CONTRA COSTA COUNTY  
Committee Meeting Minutes - Final  
Economic Opportunity Council  
6:00 PM  
Thursday, February 13, 2025  
1470 Civic Court, Suite 200, Room 207,  
Concord, CA | Zoom:  
https://cccounty-us.zoom.us/j/87597737980?  
pwd=2Xw3ua2C4IuCWfnyb3copvKBVbd5uu.1  
| Call In: 8882780254 | Code: 812185  
Agenda Items: Items may be taken out of order based on the business of the day and preference of the  
Committee  
1.  
Call to Order and Welcome  
The meeting was called to order by Chair Medlen at 6:04 am.  
Staff present: Donn Matsuzaki, Michael Morris, Roshunda Ward, Melissa Molina and Christina  
Castle-Barber  
Patricia Campbell, Karen Coleman, Ajit Kaushal, Buffie Lafayette,  
Janelle Lafrades, Nicola Lopez, Desire Medlen, Monisha  
Merchant, Devlyn Sewell, Kanwar Singh, Victor Tiglao, and  
Renee Zeimer  
Present  
Karanbir Bal, Clearnise Bullard, Jessica Cisneros, and LaTonia  
Peoples-Stokes  
Absent  
2.  
Public comment on any item under the jurisdiction of the Committee and not on this agenda  
(speakers may be limited to two minutes).  
Andrea Morataya Flores was present from the Public and was there to listen and learn.  
APPROVE the EOC Business Meeting Minutes of 1-9-2025.  
January 9 2025 Business Meeting Minutes - DRAFT  
3.  
25-471  
Attachments:  
A motion was made by Lopez, seconded by Campbell, to approve the EOC Business  
Meeting Minutes of 1-9-2025. The motion carried by the following vote: 11 ayes and 1  
abstention.  
Motion:  
Lopez  
Second:  
Campbell  
Aye:  
Campbell, Kaushal, Lafayette, Lafrades, Lopez, Medlen,  
Merchant, Sewell, Singh, Tiglao, and Zeimer  
Absent:  
Bal, Bullard, Cisneros, and Peoples-Stokes  
Coleman  
Abstain:  
Result:  
Passed  
REVIEW and DISCUSS the December Fiscal Reports for CSBG Grant #  
24F-3007 including Amendments 1 and 2.  
4.  
5.  
25-472  
2024 CSBG Combined Budget December  
Attachments:  
Michael Morris presented the fiscal report for December 2024 and Roshunda Ward shared  
the subcontractor spending report. Matsuzaki delivered a heartfelt goodbye as he moves on  
to a new opportunity.  
This Discussion Item was received.  
RECEIVE reports from Onsite Monitoring Visits.  
Onsite Monitoring Non-Compliances  
25-473  
Attachments:  
Castle-Barber presented the onsite monitoring non-compliance, which were minor issues in  
client files. Corrective Action plans are due on February 21' 2025.  
Lafrades reported on her onsite visit at GRIP  
Medlen reported on her onsite visit at Hope Solutions and STAND  
Tiglao and Zeimer reported on their onsite visit at Rising Sun  
Sewell reported on her onsite visit at Loaves and Fishes  
Kaushal reported on his onsite visit at Monument Impact  
This Discussion Item was received.  
RECEIVE report on the 2024 CSBG Annual Report.  
6.  
25-474  
2024 CSBG Annual Report Summary  
Attachments:  
Castle-Barber presented the CSBG Annual Report 2024 Summary of Services and  
Characteristics  
Lopez asked about home visits, to which Castle-Barber responded that it usually done  
through Head Start and checking children’s wellbeing.  
Sewell asked if this were the same categories as last year, to which Castle-Barber  
responded affirmatively.  
Sewell asked if there was a difference from last year’s data, to which Castle-Barber  
answered that we served 209 families more this year.  
This Discussion Item was received.  
RECEIVE presentation on Make Parenting a Pleasure.  
Make Parenting a Pleasure  
7.  
25-475  
Attachments:  
Castle-Barber gave a short presentation on Make Parenting a Pleasure. We will begin a  
Spanish session in the spring and an English session in the fall.  
This Discussion Item was received.  
8.  
DISCUSS Legislative Advocacy Day and Contra Costa County Legislative Platform.  
Castle-Barber guided the EOC through the Contra Costa Legislative Platform, asked the EOC to bring in  
ideas about bills  
Kaushal asked if he we can send a letter of invitation to our State Senator and Assemblymember.  
Tiglao asked if we could do a lobby visit as opposed to waiting for the visit our booth, to which  
Castle-Barber answered we will explore that option.  
Zeimer highlighted the importance of the state and federal platforms to use in these events.  
Castle-Barber asked that she would ask the legislative offices if their preference would be to visit our  
booth, receive us at their office, or both.  
Zeimer asked if the staff can tie in David Bradley, to which Castle-Barber answered that staff has been  
participating in webinars particularly regarding impoundment and other executive orders.  
This was received.  
PRESENT Community Action Plan Project Charter and Conduct Sign Ups  
for Public Hearings.  
9.  
25-476  
Project Charter Template - CSBG CAP 2026-2027  
PUBLIC HEARING FLYER - Policy Council - English  
PUBLIC HEARING RAFFLE  
Attachments:  
Public Hearing Attendee Gifts  
Castle-Barber presented the Community Action Plan Project Charter.  
Commissioners selected their public hearings to facilitate.  
APPROVE questions to be asked at Public Hearings.  
10.  
25-477  
Confirmed Public Hearings and Hearing Questions  
Attachments:  
A motion was made by Lafayette, seconded by Zeimer, to approve the list of pubic  
hearing questions recommended by staff. The motion carried by the following vote:  
unanimous.  
Motion:  
Lafayette  
Second:  
Zeimer  
Aye:  
Campbell, Coleman, Kaushal, Lafayette, Lafrades, Lopez,  
Medlen, Merchant, Sewell, Singh, Tiglao, and Zeimer  
Absent:  
Result:  
Bal, Bullard, Cisneros, and Peoples-Stokes  
Passed  
RECEIVE staff report on updated remote meeting policy.  
11.  
25-478  
Memo Re Remote Meeting Attendance as a Reasonable  
Accommodation  
Attachments:  
Memo Re Revised Limits for Meeting Participation - Alternate  
Remote Teleconferencing Option  
Castle-Barber presented the report on the updated remote meeting policy.  
Castle-Barber shared that Ward will now be leading LIHEAP.  
Ward gave a report regarding purchases for outreach and items to increase the visibility of  
the program.  
12.  
EOC Chair Report  
Medlen shared appreciation to commissioners for site visits and requested that members contact officials  
regarding current events.  
13.  
No reports from members.  
14. Next Steps  
EOC Member Reports  
Castle-Barber will contact legislators via their schedulers.  
Castle-Barber will get the EHSD Legislative Report and share with EOC.  
The next meeting is currently scheduled for March 13, 2025 at 6pm.  
16.  
Adjourn  
Chair Medlen adjourned the meeting at 7:46 pm.  
The Committee will provide reasonable accommodations for persons with disabilities planning to attend  
the Committee 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 Committee less than 96 hours prior to that meeting are  
available for public inspection at 1470 Civic Court, Suite 200, Concord, 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 committee 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: Christina Castle-Barber 925-608-8819