Summary

City Council approves general plan update

San PabloJul 8, 20253 min read

At a glance

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The City Council adopted San Pablo General Plan 2035, replacing the 23rd Street Specific Plan and the older General Plan 2030 framework for most of the city. The council also approved funding for capital projects, including Rumrill Sports Park turf replacement, Senior Center HVAC replacement, and a police headquarters emergency generator.

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Rumrill Corridor Plan

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City Council

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Budget & TaxPublic SafetyEnvironmentalHousing

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What this means

The biggest action was adopting San Pablo General Plan 2035, which updates the city’s long-range land use and policy guide and adds the Rumrill Corridor Plan. The change is meant to keep city planning consistent with the 2023-2031 Housing Element and update background information across the plan. The council also set aside $3,383,822 for facility and park improvements, including work at Rumrill Sports Park, the Senior Center, and the new police headquarters project. Separate votes approved several sponsorships, reserve and compensation policy changes, and a contract amendment for police headquarters project management.

Key decisions

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Adopted San Pablo General Plan 2035 and repealed the 23rd Street Specific Plan and most of General Plan 2030, excluding the 2023-2031 Housing Element.
Appropriated $3,383,822 from the Building, Facilities & Parks Maintenance Reserve Fund for Rumrill Sports Park turf replacement, Senior Center HVAC replacement, and a police headquarters emergency generator.
Approved a $94,813 amendment to the Mack5 contract for police headquarters and training facility project management, bringing the total contract to $1,197,206.
Approved $2,500 sponsorship for the West County Salesian Youth Club charity golf tournament.
Approved $5,000 sponsorship for the Lytton Casino golf tournament benefiting Lifelong Medical Care.
Authorized an agreement with Shuster Advisory Group, LLC, as investment advisor for the city’s cash operating reserve portfolio.
Denied the liability claim of Carlos Ortega.
Approved a proclamation for National Night Out.
Adopted amendments to the Fiscal Resiliency Reserve Policy, General Fund Designated Reserves balance, and the city’s classification and compensation plan.
Adopted a memorandum of understanding with Contra Costa County and participating shoreline cities for a Contra Costa Resilient Shoreline Plan grant project.

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Meeting information

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City Council

Jul 8, 2025, 1:00 AMCity Council Chambers Members of the public may view this meeting online by using this URL https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89046076519completed

