Antioch council approves proclamation, leases and agenda items; authorizes late consultant payment in 4-1 vote

The Antioch City Council on July 8 adopted a series of measures that included a proclamation recognizing July 17 as Port Chicago Remembrance Day and several administrative and land-use items.

The council voted unanimously to adopt the Port Chicago proclamation that recognizes the 1944 munitions explosion and President Biden’s 2024 exoneration of the Port Chicago 50. Council also approved a second amendment to the consulting services agreement with TM Consulting Inc. to continue services for Tracy Miller at $10,000 a month through December (total amendment $60,000). That motion passed 5-0.

On an item that drew more discussion, the council authorized payment of $65,920 to David Townsend & Associates (DTA) for consulting services performed after a prior contract expired. Director Bunting said the work had been performed and staff recommended payment; Councilmember Freitas questioned how a consultant could perform two years of work without an executed contract. The council approved the payment 4-1, with Freitas voting no.

The council also approved a 10-year lot lease with Sean McCauley Investments Inc. for roughly 2,540 square feet adjacent to 1 Marina Plaza to create an outdoor seating area for Smith’s Landing; that motion passed 5-0. Council appointed William Speicher to fill a partial-term vacancy on the planning commission (term to October 2025) by unanimous vote.

In a regular-agenda item tied to a Contra Costa Superior Court receivership, the council approved an asset transfer of the Alluvium/Lemonade cannabis business to Catalyst Antioch LLC. The city attorney asked that the motion be approved subject to two clerical changes in the resolution (to reflect that the acquisition is an asset sale and to identify the acquiring entity as Catalyst Antioch LLC). Council approved the item 5-0.

Finally, the council accepted the consolidated engineer’s report for multiple street-lighting and landscaping assessment districts, noted no rate changes for FY 2025–26, and set a public hearing for July 22. Staff said projected district revenue is roughly $2.3 million while estimated maintenance costs are about $7.1 million, leaving an approximate $4.8 million shortfall covered in the adopted general fund budget; council set the hearing 5-0.

Votes recorded in the meeting minutes matched these outcomes: several items passed unanimously; the only roll call with a recorded dissent was the $65,920 payment to DTA (4-1).