City Manager, consultant refute claims “our city is, or might be, out of compliance”
By Allen D. Payton
Following a Closed Session at 6:00 p.m. on Tuesday, September 9, 2025, for a Conference with Labor Negotiators for various employee groups, the Antioch City Council will receive presentations from the police department including the Quarterly Update with staffing stats and the U.S. Department of Justice Settlement Agreement Bi-Annual Update. Included is City Manager Bessie Scott’s Memorandum to the City Council and Police Oversight Commission dated August 18, 2025, and a letter from the outside consultant refuting concerns that the City is possibly out of compliance with the USDOJ Agreement.
She wrote, “It has come to the attention of city staff that some individuals have publicly claimed that our city is, or might be, out of compliance with the USDOJ Memorandum of Agreement (MOA). As the City Manager, I am happy to take this opportunity to address these concerns and have asked our Consultant on this matter, Manjit Sappal, to formally provide an update on the status of all elements within the MOA.”
Proclamations
The regular meeting starts at 7:00 p.m., and before the APD presentations the Council will consider approving three proclamations Celebrating California’s 175th Anniversary of Statehood, 9/11 Day of Service and Remembrance, September 11, 2025, and In Honor of Hispanic Heritage Month, September 2025.
Commission Openings
The agenda also mentions the following City Commission openings for interested members of the public to apply for appointment:
Planning Commission – 3 Full Term vacancies, expiring October 2029;
Antioch Police Oversight Commission – 1 Partial Term vacancy, expiring November 2026;
Board of Administrative Appeals – 2 Full Term vacancies, expiring March 2028 and 1 Alternate vacancy, Two-year term.
Applications for the vacant positions are due Friday, Sept. 26, 2025, at 5:00 p.m. in the City Clerk’s Office. For more information see agenda item #4 and below:
Source: City of Antioch
Proposed Changes to Housing and Homeless Staff Positions
Under the only other major item on the agenda, item #7, according to the City staff report, the council will consider amending the personnel budget for the Housing and Homelessness Division of the misnamed Public Safety and Community Resources Department (which does not include police or fire services). The proposed budget change in the amount of $79,025 for fiscal year 2025-26 is to fund one Housing Manager and two Housing Services Coordinators in lieu of one Administrative Analyst I, one Unhoused Resident Coordinator, and one Housing Program Specialist.
The Department currently is led by Interim Director Monserat Cabral following the resignation of former Director Tasha Johnson.
If adopted, applications will be due Thursday, September 11
By Allen D. Payton
During their meeting tomorrow night, Tuesday, August 26, 2025, the Antioch City Council will vote on the process for appointing a new City Clerk to fill the vacancy created by the sudden resignation and departure of Melissa Rhodes on July 30th. The Council had the option of holding a special election in November or making an appointment. The appointee would serve until just after certification of the November 2026 special election, consistent with state law governing resignations in the first half of an office. The remaining half of the term would be served by whomever is elected in that election.
According to the City staff report for the item, #8, on the meeting agenda, by Interim City Attorney Derek Cole, “At its regular meeting of August 12, 2025, the City Council directed that the vacancy be filled by appointment rather than by special election. State law requires that the appointment be made within 60 days of the vacancy, or no later than September 30, 2025.”
“The City last filled a City Clerk vacancy by appointment in 2011. At that time, the City Council adopted a process to ensure transparency, fairness, and public participation. That process included the following features:
1. Applications and Required Materials. Interested applicants were required to submit:
• A Letter of Interest (not to exceed 400 words) describing interest, qualifications, background, and other relevant information;
• A Nomination Paper signed by at least 20 but not more than 30 registered Antioch voters; and
• A completed Statement of Economic Interest (Form 700), as required by the Fair Political Practices Commission.
2. Eligibility. Applicants were required to be registered voters of the City of Antioch, consistent with the statutory qualification for an elected City Clerk.
3. Filing Deadline. Applications were required to be filed in the Office of the City Clerk by a fixed date and time.
4. Public Review. All completed applications were deemed public records and made available for public review.
5. Oral Presentations to Council. Each applicant was invited to make a brief oral presentation (no more than five minutes) at the Council meeting at which the appointment was considered. The Council had the opportunity to ask questions of the applicants.
6. Appointment at Open Session. Following applicant presentations and any public comment, the City Council deliberated and made the appointment during open session of the Council meeting.
Proposed 2025 Appointment Process
Staff recommends that the Council follow the same process as was used in 2011, using the following dates:
• Applications would be due in the City Clerk’s Office no later than 4:30 p.m., Thursday, September 11, 2025.
• The City Council would hold applicant interviews and consider appointment at its regular meeting of Tuesday, September 23, 2025.
This process balances transparency, fairness, and efficiency, and ensures compliance with the Government Code deadline for appointment at the end of September 2025.”
Closed Session, Special & Regular Meetings
The Council meeting begins with a Closed Session at 4:30 p.m. for a Conference with Labor Negotiators for the Management Unit, Treatment Plant Employees’ Association, Operating Engineers Local Union No. 3, Confidential Unit, Antioch Police Officers Association and Antioch Police Sworn Management Association.
That will be followed by a Special Meeting/Study Session beginning at 6:00 p.m. in the Council Chambers on a proposed Inclusionary Housing Ordinance. The regular meeting begins at 7:00 p.m.
