[{"_1":2,"_111":-5,"_112":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87,99],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6352611,"mediaKeyId","2224359-925b9cfb731b4ecce5fe560d9e0fb758","parentId",2224359,"title","Transit workers’ union raises concerns about distribution of $15.3M federal grant for Fairfield FAST","audioSeconds",594,"startMs",4066000,"endMs",4660000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2224359-925b9cfb731b4ecce5fe560d9e0fb758&start=4066&end=4660","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2224359-925b9cfb731b4ecce5fe560d9e0fb758/thumbnail_4066000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6352611/Fairfield/Solano-County/California/Transit-workers-union-raises-concerns-about-distribution-of-153M-federal-grant-for-Fairfield-FAST","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6352611-ff09260b4c391006c304ee92c6b0315a/orig.mp4?Expires=1775607929&Signature=IRMJKpEZD6eNa-zxi2Uzb-d8Ids9RMNMM5NNidh4g6nnfEmSUji3GpOf6gNMZfr2XGrQzdM2ooij8qZjXGJ18M5MlirkeSav9NL5FL7DYWOGAcwymJdVK2gqzcAD~5uGs56RqSm4XDjcD7TQOs1Dmi5z0F00~xwSLa8QDCcWRajNnYREY9D2Ce-YD~gTEcT-qQ~96ggjG~ubloxUSSUqF~d1tYlgW3slrw6h82eVsm3-nYVm8Lffz1sFj-T1Xpsb11CXd2yFtEkM1pGQTo3xs3C1rrvk-oeXknxiDf-ESRZyKFsMRP2FRslfT7N-ffdBH7a-LeL23IdQkMBOzNqz0g__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City Council of Fairfield CA","date","2025-02-04T22:55:23Z","article","During public comment, Crystal McGee Lee, identifying herself as “president business agent” for local transit workers, told the council the $15.3 million in federal FTA grant funding awarded to Fairfield FAST for recruitment and retention is being held and that some operators are not receiving their share. McGee Lee said she filed an unfair labor charge against Transdev and argued that the grant should be distributed to all workers represented by the union and not to a selected “top 10 operators.”

She asked the council to follow up with Transdev management, including a named contact (Terrence/Tyreece/Terrant Strong in the transcript) and to ensure the grant is disbursed fairly to drivers, reservationists and utility workers who were part of the recruitment and retention effort. McGee Lee characterized the current handling as “holding the money hostage” and urged the council to intervene.

The mayor and council acknowledged the complaint and thanked McGee Lee for bringing it forward. Council members suggested staff follow up with Transdev and with county or regional partners as appropriate; no formal action was taken at the meeting but councilmembers indicated they would seek clarification and urged staff to report back.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Fairfield City Council Meeting February 4, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","An ATU representative told the council that $15.3 million in federal recruitment and retention grants intended for Fairfield FAST operators has not been distributed equitably and accused a contractor of selecting only some employees to receive funds; she said an unfair labor charge was filed.","taxTitle","Fairfield, Solano County, California","taxId",3564,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6352616,"Council approves six-month extension and consultant services agreement for Travis Community Consortium",849,4374000,5223000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2224359-925b9cfb731b4ecce5fe560d9e0fb758&start=4374&end=5223","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2224359-925b9cfb731b4ecce5fe560d9e0fb758/thumbnail_4374000.jpg","/articles/6352616/Fairfield/Solano-County/California/Council-approves-six-month-extension-and-consultant-services-agreement-for-Travis-Community-Consortium","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6352616-16d4415f0fdc498258b348442fee87f7/orig.mp4?Expires=1775607929&Signature=hseL10fD9Sj16F~ybzDk~u1yY-AsYp8SRlK-F-K2uA4idhM-~Sggb3N7TiwT~DF-GiREXohDOK~hnfSXtxM7nqjnF01~2Hp7EyLPRbjC5eO8dsSG-5hqCve92NSbIQFKPWiQZOMGqZ84dBc-kjf3twpURqCk3wEZPbFIfbdOzPuQ917WswhmMPpp~1~pS~ILnRdyZf8wk8xVFbR58~4k3-KARK30YmiZ8pAjOSTeFlDtqpS0OggVBFivU5Bw6Rk8niFqbXPtni1Cp9ecf2i7Sagb40~XQ1jm~~utxJtUR6823zsr7GALiCCTDRk0PNKt4LZhG-mtf1EhcU1iOiko5g__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","City staff requested council approval of Resolution 2025-17 to authorize a consultant services agreement with the Solano Economic Development Corporation (Solano EDC) to provide staffing and administrative support to the Travis Community Consortium (TCC) for six months through June. Assistant to the city manager Liz Aptekar summarized the consortium’s composition—member jurisdictions Benicia, Dixon, Fairfield, Rio Vista, Suisun City, Vacaville, Vallejo, Solano County and others—and described administrative tasks the consultant performs, including meeting coordination, finance management and grants support (the consultant has supported the MEER grant and related emergency‑planning work).

