Summary

City Council approves budget, road work, and fireworks changes

San PabloOct 7, 20254 min read

At a glance

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The City Council approved the budget calendar, adopted several capital and repair funding allocations, and introduced an ordinance to tighten fireworks rules in San Pablo.

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City Council

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TransportationBudget & TaxPublic SafetyEducationHousing

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What this means

The council approved the schedule for building the next two-year budget and adopted funding for road, gateway, and pavement repair projects. It also authorized $5,000 for a Contra Costa College Foundation scholarship program and $2,500 for the foundation, and accepted $133,922 from EBMUD for pavement restoration work. The council introduced changes to the city’s fireworks rules and approved requests to recognize Breast Cancer Awareness Month and Domestic Violence Awareness Month at a later meeting.

Key decisions

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Approved the minutes of the September 15, 2025 City Council meeting.
Approved the budget calendar for the FY 2026-27 and FY 2027-28 biennial budget.
Denied the liability claim of John Espejo.
Adopted a resolution sponsoring $5,000 for the Contra Costa College Foundation San Pablo Forward Scholarship Program and $2,500 for the Contra Costa College Foundation.
Adopted FY 2025-26 capital improvement program allocations, including $242,985 for ADA improvements on the San Pablo Dam Road I-80 gateway project, $670,000 in SB 1 RMRA funds for the same project, $250,000 for the Giant Road paving rehabilitation project, and $440,000 in Measure J LSM funds for CCTA projects.
Authorized the City Manager to execute an agreement with EBMUD for pavement rehabilitation, invoice EBMUD $133,922 for pavement restoration, and appropriate those funds to the FY 2026-27 pavement repair project.
Ratified Mayor Cruz’s thank you letter to State Senator Jesse Arreguín for $1 million in state grant funding for the McNeil Park project.
Waived first reading and introduced an ordinance to revise city fireworks regulations.
Approved processing proclamations for Breast Cancer Awareness Month and Domestic Violence Awareness Month for the October 20, 2025 meeting.

