Counting the 2023 successes for residents of Concord

CONCORD, CA (Dec. 5, 2023) — As another year draws to a close and I reflect on the last year as your mayor, I am extremely proud of the work we have accomplished as a city.

In January, I told you in this column that our top priorities for 2023 included launching a homeless strategic plan, continuing to fix our roadways, enhancing public safety and determining the next steps for the development of the former Concord Naval Weapons Station (CNWS).

We did that – and so much more.

Thanks to my City Council colleagues who remained focused on these goals and to our dedicated staff who put our plans into action, we have achieved significant progress on these goals and several other projects.

Through a comprehensive process with an 11-member working group, we are close to finalizing our Homeless Strategic Plan. It will help determine how we allocate the $3 million of one-time federal American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds we committed toward addressing homelessness in our community.

Road work ahead

Construction on our roadways grew pretty intense this year. Thanks to Measure V funding, we got started on our ambitious, five-year pavement improvement plan. If you’ve driven Treat Boulevard, Grant/East streets, Willow Pass from Landana to Highway 4, or any of the other major roadways that were repaved this year, you know that the job got done – and we have more planned for 2024.

Another goal aimed to enhance public safety by bringing our staffing levels back up, after they had declined during COVID. Through successful recruitments and efforts to make competitive offers, our number of sworn staff climbed back up. Our team proactively works to build strong relationships with residents and businesses.

Our automatic license plate reader cameras and drones continue to act as “force multipliers,” helping our officers to find suspect vehicles in real time. It  also serves as an investigative tool to help solve crimes.

Naval Weapons Station development

We successfully selected a new developer for CNWS. Through a public process, we identified and unanimously chose the developer Brookfield Properties for the job. We now must begin negotiating a Term Sheet, which we expect to consider at a special meeting on Jan. 16.

Thereafter, the developer will begin work with the community on preparing a draft Specific Plan for the area. And the city will have a special team to prepare related environmental studies.

City accomplishments

Some of the other things we accomplished include:

• Successfully completed and received state approval for our Housing Element update.
• Distributed $7 million to 22 local nonprofits through ARPA funding from Congress.
• Drafted a rent stabilization and just cause for eviction ordinance that will be considered at the Dec. 12 council meeting.
• Added new multifamily housing downtown.
• Implemented stricter tobacco sales policies to protect youth.

Serving as your mayor this year has been an honor. I sincerely appreciate the trust that you and my council colleagues placed in me. And I’m proud of what we have accomplished together.

As the council rotates the mayor position annually and my turn completed, I will continue my work on the City Council – just not holding the gavel and writing this monthly column.

Wishing you a joyful holiday season, Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

Direct your questions and comments to the mayor at 925-671-3158 or Laura.Hoffmeister@cityofconcord.org.