City Hires Consultant to Help Develop Strategic Plan to Guide Priorities, Goals in Coming Years

Also, Council hires new Marina operator, transfers ownership of DiMaggio boat to nonprofit; removal of Hidden Lakes bike ramps draws backlash; traffic safety discussion; MUSD bond measure passes

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The City Council earlier this month approved the hiring of a consultant to help develop a Strategic Plan that prioritizes the city's goals and strategies over the next four years.

Such a plan is needed, according to a presentation at the Nov. 6 council meeting by Assistant City Manager Lauren Sugayan, "to define specific, measurable strategies for the community, create a shared vision, affirm the mission of the organization, and articulate the city's values."

The contract, with the firm Baker Tilly, is for $91,700, to be funded as part of the Fiscal Year 2024-25 budget through "a mix of project and labor savings and interdepartmental budget transfers," according to the city staff report accompanying the item.

Baker Tilly worked as facilitator at the last two City Council retreats in February 2023 and February 2024, which led to the designation of what was originally characterized as five "high-level goals" — actually there are four, according to Sugayan:

• staff recruitment and retention; 

• financial sustainability; 

• a vibrant and sustainable waterfront and marina; 

• a strong downtown and commercial center.

During her presentation, Sugayan said she had advised in late June that a Citywide Strategic Plan, along with a long-range financial forecast and work prioritization, is needed to implement the city's long-range goals. She cited elements of a current long-range workplan that the city staff is already implementing:

• Build the new Pine Meadow Park; 

• Build new pickleball courts; 

• Resurface the Mountain View Park basketball court; 

• Numerous municipal code amendments in support of the city's Housing Element (with thanks to the planning staff); 

• New and first-time cultural events, such as the Día de los Muertos celebration on Nov. 3

• Construct a new fishing pier; 

• A new Diversity and Cultural Commission; 

• Renovate city monument signs; 

"And many more, various, small and large-scale improvement projects," Sugayan added.

The city has been able to implement many of these projects thanks to just over $9 million in ARPA (American Rescue Plan Act) funds, Sugayan said. "However, in the absence of ARPA going forward, the city will be in a state of budget scarcity," Sugayan continued, noting that "expenses are exceeding the pace of our revenues."

"With less funding at our disposal for new projects, it is important that we have a focused action plan as we look ahead to the next two fiscal cycles."

With that in mind, the council established the aforementioned four high-level goals. But, Sugayan said, "These goals are broad and ambiguous. They lack specificity in how to achieve them, which tends to create misalignment and confusion over our work plan, and mission creep, where suddenly everything is a priority." An example: "A goal such as 'strong downtown and commercial centers' — that can mean 50 different things, depending on who you talk to, and so what we're really looking for is to narrow down what it actually means to achieve that."

Sugayan cited an example of a project that could advance with the help of a Strategic Plan:

"The City Council has expressed on numerous occasions its desire to install a bathroom in the downtown area," she said in her Nov. 6 staff report. "Although current budget and staffing constraints prevent immediate action, the strategic planning process provides a framework to incorporate this idea into the four-year plan, establishing a clear timeline for its completion." 

Elaborating during her presentation, she said: "If we were to commit to getting the bathroom done next year, we better have a full engineering and planning staff on board … make sure that we're completely prepared, and our capacity is there to be able to implement the plan. We would look at pending state and federal mandates that might affect operations and service delivery. We would look at our technology — is it up to pace to be able to deliver services and projects in the future?

"We really haven't taken a good, healthy look at these things in quite a while. And in order for us to be successful, we need to start there."

The Strategic Plan Process calls for Baker Tilly, with the support of a small city work team, to gather and analyze information from interviews, surveys and a review of city documents including current work plans, followed by an environmental scan to assess internal and external conditions within the city. There will be a workshop for the City Council, staff and community, after which Baker Tilly will produce a draft plan, to be followed by an implementation and planning workshop for city staff. The finalized Strategic Plan will go to the City Council for adoption in early summer 2025.