The Council Chambers are located at City Hall, 200 H Street in historic, downtown Rivertown. The meetings can also be viewed via livestream on the City’s website at www.antiochca.gov/government/city-council-meetings/live/, on Comcast local cable channel 24 or AT&T U-verse channel 99.
Former Antioch City Clerk Melissa Rhodes (official City photograph) and her resignation letter on July 30, 2025.
Public informed today in meeting agenda for City Council which will discuss filling vacancy created by Melissa Rhodes less than one year into her position – in April election or appointment until Nov. 2026 election.
“There are some things to learn from this and we’ll correct it.” – Mayor Pro Tem Louie Rocha
UPDATE:Freitas says a draft press release was prepared but it announced a special election this November
By Allen D. Payton
After less than a year in her new position Antioch City Clerk Melissa Rhodes resigned effective immediately on Wednesday, July 30, 2025, without explanation or announcing it to the public. Instead, it was revealed in the City Council meeting agenda for next Tuesday, which was issued today, Friday, August 8, 2025.
According to the City staff report for the item, #3 on the agenda, “Ms. Rhodes submitted her written resignation on July 30, 2025. The City Council must accordingly take action to fill the vacant council seat by no later than September 30, 2025. Effectively, this means final action must be taken by the Council’s second September meeting on September 23, 2025.”
In her letter Rhodes wrote without explanation:
“July 30, 2025
Dear Mayor and City Council Members,
I hereby resign effective July 30, 2025 from the seat of the City Clerk for the City of Antioch.
It has been my honor serving the constituents of the City of Antioch. I am hoping for the continued success of the City.
Respectfully,
Melissa Rhodes”
———-
The City staff report also explained, “As noted, the Council may appoint the vacant position. To ensure a fair and transparent process, the City Council may choose to solicit applications from interested individuals and conduct interviews to determine the most qualified candidate. The City Council may also consider input from the public and other stakeholders during the appointment process. The appointment would need to occur in the open session of a City Council meeting.
“But there is an important qualification. Because Ms. Rhodes has resigned during the first year of her term, the appointment would only be effective for the first half of her term. In other words, the appointment would only last through the end of next year. A special election would need to be called during the November 2026 General Election and the appointment term would end once the results of that election are certified.
“The vacant City Clerk position may also be filled by the calling of a special election” and for the City of Antioch, “the next election date is April 14, 2026.”
Efforts to reach Rhodes asking why she resigned and why she didn’t announce it to the public, since they’re the ones who elected her were unsuccessful prior to publication time.
Attempts to reach Mayor Ron Bernal, District 3 Councilman Don Freitas, City Manager Bessie Scott, Jaden Baird, the City’s Public Information Officer late Friday afternoon, asking why she resigned and why it wasn’t immediately announced to the public, also were initially unsuccessful.
However, when reached for comment about why there was no public announcement the day she resigned Mayor Pro Tem and District 2 Councilman Louie Rocha said, “I’m not sure if there was a press release. We all (council members) got notification. I think I first saw it on August 1st.”
“I don’t know about the protocol procedures of what former councils have done with such vacancies. It’s the first time I’ve been in this seat as an elected official dealing with this,” he shared and pointed out, “We have a public information officer.”
“If you’ve been watching you saw she didn’t attend the last couple of meetings,” Rocha continued. “I wasn’t aware of her reasons. There must have been something going on behind the scenes.”
“The last meeting the city clerk from Clayton stepped in to help us and at another meeting the County Clerk helped out,” he stated.
“Ron, Don and I coming in are all about transparency. There are some things to learn from this and we’ll correct it,” Rocha added.
Freitas Says Council Received Resignation Letter from Rhodes via Text, Press Release was Prepared
UPDATE: Later, when asked why the public wasn’t informed immediately of Rhodes’ resignation Freitas said, “I have no idea. The first time I learned about it was on Facebook. I got a text later on July 30th from Melissa with her resignation letter.”
“The first thing I received from Bessie was on August 1st. She was basically telling the council of a draft release ‘for your review,’” the councilman continued. “The prepared press release read, ‘The City of Antioch will hold a special election on November 4th.’”
“That was not her decision,” he stated. “I immediately told her this is a policy matter that should be on the next City Council meeting agenda for discussion.”
“My bias is not to have a special election because of the costs, and the City Council should open it up for application and appointment for about one year,” Freitas added.
He said the press release also mentioned Assistant City Clerk Christina Garcia will serve in the interim position.
UPDATE: City Manager Scott responded later with, “We added this topic to our meeting on this upcoming Tuesday, August 12th as an emergency addition. Given that there needs to be a council discussion to vote on how to proceed, we felt that it was more transparent to have this discussion in public.
We had to wait on this due to summer absences among Council and Staff. Internally our staffing levels are being increased within the Clerk’s Office as well, so the Council will also discuss who should be Acting City Clerk for now when we meet on Tuesday.”
The Council’s regular meeting begins at 7:00 p.m. in the Council Chambers at 200 H Street in historic, downtown Rivertown. It can also be viewed via livestream on the City’s website, on Comcast local access cable channel 24 or on AT&T U-verse channel 99. See the complete meeting agenda packet.
Please check back later for any updates to this report.
Almost half of cuts from Police Department staffing, overtime savings
Plus, $165.3 million 5-Year Capital Improvements budget and $2.4 million in federal community funds
By Allen D. Payton
Following all the special budget session meetings over the past several months, the Antioch City Council, during their meeting Tuesday night, June 24, 2025, is expected to approve the 2025-26 budget with over $11.5 million in spending cuts and using $5 million from the Budget Stabilization Fund. The City was facing a $24.3 million deficit for the coming fiscal year and if the budget is approved as recommended, will have a net deficit of $7.7 million which will be covered from reserves.
