City Council

Wednesday’s joint meeting of the Planning Commission and City Council is slated to kick off, at 5:30 p.m., with a forum on the nature of the relationship between the two City panels.more...

The Who’s Who of Martinez congregated early Thursday morning for the annual State of the City Breakfast, held at the Shell Clubhouse and attended by a capacity crowd.

After opening speeches by the Executive Director of the Chamber of Commerce, Cynthia Murdough, and the newly installed Chairman of the Board Marty Ochoa, Rob Schroder gave his eighth address at the annual gathering in his role as mayor.

Enumerating the challenges faced by the City in 2009, and cautioning that 2010 might be just as tough, Schroder touched on several ongoing issues.more...

While the majority of this week’s City Council meeting was consumed with proclamations and parsing the merits of City endorsement of a California Constitutional Convention, members unanimously approved a General Plan amendment, zoning amendments and an environmental document for the proposed Cascara Canyon housing development, paving the way for the project to return to the Planning Commission to address appearance issues.more...

If the City Council grants final approval, soon a police dispatcher may watch you waiting at the cross walk at Alhambra and F Street, perhaps impatiently punching the button on your way to shopping at Safeway.  Waiting for the train at the train station, a video camera will record your pacing and beam it to the police. If someone suddenly tries to mug you, the idea is the dispatcher will see it and send a patrol car to the rescue.more...

Following a joint session with the Planning Commission to review the 2007-2014 Housing Element, the City Council is slated to sign a number of year-end lease extensions and agreements on Wednesday evening.

WILLOWS THEATERmore...

On Nov.1, the City of Martinez published a legal notice announcing the clock had started ticking on the initial public comment period for a proposed housing development north of Highway 4 entitled Cascara Canyon Development.

Approved by the City as a townhouse development of 20 units and one custom home in 2006, the developer halted the project in 2008 when the housing market foundered. In March, a new plan was submitted for the City’s consideration - now more than twice the size.more...

MONDAY — A planned subdivision of 112 single-family homes in Martinez’s Forest Hills neighborhood — at Wildcroft Drive — will gain momentum again if the City Council votes to sign a new agreement with the project’s Texas-based developers, Richfield Investment Corporation, at Wednesday’s meeting.more...

Starting at 5:30 p.m., Wednesday evening’s meeting at City Hall will begin with a joint session of the Council and the Planning Commission.

When the Council reconvenes at 7 p.m., a new police officer, Miles Williamson, will be sworn in and Sergeant Jon Sylvia presented with an award before the Council turns its attention to a bi-annual update from Main Street Martinez and sign a $47,5000 contract for another year of “Professional Services” provided by Main Street Martinez.more...

A special City Council meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, Sept. 9 at 7 p.m., during which the five-member council will preside over two official appeals over the Planning Commissions’ approval of conditional use permits for the proposed “Berrellesa Palms” senior housing project.more...