The plan will have three components: 

• Vision, mission and values;

• Multi-year goals and strategies (along with time frames for achieving them);

• Progress reports and accountability.

As described in the staff report, "vision" indicates where the Council wishes to take the city in the future. A "mission" statement conveys "the purpose of the city of Martinez — why does it exist?" And "values" guide the behaviors of the people associated with the city and drive its culture. The city's vision and mission statements have not been updated in about 10 years, and it currently has no adopted set of values.

Sugayan's presentation was well-received by the five council members, with a few caveats. Councilman Satinder Malhi and Mayor Brianne Zorn sought assurance that the plan would not be "rigid" but rather "flexible" and "nimble" enough to accommodate changes and add new priorities. Malhi said the annual council retreat should be just "one pathway … not the only way" to make changes, so that they would not be subject to a year's wait, and added: "This is a guide, but it's not the be-all, end-all."

Councilman Mark Ross raised the specter of rivalry among different council districts, especially with limited funding: "It's a tough interchange you're going to have to navigate."

Councilman Jay Howard cautioned against "overloading" the staff with "big ideas" and "extras;" advocated start dates and end dates for projects; and stressed the importance of bringing the community into the conversation.

The council unanimously approved the development of the Strategic Plan and the hiring of Baker Tilly.

The staff report accompanying the item is at https://legistarweb-production.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/attachment/pdf/2954632/Staff_Report_-_Citywide_Strategic_Plan.pdf

An example of a Strategic Plan, produced by Baker Tilly for the City of Victorville and referenced in the Nov. 6 Martinez City Council agenda, is at https://legistarweb-production.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/attachment/pdf/2943005/Victorville_Strategic_Plan.pdf .

The following items from the Nov. 20 City Council meeting were written by Craig Lazzeretti.

City hires new Marina operator

The City Council unanimously voted to hire F3 Marina to manage the Martinez Marina, following a topsy-turvy period in which the city’s longtime marina operator, Almar, abruptly terminated its agreement. The city has been managing the marina itself since August, a situation it was eager to end.

Florida-based F3 Marina manages 26 marinas globally, including ones in Vallejo and South San Francisco; roughly half of the marinas it operates are owned by local governments.

The agreement with F3 Marina covers a two-year term, with the possibility of an extension. The city is looking for the new operator to improve operations and increase revenues, in line with its ambitious plans to transform the waterfront. Hunter Spitler, F3 Marina’s director of marina operations, told the council that top priorities upon assuming operations in January will be to conduct a full audit and “get a real understanding of what boaters want. It is their marina; it is their home.”

He noted F3’s extensive experience operating municipal marinas and vowed to run a “first-rate facility.”

The city will pay F3 Marina $6,000 per month or 6.5% of gross receipts (whichever is greater). The operator also stands to earn an "incentive fee" if gross revenues exceed $423,000 per year. F3 would receive 20% of gross revenue for the first $125,000 above $423,000, and 10% of any revenue thereafter.

Council members expressed excitement about the prospect of F3 Marina elevating the condition of the marina, with Mayor Brianne Zorn noting its strong local track record.

“Vallejo is a very nice marina, and I would like to see something like that in Martinez,” she said.

City transfers ownership of DiMaggio boat to nonprofit

The City Council unanimously voted to transfer ownership of Joe DiMaggio’s Chris-Craft Sportsman pleasure boat, which was restored to its original condition several years ago, to the Joe DiMaggio Hometown Hero Project. The nonprofit plans to store and exhibit the boat at Bill’s Ace Truckbox Center, located at 3550 Pacheco Blvd.

Council members expressed excitement that the boat, which in recent years has only been displayed sporadically at community events, will now be accessible for public viewing, particularly in light of the thousands of hours of volunteer labor that went into meticulously restoring it over a five-year period from 2010 to 2015.

