On February 15, Concord Mayor Edi Birsan delivered the annual State of the City address in an event hosted by the Greater Concord CA Chamber of Commerce.
In his 37-minute speech, Birsan covered a number of topics, including the City’s response to homelessness, major construction projects, public safety, new businesses coming to Concord, and more!
Tidbits from the presentation:
Revenue: Concord has a regular revenue of $109 million with $16.1 coming from Measure V and another $800k in Cannabis sales for a total of $128.9 million – up from last years $125.3 million. 33% comes from sales tax, 13% from Measure V, 27% from Property tax. The rest is split from charges for services, licenses and permits (8%), other (7%), franchise fees (7%), business license (3%), hotel tax (2%).
ARPA Investments – $27 million with $5k one-time grant to 370 small businesses and various grants to 22 nonprofits.
- $3 million – support for unhoused
- $2 million – support for small business
- $7 million – support for nonprofit organizations
- $7 million – City infrastructure projects, public safety, special events
- $8 million – General Fund, Covid-related expenses
Construction – What is next
- Treat Boulevard Phase 2 (San Miguel to Clayton)
- Alberta Way (Clayton to Ygnacio Valley)
- Monument Blvd (Detroit to Mohr)
- Cowell Road (Babel to Ygnacio Valley)
- Willow Pass Sewer Project (Landana to Gateway)
- Residential Pavement Maintenance in 13 neighborhoods
- Several fiber construction projects
- Plus more
Homeless Response
“We drafted a strategic plan recently and we also give thanks who are on it. We focused on two strategies which include having a mobile resource center of trucks and vans that will go to various locations and bring the resources to the homeless at their locations, parks or whatever places temporary,” explained Birsan. “We have found in our research that nationally, this has been a far successful outreach technique than having a brick and mortar location anywhere in the city. It allows especially an increase for veterans who are homeless. I don’t know why, but its definitely shown that it’s a massive increase for homeless veterans to make use of this and a successful beginning out.”
Housing
The city, through Hope Solutions, has a $2.9 million grant over five years and has assisted 12 Concord families in the first year of the program.
“We have a serious probable with a lack of affordable housing, but I am glad to say we have quite a few projects going on,” stated Birsan. “We have almost 300 units right now about to be built.
Affordable Housing Projects
- Blue Oak Square – 181 units
- Rick Judd Common/Galindo Terrace – 62 units
- RMG Affordable Housing – 30 units
Photo by Concord Police
Public Safety
Birsan thanked the Concord Police Department while saying they will literally take a bullet for someone.
“They have been under a lot of pressure nationally. People have been unfairly critical of police and I would like to apologize to police for those that have lost their minds and have not been able to take a look at what our cops are doing and what our cops have done for us,” said Birsan.
- Drone Program. Concord now has a SUAS (Drone) Program which is now at 12 certified pilots – which has helped located an autistic child. Drones have also been used to search for other missing persons and search and rescue, besides looking for criminal suspects. In 2023, Concord had 338 drone deployments and 28 search and rescue missions.
- Automatic License Plate Readers – Concord has 57 cameras which in 2023, resulted in 380 ALPR alerts for felony or stolen vehicles. 177 cases were advanced or solved due to ALPR leads from the system.
Closing:
In closing, Biras addressed the division in the city, state and country:
“We are facing a very severe crisis in the country, that is the most important,” stated Birsan. “The people who came here in the first six months said we are going to live in Concord, we are going to live in concordance with one another. We cannot as a society as a city continue with the concept of division. I would remind you when we started, we ended with seven words, indivisible with liberty and justice for all. No matter what are differences may be on our economic system, our political system and our past social ills or greatness, we need to be together. We need to listen in a civil matter, we need to engage with one another, we need to be open to changing whatever views we have based on new ideas, new experiences and the experiences of others. We need to listen to one another. So remember, we are in Concord, we pronounce it a little odd, but nevertheless we are living in concordance with one another.”
Related Stories:
- Feb 19 – Concord says Brookfield Term Sheet Meeting Postponed to March 19
- Feb 14 – Concord City Council Votes to Introduce Ordinance on Rent Stabilization, Just Cause
- Feb 8 – City of Concord Publishes Homeless Strategic Plan
