CONTRA COSTA COUNTY

Committee Meeting Minutes - Final

Economic Opportunity Council

6:00 PM

Thursday, November 13, 2025

1470 Civic Court, Suite 200, Room 207,

Concord | Zoom:

https://cccounty-us.zoom.us/j/84112970168 |

Call in: 8882780254 | meeting ID: 841 1297 0168

| code: 7038773

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

Committee

Call to Order and Welcome

Chair Medlen called the meeting to order at 6:02 pm.

Staff Present: Alexandra Heinitz, Roshunda Ward, Melissa Molina, Jen Quallik

Karanbir Bal, Patricia Campbell, Jessica Cisneros, Christian Dean,

Present

Ajit Kaushal, Janelle Lafrades, Nikki Lopez, Desire Medlen,

Monisha Merchant, Devlyn Sewell, Kanwar Singh, Victor Tiglao,

and Renee Zeimer

Karen Coleman, Buffie Lafayette, and LaTonia Peoples-Stokes

Absent

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

(speakers may be limited to two minutes).

No members of the public present.

APPROVE EOC Business Meeting minutes of 10/9/2025.

EOC Business Meeting Minutes of 10-9-2025 DRAFT

25-4734

Attachments:

A motion was made by Lopez, seconded by Lafrades, to approve the October 9, 2025

Business Meeting Minutes. The motion carried by the following vote:

Motion:

Lopez

Second:

Lafrades

Aye:

Bal, Campbell, Cisneros, Dean, Kaushal, Lafrades, Lopez,

Medlen, Merchant, Sewell, Singh, Tiglao, and Zeimer

Absent:

Result:

Coleman, Lafayette, and Peoples-Stokes

Passed

RECEIVE Fiscal Report for CSBG Grant #25F-6007 for September 2025.

CSBG 2025 Budget with September 2025

25-4735

Attachments:

Heinitz presented the report; Tiglao inquired about the line item for the EOC meals and

why they were not accounted for; Heinitz will follow up next meeting.

This Discussion Item was received.

APPROVE the 2026-2028 CSBG Funding Decision made by the Outreach

Committee.

25-4736

Copy of 2026 RFP 1227 Scoring Matrix

Attachments:

· Medlen and Ward recapped the meeting regarding the scoring of the RFPs

· Zeimer expressed concern about not funding enough West County

subcontractors and the board members who scored but were not able to attend

· Ward explained the scoring process

· Lopez expressed concern about the scoring rubric

· Medlen advocated for adding a training about RFP scoring and priorities of the

RFP

· Zeimer agreed with Medlen about adding a training about RFP and EOC

· Sewell suggested discussing RFP process at the roundtable

· Molina responded to Sewell about not discussing RFP process during

roundtable since it’s a networking event

· Lopez shared concerns about axing immigrant services during this time

1. Motion: Zeimer made a motion to include Lao Family and reduce funding

equally for others to include it

1. Second: Sewell

2. Vote:

1. AYES: Medlen, Kaushal, Sewell, Lafrades, Bal, Lopez, Zeimer

2. NOES: Cisneros, Singh, Merchant, Campbell, Tiglao, Dean

3. ABSTAIN: None

3. RESULT: Motion carried

2. Motion: Merchant made the motion to include White Pony Express

1. Second: Dean

2. AYES: None

3. NOES: Medlen, Kaushal, Sewell, Bal, Merchant, Lopez, Campbell,

Zeimer, Tiglao, Dean

4. ABSTAIN: Lafrades, Cisneros, Singh

5. Motion does not carry

This Consent Item was tabled.

APPROVE the 2025 Annual Advisory Body Report to the Board of

Supervisors.

25-4737

Advisory Body Annual Report 10-16-24 DRAFT

Attachments:

Ward requested a list of achievements from the members

This Consent Item was tabled.

Discuss 2025-26 Onsite Monitoring Visits and Conduct Sign Ups.

Molina asked for members’ choices in attending

This was approved.

RECEIVE reports from attendees of the 2025 CalCAPA Conference.

Tiglao reported about David Bradley’s optimism about continuing CSBG funding

Cisneros reported about legislation being prioritized by other agencies

Ward reported about weatherization and LIHEAP

No business meeting in December

10. Chair Report

Staff Report

Medlen thanked the members who participated in the scoring process, and reiterated the need t

change the bylaws.

11.

EOC Member Reports

Kaushal invited members to donate $500 to Monument Crisis Center

Sewell shared the City of Concord a program for home modifications for seniors

Lopez invited to volunteer for the Rotary Club

12.

Next Steps and Meeting Evaluation

Codify scoring process of RFPs regarding attendance into the bylaws

Change protocol to add a training about RFP scoring and priorities of the RFP

The next meeting is currently scheduled for January 8, 2026.

Chair Medlen adjourned the meeting at 7;31 PM.

13.

Adjourn

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--8-819