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Meeting information

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City Council

Oct 7, 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
CEREMONIAL MATTERS
PRESENTATIONS
PRESENTATION AND INTRODUCTION OF RECENTLY APPOINTED WEST CONTRA COSTA UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT (WCCUSD) SUPERINTENDENT CHERYL COTTON CEQA: This is not a project as defined by CEQA.
INTRODUCTION OF NEW EMPLOYEES AND ANNOUNCEMENT OF EMPLOYEES WHO HAVE BEEN PROMOTED FOR JULY 2025 - SEPTEMBER 2025 POLICE · KATHEY PHAN - POLICE ADMINISTRATIVE CLERK PROMOTIONS · MEL MACKSON - ASSOCIATE PLANNER · SANDRA CASTANEDA MARQUEZ - PLANNING MANAGER · SYLVIA FLORES - COMMUNITY SERVICES COORDINATOR II
CITY MANAGER REMARKS
CONSENT CALENDAR
MINUTES
CONSIDER APPROVING MINUTES OF THE CITY COUNCIL MEETING OF SEPTEMBER 15, 2025 CEQA: This proposed action is not a project as defined by CEQA
PERIODIC REPORTS
CONSIDER APPROVING THE BUDGET CALENDAR FOR THE FY 2026-27 AND FY 2027-28 BIENNIAL BUDGET CEQA: This proposed action is not a project as defined by CEQA.
LIABILITY CLAIMS
CONSIDER DENYING LIABILITY CLAIM OF JOHN ESPEJO (DOL 03/29/25) CEQA: This proposed action is not a project as defined by CEQA.
CITY COUNCIL AUTHORIZATION
CONSIDER ADOPTING RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SAN PABLO AUTHORIZING A SPONSORSHIP IN THE AMOUNT OF $5,000 FOR THE CONTRA COSTA COLLEGE FOUNDATION SAN PABLO FORWARD SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM AND $2,500 FOR THE CONTRA COSTA COLLEGE FOUNDATION 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 (1) ADOPTING THE FY 2025-26 CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM (CIP) GENERAL FUND BUDGET ALLOCATIONS; (2) APPROPRIATING $242,985 FROM GENERAL FUND DESIGNATED RESERVE (FUND 110) TO THE SAN PABLO DAM ROAD I-80 ROAD GATEWAY IMPROVEMENTS PROJECT (0605) FOR ADA IMPROVEMENTS; (3) APPROPRIATING SENATE BILL 1 (SB 1) ROAD MAINTENANCE AND REHABILITATION ACCOUNT (RMRA) FUNDS IN THE AMOUNT OF $670,000 TO THE SAN PABLO DAM ROAD I-80 GATEWAY IMPROVEMENTS PROJECT (0605) AND RMRA FUNDS IN THE AMOUNT OF $250,000 TO THE GIANT ROAD PAVING REHABILITATION PROJECT (0601); AND (4) APPROPRIATING MEASURE J LOCAL STREET MAINTENANCE (LSM) FUNDS IN THE AMOUNT OF $220,000 TO THE CONTA COSTA TRANSIT AUTHORITY (CCTA) SMART SIGNALS PROJECT (0708) AND MEASURE J LSM FUNDS IN THE AMOUNT OF $220,000 TO THE CCTA I-80 SAN PABLO DAM ROAD INTERCHANGE PHASE 2 PROJECT (0709). 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 (1) AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO EXECUTE AND ACCEPT AN AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE CITY OF SAN PABLO AND EAST BAY MUNICIPAL UTILITY DISTRICT (EBMUD) FOR PAVEMENT REHABILITATION; (2) AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO ISSUE AN INVOICE TO EBMUD IN THE AMOUNT OF $133,922 FOR PAVEMENT RESTORATION; AND (3) ACCEPTING AND APPROPRIATING SAID FUNDS TO THE FY 2026-27 PAVEMENT REPAIR PROJECT (0606) CEQA: An environmental review analysis consistent with California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) requirements will be prepared for the design and construction plans at time of implementation.
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CONSIDER AUTHORIZATION TO RATIFY A THANK YOU LETTER FROM SAN PABLO MAYOR CRUZ TRANSMITTED ON SEPTEMBER 18, 2025 TO STATE SENATOR JESSE ARREGUIN (D-7TH DISTRICT) FOR STATE GRANT FUNDING IN THE AMOUNT OF $1M FOR THE CITY'S MCNEIL PARK PROJECT, UNDER THE ADOPTED SB 105 - STATE OF CALIFORNIA STATE BUDGET BILL, UNDER SECTION 23 (ITEM #14) SECRETARY OF NATURAL RESOURCES AGENCY ALLOCATION, SIGNED BY THE GOVERNOR CEQA: This proposed action is not a project as defined by CEQA.
* * * * END OF CONSENT CALENDAR * * * *
ORDINANCES
CONSIDER AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SAN PABLO AMENDING TITLE 8, CHAPTER 8.42, OF THE SAN PABLO MUNICIPAL CODE TO REVISE EXISTING REGULATIONS PERTAINING TO THE POSSESSION, SALE, AND USE OF FIREWORKS WITHIN THE CITY OF SAN PABLO. CEQA: The proposed amendment is exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) in accordance with CEQA Guidelines Section 15061(b)(3) because it can be seen with certainty that there is no potential for causing a significant effect on the environment.
SUPPLEMENTAL MATERIALS (IF ANY)
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
PRESENTATION AND INTRODUCTION OF RECENTLY APPOINTED WEST CONTRA COSTA UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT (WCCUSD) SUPERINTENDENT CHERYL COTTON CEQA: This is not a project as defined by CEQA.
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
Respectfully Submitted, ____________________________ Dorothy Gantt, City Clerk
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Approval of the Consent Agenda
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Agenda Item

City Council approves budget, road work, and fireworks changes

At a glance

Committees mentioned

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What this means

Key decisions

Timeline & follow-ups

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City Council

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