Almost half of the savings, $5.5 million, will be in the Police Department budget from Vacancy Savings and Overtime Reductions. UPDATE: That’s due to the current staffing vacancies of approximately 30 sworn officers and the chief informing the council that they expect to add 15 more officers in the next year. So, instead of determining the savings from the staff vacancies during a mid-year budget review and spending the one-time funds on other City budget items, the council chose to account for it in the budget up front to reduce the deficit.
In spite of the cuts, future fiscal years still show the City facing projected deficits of $10,629,642 in 2026-27 and $25,396,400 in 2028-29.
The proposed budget also includes an allocation from the Measure W 1% City sales tax of 70-15-15 or 70% for Police, 15% for Quality of Life and 15% for Youth. (See page 6 of the Budget)
According to the City staff report for item #5, “Since March, City Council and staff have been diligently scrutinizing the budget to close a starting point fiscal year 2026 deficit of $24,270,240. Initially, staff was able to shave $8,603,792 from that number, for a fiscal year 2026 deficit of $15,666,448 as presented at the March 4th budget session. Upon further collaboration with the Council, City Manager and departments as we moved through the exhaustive budget process, and through a series of further adjustments, a General Fund budget with a net deficit of $7,737,331, after a $5M infusion from the Budget Stabilization Fund.”
In addition, under item #3 the Council is expected to approve the Five-Year Capital Improvement Program budget for 2025-2030 for Community Facilities, Parks & Trails, Roadway Improvements, Traffic Signals, Wastewater & Storm Drain System and the City’s Water System. Currently, there are $163.3 million of projects in progress which includes $6,238,209 of projects that the Council added to the list.
Finally, in other budget action, under item #4 the Council will consider approving the recommendations of the City Council’s Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Subcommittee for a total of $2,369,318 in federal funds for the coming fiscal year. Mayor Pro Tem Louie Rocha, representing District 2, and Councilwoman Tamisha Torres-Walker, representing District 1, served on the CDBG Subcommittee for this funding cycle.
The meeting begins at 7:00 PM in the Council Chambers inside City Hall at 200 H Street, in historic, downtown Rivertown. It can be viewed via livestream on the City’s website, on Comcast Local Cable Channel 24 or on AT&T U-verse Channel 99.
Will consider adopting “Pride Month” proclamation, flying “Pride Progress” flag at City Hall in June
By Allen D. Payton
At their meeting on Tuesday, May 27, 2025, the Antioch City Council will discuss the possible adoption of an Inclusionary Housing Ordinance for more below-market-rate housing during a Special Meeting Study Session at 5:00 p.m. They will also receive a Land Use Housing Planning and Permitting Presentation and consider increasing spending on violence prevention programs using state grant funds. The regular meeting begins at 7:00 p.m.
Before the regular and special meetings, the Council will first hold a Closed Session at 4:00 p.m.
Closed Session on Civil Rights Lawsuit, Sale of Land to Fire District and Business Owner
During Closed Session beginning at 4:00 p.m. the Council will discuss an existing lawsuit by Trent Allen, et al. v. City of Antioch, et al., U.S.D.C. N. Dist. Cal. Case No. 3:23-cv-01895-VC (and consolidated cases). Allen is one of four suspects convicted of the 2021 murder of Arnold Marcel Hawkins and the attempted murder of Aaron Patterson. (See related article) He and a variety of other plaintiffs claim civil rights violations by several current and former Antioch Police officers.
In addition, the Council will consider the sale of a lot at E. 18th and Wilson Streets to the Contra Costa Fire District and a small portion of land near the Antioch Marina to local business owner Sean McCauley who owns the land where Smith’s Landing Seafood Grill is located.
Study Session on Inclusionary Housing Ordinance
During the Special Meeting beginning at 5:00 p.m., the Council will hold a Study Session to discuss the possible adoption of an Inclusionary Housing Ordinance (IHO) as Program 2.1.10 in the City’s existing Housing Element. According to the City staff report for the agenda item, inclusionary ordinances are designed to produce affordable housing and require that a specific percentage of units in market-rate development projects be offered at below-market rates.
IHOs may include requirements for rental and/or for-sale housing projects and may include different requirements for rental and for-sale housing projects, projects of different sizes and locations and housing units of different levels of affordability.
The three categories of affordable housing typically accommodated in IHOs are:
Very Low-Income (VLI) Housing. Units affordable to households earning 0-50% of the Area Median Income (AMI).
Low-Income (LI) Housing. Units affordable to households earning 51-80% of AMI.
Moderate Income (MI) Housing. Units affordable to households earning 80-120% of AMI.
IHOs typically include different requirements for these three above income levels.
Previously Considered & Rejected by Council
The staff report further reads, Antioch has considered adopting an IHO since approximately 2009. Past City leadership concluded that market rate housing in Antioch was already adequately affordable. In 2016, the Contra Costa Grand Jury released a report titled Where will we Live: The Affordable Housing Waiting List is Closed. The report recommended that Antioch should consider adopting an IHO. The City responded to this recommendation on August 9, 2016, stating that the City, assuming 2000-2009 home values, “already provides a diversity of housing options and is accessible to households of all income levels…” Therefore, an IHO was “not warranted and is not reasonable.”
