City News

CityNews Winter/Spring 2022

News in Brief

Master Developer Selected

At its Oct. 26, 2021 meeting, the Concord City Council sitting as the Local Reuse Authority unanimously approved the Exclusive Negotiating Agreement with Concord First Partners, LLC, making them the new master developer for Concord’s Base Reuse Project. The agreement lays out the terms and timeframes that the new master developer and City will abide by in this process as they work toward getting the project ready for development. In the next phase, Concord First Partners will prepare conceptual land-use and financial plans to support the proposed “term sheet,” a document that defines what community benefits the City will receive from the project and the vision for a Specific Plan to guide build-out of the project over the next 30 years. The City Council/Local Reuse Authority is expected to consider these conceptual plans and the proposed term sheet in a public meeting in the spring of 2022. Learn more at concordreuseproject.org.

• Ayers Road: Ygnacio Valley Road to Myrtle Drive • Concord Boulevard: Bailey Road to Ygnacio Valley Road • Galindo Street: Concord Boulevard to Cowell Road • Myrtle Drive: Ayers Road to Kirker Pass Road • Cowell Road: Babel to Ygnacio Valley Road • Kirker Pass Road: Clayton Road to City limits

Housing Element Work Continues

The public outreach phase of the Housing Element Update has begun, with two well-attended town hall events in October and other in-person opportunities for residents to learn about this project. The purpose of the events was to inform the community about the Housing Element Update and gather input about the City’s housing needs. The Housing Element serves as a policy guide to address the housing needs. It is a state-mandated plan that will address how Concord plans to meet its goal of adding more than 5,000 housing units at all income levels by 2031. Additional events are being planned and will be announced soon. In addition, the project team is reviewing the current Housing Element and gathering the necessary data for the update. The team expects to provide a summary of this review in early 2022. To participate in the recently-released survey on Concord’s housing needs, learn more about this process, and receive notices of future meetings, visit concordhousingelement.org.

Measure V Dollars Hitting the Streets

The first of many roadway repair projects funded by Measure V will start construction in December 2021, with many more projects to follow in the spring and summer 2022. The Citywide Patch Paving Contract is scheduled to start work just after Thanksgiving, weather permitting. This includes making repairs and conducting "patch paving" on several major roadways including:

Other major construction projects are scheduled to commence in 2022. Please visit: cityofconcord.org/CIP.

Redistricting Process Begins

Local governments use new data from the U.S. Census to consider whether there is a need to redraw district lines, with the goal being to have each district substantially equal in population. The final map will determine how residents elect their Councilmembers for the next decade. Concord officially kicked off its redistricting process at a public hearing on Nov. 2, when the City Council and members of the community heard a presentation about how the redistricting process works and how Concord’s population has changed over the last 10 years, according to new Census data. Following the hearing, the City hosted two virtual workshops in mid-November to seek public input about “communities of interest,” which are defined as groups of people who share common social or economic interests. Such communities should be kept together in a single district whenever possible for purposes of effective and fair representation. During the workshops, staff demonstrated how to use the available mapping tools to enable community members to draw their own maps and identify their respective communities of interest. The how-to video and the mapping tools are available online. All draft maps will be accepted and shared with the City Council for consideration. They are due by Jan. 18, 2022. To learn more about how to get involved or submit your ideas, please visit cityofconcord.org/redistricting. If you have questions, please contact us at redistricting@cityofconcord.org. Para información en español, visite la página web: cityofconcord.org/distritos.

City Considers How to Invest $27M in Federal Stimulus

As first reported in the fall issue of Concord’s City News & Activity Guide, the City expects to receive approximately $27 million in one-time funds from the federal government’s American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA). These are federal stimulus dollars intended to address the ongoing economic recovery following substantial financial losses suffered during the pandemic. By law, all of the local government funds must be allocated by December 31, 2024 and spent no later than December 31, 2026. Allowable expenses include things like replacing lost City resources and revenues; assistance to individuals and families to recover from the economic impacts of the pandemic; education and childcare; and health, including mental health services. Beginning in January 2022, the City will host public workshops for community members to share their ideas on how the one-time funds should be spent to generate the best investment for the Concord community.

For more information and to sign up for news alerts on this topic, please visit cityofconcord.org/ARPA.

The Grant will feature 228 apartment units and ground floor retail shops.

