rangers in March when council approval took too long.

Legal costs continue mounting as the council votes on $225,000 in additional funding for two ongoing lawsuit battles. This includes $75,000 more for Downey Brand to defend Point Molate development approvals and extending the Goldfarb & Lipman contract through June 2025 for other land use cases. Point Molate has appeared on 11 agendas in the past year as environmental groups challenge the 2020 housing project approval.

The rent control program gets its annual funding through fees charged to landlords: $220 per fully controlled unit and $125 per partially covered unit. Rent Board topics have come before the council 9 times in the past year, and these fees fund the program that enforces rent limits and protects tenants from unfair evictions.

A closed session will address the City Manager's annual performance review, which state law requires to happen privately. The council will also receive a presentation from East Bay Municipal Utility District about upgrading the Sobrante Water Treatment Plant to double its capacity from 40 to 80 million gallons per day.