“We don’t want criminals building up in here.” – Former Antioch Police Oversight Commissioner Leslie May

“Staff has determined that the project complies with the General Plan. Therefore, we can’t deny the project.” – Mayor Pro Tem Rocha

“They know we can’t stop this development from happening. This project needs to move forward.” – Councilwoman Torres-Walker said before voting to abstain.

“If we don’t approve this, we will end up in litigation. I don’t see this as a battle I want to fight.” – Mayor Bernal

By Allen D. Payton

During a special meeting on Tuesday, November 4, 2025, the Antioch City Council split 3-1-1 to approve DeNova Homes’ 159-unit Wildflower Townhomes 2 project. District 4 Councilwoman Monica Wilson flip flopped from last week and voted “yes”, Freitas again voted “no”, and District 1 Councilwoman Tamisha Torres-Walker voted to abstain after being absent last week, which resulted in a 2-2 tie vote, and even though she admitted the project needed to “move forward”.

The motion was made by Mayor Pro Tem and District 2 Councilman Louie Rocha and seconded by Mayor Ron Bernal, after both implored their fellow councilmembers to recognize the City would face an unwinnable lawsuit by the developer and cost the General Fund, which is facing a deficit next year.

The project was approved for the four-parcel, 10.35 acre vacant property near the intersection of Hillcrest Avenue and Deer Valley Road and bordered by Wildflower Drive to the east and the road next to the KFC restaurant in the Hillcrest Crossroads shopping center which also serves the existing condo development.

During the meeting, the Council also received a Quarterly Report by Con Fire Chief Lewis Broschard, were introduced to new City staff, including new sworn police officers and new police department leaders, announced board and commission openings for resident to apply to serve on and unanimously approved a proclamation recognizing November as Homeless Awareness Month.

Wildflower Station Townhomes 2

Following a very brief report by City staff on the Wildflower Station Townhomes 2 project by Antioch Planning Manager Zoe Merideth, she asked for any council comments. But Bernal first opened up for public comments. The project is one of several new housing developments in Antioch by DeNova Homes, whose father and son leaders were indicted in April for bribery of a city councilman last year. (See related article).

As a result, some residents don’t think they should have any of their projects approved.

Public Comments

“It made my blood boil,” said resident and former Police Oversight Commissioner Leslie May. “I understand the council’s hands are tied. In the meantime, we have criminal activity by the developer. I don’t appreciate them bullying Antioch.”

“Watchu gonna do if Antioch doesn’t go for it?” she asked while looking for the developer’s representatives in the audience. But they were not in attendance.

“We don’t want criminals building up in here,” she continued. “We don’t know how many cups of money will be passed. I’m going to put them on blast, and you better come up here and be really humble.”

She threatened a class action lawsuit by residents, “To stop them from building here. Not even an outhouse,” May stated.

Resident Melissa Case said, “It’s sad that they aren’t here,” then asked about the Rancho Meadows project by DeNova Homes which is proposed to include six low-income homes in the northeast part of city, and is “now on hold.”

She then complained about the off-camera meetings the developer’s representatives had with city staff members in the hallway during breaks in last week’s meetings. 

“Who really benefits from these cozy relationships?” she asked.

“My heart says to vote, ‘no’ on this. But my head recognizes the state requirements,” Case added.

Low-income housing advocate Andrew Becker was the last member of the public to speak and took Wilson to task for her inconsistency on the project.

“I guess frustration is really just the tip of the iceberg. When the City goes through a Housing Update process and you have less than 50 people show up, it says something,” he stated. “I was so disheartened to see…Councilmember Wilson to say she couldn’t support a project on a site that she helped rezone.”

“When you were part of the process for rezoning those properties…I was a part of those meetings,” Becker continued. “I said to you there’s a disparity in where those properties are located…and what the community really wants. And nobody had the time to respond to my phone calls.”

“The development should have been approved the first meeting because it’s an SB330, because the developer did exactly what you wanted him to do,” he added.

Council Discusses, Approves Project on Split 3-1-1 Vote

Torres-Walker was the first council member to discuss the project asking simply, “Do we have to?”

City Attorney Cole responded, “Yes.”

“I will just stay consistent with what I said last week,” said Rocha. He then read from the state’s Housing Accountability Act and said, “Staff has determined that the project complies with the General Plan. Therefore, we can’t deny the project.”

Torres-Walker then said, “I wasn’t here last week but watched. They know we can’t stop this development from happening.”

“Instead of getting a mixed-use development…we got something totally different,” she continued. “I think moving forward…that we can address some of these zoning issues so we can have housing…that supports economic development.”

“I will not be voting for or against this project because I’m not against development. I have other reasons I will be voting to abstain, tonight,” Torres-Walker stated but didn’t offer any.

“We needed to increase economic development,” Freitas said speaking about public meetings regarding the property held when he was mayor from 2000-08.

“There should not be a development in this particular area. This area was specifically…chosen to help Antioch with economic development,” he continued. But he was mistakenly speaking about DeNova’s Slatten Ranch Townhomes project which was approved last week on a 3-1 vote with Freitas voting against.

However, after the meeting he said, “I misspoke. But my comments are the same. Wildflower was supposed to be a mixed housing and business development project which was zoned accordingly.”