Council Member Debbie McKillop, who has family ties to DiMaggio, noted that the boat was once under the care of her relatives who fished with it for several years. “This boat really needs to be showcased. I’m glad that it will be out of (its current storage location) and that it will be somewhere people can go see it and recognize what it means and understand what it means. I couldn’t be more happy to know that it’s not just in a little warehouse; it’s going to be somewhere people can enjoy the boat.”

During public comment, Hometown Hero Project Vice President Rick Aldridge told the council: “It’s just wonderful to have it to share with the community for generations to come, and you are all part of that.”

Discussion on traffic safety gets pointed

What seemed on the surface to be a rather routine presentation on the city’s Traffic Safety Neighborhood Program drew some sharp comments from City Council members who asked that they be better informed about traffic-control projects and that the city do a better job of responding to resident requests and updating the public on progress.

Mayor Brianne Zorn asked a series of questions following the presentation on how the City Council can receive more timely information on discussions and decisions of the city’s Traffic Safety Committee, which addresses traffic safety issues and resident complaints. She indicated that the council has been largely left in the dark about its work and asked that minutes from its meetings be shared with her and her colleagues.

“All of us are regularly petitioned by our community to work on traffic safety projects, and if we don’t have a line of sight about what our city is doing, then we cannot answer to our constituents. … I just want to know what’s going on,” she said.

City Manager Michael Chandler and Public Works Director Joe Enke said they would follow through on the request. Zorn also expressed a desire to have a council liaison on the Traffic Safety Committee.

Council Member Jay Howard added: “This is the topic in this community. This is what on our daily walks, our interaction with the community, this is the question that we get. It’s traffic, traffic, traffic.”

Council Member Satinder Malhi said he’s received complaints from the community about a lack of response to traffic-safety concerns, and suggested that a tracking system is needed so that residents can stay apprised of the status of requests and projects.

“The sense I get when I talk to residents is nothing is happening. They just feel, rightly or wrongly, nothing is happening,” he said. “But I know stuff is happening. It just may not be happening as quickly as they would like, but I think there are opportunities here to improve that process to share out. How do we get that information out to the public so that they have some measure of confidence that we hear them and that we’re doing the best we can to try to respond as staff and funding resources allow?”

Council Member Debbie McKillop said she looked forward to “having more transparency because we do get questions about speeding and traffic safety and things like that.”

While generally agreeing with the sentiments expressed by the rest of the council, Council Member Mark Ross noted that not every traffic-related request the city receives from the community is warranted.

“If all the requests had been granted during my (28-year) tenure, there wouldn’t be two blocks you could drive continuously without stopping,” he said. “Everybody wants a stop sign on their street.”

Controversy over Hidden Lakes bike ramps removal

The city recently removed dirt bike ramps that had been built in the back area at Hidden Lakes Park, drawing backlash from some community members.

The city said the ramps were reported as a safety issue for trail walkers, but one member of the public pushed back at the Nov. 20 meeting, characterizing the move as an overreaction to what consisted largely of small 1- or 2-foot jumps that were widely popular among bike riders and not a hazard for pedestrians.

Resident Stavros Kalogirou told the the council during public comment that he was shocked to see the destruction of the ramps “without any sort of warning or discussion or dialogue,” saying they have been an “integral part” of the childhood experiences for many kids in the area.

“The bike jumps were nowhere near where 99% of people walk in that open space,” he said. “This is an area that has brought a lot of joy, and to see it just kind demolished in an afternoon was really disappointing.”

In an Instagram post, the city apologized “that the safety work was not notified beforehand. Even though the bike track is not an official, sanctioned part of the park, we acknowledge that community members have put time and effort into its development. The city will explore options to either safely expand this community-led BMX track or potentially establish one in another location.”

A number of residents responded to the post critically, with one commenting, “Without those jumps, I don’t know if I would have pursued biking as strongly and lead to a career as a professional athlete and many jobs within the industry.”

