Contra Costa Grand Jury Seeks Clarifications from City of Antioch

The Antioch City Council is being asked by staff at its Oct. 22 meeting of how to respond to the Contra Costa Grand Jury.

The Contra Costa County Grand Jury has sent two letters to the City of Antioch for non-compliance for their response to “Challenges Facing the City of Antioch”.

In the “Challenges Facing the City of Antioch”, the grand jury found the following:

• High turnover rate in the city manager position – tells Antioch hire a city manager.
• High Employee vacancy rate – 4x the national average
• City Council overstepped authority in personnel decisions
• Likely Brown Act Violations

The two letters were sent on October 3 and received by the City of Antioch on October 7 seeking additional information be provided for non-compliant responses to the Findings 6 and 13 and recommendations 1 through 5.

Staff is now requesting the City Council provide additional information to clarify original responses provided during the September 10 meeting.

Via the letters:

F6. The Mayor and City Council members have on occasion overstepped their authority in seeking to make personnel decisions, including terminating the then Public Works Director in December 2022, in ways not permitted by city ordinance (Antioch City Code § 2-2.06 and § 2-2.10)

(Original) Response: The City disagrees with this finding

F13. Recruitment and retention of staff has been impacted by the absence of a permanent City Manager and the lack of permanent department heads in multiple city departments. 

(Original) Response: The City disagrees with this finding

R1. The Mayor and City Council should follow through on the ongoing process of hiring an experienced and qualified City Manager.

(Original) Response: The City agrees with this recommendation

R2. The Mayor and City Council should abide by city regulations (Antioch City Code § 2-2.06 and § 2-2.10) that preclude the Mayor and City Council from having any direct authority to direct, supervise, hire or fire any city employee, other than the City Manager and City Attorney. 

(Original) Response: The City agrees with this recommendation.

R3. The new City Manager should, within 6 months of their appointment to the position of City Manager, recruit and appoint permanent department heads to fill current department head vacancies.

(Original) Response: The City agrees with this recommendation.

R4. By 1/1/2025 the City Council should direct the City Manager to undertake a study to determine the factors leading to the city’s high employee turnover and vacancy rates.

(Original) Response The City agrees with this recommendation.

R5. By 1/1/2025 the Mayor and City Council should consider directing the City Manager and City Attorney to organize an annual training session focused on Brown Act requirements and compliance for the Mayor, City Council members, relevant city employees and members of city boards and commissions.

(Original) Response The City agrees with this recommendation.

If You Go:

• Antioch City Council Meeting
• Tues, October 22 at 7:00 pm
• 2:00 H St, Antioch CA
• Full Agenda – click here
• Grand Jury Report – Click Here

Previous Stories:

• Aug 28 – Antioch City Council Hires City Manager in Split 3-2 Vote
• Aug 26 – Antioch City Council to Talk City Manager Hiring, Pay Raises, Grand Jury and Just Cause Evictions
• July 2 – Barbanica Calls for Criminal Investigation, Asks Antioch Mayor, Councilmembers to Resign
• July 2 – Grand Jury Finds Evidence Antioch City Council Committed Brown Act Violations