The inclusion of Program 2.1.10 in the Antioch Housing Element is indicative of current statewide and local housing challenges and new housing priorities. Technical analyses and community outreach performed as part of the Housing Element demonstrate the need for housing-forward policies and the potential value of an IHO.
Community Survey & Virtual Workshop, Developer Input
Also, according to the staff report, a community survey was conducted but only more than 50 residents responded. Over 80% of responders either “Fully” or “Somewhat” support an IHO in Antioch but over 60% are either “Unfamiliar” or “Somewhat familiar” with IHOs.
The IHO Project team conducted a virtual Focus Group with local housing developers on December 5, 2024. Attendees were shown the results of preliminary feasibility analyses for a 15 percent inclusionary requirement and shared their concerns:
o Concern over reliance on density bonus. Developers stressed that maintaining feasibility under inclusionary regulation is often based on maximizing State density bonus. However, the costs associated with constructing denser, taller projects may outweigh financial returns. Developers described Antioch as a “secondary market” that cannot support multifamily projects over three stories tall, which may limit additional density.
o Necessity of in-lieu fees. Developers stated that if the City were to adopt an IHO, it should include the option to pay in-lieu fees. Participants stressed that real estate is unpredictable, and that these fees offer vital “stability and
clarity” in the IHO process. Because of this certainty, most developers will choose the in-lieu fee option.
o Value of in-lieu fees. Developers stated that in-lieu fees can be transferred to affordable housing developers who specialize in maximizing funds and partnerships for affordable housing projects. Developers stressed that partnering with affordable housing developers in mixed-income developments often provides the greatest number of affordable units at the lowest income levels.
o Barriers to for-sale affordable housing. Developers stressed that the difficulty of qualifying for home loans may impede the function of an IHO. Per participants, lower income households in Contra Costa typically face severe economic barriers to mortgage qualification, including an adequate down payment. As such, requiring the construction of for-sale units for very low-income or low-income households may be an unproductive path toward privately subsidized affordable housing.
In addition to the community survey, the staff report, without mentioning the number of participants, shares that members of the public participated in a bilingual, interactive virtual Community Workshop on February 4, 2025. Participants were introduced to the IHO project and responded to a series of Zoom-based polls regarding various IHO topics. The polls included the following questions:
1. What household affordability levels do you want to see accommodated in Antioch?
64% of responders selected Very Low-Income households as the most needed.
2. What bedroom counts are most needed in affordable units in Antioch?
67% of responders selected 2-3 bedroom units.
3. What type of affordable housing units does Antioch need?
“For-rent apartments” was identified as the most needed housing type, and “for-sale single family homes” was identified as the least needed.
4. Should the default requirement in Antioch’s IHO be “constructing affordable units with the option to pay a fee,” or “paying a fee with the option to construct affordable units?”
67% of responders selected “constructing affordable units with the option to pay a fee.”
5. Select areas of Antioch where new affordable housing will provide extra benefit to future residents.
The two answers that received the most selections were “In and near downtown” and “Around the BART Station.”
6. What are the most important aspects of affordable units created by the IHO?
The two answers that received the most selections were “They are evenly distributed across the development site” and “Their exterior design and construction quality matches the market rate units.”
7. Participants were asked whether 1) They support adopting an IHO and to identify issues the City Council should consider ensuring the IHO is effective, or 2) They do not support adopting an IHO and to identify alternative approaches to increasing affordable housing.
78 percent of participants stated they support adopting an IHO. Comments included:
The need to place upper limits on IHO requirements.
The value of collaborating with developers on a 15% IHO requirement near transit.
Lack of support for in-lieu fees, which require significant staff resources to administer.
22 percent of participants stated they do support adopting an IHO.
Comments included:
The City should purchase land for 100% affordable housing. This is the only way to build the minimum of more than 1 new affordable home for every market rate home.
Antioch is already largely affordable; the City should focus on fully staffing the police force and bringing anchor businesses to downtown and shopping mall.
IHOs benefit only a few who can secure the units, while driving up costs for everyone else. Antioch should look for alternative sources of funding that do not drive up housing costs.
No decision will be made during Tuesday’s meeting, and any adoption of an IHO must occur during a future council meeting.
Regular Meeting Agenda
A day after Memorial Day, although complaints have arisen across the country, that veterans and those who died defending freedom each only get one day to be honored and remembered annually, during their regular meeting, under item 1, the Council will consider adopting a “Pride Month” proclamation and under Consent Calendar item R, approval of flying the “Pride Progress” flag at City Hall during the month of June to recognize the LGBTQIA+ community in Antioch. It will be only the seventh year the Council will be asked to consider and vote on both matters.
Under item 3, the Council will receive a Land Use Housing Planning and Permitting Presentation by David Storer, Interim Community Development Director and Derek Cole, Interim City Attorney. They will discuss Land Use regulations/permits (Discretionary and Ministerial…i.e., Conditional Use Permits, Variances, Rezonings, CEQA, General Plans and the Subdivision Map Act, etc.). as well as Housing (State laws and their implementation…HAA, SB 330, SB9, etc.).
The Council will then vote on item 5, to adopt the new Master Fee Schedule effective July 1, 2025, which includes minor increases to several fees and no changes to most.