Council members raised procedural questions about public access and Brown Act obligations, whether TCC executive meetings are subject to public‑meeting law, and whether minutes and agendas are publicly available. Mayor Catherine Moy and other council members explained there are two TCC bodies: a public-facing TCC general board and an “executive” group that receives some confidential, base‑level briefings; the executive meetings have been ad hoc and not Brown Act public meetings because they sometimes host confidential briefings with base leadership. Councilmembers asked staff to ensure greater transparency and to return with clearer documentation showing agendas and minutes for public meetings.

Councilman Tonneson asked whether minutes and public notices were published and how public funds flowing to the TCC are tracked; staff said agendas are prepared and Kelly (city staff) composes meeting agendas, and that some activities—such as multi‑agency MEER grants—are part of the consortium’s work. Councilmembers also discussed the consultant fee amount and packet text: staff corrected a typographical issue, noting the consultant contract sum for the six‑month extension is $37,500, not $5,000 as printed in one place in the packet.

After public comment and additional clarifying questions, Councilman Tonneson moved to approve the consultant services agreement; Vice Mayor Pam Bertani seconded. The council voted unanimously to adopt Resolution 2025‑17 and authorize the six‑month consultant agreement through June. Council members said staff would return with more detail about public meeting notices and documentation and would continue work to reconcile public‑access expectations with the consortium’s need to receive confidential briefings from base officials.","The City Council approved a six-month consultant services agreement with the Solano Economic Development Corporation to continue staffing and support for the Travis Community Consortium while the consortium restructures and addresses public-access questions about bylaws and Brown Act requirements.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6352621,"Council approves joint Homekey application for motel-to-supportive-housing conversion at North Texas Street",3941,9293000,13234000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2224359-925b9cfb731b4ecce5fe560d9e0fb758&start=9293&end=13234","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2224359-925b9cfb731b4ecce5fe560d9e0fb758/thumbnail_9293000.jpg","/articles/6352621/Fairfield/Solano-County/California/Council-approves-joint-Homekey-application-for-motel-to-supportive-housing-conversion-at-North-Texas-Street","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6352621-89d5702310f209f3dfc825d87e2b2291/orig.mp4?Expires=1775607929&Signature=C3tZ~wKtSpPPvYg4mJPPSKw5MQWC1-zQ4mquFYdJDwuJmlAVjo~jEBzmQHls9rG~ESR8ViuWYA9ypxkeD~1UsBqM6InioJ7rV1QMlNV~9xLHsz~Tai2ka9hkPRRMlgE8DMyJThP5uWd2ag5me0ZhZ5wkqwbMQi81huRN9M8cInXTfIwsJs0ThJm-P5IvDR1ekaetpnbLCV9VvSZZEsyUPZ5AA9tzDkE31Fy5aiOQumIQXTqja1Q2Tcn7wyb9d0AhkkLfrboe80Q-bdW7b2qZoU5mLnGkruX13owYhpytPYBxJAnX94~l6qKPAU2X1QRZyoQps0cjFFZtr9BNdtHMiA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Senior housing project manager Latonya Torones presented a request for the City to submit a joint application with Danco Communities to the California Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) under the Homekey Plus program. Torones said the proposed project is a motel conversion at 3331 North Texas Street that would provide permanent supportive housing for people experiencing or at risk of homelessness and could leverage roughly $23 million in Homekey funding.

Torones outlined reasons the city is supporting the application: the project would reduce Fairfield’s unhoused population, help the city meet Regional Housing Needs Allocation goals, and leverage a modest city contribution (the council previously approved approximately $1 million) into significantly greater state funding. Torones also said the city would not own the project but would record regulatory restrictions to preserve affordability and program requirements.

Chris Dart, president of Danco Communities, described the developer’s Homekey track record (several motel-to-housing projects in Northern California) and said the firm is vertically integrated (development, construction and property management) and experienced with supportive services. Danco representatives said they expect to reconfigure existing small motel rooms into larger units with kitchenettes, to provide accessible units, fencing and controlled access, on-site management, and ongoing supportive services coordinated with Solano County behavioral health and community partners. Danco said the team is pursuing project-based vouchers (Section 8) and a 55‑year regulatory agreement as part of the Homekey structure.

Speakers during public comment included Kaminar’s supported housing director Linay (Lynae) Magnuson and Deandre Richard, who urged the council to approve the application because Homekey projects quickly move people from the streets into housing. A representative of the Northern California Carpenters Union asked the council to require prevailing wages, healthcare benefits and apprenticeship opportunities on construction, and Danco and staff confirmed Homekey projects typically require prevailing wage reporting and other compliance. A nearby property owner expressed concern about neighborhood impacts and asked for recurring, proactive outreach; Danco committed to ongoing community meetings, monthly or quarterly, and to seat neighbors at project coordination meetings.

Council members asked about funding contingencies, whether the county would provide behavioral health services, project timing and reporting, and the mechanics of regulatory agreements. Torones said a letter of support from behavioral health is required for the Homekey application and staff is coordinating with the county; Danco said operational financing would rely on project-based vouchers and other program income, and that the developer had experience covering capital and operation contingencies on similar projects.

