City Council

Though the chamber seats were vacant throughout August, Council member activity continued to fill the air as Lara DeLaney and Mike Menesini filed their papers for reelection, as did Mayor Schroder before taking flight to Europe to tie the knot.

But after a month-long hiatus it is back to business as the City Council returns to its regular schedule on Wednesday. more...

A 30-day public review period is underway on the City’s plans to annex 111 acres of North Pacheco.

Concerned residents and business owners impacted by the proposed annexation have until Sept. 7 to lodge their reactions to an Initial Study and environmental documents, which can be found on the City’s website.more...

On Monday, California Attorney General Brown subpoenaed the personal financial records of past and present City of Bell public officials. 

Since the L.A Times broke the story on July 22 that Bell’s city manager, police chief and assistant city manager were earning  $787,637, $457,000 and $376,288 respectively in annual base pay alone, the salary scandal has morphed from outcry over inconceivable wages to allegations of elections fraud and criminal malfeasance.more...

Current Martinez Unified School District Board member Kathi McLaughlin announced over the weekend that she is entering the race for one of the two City Council seats on the November ballot.more...

City Council incumbents Mike Menesini and Lara DeLaney are facing competition in their bid for re-election. 

Scott Alstad and Tim Platt both received the necessary paperwork from the Contra Costa County Elections Division last week to run for City Council in the November general election. While Alstad confirmed he’s officially in the race, Platt said Tuesday he is “seriously considering running,” and has until August 6 to decide.more...

It’s official: Monday marked the start of the filing period for those vying for local office in the November general election.

The filing period is open until August 6. As of 5 p.m. on that day, no candidate, once papers are filed, can withdraw from the race.more...

Starting this week the Martinez Bocce Federation will install new trellises to cover both ends of court number one.

The trellis installation project was given the green light at the City Council Meeting on Wednesday, after the Public Works’ staff approved the construction plans. Prior to the meeting, the Martinez Bocce Federation had to gain approval from the Joint Powers Authority, which was formed between the East Bay Regional Parks District and the City of Martinez.more...

MEDICAL CANNABIS

California’s most prominent medical marijuana and legalization advocate, Ed Rosenthal, has lent his support to a group interested in establishing a Martinez dispensary; the group plans to attend this week’s Council meeting en masse to encourage the Council to move more quickly in approving a reworked ordinance.more...

The City Council’s Redevelopment Subcommittee will hold its next workshop on Monday, June 14, at John Swett Elementary School at 7:00 p.m. “The purpose of this workshop is to provide the public with information about the redevelopment process and have an opportunity to prioritize potential redevelopment projects,” said Deputy Clerk Mercy Cabral. John Swett Elementary is located at 4955 Alhambra Valley Road.