Agenda

*IMPORTANT NOTICE ABOUT PUBLIC COMMENTS AND MEETING PARTICIPATION*
NOTICE:
PUBLIC COMMENT
AGENDA MATERIALS
AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT:
CALL TO ORDER
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
ROLL CALL
ORAL COMMUNICATIONS
PRESENTATIONS
INTRODUCTION OF NEW EMPLOYEES AND ANNOUNCEMENT OF PROMOTED EMPLOYEES FOR APRIL 2025 - JUNE 2025 COMMUNITY SERVICES · SYLVIA FLORES - SENIOR ADMINISTRATIVE CLERK POLICE · CHANTAL RYLEE DUCUSIN - POLICE ADMINISTRATIVE CLERK · AUSTIN MCCARTY - POLICE OFFICER PUBLIC WORKS · JUAN JIMENEZ - MAINTENANCE WORKER · MATEO TEODORO - MAINTENANCE WORKER PROMOTIONS · JESSICA ARROYO - PERMIT TECHNICIAN II · STEVEN PRECIADO - POLICE SERVICES TECHNICIAN · MARIO SANTOS-DAVIDSON - ADMINISTRATIVE CLERK II
CITY MANAGER REMARKS
CONSENT CALENDAR
MINUTES
CONSIDER APPROVING THE MINUTES OF THE CITY COUNCIL MEETING OF JUNE 16, 2025 CEQA: This proposed action is not a project as defined by CEQA.
PERIODIC REPORTS
LIABILITY CLAIMS
CONSIDER DENYING LIABILITY CLAIM OF CARLOS ORTEGA (DOL 04/12/25) CEQA: This proposed action is not a project as defined by CEQA.
CITY COUNCIL AUTHORIZATION
CONSIDER APPROVING REQUEST FOR ISSUANCE OF PROCLAMATION FOR NATIONAL NIGHT OUT - AUGUST 5, 2025 CEQA: This proposed action is not a project as defined by CEQA.
CONSIDER ADOPTING RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO EXECUTE A THIRD AMENDMENT TO AGREEMENT WITH MACK5 FOR PROJECT AND CONSTRUCTION MANAGEMENT SERVICES FOR THE NEW SAN PABLO POLICE HEADQUARTERS AND TRAINING FACILITY INCREASING COMPENSATION BY $94,813 TO COVER SPECIAL TESTING AND INSPECTIONS, AND PROJECT SCHEDULE FOR A NEW TOTAL CONTRACT AMOUNT OF $1,197,206 CEQA: The City with the assistance of Michael Baker and Associates (MBA) concluded that the proposed Police Department Headquarters and Public Safety Training Project (“project”) is consistent with the existing land use and zoning designations for the site and will not result in an increase in the severity of impacts identified in the prior Environmental Impact Reports (EIR’s) or Mitigated Negative Declaration (MND) or in any new impacts not previously considered in the prior EIRs and MND. In accordance with this analysis, MDA prepared addenda to the two EIRs and the MND, which the City Council considered and approved on December 20, 2021.
CONSIDER ADOPTING RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING AN EVENT SPONSORSHIP IN THE AMOUNT OF $2,500 FOR THE 2025 WEST COUNTY SALESIAN YOUTH CLUB CHARITY GOLF TOURNAMENT FUNDRAISER ON MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 15, 2025 CEQA: This proposed action is not a project as defined by CEQA.
CONSIDER ADOPTING RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SAN PABLO AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO EXECUTE A PROFESSIONAL SERVICES AGREEMENT WITH SHUSTER ADVISORY GROUP, LLC, TO SERVE AS THE INVESTMENT ADVISOR FOR THE CITY’S CASH OPERATING RESERVE PORTFOLIO AS PERMITTED UNDER CALIFORNIA GOVERNMENT CODE SECTION 53601 CEQA: This proposed action is not a project as defined by CEQA.
CONSIDER ADOPTING RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING AN EVENT SPONSORSHIP OF $5,000 FOR THE 22nd ANNUAL LYTTON CASINO GOLF TOURNAMENT AND FUNDRAISER TO BENEFIT LIFELONG MEDICAL CARE ON MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 8, 2025 CEQA: This proposed action is not a project as defined by CEQA.
CONSIDER ADOPTING RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SAN PABLO AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO EXECUTE A MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING WITH CONTRA COSTA COUNTY AND PARTICIPATING SHORELINE CITIES IN A FORM APPROVED BY THE CITY ATTORNEY FOR THE CITY OF SAN PABLO TO PARTICIPATE AS A SUB-GRANTEE IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF A CONTRA COSTA RESILIENT SHORELINE PLAN THROUGH THE OCEAN PROTECTION COUNCIL SENATE BILL 1 GRANT PROGRAM CEQA: This proposed action is exempt from environmental review pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Section 15061(b)(3), the “common sense” exemption, in that entering into this Memorandum of Understanding would not result in a significant effect on the environment.
