Meeting Minutes

CONTRA COSTA COUNTY East Richmond

Heights Municipal Advisory Council

6:30 PM

Wednesday, November 19, 2025

Open Door United Methodist Church, 6226

Arlington Blvd |

https://cccounty-us.zoom.us/j/81874478413

Jon Sargent (Chair), Victoria Lynn Curtis (Vice-Chair), Jinwei Zhang, Joann Pavlinec, Pam

DeWitt, Bara Sapir

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

Committee

Roll Call and Introductions

00:00:17

Victoria Curtis, Pamela DeWitt, Joann Pavlinec, Bara Sapir, Jon

Sargent, and Jinwei Zhang

Present

Treasurer's Report

00:00:37

$2,568

Approval of Minutes

00:01:17

A correction to the spelling of a name in the prior meeting record was noted before proceeding. The

minutes from the previous meeting were reviewed and approved following a motion and second. No

additional changes were noted. The council then moved forward to scheduled updates and presentations.

25-4881

10.15.25_erhMAC_Minutes

Attachments:

This Discussion Item was approved.

Motion:

Second:

Curtis

Zhang

Presentations

P.1. Presentation by Contra Costa County Supervisor’s Office

00:02:16

An update was provided from Supervisor Gioia’s office regarding CalFresh and SNAP benefits. In

response to the potential loss of federal benefits for approximately 107,000 Contra Costa residents

during the government shutdown, the Board of Supervisors authorized up to $21 million from

emergency reserves to fund grocery debit cards if needed.

Ultimately, federal payments were issued, and county-issued cards were not required. County social

services continue outreach to ensure eligible residents receive full benefits, and free food boxes remain

available at multiple social service centers, including locations in East Richmond.

Additional updates highlighted recent community engagement efforts across West County, including

town halls focused on the District One Community Impact Fund.

Residents provided input on priorities related to health, safety, recreation, education, and workforce

development. A comprehensive summary of feedback is available through Supervisor Gioia’s office and

is scheduled for inclusion in an upcoming district newsletter. Opportunities to serve on public advisory

boards were also shared, noting existing vacancies on several councils.

P.2. Presentation by Sheriff’s Office Bay Station Commander, Lt. Brian Fitzgerald

00:05:24

The Contra Costa County Sheriff’s Office provided a report on recent calls for service, including

incidents involving burglary, battery, and vehicle tows. The discussion also addressed concerns

regarding copper wire theft in the area, with information shared about coordination with PG&E, reported

theft activity, and efforts to deploy new tracking technologies.

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

00:07:38

The Contra Costa County Fire Protection District reported on progress toward adopting the California

Fire Code and the Wildland-Urban Interface (WUI) code, following a public hearing held on November

4. The new codes are anticipated to take effect on January 1, 2026. The district also reported on the

success of its annual Open House held on October 11, which drew a record attendance of approximately

15,600 residents and focused on fire safety and wildfire preparedness. Updates were provided on the

ongoing mapping of wildfire mitigation projects, which will support insurance evaluations and

interagency coordination.

P.4. Presentation by Richmond Police Department, Sgt. Terry Thomas

P.5. Presentation by California Highway Patrol, Officer Rivera (tentative)

Discussion Items

Subcommittee Reports

00:13:24

Subcommittee updates included reviews of development proposals that received conditional approvals

with comments. Conditions included requirements for tree replacement and design modifications to

better preserve neighborhood character. An update was also provided on the view ordinance, including a

recent working meeting with county planning staff and the subcommittee to discuss how new housing

regulations may impact the ordinance and potential next steps.

SR.1 Land Use Committee: Joann Pavlinec, Jinwei Zhang

7. Regional Historical Presentation

00:35:10

A historical presentation was delivered on the Hasford Heights neighborhood, detailing its origins,

naming, and early development challenges. The presentation incorporated historical maps, documents,

and newspaper articles to provide context on the area’s growth and planning history.

"Hasford Heights: Some More (and less) History"

Agenda Items / Speakers for Upcoming ERHMAC Meetings

00:22:27

Public comment included remarks on State Fire guidelines and the proposed mountain bike trail in

Wildcat Canyon, with references to recent public meetings and the East Bay Regional Park District’s

budget considerations. Additional discussion touched on the alignment of municipal advisory council

boundaries with census tracts and the potential need for updated data to more accurately reflect

unincorporated areas.

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

(speakers may be limited to two minutes).

01:01:57

The council discussed follow-up items, including continued monitoring of state-level fire regulation

updates, coordination on a future view ordinance working meeting, and sharing information on public

advisory board vacancies. The meeting concluded with confirmation that the next regularly scheduled

meeting will take place on January 21, 2026, followed by adjournment.

The next meeting is currently scheduled for January 21, 2026

Adjourn

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 Open Door United Methodist Church (6226 Arlington Blvd, Richmond, CA

94805) 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: Ronnie Mills, ronnie.mills@bos.cccounty.us, (510) 942-2222