The Council will also consider increasing the amounts paid for violence prevention programs using state grant funds. Under item 6 they will consider approving the second amendment to the Consulting Services Agreement with One Day at a Time (ODAT), with fiscal sponsor Community Initiatives, for the City of Antioch’s 2022–2025
California Violence Intervention and Prevention (CalVIP) grant. The amendment increases the total contract amount by $587,174 to an amount not to exceed $927,980 and extends the term of the agreement through June 30, 2026.
Finally, under item 7, the Council will consider approving the third amendment to the Consulting Services Agreement with Advance Peace for Technical Assistance/Support, Training and development for the 2022-25 City of Antioch’s California Violence Intervention and Prevention (CalVIP) in the amount of $50,000.
The meeting will be held inside the Council Chambers at City Hall, 200 H Street in Antioch’s historic, downtown Rivertown. It can be viewed via livestream on the City’s website, on Comcast local access cable channel 24 or on ATT U-verse channel 99. See the complete meeting agenda package.
Will fund conversion of Comfort Inn to rehabilitation project
City commitment required for state funded operating subsidy
By Allen D. Payton
The Antioch City Council will hold another special meeting on Thursday, May 22, 2025. This one will be for discussing a financial commitment for the state’s Homekey+ Program to serve the city’s homeless residents. The matter is time sensitive as the State begins its Award Announcements this month. The meeting begins at 6:30 p.m.
NOFA means Notice of Funds Availability. Source: CA Dept of Housing and Community Development
According to the City staff report for the one-item agenda, “It is recommended that the City Council adopt a resolution approving the submission of an application with California Supportive Housing for the Homekey+ Program and designate City Manager to execute commitments for city capital match up to $750,000 and operating subsidy up to $1,200,000 annually for 5 years with two five year extensions contingent on the property meeting the required Homekey+ guidelines and affordable housing regulatory agreement and authorizing the City Manager or designee to execute the Agreement in a form approved by the City Attorney.”
Will Fund Conversion of Comfort Inn to Rehabilitation Project
“The City Staff is proposing a co-application with the Developer that seeks funding to acquire 2436 Mahogany Way (currently the Comfort Inn) in Antioch and undertake the rehabilitation necessary for the motel rooms to serve as permanent housing for homeless families/individuals with prior behavioral health issues.
“The CSH Mahagony Housing Project will be a rehabilitation project which will turn the current hotel into 60-85 affordable units and one two-bedroom manager unit. Each apartment will have a kitchenette, living room, bathroom, and bedroom. Non-residential conversion of the interior will include a community lounge, property management offices, resident supportive services and case management offices. One existing laundry room and the electrical room will maintain those functions, while rooms will be converted to resident services/case management and property management offices. It is also planned to keep the existing security fences, gates, and trash enclosure. Additional fencing will be added to property.
“Project Developer: California Supportive Housing (CSH) is the Project Developer. CSH is a mission-oriented 501 (c)(3) nonprofit California corporation dedicated to bringing affordable housing to people in need, including homeless, seniors, youth, people with disabilities, and families. The CSH team has over 35 years of experience in affordable housing development and is currently working on a HomeKey project in Oakland which is the conversion and renovation of a motel into 104 permanent supportive housing units for the homeless.”
About Homekey+ Program
According to the California Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD), the state’s Homekey+ Program is funded by Proposition 1, which was “passed by California voters in March 2024…to reduce homelessness and protect our most vulnerable populations through important changes to the Mental Health Services Act and providing up to $6.4 billion in bond funding to develop and expand behavioral health treatment, residential care settings, and Permanent Supportive Housing.”
“Approximately $2 billion of the Proposition 1 bond funds will be administered by the…HCD, in collaboration with the California Department of Veterans Affairs (CalVet) as the Homekey+ program (HK+), expanding upon the successful Homekey model. The remaining $4.4 billion of the Proposition 1 funding will be administered by the California Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) to award competitive grants to construct, acquire, and rehabilitate real estate assets or invest in needed infrastructure to expand the behavioral health continuum of treatment and service resources.”
$10 to $15 million in spending reductions proposed to eliminate deficits; largest amount in police department budget mostly due to savings from vacant positions
Public Works Dept budget cuts would reduce landscape maintenance and watering, vandalism repairs, close restrooms at some parks
City Manager requesting switch back to one-year budgets
By Allen D. Payton
The Antioch City Council will hold another special meeting for a Budget Study Session for Fiscal Years 2025-27 on Tuesday, May 20, 2025, beginning at 5:30 P.M.
According to the City staff report, the “Council has requested that several budget models be provided for consideration and discussion. The City Manager is requesting City Council to consider the five models provided and direct staff which elements to incorporate into a final draft for Council to evaluate for adoption.
The City Manager and Finance Director are recommending that the City Council adopt a one-year budget that would amend FY25 and adopt FY26. This will allow staff to pursue thoughtful and vetted long term alternatives to revenues, programs and services to better build a sustainable budget. If this is amenable, the proposed FY27 budget will be a baseline to begin further evaluation. Another one-year budget would then be adopted in June 2026, with a goal to adopt a two-year budget in 2027 for the 2027-29 fiscal years.
MODEL 1: This is the baseline model initially presented to City Council that incorporated $8.7M in reductions in FY26 and $9.5M in FY27. Further refinements were made, resulting in $10.4M in total reductions in FY26 and $11.2M in FY27.
Over half of the reductions will be in the police department budget with most from vacancy savings.
MODEL 2 includes additional Expenditure Budget Adjustments of $1,339,138 for total reductions of $11,769,027 in FY2026 and $1,366,910 in FY2027 for total reductions of $12,648,455.
