The council voted to approve the public art application for a mural on the northern wall of the Boys and Girls Clubs of Contra Costa at 1301 Alhambra Avenue, and let the city manager sign a contract with the applicant, MCE, and the artist, Timothy Hon, in a form the city attorney approves.
Yes
Zorn, Howard, Young, Malhi, McKillop
Context
Why MCE, a nonprofit community clean energy provider, proposed the mural to celebrate its 15th anniversary, and the city's Public Art Review Committee recommended adding Martinez-specific details before approving the plan.
The council voted to hear from anyone who wants to speak and change the Marina Fee Schedule's charges for mooring, utilities and living aboard.
Yes
Zorn, Howard, Young, Malhi, McKillop
Context
Why The city's payments from its main account to the Marina fund have risen a lot as safety and repair upgrades raised costs, so fees have not kept up.
The agenda does not say how much those charges would change.
The council voted to hear from anyone who wants to speak, skip the full reading, and take the first of two votes on zoning changes: 1) adding Chapter 22.82 (Inclusionary Housing); 2) pointing 22.04 and 22.12 to it; 3) adding rules in 22.34 for ground-mounted equipment; 4) updating car and bike parking ratios in 22.36, allowing parking rented separately; 4) clarifying privacy rules for two-story detached units in 22.43; 5) other minor changes.
Yes
Zorn, Howard, Young, Malhi, McKillop
Context
Why The city wants to require developers of certain housing projects to set aside a share of units as deed-restricted affordable housing, among other zoning updates.
The council voted to let the city manager sign a contract with Maze & Associates for independent audits of the city's books for the two budget years ending June 30, 2026 and June 30, 2027, for up to $257,600 in total.
Context
Why Maze & Associates has audited the city's books since 2008, and its last two-year agreement is ending, so a new one is needed for the next two budget years while following the rule that requires rotating the lead auditor.
The council voted to let the city manager sign three-year contracts and approve work orders under them: up to $100,000 a year each with Advanced Mobility Group for traffic and transportation engineering, BSK Associates for geotechnical engineering and Pavement Engineering Inc for pavement management support; and up to $75,000 a year with SCI Consulting Group for work on assessment, special and community facility district proceedings.
Context
Why The city regularly hires consultants for project planning and engineering construction; this sets up a list of qualified firms so it does not need to repeat its selection process each time services are needed.
The council voted to accept the bid of All About Building, Inc. as the lowest one that qualifies, and let the city manager sign a contract and any later changes to it through the end of the Old Train Depot Remediation Project No. C4007, built to the approved plans, for up to $133,980, which includes a 20% cushion of $22,330.
Context
Why The Old Train Depot, built in 1877, is vacant and run down, and this work clears out the inside so the building can be fixed up and used again.
The council voted to skip reading it aloud in full and take the final vote on local law No. 1477, which changes the city's rules on filing a claim against the city before suing (Section 3.40.040, Claim Prerequisite to Suit, in Chapter 3.4, Claims Against the City of Martinez, of the city's rulebook).
Context
Why The city attorney advised that the city manager, not the city council, should handle claims, to streamline the process, reduce work for the council, protect confidential information, and manage claims efficiently.
The agenda does not say what the change to those rules is.
The council voted to hear from anyone who wants to speak, skip reading it aloud in full, and take the first of two votes on a local law that drops the 2022 California Building Standards Code and puts in its place the 2025 California Building Standards Code, Title 24, Parts 2, 2.5, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 9, 10 (with Parts 8 and 12) and 11 (CalGreen); and find it does not need a study under state environmental law.
Context
Why State law requires cities to put in place the newest three-year update of the state's building and safety rules, which take effect statewide on January 1, 2026.
The council was asked to turn down the claims for money made against the city by 1. Roselle Oca (GL-21803-MZ) 2. Carl Tilchen (GL-21787-MZ) 3. Daniel Sheridan (GL-21707-MZ).
Context
The agenda does not say what the claims are about.