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City Council · Wed Sep 3, 2025

City Council · Regular meeting

Key decisions

PassedLandscape services contract

The council voted to let the city manager sign a general services contract with Vizcay Landscapes LLC, dba Landscape Care Company, for landscape work at eight lighting and landscape districts, at the Traditions at the Meadow Community Facility District, at city-owned water sites and at the Pacheco Transit Hub, for $100,512 the first year, including $16,752 set aside for extra costs, with a choice to extend two more years at 3% more each year.

Yes
Zorn, Howard, Young, Malhi
Absent
McKillop
Context

Why The city needs routine landscape maintenance at its eight Lighting and Landscape Districts, the Traditions at the Meadow Community Facility District, its water facilities and the Pacheco Transit Hub.

Motion
Howard, seconded by Young

PassedCity's four-year plan

The council voted to approve the city's four-year plan of goals (the City of Martinez Four-Year Strategic Plan).

Yes
Zorn, Howard, Young, Malhi
Absent
McKillop
Context

Why The plan sets the city's goals and strategies for the next four years, built on a financial forecast of its revenue and spending trends.

The agenda does not say what the plan sets out.

Motion
Howard, seconded by Young

PassedParks system master plan

The council voted to let the city manager sign a contract with Gates Studio for the city's long-range plan for its parks (the Parks System Master Plan, Project No. C5045) for up to $175,000, and move $25,000 from Project C4022 to Project C5045.

Yes
Zorn, Howard, Young, Malhi
Absent
McKillop
Context

Why The city's last Park System Master Plan covered 2007 to 2012, its Measure H-funded projects finished in 2024, and a new plan is needed to guide future park development, repair, and recreation planning.

Motion
Zorn, seconded by Howard

PassedRegulation of Vacant Property

The council voted to put off the hearing to a set date, October 1, 2025.

Yes
Zorn, Howard, Young, Malhi
Absent
McKillop
Context

Why The city council has received consistent public feedback about code violations, property nuisances, vacant commercial buildings, and fire-damaged properties, and asked staff to bring improved tools for code enforcement.

Proposed Hear from anyone who wants to speak, skip reading it aloud in full, and take the first of two votes on a new city law that changes city rules on nuisances (Chapter 1.3 and Section 8.36.030), on fines the city issues itself (Chapter 1.15), on graffiti (Chapter 8.28), on empty buildings (Chapter 8.38) and on empty property (Section 8.40.040, fixing cross-references), and deletes an older graffiti rule (Chapter 1.16).

Motion
Howard, seconded by Young

Also approved, in one vote7 items

Yes
Zorn, Howard, Young, Malhi
Absent
McKillop
Motion
Howard, seconded by Young

PassedClaims against the city

The council voted to turn down the claims filed against the city by Sheila Summers (GL-21659-MZ), Terrell McKnight (GL-21661-MZ) and Laurie Melton (GL-21604-MZ).

Context

The agenda does not say what the claims are about.

PassedEco-Award program expansion

The council voted to approve the plan for expanding the Eco-Award program with the Martinez Sustainability Award.

Context

Why Since 2015, the city and Republic Services have given 24 Eco Awards for waste diversion efforts, and this expands the program to recognize other kinds of sustainability work too.

The agenda does not say who can win the new award or what it is given for.

PassedPolice health care costs

The council voted to set the city's share of health care costs at the same amount for working and retired members of the Martinez Police Officers Association, and at the same amount for working and retired members of Police Sworn Management, under the state law on medical and hospital care for public employees.

Context

Why CalPERS requires the city to formally record the employer's medical contribution amounts for sworn police employees and retirees for coming years.

The agenda does not say what the amount is.

PassedQuarterly investment report

The council voted to hear the quarterly investment report for the month ended June 30, 2025, without deciding anything on it.

Context

Why The report shows the city's investment portfolio follows its Investment Policy's priorities: protecting the principal, ensuring sufficient cash flow, and achieving a reasonable rate of return.

PassedPolice chief's contract

The council voted to approve a second change to the employment contract of Chief of Police Andrew White and let the city manager sign it.

Context

Why Chief White asked to have his without-cause severance pay restored to twelve months of base salary, matching the benefit his contract already gives for a termination in the first year of service.

The agenda does not say what the change to the contract is.

PassedCity council pay rules

The council voted to skip reading it aloud and take the final vote on city law No. 1475, which changes the part of the city's pay rules that covers the city council (Section 2.60.050 of Chapter 2.60).

Context

Why State law lets the council raise its own monthly pay by local law, and this change would raise each member's pay from $585 to $832 a month, adding $14,800 to the city's budget each year.

The agenda does not say how council pay would change.

PassedPrivate sewage system rules

The council voted to skip reading it aloud and take the final vote on city law No. 1476, which changes the city's rules on private sewage systems (Chapter 13.16 of Title 13), covering inspections, upkeep and when a property must be connected to the public sewer.

Context

Why The changes resolve conflicts with the county's septic rules, require annual inspection reports, and use smoke tests to find and fix illegal stormwater connections within 180 days.

Reports and discussion, no vote

City engineering contracts

The council was asked to let the city manager sign three-year contracts for consultant work with CSG Consultants for city engineering work, up to $250,000 a year; CSW ST2 for city engineering and landscape design work, up to $250,000 a year; Gates Studio for landscape design work, up to $200,000 a year; and Tanaka Design Group for landscape design work, up to $200,000 a year.

Context

Why The city wants a ready list of pre-approved engineering and landscape design firms so it can hire consultants for projects without running a new selection process each time one is needed.

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