The Public Works Department budget cuts would result in “Reducing landscape expenditures by this much will result in the following implications: playground repairs will not occur; preventative tree maintenance will not occur; will need to shut off water to landscape in some areas; sign repairs will not occur; vandalism and accident repairs will not be made; will need to close bathrooms at some parks; dead or missing plants will not be replaced causing landscape to look barren; irrigation controllers will not be repaired or replaced; soundwall repairs will not be made.”
MODEL 3 includes additional “net” reductions of $941,482 in FY26 and $612,850 in FY27 beyond measures in Models 1 and 2 as the reduction in funding for the AQCRT (Angelo Quinto Community Response Team) offsets the cost of adding 4 positions. The General Fund meets the 20% minimum unassigned fund balance level in, FY26; however, the minimum fund balance should be at least $19,297,944 in FY27 to meet a 20% unassigned reserve, meaning that is it deficient by $8,479,375.
MODEL 4 builds on Model 3 and incorporates a 5% furlough (5% pay reduction/reduced work hours) for employees, excluding APOA and APSMA bargaining unit employees, and assumes all elected officials take a 5% stipend reduction as well as a full fiscal year implementation. A 5% equivalent pay reduction for APOA and APSMA positions would be $1,306,530 in FY26 and $1,350,062 in FY27 that Council should negotiate for not only further reducing the deficit, but parity as well, if a furlough is implemented.
$5M in Budget Stabilization Funds are utilized in FY26 and FY27. The 20% minimum fund balance is met and exceeded each fiscal year. The Budget Stabilization fund balance is projected to be $32,941,944 at the end of FY26 and $26,641,944 at the end of FY27 if $5M per year, if funds are used to offset the deficit.
MODEL 5 builds on Model 4 and incorporates a total of a 10% furlough (10% pay reduction/reduced work hours) for employees, excluding APOA and APSMA bargaining unit employees, and assumes all elected officials take a 10% stipend reduction as well as a full fiscal year implementation. A 10% equivalent pay reduction for APOA and APSMA positions would be $2,613,060 in FY26 and $2,700,124 in FY27 that Council should negotiate not only for further reducing the deficit, but parity as well, if a furlough is implemented.
$5M in Budget Stabilization funds are utilized in each of the next two fiscal years. The Budget Stabilization fund balance is projected to be $32,941,944 at the end of FY26 and $26,641,944 at the end of FY27 if $5M per year if funds are used to offset the deficit.
Meeting Details
The meeting will be held in the Nick Rodriguez Center at 213 ‘F’ Street in Antioch’s historic, downtown Rivertown. Public comments are not included on the agenda.
Coffee mug and cash allegedly used in the bribery scheme. Source: U.S. DOJ
Co-founder and son, a company VP, of DeNova Homes, developed Aviano project in Sand Creek area, Wildflower
Corporate attorney says company “not implicated”
Target, referred to as “he” and “him”, could be either former Mayor Hernández-Thorpe or Councilman Barbanica
“We are confident the facts will show that Dave is innocent, and that he was unfairly targeted,” – attorney Winston Chan
By Allen D. Payton
On Tuesday, April 22, 2025, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of California issued the following announcement about an indictment for alleged bribery of an Antioch Councilmember by the father and son, former and current, leaders of Concord-based DeNova Homes. The company developed the Aviano new home project in Antioch’s Sand Creek Area and The Pointe at Wildflower Station project overlooking the condominiums near the Hillcrest Avenue/Davison Drive and Deer Valley Road intersection. In addition, the Sansons’ Yellow Roof Foundation is coordinating with DeNova homes to pursue a smaller housing project on the north side of the city.
A two-count indictment was unsealed today charging property developers David Sanson and Trent Sanson with conspiracy and bribery in connection with offering to pay an Antioch City Councilmember $10,000 and later giving the Councilmember a company travel mug with $5,000 in cash, in exchange for favorable treatment for one of their development projects. The Councilmember reported the alleged bribe to the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). Both defendants made their initial appearances in federal court this morning.
According to the indictment filed April 3, 2025, David Sanson, 60, of Philipsburg, Mont., is the owner and Chief Executive Officer of a home building and development company based in Concord, Calif., and his son, Trent Sanson, 33, of Walnut Creek, Calif., is the Vice President. The development company has a number of projects in Antioch and neighboring areas, including the Aviano project, a multi-phase 533-unit residential development project.
Dave Sanson is DeNova Homes’ Co-Founder and CEO Emeritus, and his son Trent Sanson is the company’s Vice President for Land Acquisition & Entitlements. Source: Yellow Roof Foundation
As alleged, the Antioch Engineering and Development Services Division indicated that the development company had not completed all of its required public infrastructure improvements and that Phase 3 of the Aviano project should not be deemed complete or approved by the City Council until those improvements were completed. As a result, the City of Antioch had not approved the release of bonds secured for the project. To get the Antioch Engineering and Development Services Division to affirm completion and release the bonds associated with the project, Trent Sanson allegedly contacted an Antioch City Councilmember via iMessage on May 29, 2024, stating that he wanted to discuss with the Councilmember issues that the development company was facing with the Antioch “Engineering department” on a number of projects, including Phase 3 of the Aviano project.
