Meeting Minutes

CONTRA COSTA COUNTY El Sobrante

Municipal Advisory Council

7:00 PM

Wednesday, May 14, 2025

El Sobrante Library (4300 Garden Rd. El

Sobrante), Zoom:

https://cccounty-us.zoom.us/j/87569145041

Agenda Items: Items may be taken out of order based on the business of the day and preference of the

Committee

Thomas Lang, (Chair), George Cleveland, (Vice-Chair), Tom Owens, Dr. Melinda V. Mclain, Jim

Hermann, Randy Loyd, Mikki Norris, Teri Edlinger, Jedd Hart

Roll Call and Introductions

Present

George Cleveland, Teri Edlinger, Jedd Hart, James Hermann,

Thomas Lang, and Randy Loyd

Melinda McLain, Mikki Norris, and Tom Owens

Absent

Treasurer's Report

Ronnie Mills reported the Council’s account balance is $2,867.13

Approval of Minutes

Present

George Cleveland, Teri Edlinger, Jedd Hart, James Hermann,

Thomas Lang, and Randy Loyd

Melinda McLain, Mikki Norris, and Tom Owens

Absent

25-1708

4.9.25 esMAC Minutes

Attachments:

00:00:25

The Council approved the May 14, 2025 meeting minutes with corrections

This Discussion Item was adopted as amended.

Motion:

Second:

Cleveland

Hermann

Aye:

Cleveland, Edlinger, Hart, Hermann, and Loyd

McLain, Norris, and Owens

Absent:

Recused:

Result:

Lang

Passed

Presentations

P.1. County Update, Supervisor John Gioia

00:12:06

Ronnie Mills from Supervisor Gioia’s Office announced that Clark Road was officially accepted as a

county-maintained road. New stop-ahead signage has been installed at Hilltop Manor. Updates were

shared on the County’s Noise Ordinance Task Force, which will reconvene on June 3. Residents were

encouraged to apply for openings on public advisory committees. A question was raised about road

maintenance timelines, and it was confirmed that restriping efforts are planned for the summer.

P.2. Sheriff’s Office Bay Station Update, Lt. Brian Holland

00:02:10

Sheriff’s Office. The department responded to 627 calls for service in El Sobrante, including thefts,

burglaries, and a stolen vehicle incident. Significant copper theft by individuals targeting AT&T lines

caused over $180,000 in damage during April alone. Code enforcement updates included the removal of

trailers and vehicles from a nuisance property owned by Jason Crane. Ongoing concerns remain about

persistent violations at other local properties.Community members raised questions about burglaries at

Urban Soil and enforcement follow-ups. Appreciation was shared for the Sheriff's presence during the El

Sobrante Stroll event. Continued vigilance was encouraged regarding code enforcement issues,

including known problem properties.

P.3. Contra Costa County Fire Protection District Update, Michelle Rinehart

00:44:50

A town hall was held on April 1 in the Board Chambers from 6:00 PM to 7:30 PM, offering both

in-person and remote participation. Public comments were collected during the meeting and continue to

be accepted online. All feedback will be compiled and submitted to the state as part of the ordinance

adoption process.

* The online public comment form has been active since February 24.

* Printed map copies are available upon request at 4005 Port Chicago Highway, Suite 250, Concord.

* The dedicated LRA webpage launched within 24 hours of the map release and can be found at

[https://www.cccfpd.org/lra-maps/](https://www.cccfpd.org/lra-maps/).

The webpage includes:

* A fact sheet about the LRA

* Map rollout plan

* Acreage breakdown

* Overview of the geospatial model

* Before-and-after maps for Contra Costa County

* PDFs of maps for each city

* A link to CAL FIRE’s Fire Hazard Severity Zone Viewer

The District received an honorable mention from the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) for

its wildfire mitigation efforts, including the completion of 103 projects and the use of a virtual

dashboard to track progress. This recognition came from a national pool of applicants, with the awards

presented at the Wildland-Urban Interface Conference in Kansas City in March. The majority of these

projects were funded through Measure X. More information is available [here]

(https://internationalfireandsafetyjournal.com/wildfire-mitigation-awards-2025-recipients-announced-acr

oss-four-us-states/). There is a potential to expand the proposed shaded fuel break project, pending

funding opportunities. For more information or to review the project details, interested individuals are

encouraged to reach out directly.projects.

P.4. California Highway Patrol (tentative)

P.5. Presentation from Richmond City Council Member, Soheila Bana

00:17:10

Richmond City Council member,Sohelia Bana, emphasized the need for stronger city-county

collaboration on evacuation planning. The West Contra Costa Fire Safe Council's work was

acknowledged, and the creation of integrated maps was suggested. esMAC members discussed forming

a joint task force to address evacuation preparedness, infrastructure, and communication.

Discussion Items: DI. Development plan applications, variance reports, building

modification requests, appeals etc., received in the previous month from the Contra Costa

County Conservation and Development Department and Notices of Public Hearings.

DI.1 - County File Number: CDDP25-03007 (5030 SAN PABLO DAM RD, EL SOBRANTE, CA 94803)

Request approval of a Development Plan to construct retaining walls in M-29 zoned parcel and request

approval of Tree Permit to remove one code-protected tree.

25-1709

Agency Comment Packet_CDDP25-03007

Attachments:

00:57:34

A retaining wall project on San Pablo Dam Road was presented, proposing the use of

concrete soldier piles and slab reinforcements. The project also includes the removal of a

nearby dead tree based on an arborist’s recommendation. After discussion, the Council

approved a motion to issue a letter of no objection to the project.

Motion:

Cleveland

Second:

Hart

Aye:

Cleveland, Edlinger, Hart, Hermann, and Lang

McLain, Norris, and Owens

Absent:

Recused:

Result:

Loyd

Passed

DI.2 - (Update) Countywide Noise Ordinance

Public comment on any item under the jurisdiction of the Committee and not on this

agenda (speakers may be limited to two minutes).

01:04:35

The Good Table, a new local community engagement effort, was introduced. Additionally, a community

clean-up is scheduled for the third Saturday of the month at the El Sobrante Library. Ronnie Mills shared

progress on relocating Jerry’s Place and noted that further meetings would be required to finalize plans.

Information Items

01:24:16

Subcommittee Reports – Next Clean Up, May 17, 2025

Agenda Items / Speakers for Upcoming ESMAC Meetings

01:25:00

Upcoming presentations will include Daniel Bark and John Kopchick from the Department of

Conservation and Development (DCD).

The next meeting is currently scheduled for June 11, 2025

Adjourn

01:26:29

The Council will provide reasonable accommodations for persons with disabilities planning to attend

the Council meetings. Contact the staff person listed below at least 72 hours before the meeting. Any

disclosable public records related to an open session item on a regular meeting agenda and distributed

by the County to a majority of members of the Council less than 96 hours prior to that meeting are

available for public inspection at El Sobrante Library (4191 Appian Way, El Sobrante, CA 94803)

during normal business hours. Staff reports related to items on the agenda are also accessible online at

www.contracosta.ca.gov. If the Zoom connection malfunctions for any reason, the meeting may be

paused while a fix is attempted. If the connection is not reestablished, the Council will continue the

meeting in person without remote access. Public comment may be submitted via electronic mail on

agenda items at least one full work day prior to the published meeting time.

For Additional Information Contact: Ronnie Mills, ronnie.mills@bos.cccounty.us, 510-942-2222