Kwame Reed Named Acting Antioch City Manager

On Friday, the Antioch City Council voted 4-0 to appoint Kwame Reed as acting city manager.

Reed was hired in July of 2018 as Antioch’s new Economic Development Director. Prior to that, he was the Senior Analyst for Economic Development in the city of Brentwood. He has over 20 years of professional experience in local and regional government agencies, with roles that include planning, redevelopment, affordable housing, project management and economic development.

The meeting was prompted by the abrupt resignation by acting city manager Forrest Ebbs who gave notice after accepting a job with the City of Modesto.  His last official day will be July 14 and had encouraged the Antioch City Council to appoint a replacement prior to his leaving.

Under this city council, once they name a new acting city manager/or hire someone, it will be the fifth in less than 2-years.

• Ron Bernal (retired)
• Cornelius Johnson – on paid administrative leave
• Ana Cortez – acting for a few days.
• Forrest Ebbs – acting (left for city of Modesto)
• Kwame Reed – acting

Special Meeting Postponed

After coming out of closed session, due to a lack of quorum as Councilmembers Mike Barbanica and Tamisha Torres-Walker could not attend while Ogorchock was absent, the meeting was postponed until 6:00 pm Tuesday.

The items were moved after at least three councilmembers stated Mayor Lamar Thorpe scheduled the meeting without checking other councilmembers schedules and availability.

Barbanica stated he was unavailable outside of the special meeting due to prior commitments.

“I was not consulted on the time or size of an 18 item agenda. I have commitments the whole day,” said Barbanica. “Its unfortunate that these items will be delayed for discussions but hopefully our new policy on agenda setting will be approved in the future and we can alleviate the need for multiple special meetings to address the backlog of council requested items.

In a prepared statement, Ogorhcock stated she would not attend and called it inappropriate with several over her items up for discussion since it was known she was not available.

“Since we are reviewing the 6 month list and some of the items were requested by me, I feel it is inappropriate to hold a special meeting when one of the council members cannot attend, especially if there will be another appointment of an acting city manager,” said Ogorchock. “All council members should have input on who they would want to see hold this position as we did when Director Ebb’s was given the title and responsibilities of Acting City Manager. This item could and should have been put on Tuesday’s agenda, that is only a couple of days to hold off on this item this is not an urgency item.”

Here is a list of items per the Agenda:

1. DISCUSSION ITEM: UPDATE ON THE AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN ACT (ARPA) FUNDING
2. DISCUSSION ITEM: CONSIDERATION OF LIGHTING THE PEDESTRIAN CROSSING ON JAMES DONLON BOULEVARD
3. DISCUSSION ITEM: UPDATE ON PARK PERMITTING FEES
4. DISCUSSION ITEM: CONSIDERATION OF A FREE COMMUNITY EVENT AT PREWETT WATER PARK SPONSORED BY THE ANTIOCH POLICE DEPARTMENT
5. DISCUSSION ITEM: UPDATE ON CAMERA INSTALLATION ON CITY STREETS
6. DISCUSSION ITEM: CONSIDERATION OF A PRESENTATION BY WHITE PONY EXPRESS NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION (FOOD RESCUE AND GENERAL STORE)
7. DISCUSSION ITEM: HIGHWAY 4 AND L STREET GRAFFITI ABATEMENT AND CALTRANS COORDINATION
8. DISCUSSION ITEM: POLICE CHIEF ATTENDANCE AT CITY COUNCIL MEETINGS
9. DISCUSSION ITEM: ANTIOCH POLICE DEPARTMENT MANAGEMENT OF OWN FLEET PURCHASING
10. DISCUSSION ITEM: EMERGENCY OPERATIONS CENTER (EOC) UPGRADE AND UPDATE
11. DISCUSSION ITEM: CODE ENFORCEMENT SERVICES FOR THE DELTA FAIR BOULEVARD AREA
12. DISCUSSION ITEM: MORATORIUM ON NEW GAS STATIONS
13. DISCUSSION ITEM: JUST CAUSE EVICTION AND ANTI-TENANT HARRASSMENT ORDINANCE
14. DISCUSSION ITEM: MORATORIUM ON RENT INCREASES AND EVICTIONS
15. DISCUSSION ITEM: PRESENTATION ON CURRENT REPARATION EFFORTS
16. DISCUSSION ITEM: HUMAN RIGHTS AND RACIAL EQUITY COMMISSION
17. DISCUSSION ITEM: REVIEW OF THE CURRENT RENTAL INSPECTION ORDINANCE
18. DISCUSSION ITEM: IMPROVING CONNECTIVITY (WI-FI, INTERNET) FOR NEIGHBORHOODS HARDEST IMPACTED DURING THE PANDEMIC