Council Picks City Park Over Lumberyard for $8.5M State Grant

The biggest fight of the night in Antioch wasn't even close on the dais — but the divide between the council and its residents was stark. Despite 18 public speakers, 875-plus petition signatures, and nearly two decades of community advocacy for a downtown waterfront town square, the council voted 4-1 to pursue a once-in-a-decade state park grant for the existing City Park instead. Elsewhere, downtown business owners delivered an urgent and emotional plea for help with safety and cleanliness, and the council halted a security contract that most businesses didn't even know existed.

• Council selects City Park over BD Lumberyard for $8.5M Prop 4 grant despite unanimous public comment favoring the lumberyard town square
• Downtown businesses sound the alarm on break-ins, fires, filthy sidewalks, and declining foot traffic, urging immediate city action
• Downtown security contract paused after survey shows 71% of businesses didn't know patrols existed; police report 23% spike in calls since coverage lapsed
• $382K police camera upgrade approved to replace a failing surveillance system with 8 of 12 servers already down
• Crown Castle telecom expansion reluctantly approved after city attorney warns rejection would hand the company more power under federal rules

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A Once-in-a-Decade Grant — and a Community Left Behind

The council's most contentious debate of the night pitted fiscal pragmatism against a grassroots vision nearly 20 years in the making: whether to use an $8.5 million, no-match-required Proposition 4 state park grant to renovate the existing City Park or to build a new downtown town square at the BD Lumberyard, a vacant city-owned waterfront lot that community members have long dreamed of transforming into a gathering space.

The basics: Prop 4 grants for park development have come roughly once per decade. The city hired Townsend Public Affairs to evaluate both sites and recommend an application strategy.

Why it matters: The decision effectively shelves — for years, at minimum — the community's campaign for "Rivertown Square," a downtown gathering space that advocates say would anchor economic revitalization north of G Street, where residents lost Barbara Price Park 14 years ago.

Where things stand: Alex Gibbs, grants director for Townsend Public Affairs, presented a side-by-side scoring analysis and recommended the city put its full weight behind a single application. The math favored City Park: its park-acres-per-thousand-residents ratio of 0.86 versus the lumberyard's 1.82 would yield roughly five additional points on the state's 100-point rubric, a gap Gibbs called decisive.

"Five points here, plus an additional two for number of people in poverty. That's almost a 10% scoring difference," said Gibbs. "Even if you do everything flawlessly for both projects, City Park would score about five points higher than BD Lumberyard."

Councilmember Tamisha Torres-Walker asked whether the city could submit two applications. Staff said capacity constraints made that infeasible.

The other side: All 18 public speakers on this item backed the lumberyard. Kim Statlander, a public commenter representing 875-plus petition signers, argued maintenance costs could be offset by endowments, sponsorships, and events. Cecilia Perez Mejia of Rising Juntos described children already playing on the vacant dirt lot and community events like Dia de los Muertos held in parking lots for lack of public space. Alexander Broom, Parks and Recreation Commission vice chair, questioned the scoring methodology, noting that the river occupies roughly 40% of the half-mile radius used to calculate park access and that deferred maintenance at City Park should be funded separately. Michael Simpson, a public commenter, compared the project to successful town squares in Concord, Brentwood, Oakland, and Pittsburgh and argued a destination — not housing — would generate downtown customers.

Mayor Pro Tem Donald Freitas delivered an extended personal history of downtown Antioch dating to 1978 and challenged lumberyard supporters to help fund ongoing maintenance. He acknowledged the community's passion but argued the lumberyard needed sustained economic development, not just a park.

"Be under no illusion. This is at least a three to four year process, and when it comes to money, especially without matching funds, you put your best foot forward and you do the best bet," said Freitas. "The best bet is not Beaty. The best bet, in my opinion, is City Park."

Decisions: Mayor Ron Bernal initially signaled he could support both sites but ultimately voted for City Park, citing the city's $15 million structural deficit. "We do not have $250,000 to spend to maintain this park," Bernal said, referencing estimated annual upkeep for a new downtown facility. The motion to apply for City Park passed 4-1 (For: Torres-Walker, Freitas, Wilson, Bernal; Against: Rocha). Councilmember Louie Rocha cast the lone dissenting vote: "It's a no for me."

What's next: The Prop 4 application will move forward for City Park, which hasn't been renovated in roughly 20 years. The BD Lumberyard's future as a potential community space remains unresolved, with no alternative funding path identified.

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Downtown Businesses Plead for Help as Safety Deteriorates

A wave of downtown business owners and residents used general public comment to deliver some of the most urgent testimony the council has heard this year — describing break-ins, gun violence, filthy sidewalks, and a climate of fear that is driving away customers and investment.

Why it matters: The comments painted a picture of a downtown core in crisis, with businesses reporting that safety fears are directly suppressing economic activity — a backdrop that made the later debate over security services all the more pointed.

Where things stand: Debbie Blazier, president of the Downtown Antioch Association, called for increased police patrols, better lighting, cameras, and street cleaning. Kristin Zamora of Gossamer Creations described clients pausing or scaling back marketing budgets as foot traffic declines. Erin Green, owner of Hen and Drake Modern Tea Room, proposed a non-smoking ordinance and parking enforcement, noting that half her customers come from outside Antioch. Leslie May described filthy conditions at Waldy Plaza and frightening encounters with unhoused individuals. Sunil Pandey, a property owner near a methadone clinic on Sunset Lane, described repeated break-ins and a car accident that nearly struck his building, and said the city had denied his request to install a fence at his own expense. Dale Krause told the council he has had guns pulled on him six times in five years.