“I am so offended by SB330, and I am so offended by DeNova housing,” the councilman continued. “We raised legitimate issues. But because they have the law behind them…they can completely ignore us.”

“I’m voting ‘no’ on this,” Freitas stated, although recognizing the possibility of a lawsuit by the developer. “We need to have some kind of protest. The law is broken. The law is not helping our local economy.”

“This property is going to be ripped away from us for economic development,” he stated. “I haven’t changed my opinion. I will be voting ‘no’.”

“The original project that was presented to us had a mix of residential toward the back and some commercial…and it was close to a BART Station,” said Wilson. “To have that changed, is what frustrates me. I understand state law. It’s unfortunate that we have to deal with this project.”

Bernal then said, “The developer is the wrong place to focus our anger. We must comply…we got a letter from the Department of Housing and Community Development. If we don’t approve this, we will end up in litigation. I don’t see this as a battle I want to fight.”

“The end result is it pushes housing so we can provide the workforce that goes into San Francisco,” he stated.

“This is something that we’re going to have to address. Because we have other properties being rezoned residential,” Bernal added.

“Just to be fiscally responsible, we’re opening up ourselves to litigation that we will have to pay from the General Fund and we’re facing a deficit next year,” Rocha stated. “We’re opening ourselves up to litigation that we have no chance of being successful. I just don’t understand why we are going there if we do. I think it’s a bad decision for us. We are a General Law City and we are required to comply with the California Constitution and the laws.”

Torres-Walker then said, “I think it’s been clear what the liability will be, and this project needs to move forward.” But then she voted to abstain, neither voting for or against the project.

The motion passed on a 3-1-1 vote with Wilson switching her vote from last week when she voted “no”, Freitas again voting no and Torres-Walker abstaining. (See related articles here, here, here and here to learn more about both townhome projects and state housing law requiring cities to approve new development).

Closed Session

Before their regular meeting at 7:00 p.m., the Council held a special Closed Session meeting to discuss one lawsuit, a potential lawsuit and a potential real estate transaction.

1. CONFERENCE WITH LEGAL COUNSEL – EXISTING LITIGATION: Trent Allen, et al. v. City of Antioch, et al., United States District Court Northern District of California, (Case No. 3:23-cv-01895-TSH). The lawsuit is against the City, six cops and former police chiefs, brought by murder suspect Trent Allen and others.
2. CONFERENCE WITH REAL PROPERTY NEGOTIATIONS: Approximately 1,275 square feet of property adjacent to 113 G Street (APN 066-051-012), Antioch, CA; Negotiating Parties: City of Antioch Negotiators: Bessie Marie Scott, City Manager and Derek Cole, Interim City Attorney; Negotiating Parties: Sean McCauley, Owner of Adjacent Property; Under Negotiation: Price and terms of payment. The property is the parking lot on the east side of the end of the G Street cul-de-sac and McCauley plans to use a portion for a dining deck as part of a new, planned restaurant at the corner of G and W. 2nd Streets.
3. CONFERENCE WITH LEGAL COUNSEL—ANTICIPATED LITIGATION – Significant exposure to litigation pursuant to California Government Code section 54956.9(d)(2): One potential case.

At the beginning of the Regular Meeting, Interim City Attorney Cole said, “No reportable action was taken” on any of the three items.

Board and Commission Openings

Mayor Ron Bernal announced the following openings:

• City of Antioch Board of Administrative Appeals – Two (2) Full Term Vacancies, expiring March 2028 and one (1) Alternate Vacancy, expiring December 2025.
• Parks and Recreation Commission – One (1) Partial Term Vacancy, expiring March 2028 § One (1) Alternate Vacancy, expiring April 2026.
• Contra Costa County Library Commission – One (1) Full Term Vacancy, expiring June 2029

To be considered for the vacancy position(s) listed above, please fill out an application available online on the website at: https://bit.ly/COA-BC23. Printed applications are also available at Antioch City Hall, 200 H Street. Please email the completed application to: cityclerk@antiochca.gov, by 5:00 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 21, 2025. You can also drop off the application (Attn: City Clerk), in the water billing drop-off box just outside of Antioch City Hall.

For more information about each board or commission click, here.

New Police Officers, Leaders Introduced

During the new City employee introductions, Chief Joe Vigil introduced two new Antioch Police Officers, Brian Diaz and Adrian Riera-Pelayo who just graduated from the academy, and a new Captain.

“I just wanted to say thank you for this opportunity and to be part of the progression the City is making” Diaz said. “I will not let you down.” Adrian

Vigil also introduced new Captain Shane Bower who said, “I want to thank you for this opportunity to provide exceptional service to this community.”

“Your family is proud of you…and I’m excited about working with you in the city,” said District 1 Councilwoman Tamisha Torres-Walker.

New Lt. Franco Ceasar was also introduced and said, “Thank you City Manager, City Council and to the Chief. I’m ready to work. I’ve been a worker all my life. I’m ready to help out the department. Thank you to the Chief for the opportunity.”

All four will be sworn in during a ceremony on Monday, Nov. 24, Chief Vigil shared later.

the attachments to this post:

Wildflower Station Townhomes 2 renderings

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