CONTRA COSTA COUNTY  
Committee Meeting Minutes - Final  
Economic Opportunity Council  
6:00 PM  
Thursday, September 11, 2025  
1470 Civic Court, Suite 200, Room 207,  
Concord | Zoom:  
https://cccounty-us.zoom.us/j/84112970168 |  
Call in: 8882780254 | Code: 7038773  
Agenda Items: Items may be taken out of order based on the business of the day and preference of the  
Committee  
Karanbir Bal, Patricia Campbell, Jessica Cisneros, Karen Coleman,  
Christian Dean, Ajit Kaushal, Buffie Lafayette, Nikki Lopez,  
Desire Medlen, Monisha Merchant, LaTonia Peoples-Stokes,  
Kanwar Singh, Victor Tiglao, and Renee Zeimer  
Present  
Devlyn Sewell  
Absent  
Janelle Lafrades  
Non-voting  
1.  
Call to Order and Welcome  
The meeting was called to order by Chair Medlen at 6:07 pm. Quorom Established.  
Staff present: Christina Castle-Barber, Alexandra Heinitz, Roshunda Ward, Melissa Molina  
Guest: Janelle Lafrades, participating from a conference.  
2.  
Public comment on any item under the jurisdiction of the Committee and not on this agenda  
(speakers may be limited to two minutes).  
No public present,  
APPROVE the EOC Business Meeting Minutes of 8-14-2025.  
EOC Business Meeting Minutes for 8-14-25 - DRAFT  
A motion was made by Campbell, seconded by Lafayette, to approve the EOC  
3.  
25-3511  
Attachments:  
Business Meeting Minutes of 8-14-25. The motion carried by the following vote:  
Motion:  
Campbell  
Second:  
Lafayette  
Aye:  
Bal, Campbell, Cisneros, Coleman, Dean, Kaushal, Lafayette,  
Medlen, Merchant, Peoples-Stokes, Singh, Tiglao, and Zeimer  
Absent:  
Sewell  
Abstain:  
Result:  
Lopez  
Passed  
APPROVE the budget for Amendment 1 for Grant #25F-6007.  
DocuSign_2025_CSBG_Amendment_1_25F-6007_Con  
Copy of CSBG Amend A1 25F-6007  
4.  
25-3512  
Attachments:  
A motion was made by Lopez, seconded by Peoples-Stokes, to approve Amendment 1  
for CSBG Grant 25F-6007. The motion carried by the following vote:  
Motion:  
Lopez  
Second:  
Peoples-Stokes  
Aye:  
Bal, Campbell, Cisneros, Coleman, Dean, Kaushal, Lafayette,  
Lopez, Medlen, Merchant, Peoples-Stokes, Singh, Tiglao, and  
Zeimer  
Absent:  
Result:  
Sewell  
Passed  
CONDUCT and APPROVE election of EOC Executive Officers for  
2025-26.  
5.  
25-3513  
Executive Commmittee Positions and Responsibilities  
Attachments:  
A secret ballot was used to elect officers.  
A motion was made by Lafayette, seconded by Zeimer, to approve Desire Medlen as  
chair, Nikki Lopez as Vice Chair, and Victor Tiglao as Secretary. The motion carried  
by the following vote:  
Motion:  
Lafayette  
Second:  
Zeimer  
Aye:  
Bal, Campbell, Cisneros, Coleman, Dean, Kaushal, Lafayette,  
Lopez, Medlen, Merchant, Peoples-Stokes, Singh, Tiglao, and  
Zeimer  
Absent:  
Result:  
Sewell  
Passed  
RECEIVE July Fiscal Report for Grant #25F-6007.  
2025 CSBG July  
6.  
25-3514  
Attachments:  
Heinitz presented the report. Ward presented subcontractor demands to date.  
This Discussion Item was received.  
7.  
RECEIVE reports on NCAP Conference in Detroit.  
Castle-Barber shared LIHEAP funding and by the end of October, there will be a concrete  
budget, and there is bipartisan support in Congress, and highlighted the hope that resonated  
at the conference, and shared the Court-ordered stay on the citizenship question on federal  
funding, shared concerns about increasing funding for cost of living adjustments for teachers,  
shared her first time hosting a workshop and received rave reviews  
Ward shared changes in criteria asked of subcontractors, that they should anticipate these  
changes, tentative contract that showed increase in funding  
Zeimer shared her advocacy efforts in support of Community Action, to which Castle-Barber  
shared her optimism  
Lopez shared her experience, noted the unity among the attendees, and professional  
experience  
This was read into the record.  
RECEIVE report on CSBG Roundtable at Congressman DeSaulnier's Office.  
8.  
Medlen shared that she shared her experience as a recipient of Head Start, and she push for  
collaboration more money goes around, instructed staff to get the Native American  
organization that serves Contra Costa residents  
Kaushal shared that the meeting went well.  
This was received.  
RECEIVE update on CSBG RFP 2026-2027.  
RFP-1227-Community-Action-Projects-Posted 9-4-2025  
9.  
25-3723  
Attachments:  
Castle-Barber presented CSBG RFP 2026-2027, shared that Exec Director Marla  
Stewart had concerns about how many organizations we fund and EOC should  
consider reducing number of subcontractors and funding deeper programming.  
This Discussion Item was received.  
10.  
Discuss 2025 Subcontractor Roundtable Event in October.  
Castle-Barber shared that the Outreach Committee will lead the upcoming subcontractor  
roundtable in October.  
This was approved.  
11.  
Staff Report  
Castle-Barber shared the 2024 Income, Poverty, and Health Insurance Coverage in the United  
States report that showed the importance of social services (census.gov)  
12.  
Chair Report  
Medlen shared her experience with elected officials and encouraged others to share their  
stories to them.  
13.  
EOC Members Reports  
Zeimer encouraged board members to speak up in favor of Community Action funding and  
social services at large.  
Tiglao shared that SB 411 officially passed both chambers of the State Legislature  
unanimously this week and is going to the Governor’s desk for his signature, and shared  
funding opportunities from First 5 Contra Costa and the Board of Supervisors’ Community  
Impact Fund.  
14.  
Next Steps  
Molina to work with Tiglao to get a Roundtable AdHoc Meeting set up.  
15. Meeting Evaluation  
Efficient; good information  
The next meeting is currently scheduled for October 9, 2025 at 6pm.  
16.  
Adjourn  
Chair Medlen adjourned the meeting at 7:24 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