What's next: Several of these concerns fed directly into the council's later discussion on downtown security services (see below). Councilmember Torres-Walker requested future agenda items on blighted vacant property taxes, rail banking for decommissioned railroads, and the state's Home Key program.

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Security Contract Scrapped; Working Group Ordered

Council declined to renew the city's downtown security services contract after a staff survey and public testimony revealed the existing arrangement was barely functioning — and in some cases, patrolling properties that aren't even downtown.

The basics: The prior contract, worth roughly $100,000 per year, covered only city-owned parking lots from 5 p.m. to midnight. It lapsed 42 days before this meeting.

Why it matters: Acting Chief Cook confirmed the gap is already measurable. "There's been roughly a 23% increase in calls for service to the police department," Cook said. "In those 42 days, it's roughly three and a half calls for service per day to four and a half calls for service per day."

Where things stand: Acting City Manager Merchant reported that a survey of downtown businesses drew only 7 responses out of more than 50 contacted. Of those who responded, 71% didn't know security patrols existed, and 43% were dissatisfied. Mr. Becker, a public commenter and former private security manager, questioned why security logs showed photos of properties far outside downtown, including big-box retail centers. Keith Butler, CEO of Elite Defense Security Solutions, criticized the lack of accountability metrics in the original arrangement and offered his firm's expertise.

The other side: Councilmember Torres-Walker pushed for structural solutions, including a potential special police district overlay for downtown and interim community service officer patrols. She also pressed for clearer performance standards from any future vendor, noting that "most security companies will provide you with their metrics or measurements of what they would consider to be successful."

Decisions: Council directed Mayor Pro Tem Freitas and Councilmember Rocha to convene a working group with police, code enforcement, the Downtown Antioch Association, the chamber of commerce, and business owners to develop a new RFQ with performance metrics.

What's next: The working group is targeting a return to council by the end of September. In the interim, downtown businesses remain without dedicated private security coverage.

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Failing Police Cameras Replaced With $382K Cloud System

Why it matters: Eight of 12 servers powering the Antioch Police Department's Bay Alarm surveillance system have already failed. Lt. Whitaker told the council that losing two more would eliminate all building and jail video evidence — exposing the city to significant liability.

Where things stand: Whitaker presented the $381,676 sole-source contract for Verkada's cloud-based camera system, explaining that more than a year of research concluded Verkada was the only vendor meeting the department's security requirements. The contract includes five-year licensing with free software updates and 24/7 remote support, eliminating the need for on-site servers. The cost is a budget rollover from fiscal year 2025-26, meaning no new fiscal impact.

Public commenter Johnny questioned why no competitive bids were taken and why the police chief was absent. Freitas pressed on the full upfront payment structure and guarantees for ongoing maintenance.

Decisions: Approved 5-0 (For: Torres-Walker, Rocha, Wilson, Freitas, Bernal).

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Crown Castle Telecom: Approve or Lose Control

Council reluctantly approved a third amendment to the Crown Castle Fiber LLC encroachment agreement allowing larger above-ground telecom equipment at three city sites.

Why it matters: Federal telecommunications law sharply limits local governments' ability to reject telecom modifications. The city attorney warned that if the council rejected the amendment, Crown Castle could terminate the agreement and reapply under new FCC rules that would give the city less control and less revenue.

Mr. Becker, a 30-year resident living near one of the sites, argued the equipment is unsightly and asked why undergrounding was not considered. Director Scott Bunting confirmed Crown Castle did not propose undergrounding.

Freitas expressed frustration but moved reluctant approval: the council faced a choice between an imperfect deal and a worse one.

Decisions: Approved 5-0 (For: Torres-Walker, Rocha, Wilson, Freitas, Bernal).

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Minor Items

• Consent calendar approved 5-0, excluding Items F, G, and H, which were pulled for separate discussion.
• National Overdose Awareness Day proclaimed for Aug. 31, 2026 (5-0). Danielle Aubin of the EC MEDS Coalition accepted the proclamation, calling for reduced stigma around substance use disorder. Antioch is investing California Opioid Settlement funds in treatment and prevention services.
• Aedes aegypti mosquito presentation: Nola Woods of the Contra Costa Mosquito and Vector Control District reported that the dangerous yellow fever mosquito has been found near Harbor Park for a third consecutive year. The district launched a Wolbachia pilot program releasing treated male mosquitoes to suppress the population. Residents should dump standing water and report daytime-biting mosquitoes.
• Christian Lapena appointed to the Sales Tax Citizens Oversight Committee (5-0), term expiring March 2030. Four vacancies remain on the five-member panel overseeing Measure W's 1% sales tax.
• Councilmember Rocha designated as voting delegate and Councilmember Wilson as alternate for the League of California Cities annual conference (5-0); $2,600 per participant authorized.
• Park signage bid (Item H) pulled by staff to a future meeting.
• Closed session: Three items heard (city attorney performance evaluation and two conference-with-legal-counsel matters); nothing reported out.