“The indictment describes a video-recorded meeting between the Councilmember and Trent Sanson on June 12, 2024, during which Trent Sanson allegedly stated that he wanted the Councilmember to place on the City Council agenda, and vote in favor of, “acceptance for Phase 3 at Aviano to release the completion and guarantee bonds . . . .” Trent Sanson allegedly stated that David Sanson was willing to pay the Councilmember $10,000 in exchange for the requested actions. A second video-recorded meeting took place on June 20, 2024, at which David Sanson allegedly paid the Councilmember $5,000 in cash concealed in a travel coffee mug branded with the logo of the Sansons’ development company.
“This indictment alleges that the defendants tried to bribe an Antioch City Councilmember to take favorable action on their real estate project and to evade having to make the public infrastructure improvements that the City required,” said Acting United States Attorney Patrick D. Robbins. “This case is another example of my Office’s commitment to working closely with our partners at the FBI to root out bribery and attempts to corrupt public office.”
“Attempting to bribe a public official is a blatant attack on the integrity of our government and the trust of the communities we serve,” said FBI Special Agent in Charge Sanjay Virmani. “The allegations in this case reflect a clear attempt to manipulate the system for personal gain. The FBI will continue to aggressively investigate and hold accountable anyone who seeks to corrupt public institutions through bribery or abuse of power.”
The defendants are next scheduled to appear in district court on June 12, 2025, for a status conference before U.S. District Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers.
The indictment charges each defendant with one count of conspiracy to commit bribery in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 371 and one count of bribery concerning programs receiving federal funds in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 666(a)(2). The bribery count also includes an allegation that defendants aided and abetted one another in bribing the Antioch City Councilmember.
An indictment merely alleges that crimes have been committed, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. If convicted, defendants each face a maximum sentence of five years in prison for the count under 18 U.S.C. § 371 and 10 years in prison for the count under 18 U.S.C. §§ 666(a)(2). Any sentence following conviction would be imposed by the court after consideration of the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and the federal statute governing the imposition of a sentence, 18 U.S.C. § 3553.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Thomas R. Green and Benjamin K. Kleinman are prosecuting the case with the assistance of Amala James and Laurie Worthen. The prosecution is the result of an investigation by the FBI.
Two Former Councilmembers Respond
The two current and two former council members and former Mayor Lamar Hernández-Thorpe, who were serving during the time the alleged incidents occurred, were asked if they were aware of the indictment and if they were the unnamed councilmember. Former District 3 Councilwoman Lori Ogorchock said simply, “It wasn’t me,” and former District 2 Councilman Mike Barbanica responded, “I won’t comment on an active federal investigation. I took the same stance when I was on the council.”
No responses were received from Hernández-Thorpe nor District 1 and 4 Councilwomen Tamisha Torres-Walker and Monica Wilson.
DeNova Homes’ Chief Legal Officer Responds
Efforts to reach the Sansons were unsuccessful. But DeNova Homes, Inc.’s Chief Legal Officer, Dana Tsubota, responded with the following statement:
“DeNova Homes is aware of the legal matter involving our founder, Dave Sanson, and his son, Trent. While Mr. Sanson has been an important figure in the company’s history, he semi-retired in 2020 when he moved to Montana and he is no longer involved in the leadership or daily operations.
“Importantly, DeNova Homes is not implicated in the government’s investigation. DeNova remains financially sound and fully focused on delivering for our customers, partners, and communities without disruption.
“Under the leadership of President Ryan Parlett and our experienced executive team, DeNova continues its mission of building high-quality homes and supporting the communities we serve.”
According to the company’s website, Dave is a Co-Founder and CEO Emeritus, and according to theorg.com website, Trent is the company’s Vice President for Land Acquisition & Entitlements.
Source: U.S. DOJ
Indictment Claims Request Made “to place” Item “on the…Council agenda, and vote in favor”
The indictment claims, “TRENT SANSON and DAVID SANSON bribed the Councilmember during video recorded meetings, including a meeting at which TRENT SANSON offered the $10,000 bribe to the Councilmember and a subsequent meeting at which DAVID SANSON gave the Councilmember a travel coffee mug branded with the Development Company’s logo and name containing $5,000 in cash.”
The indictment includes quotes from the unnamed councilmember but uses the term “him” in reference in Section 17. Sections 15 through 17 lay out the allegations which read as follows:
June 12, 2024: T. SANSON Bribes the Councilmember
15. On or about June 12, 2024, T. SANSON met with the Councilmember and stated that he wanted the Councilmember to place on the Antioch City Council agenda, and vote in favor of, the following item: “A tract acceptance for Phase 3 at Aviano to release the completion and guarantee bonds ….” T. SANSON asked the Councilmember for the Councilmember’s assistance and vote in the hopes that the Antioch City Council would approve release of the bond and effectively override the Antioch Engineering and Development Services Division’s position that further work was required by the Development Company to complete its obligations on Phase 3 of Aviano.
16. In exchange for the Councilmember’s actions, T. SANSON told the Councilmember that he spoke with his father, D. SANSON, in advance of the meeting, and D. SANSON was “willing” to pay the Councilmember $10,000. T. SANSON stated, “[YJou’re not going to see anything directly, but Dave will be doing something for you[.]” T. SANSON then added, “I don’t know if it’s an IE or through a PAC because we … can give to a PAC and then the PAC isn’t limited, you know what I mean?” Shortly thereafter, T. SANSON reiterated, “I’m pretty sure we’ll go through one of the PACs.” T. SANSON ultimately told the Councilmember that he’d check with D. SANSON to determine if they could pay $5,000 to the Councilmember’s IE account and $5,000 in cash. T. SANSON stated that the split “sounds fair.” The Councilmember informed the FBI of the bribe offer by T. SANSON.