The Veranda is Concord's newest retail center, with open-air shopping and dining, a movie theater, and more. Photo credit:CenterCal Properties, LLC Concord’s Economy Making a Comeback

The City’s Economic Development team tracks key indicators through a quarterly dashboard, which highlights the state of Concord’s economy and is reported by calendar year. The latest data shows an uptick in activity: New business license accounts opened in the 3rd Quarter of 2021 were nearly triple compared to the 3rd Quarter of 2020. Building permit activity remains strong with 1,308 building permits issued, valued at $34.2 million, in the 3rd Quarter of 2021. The latest available sales tax data indicates that spending in Concord is recovering, with the 2nd Quarter of 2021 sales tax revenue increasing year-over-year by 77.9% from the 2nd Quarter of 2020. The 2nd Quarter of 2021 also marked the beginning of implementation of Measure V, the voter-approved one-cent sales tax. Vacancies on Concord’s total industrial and retail sites remain low at 2.8% and 2.6% respectively. Office vacancies continue to climb up to 13.9% as office businesses continue work-from-home policies and look to cut overhead costs. You can view Concord's latest economic indicators dashboard at concordfirst.com/doing-business.

Measure V Commercial Rent Relief Program

In April of 2021, the City in partnership with the Greater Concord Chamber of Commerce launched the Measure V Commercial Rent Relief Program. This program, funded by Measure V sales tax revenue, provided a one-time grant of $10,000 to small businesses that have experienced adverse financial impacts due to the COVID-19 pandemic and were in need of rent relief. The program successfully funded 95 small businesses with $950,000 in commercial rent relief.

Major Development

The overwhelming majority of development occurring in Concord is housing, concurrent with demand. One major development project that has been ongoing since fall 2020 is The Grant, a mixed-use development located at the intersection of Grant Street and Concord Boulevard. Notable commercial construction this year includes the Hampton Inn Hotel and Dutch Bros. Coffee. You can view current development occurring in Concord by visiting cityofconcord.org/GISmaps.

Support local this holiday season!

The City of Concord and Greater Concord Chamber of Commerce have relaunched the Shop Concord digital gift card program. Buy an e-gift card for $20, $50 or $100 and receive a free bonus gift card for half the value, while supplies last. See all the details, including participating businesses, at concordfirst.com

City Responds to Needs of Unsheltered Residents

To better serve unsheltered residents, the City Council recently created two new full-time positions to respond to the region’s persistent homelessness challenges. The new roles, which should be filled by early 2022, include a Community Services Manager, who will coordinate the City’s response to homelessness, and a social worker, who will join the County's Coordinated Outreach, Referral and Engagement (CORE) team to provide clinical case management in Concord. During the last annual point-in-time count conducted in January 2020, Contra Costa County had about 2,300 individuals experiencing homelessness, including 160 who were counted in Concord. Addressing the needs of Concord’s unhoused residents has long been a priority for the City. In the current fiscal year, Concord has invested nearly $304,000 into a variety of programs and services, including the Contra Costa Crisis Center, Monument Crisis Center, the Food Bank of Contra Costa and Solano, RotaCare, STAND! For Families Free of Violence, Winter Nights Shelter, and the Trinity Center. These programs provide food, shelter, emergency childcare, employment services, case management and more. In early 2021, the City Council voted to invest approximately $560,000 of Measure V funds to extend two pilot programs: CORE and the Mental Health Evaluation Team (MHET). The CORE team previously worked just 20 hours per week in Concord. In March 2021, it went full time thanks to the new investment. The CORE team visits unhoused residents in the places they live and offers access to a variety of services They also serves as the entry point to the County's coordinated system for unsheltered individuals. Since going full time, CORE has contacted 334 unsheltered people in Concord, and placed 24 of them in a shelter, hotel or motel. The City Council also directed funds to the MHET pilot program in Concord, which began in June. Through the program, a County mental health specialist is paired with a City police officer. The two work proactively to provide referrals to outpatient mental health services and other resources to help individuals remain in the community and avoid future crisis intervention and interactions with law enforcement.

What you can do:

• Learn more about the City’s efforts and partner organizations at cityofconcord.org/homelessservices • Call 211 if you see an individual who could benefit from the resources provided by CORE • Call 911 if you see an individual who poses a serious, immediate risk to himself or others • Use the City’s “Concord Connect” app to report an encampment

We’re Hiring!