CONSIDER ADOPTING RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SAN PABLO APPROPRIATING FUNDS FROM THE BUILDING, FACILITIES & PARKS MAINTENANCE RESERVE FUND (FUND 130) FROM FY 2024-25 & FY 2025-26 IN THE AMOUNT OF $3,383,822 TO SUPPORT THE FOLLOWING CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS: (1) RUMRILL SPORTS PARK TURF REPLACEMENT PROJECT (0503) IN THE AMOUNT OF $2,272,200, (2) SENIOR CENTER HVAC REPLACEMENT PROJECT (0106) IN THE AMOUNT OF $382,990, AND (3) POLICE DEPARTMENT HEADQUARTERS PROJECT (0104) TIER 4 EMERGENCY GENERATOR IN THE AMOUNT OF $728,632 CEQA: This proposed action is not a project as defined by CEQA.
CONSIDER ADOPTING RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SAN PABLO AMENDING THE FISCAL RESILIENCY RESERVE POLICY (LAST REVISED ON MARCH 3, 2025) FOR FISCAL YEAR 2025-26 WITH A REVISION FOR FUND 140 ASSET & VEHICLE REPLACEMENT RESERVE ALLOCATION PROCESS, EFFECTIVE JULY 7, 2025 CEQA: This proposed action is not a project as defined by CEQA.
CONSIDER ADOPTING RESOLUTION APPROVING AMENDMENT NO. 4 TO THE GENERAL FUND DESIGNATED RESERVES (GFDR) FUND BALANCE FOR A TOTAL FUND BALANCE OF $6,655,065 FOR FY 2024-25 TO CITY COUNCIL APPROVED APPROPRIATIONS THROUGH JUNE 30, 2025, EFFECTIVE JULY 7, 2025 CEQA: This proposed action is not a project as defined by CEQA.
CONSIDER ADOPTING RESOLUTION AMENDING THE CITY’S CLASSIFICATION AND COMPENSATION PLAN FOR FY 2025-26 BY AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO ESTABLISH AND ADMINISTER A SPECIAL DESIGNATION PAY OF UP TO FIVE PERCENT (5%) OF AN ASSIGNED EMPLOYEE’S HOURLY RATE TO WORK ON SPECIAL PROJECTS AND CITY INITIATIVES FOR A LIMITED DURATION NOT TO EXCEED TWO (2) YEARS CEQA: This proposed action is not a project as defined by CEQA.
* * * * END OF CONSENT CALENDAR * * * *
PUBLIC HEARINGS
CONDUCT A PUBLIC HEARING AND CONSIDER REPEALING THE 23rd STREET SPECIFIC PLAN AND THE SAN PABLO GENERAL PLAN 2030 (EXCLUDING THE 2023-2031 HOUSING ELEMENT), AND ADOPTING THE SAN PABLO GENERAL PLAN 2035, WHICH INCLUDES CHANGES TO MULTIPLE ELEMENTS TO UPDATE BACKGROUND INFORMATION, SYNCHRONIZE POLICY DIRECTION WITH THE 2023-2031 HOUSING ELEMENT, ENSURE INTERNAL CONSISTENCY ACROSS ELEMENTS, AND ADD THE RUMRILL CORRIDOR PLAN AS AN AREA PLAN WITH NEW LAND USE DESIGNATIONS AS AN APPENDIX. THIS IS A CITY INITIATED PROJECT AND IT APPLIES TO THE ENTIRE SAN PABLO PLANNING AREA CEQA: An Addendum to the 2030 General Plan EIR (certified on April 18, 2011) was prepared for the proposed Amendments and Updates for the San Pablo General Plan 2035, which found that there would not be any new or additional significant environmental impacts that have not been previously evaluated.
PUBLIC COMMENTS NOT ON THE AGENDA
MATERIALS SUBMITTED AFTER PUBLICATION OF THE AGENDA WILL BE APPENDED AFTER THE COUNCIL MEETING. THIS IS NOT AN ACTION ITEM BUT MERELY A MECHANISM FOR MATERIALS SUBMITTED AFTER PUBLICATION OF THE AGENDA TO BE APPENDED TO THE PUBLISHED AGENDA AFTER THE COUNCIL MEETING.
MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL ASSIGNMENTS REPORTS
Mayor Arturo Cruz
Vice Mayor Elizabeth Pabon-Alvarado
Councilmember Rita Xavier
Councilmember Abel Pineda
Councilmember Patricia Ponce
ADJOURNMENT
Staff Present: City Manager, Matt Rodriguez Assistant City Manager, Maria Ojeda City Attorney, Brian P. Hickey Police Chief, Brian Bubar City Clerk, Dorothy Gantt Administrative Clerk II, Casey Erlenheim
LIABILITY CLAIMS
Note: At 7:12 PM, Councilmember Pineda recused, exited Council Chambers prior to the following Public Hearing.
Note: At 7:30 PM, Councilmember Pineda returned to Council Chambers following the completion of the previous Public Hearing.
Approval of the Consent Agenda
page break
Respectfully Submitted, ____________________________ Dorothy Gantt, City Clerk ____________________________ Elizabeth Pabon-Alvarado, Vice Mayor
Note: Councilmember Patricia Ponce arrived at 6:01 PM.
Agenda Item

City Council approves general plan update

At a glance

Projects mentioned

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