City Manager Michael Chandler acknowledged at Wednesday’s council meeting the community’s frustration but also explained that the city’s insurance pool coverage mandates that it follow “prescribed protocols” for such dirt bike ramps in its parks, prompting the Public Works Department to move swiftly when it received a pedestrian complaint about the presence of the ramps. Some of the structures in question had been recently installed, he said.

“It’s an unfortunate circumstance but a move we really had to make given the risk…” he said, explaining that the city might be held liable without insurance coverage if an injury were to occur.

Chandler said the city plans to engage the dirt bike riding community in searching for opportunities to provide them such an amenity.

Councilman Satinder Malhi, whose district includes Hidden Lakes, also encouraged the dirt bike community to work with city staff and make their voices heard in the effort to bring a sanctioned BMX park to the city, noting that similar advocacy by community members was pivotal in the project to build city pickleball courts.

He also noted reports that some city staff had been verbally accosted during the removal process.

“I just want to make clear that it is never OK to go out there and verbally or physically assault our staff,” he said. “You will not find better public servants than those who are here working hard in the city of Martinez. They’re out there just simply trying to do their jobs.”

Other tidbits:

• The latest vote count update from the Contra Costa Elections Office makes clear that Measure O, the Martinez Unified School District’s $90 million bond measure, will pass, paving the way for facility improvements at Alhambra High School and Martinez Junior High School and a potential rebuilding and relocation of the Martinez Adult Education campus. With the vast majority of votes counted, the measure stands at 56% approval, just above the 55% threshold required for passage (a similar measure failed in 2022). This construction bond comes on top of other bonds passed in 2010 and 2016 that have led to major renovations and rebuilding of school sites, and is expected to enable the district to complete its facilities master plan.

• Mark Ross’ 28-year tenure on the City Council will officially end at the Dec. 11 council meeting, when the November election results are certified. Nov. 20 was his final regular meeting. He will be replaced by Greg Young, who won the race for the District 2 seat over Dylan Radke. Young will be the first Black resident to sit on the Martinez City Council. Appointed incumbent Satinder Malhi, who ran unopposed for the District 3 seat, will also be sworn into a full four-year term on Dec. 11. Malhi is the first Sikh-American to serve on the council.

• The City Council approved an 8.8% raise for Chandler, bringing his annual base salary to $275,578 as of Jan. 1. In response to a question by Zorn, City Attorney Terri Highsmith said Chandler’s salary will remain below the median for comparable city managers after the increase.

• Police Chief Andrew White noted during Wednesday’s meeting that the Martinez Alerts system was activated that night to implement a shelter in place in an area around Macalvey Drive as the U.S. Secret Service attempted to serve a warrant on a resident. White said the resident refused to cooperate, and that the regional S.W.A.T. team was activated. The resident eventually was taken into custody, and “everything was safely resolved,” White said. For more, see this report from KRON4: https://www.kron4.com/news/bay-area/secret-service-agents-arrest-martinez-man/

• Kat Galileo is the new city clerk of Martinez. She had previously served as assistant city clerk and was appointed by City Manager Michael Chandler to the top position after voters in March chose to do away with the elected city clerk position. Gary Hernandez had long served as Martinez’s elected city clerk, but it was primarily a ceremonial role, with Galileo and her predecessors in the assistant position performing the day-to-day duties of the office.

• The city has completed its resurfacing project of the basketball court at Mountain View Park, and it has reopened for public use.

• In light of the first major storm of the season arriving this week, the city has a dedicated page on its website with information and resources for residents, including sandbag-filling stations. It can be viewed at the following link: https://www.cityofmartinez.org/Home/Components/News/News/166/15

And finally…

Happy Thanksgiving to all readers of Martinez News and Views. I am eternally grateful for your ongoing support of this newsletter. Thank you for making this a labor of love for me, and best wishes for the holiday season.