The City of Concord is seeking motivated, public service-minded individuals to fill openings in several departments, including Engineering, Finance, Parks & Recreation, Planning and Public Works. We are also actively recruiting for police officers, trainees, volunteers, cadets and civilian staff in the Police Department. Interested in a job in law enforcement or with the Concord Police Department? You can learn more about opportunities to protect and serve your community at joinconcordpd.com. To view all City of Concord job openings, descriptions, and benefits, and to apply online, please visit cityofconcord.org/jobs.

Concord PD Launches Drone Program

Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS), more commonly referred to as drones, enhance public safety, officer safety, and provide officers with an innovative, costeffective tool to assist in problem-solving while mitigating risk and de-escalating volatile situations. On October 12, the Concord Police Department presented proposals to the City Council during a public meeting, recommending the City develop its own UAS program with equipment purchased through grant funds provided by Marathon Petroleum Corporation. Many law enforcement agencies in Contra Costa County and beyond have established UAS programs and Concord PD has seen how effective this tool is for first-responder services. They are commonly used to find lost individuals in open space, identify what is happening on the ground in real time before police engage in a volatile situation, and can be used to “clear buildings” without creating additional risk. The City Council unanimously approved the proposals to accept the $30,000 in grant funds and to establish a UAS program to support public safety services in Concord. The City is currently in the early stages of initiating the program and will go live with this new tool in early 2022. You can review the City’s drone policy and, once they begin being deployed as part of responding to 911 calls, their use can be monitored on the Police Department’s web page: cityofconcord.org/police.

Cannabis Businesses Selected for Operation in Concord

In April and May 2021, the City Council interviewed applicants for retail cannabis businesses following a request for proposal competitive selection process. Selected applicants were invited to enter into agreements with the City and apply for available City Cannabis Licenses.

The selected companies include the following businesses: • Authentic Concord LLC (storefront retailer)— 1045 Galaxy Way • Culture Club Corporate Enterprise (storefront retailer)—1440 Concord Avenue • Coastal Retail LLC (storefront retailer)— 1847 Willow Pass Road • Kolaboration Concord LLC (cannabis microbusiness including storefront retail)— 2366 Stanwell Circle • Infinity Assets Concord LLC (cannabis microbusiness including storefront retail)— 5121 Port Chicago Highway • Medusa (non-storefront retail, delivery only)— 5143 Port Chicago Highway City staff is currently working with the selected businesses to complete the required approvals necessary to begin operating. Most of the selected businesses are expected to open in 2022. For more information, please visit the Cannabis Regulations web page: cityofconcord.org/cannabis

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Are You Prepared For a Flood in Your Neighborhood?

The City of Concord lies within the Walnut Creek and Mt. Diablo Creek drainage basins, both of which discharge north into Suisun Bay. Concord includes a number of creeks and drains (Walnut Creek, Galindo Creek, Pine Creek, Ditch No. 2, Farm Bureau Drain, Clayton Valley Drain, and Mt. Diablo Creek) that are susceptible to flooding events that could possibly pose threats to life and safety and cause significant property damage. What should you do before a flood?

Determine if your property is located in an area

subject to flooding. Certain areas have been designated by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) as Special Flood Hazard Areas (SFHAs). There are currently approximately 1,500 homes that are partially or entirely located within these flood zones within the City. SFHAs are areas within the 100-year flood boundary as mapped by FEMA. A “100-year flood” refers to a flood level with a one percent chance of being equaled or exceeded in any given year. Upon request, the Engineering Division at 925-671-3425, will make free flood zone determinations for properties within the City. FEMA maps are also available in Concord Public Library located at 2900 Salvio Street, 925-646-5455 or on the FEMA Map Service Center at msc.fema.gov/portal/home. The Engineering Division also maintains elevation certificates for many properties within the City which are also available for review at cityofconcord.org/floodforms. Purchase flood insurance on your property. Flooding is not covered by a standard homeowner’s insurance policy. A separate flood insurance policy is required to cover damages incurred by flooding. Coverage is available for a building and its contents. Renters can also purchase flood insurance to cover their possessions. The City of Concord participates in the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) that makes available federally backed flood insurance for all structures, whether or not they are located within the 100-year floodplain. The City also participates in the Community Rating System (CRS) program enabling property owners within the floodplain to get a discount on their flood insurance premiums. There is a 30-day waiting period before coverage goes into effect. Contact your insurance agency or the NFIP Help Center, 1-800-427-4661 for more information at floodsmart.gov/flood-insurance/why.