After questions and public comment, the council voted unanimously to approve the resolution to submit the joint Homekey Plus application with Danco Communities. The motion passed without recorded roll-call names on the transcript, with the meeting record showing unanimous approval.","The City Council unanimously authorized a joint application with Danco Communities to apply for Homekey Plus funding to convert the 3331 North Texas Street motel into permanent supportive housing, potentially adding up to 50–100 units and leveraging state capital for long-term operations and services.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6352626,"Fairfield council pauses decision on e-bikes in Rockville Hills, asks staff to return with funding and staffing plan",3676,5674000,9350000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2224359-925b9cfb731b4ecce5fe560d9e0fb758&start=5674&end=9350","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2224359-925b9cfb731b4ecce5fe560d9e0fb758/thumbnail_5674000.jpg","/articles/6352626/Fairfield/Solano-County/California/Fairfield-council-pauses-decision-on-e-bikes-in-Rockville-Hills-asks-staff-to-return-with-funding-and-staffing-plan","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6352626-8756dd7555245e50b00b7b205faa7dbf/orig.mp4?Expires=1775607929&Signature=gqauTDvnFvS9VL7rjVKYFxl2X3827zZKbkjQy~TzKj3qbz0mh4VvezDhajG2foHGeX7C-vm~c~WApLPpXz3RaAurnOHXwEXyAvuxXirjlQNddACZSnKjZXZYZ6BHmg6BG0ifS5qDRTa678vhVl26M94ek7Rb6-MEnA9gFvn9CPq8h9g~J2STxe~YYV3-VGdGHkyoHELOspG2Jfx-k19aUO~lV0Z4Ca~1AOQ5~nULBpZWofQI28d7e52xfZMQiWa5zwy~xFbSUm0d6II04-y35EcqH9z5JRFCyB7XsgTF0UniOmMEFUg-EwnQkWBNoSnm~IENbFrdZyNUoJWM08FAUA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Jared Preston, chair of the Rockville Hills Regional Park Citizens Advisory Committee, told the City Council the committee has studied e-bike access and the park’s management plan and recommended three options: allow Class 1 e-bikes outright; allow them only if minimum staffing is provided; or allow them contingent on securing funding to implement the park management plan.

The council heard about the condition of the park and the role of a park ranger from Preston and other speakers. Preston said the park’s management plan remains viable but is not being implemented because of budget constraints and the absence of a full-time ranger, and estimated $300,000–$400,000 in annual recurring costs and roughly $1 million total to bring the park up to the management plan standard. He added that CFD 4A, a community facilities district fund with a balance of about $1.6 million, might be repurposed to fund maintenance if the council chose that path.

The RCAC presentation and public comment split between users who said e-bikes make the park accessible to older residents and those who urged caution until staffing and trail maintenance improve. Jim Carr, speaking for a user group he called the OGs, said e-bikes “opened a whole new world” for older riders and urged that the park be available to all. Volunteer Julie Baptista and former RCAC member Veronica Cornett urged delay until a full-time ranger returns, arguing that ranger presence is essential for education, enforcement and trail maintenance. Cornett also raised safety concerns about lithium batteries on some e-bikes.

Council members debated liability, park conditions, and creative staffing or volunteer options. Councilwoman Pam Bertani said she would not support overturning the ordinance that currently prohibits e-bikes while the park lacks adequate ranger staffing, citing safety and legal exposure. City Attorney commentary (on record at the meeting) noted that liability questions are fact-specific and that the city has some legal defenses while an ordinance prohibiting a use remains in effect, but that crafting a conditional ordinance (allowing e-bikes only when certain staffing or funding benchmarks are met) would be within the council’s discretion.

After extended discussion, the council did not change the ordinance that currently bans e-bikes. Instead it directed staff to return with a combined report and draft ordinance that would include: (1) paths for securing funding for the Rockville Hills Park management plan (including a possible amendment to CFD 4A to permit maintenance spending), (2) minimum staffing options (including whether a park ranger or supervised volunteer/temporary program could meet those requirements), and (3) language for a conditional policy allowing Class 1 pedal‑assist e-bikes only when the staffing and funding conditions are met. The council emphasized outreach, fee updates already approved by the RCAC, and exploring volunteer partnerships to help maintain the park.

The council specifically asked staff to report back on the feasibility and legal mechanics of repurposing CFD 4A, updated gate and user-fee revenue projections, and potential temporary staffing models that could support a safe e-bike transition. No ordinance change or vote on e-bike access occurred at the meeting.","The Fairfield City Council heard competing views on allowing Class 1 electric bicycles in Rockville Hills Regional Park and directed staff to return with options tying e-bike access to staffing and funding, including a possible repurposing of CFD 4A funds and updated fee strategies.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Transit workers’ union raises concerns about distribution of $15.3M federal grant for Fairfield FAST

Council approves six-month extension and consultant services agreement for Travis Community Consortium

Council approves joint Homekey application for motel-to-supportive-housing conversion at North Texas Street

Fairfield council pauses decision on e-bikes in Rockville Hills, asks staff to return with funding and staffing plan