Mentions “the primary” and “the general” Elections; Refers to Councilmember as “He” and “Him”
Upon reading the indictment, the terms “he” and “him” are used to describe the unnamed councilmember.
June 20. 2024: D. SANSON Pays the Bribe Initiated bv T. SANSON
17. On or about June 20, 2024, D. SANSON met with the Councilmember. During the meeting, D. SANSON told the Councilmember, “Anyways, Trent called me and told me that he met with you last week, and 1 told him OK let me take care of it. 1 don’t want you involved.” D. SANSON thanked the Councilmember for meeting with him, stating, “1 know it was last minute, but this had to be done in person.” D. SANSON informed the Councilmember that he’d been in touch with the political consultant running the Councilmember’s IE, stating, “[That’s all still on track for round two. We did it during the primary, and now for the general – we’re back committed to supporting you and all that. So, 1 just want you to know that’s happening – that it’s not just a false commitment or anything like that; and then Trent told me you needed a little extra shot.” D. SANSON then handed the Councilmember a travel coffee mug branded with the Development Company insignia, which contained $5,000 in cash. The Councilmember informed D. SANSON that he had a detailed conversation with T. SANSON, and that he understood what D. SANSON and T. SANSON were asking him to do. D. SANSON replied, “Yeah – Phase 3,” and reiterated, “the project has been finished.” The Councilmember informed the FBI of D. SANSON’s bribe and gave the money to the FBI.
In response to a request for comment, Dave Sanson’s attorney Winston Chan of the San Francisco office for the Gibson Dunn & Crutcher law firm denied the accusations against the developer.
“My client Dave Sanson is a respected business leader and philanthropist with a 30-year track record of building homes and supporting communities across Northern California.
We are reviewing the government’s allegations closely and caution against any rush to judgment based on mere allegations that present a one-sided story. We are confident the facts will show that Dave is innocent, and that he was unfairly targeted without cause to be dragged out of near retirement from out-of-state, to be trapped into a web of deceit manufactured to ‘take down’ Dave and his family by a controversial local politico, whose own suspect personal motivations we look forward to exposing.
It’s incredibly disappointing that Dave’s reputation—built on a decades-long career of creating opportunities for residents of cities like Antioch, that have struggled for years to keep up with housing needs and other challenges—is being dragged through the mud.
Dave and our team look forward to addressing this matter in court.”
Unnamed Councilmember Could Be Either Hernández-Thorpe or Barbanica
While only the mayor has the authority to place items on a city council meeting agenda, Barbanica was the only candidate of the five incumbent council members, last year, who ran during both the primary and general elections for the County Board of Supervisors. So, the “him” could refer to either one.
Sanson company contribution to Thorpe’s #Beat the Karen Recall committee made on Jan. 14, 2022. Source: Thorpe committee Form 460
Recall Campaign Contribution from Sanson Company to Hernández-Thorpe in 2022
During the effort to recall Hernández-Thorpe in 2022, the then-mayor’s campaign committee received a $10,000 contribution from another of the Sansons’ companies, Civic Park Properties, Inc. State law has since changed and the maximum contribution a developer who has business before a local agency can contribute to one of its elected members is $250.
No Contributions to Either Hernández-Thorpe, Barbanica or IE Committee Supporting Either in 2024
But a search of Form 460 campaign finance reports showed no contributions could be found of any amount over $100 from either of the Sansons, DeNova Homes or their companies that were made last year to either Hernández-Thorpe’s re-election committee, Barbanica’s campaign committee or the independent expenditure (IE) committee supporting Barbanica’s election entitled, “Citizens for a Safer Contra Costa County Supporting Mike Barbanica for Supervisor 2024, Sponsored by Contra Costa County Deputy Sheriff’s Association, ID #1347607.” In addition, no IE committee supporting Hernández-Thorpe’s re-election could be found in a search on the City Clerk’s or California Secretary of State’s campaign reporting websites.
Political Consultant Who Handled IE Supporting Barbanica’s Home Raided by FBI
Last month, according to news reports, Mary Jo Rossi, a longtime political consultant in Contra Costa County, whose company, Rossi Communications, was paid by the IE committee of the Deputy Sheriff’s Association supporting Barbanica, had her home raided by the FBI.
Laura Stephens of Stephen Company, the treasurer for the committee confirmed Rossi was its paid consultant. But whether the raid was related to the investigation into the alleged bribery is unclear.
Sansons Have History of Serving the Community
Dave Sanson, and his wife Lori, have a history of giving back to the communities in which DeNova has done business, and founded the Yellow Roof Foundation to provide low-income housing to facilitate their efforts. The organization helped open a new home development with four rentals in Oakley in December and is pursuing another, 143-unit housing project, which will include six affordable rental units, located between E. 18th Street and Wilbur Avenue on the north side of Antioch.
The Sansons are most likely best known to the public for their 2004 work on the ABC-TV “Extreme Makeover: Home Edition” project in which they led a team of 1,200 volunteers “to tear down and rebuild a two-story home in Martinez. It was done for a 17-year-old “teen, who suffers from a rare degenerative disorder, had been forced to move out of her home because her fragile immune system would not tolerate its mold issues.”
According to Builder Magazine, the pair received the 2017 Hearthstone BUILDER Humanitarian Award.
Dave and Trent serve on the foundation’s board of directors.