Maintain drainage channels and pipes free of

obstruction and debris. The City of Concord cleans and maintains drainage channels and pipes in City easements and rights-of-way, regularly. Residents are encouraged to assist in maintaining the drainage in their areas by removing or reporting obstructions (such as shopping carts, leaves, debris, trash, etc.). All storm drains lead directly to our creeks and eventually the bay. By way of City Ordinance, it is illegal to dump trash, leaves, landscape debris, paint, grease, or any other material into any portion of the City’s drainage system. Such dumping can have devastating impacts on water quality in addition to causing flooding. To report illegal dumping in channels call 1-800-NO-DUMPING (1-800-663-8674). For assistance in maintaining private sections of creeks (stream bank bioengineering, weed removal, weed control, planting design,plant installation,irrigation planning, mulching), call the Public Works Department at 925-671-3050 or the Watershed Nursery at 510-234-2222 watershednursery.com

Protect your property from the hazards of flooding.

If the floor level of your property is lower than the “Base Flood Elevation” (elevation of the 100-year flood, based on the FEMA maps), consider elevating your structure, if possible. If a flood is imminent, property can be protected by sandbagging areas subject to the entry of water into living spaces. The City’s Public Works Department provides free sandbags which may be picked up at the Corporation Yard located at 1455 Gasoline Alley. Valuables and furniture may also be moved to higher areas of the dwelling to minimize damages. If requested, City staff will visit a property to review its flood problem(s) and explain ways to reduce flooding potential or help to prevent flood damage. Flood protection references are also available at the Concord Public Library. Meet improvement requirements. The NFIP and the City of Concord Ordinance requires that if the cost of reconstruction, additions, or other improvements to a building equals or exceeds 50% of the building’s market value, including repair of a damaged building, then the building must meet the same construction requirements as a new building and must be elevated above the base flood elevation. Please contact the Engineering Division at 925-671-3425 for more information.

All development within the City requires a permit.

Always check and fulfill permitting requirements with the Building Division at 925-671-3107 and/or the Engineering Division at 925-671-3425 before you build on, alter, fill, or re-grade any portion of your property and/ or within any easement or right-of-way. Please call to report any suspected permitting violations. Keep an emergency supply. Non-perishable food, water, batteries, flashlights, a manual can opener, and a battery-operated radio and first aid kit should be kept available for use during an emergency in a place known to all family members. Place in the emergency kit the name, location, and contact information for an emergency point of contact. Update the emergency kit on an annual basis. What should you do during a flood?

• In case of a major emergency, the City will notify the public of a contact number on the City website and via the media. Tune your radio to KCBS at 740 AM and your television to the local Comcast channel 28 and Wave channel 29. • If your property is in imminent danger of flooding, please contact PG&E at 800-743-5000 to request that your power and natural gas be shut off, or for guidance on how to do it yourself. • If dangerous flooding conditions are imminent, avoid driving a vehicle if possible. Do not attempt to drive or wade through deep pockets of water or running washes. Unstable banks should be avoided.

Develop an evacuation plan for your family. Avoid low-lying areas. Seek shelter in the highest areas possible. What should you do after a flood?

• Listen to the radio for emergency instructions. • Avoid driving if possible.

Follow established procedures for property damage repairs:

Select a contractor who is licensed in his or her specific trade, such as an electrician, plumber, gas contractor, mechanical/HVAC contractor and building contractor for associated work. The City requires contractors to be licensed with the state and to have a City of Concord Business License, as well as liability and workman's compensation insurance. Require your contractors to obtain the proper permits for work being performed. Permits are required for any permanent improvement (including roofing, siding, additions, alterations, etc.) to a structure and for site work such as grading, filling, etc. Permits are required even if a homeowner is doing the work himself.

Recognize the natural and beneficial functions of

floodplains to help reduce flooding: Floodplains are a natural component of Concord’s environment. Understanding and protecting the natural functions of floodplains helps reduce flood damage and protect resources. When flooding spreads out across the floodplain, its energy is dissipated, which results in lower flood flows downstream, and improved groundwater recharge. Floodplains are scenic, valued wildlife habitat. Poorly planned development in floodplains can lead to streambank erosion, loss of valuable property, increased risk of flooding to downstream properties and degradation of water quality.