Council Picks Broader Firearm Buffer, Fast-Tracks Employee Pay Review

Dublin's City Council went further than staff recommended on firearm zoning, unanimously approved the city's first-ever Code of Ethics with real enforcement teeth, and signaled urgency on fixing an employee cost-of-living formula that left city workers with the lowest raise among all comparable agencies.

• Council chooses broader firearm business buffer matching the tobacco retailer standard, covering parks and youth facilities — not just schools — while adding annual environmental compliance requirements for indoor ranges
• Dublin's first Code of Ethics passes 5-0, creating a 10-step complaint process with sanctions up to censure and a new clause targeting disparaging remarks about council decisions on social media
• City's 1.7% employee COLA exposed as outlier — all 12 comparator agencies gave 3% or more; Council fast-tracks closed-session review at the very next meeting
• Residents flag dangerous road conditions near new Shamrock Hills school; city manager pledges short-term safety fixes
• Council greenlights studies on data center zoning for Fallon East and escalation of postal service complaints to the Postmaster General

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Firearm Zoning: Council Goes Further Than Staff Recommended

The basics: A January 2026 moratorium, triggered by a proposed firearm retailer and indoor shooting range near Basis Independent School in Downtown Dublin, set the stage for a policy discussion on permanent zoning regulations. Staff presented four options ranging from no action to a 1,000-foot school-only buffer.

Why it matters: The Council chose Option 3 — mirroring Dublin's existing tobacco retailer standard — which requires 1,000-foot separation from K-12 schools plus 500-foot separation from parks, playgrounds, youth centers, and libraries. That's a broader net than staff's recommended Option 4 (school-only buffer), and it signals willingness to test post-Bruen legal boundaries to protect sensitive community spaces.

Where things stand: City Attorney John Bakker walked the Council through the legal landscape, explaining that post-Bruen case law permits local regulation as long as it doesn't "meaningfully constrain" access to firearms. "I think the bottom line with all of these cases is that to the extent you don't totally eliminate either the right to acquire firearms and the right to train, if the restrictions are not too meaningful, the regulation is going to be upheld," he said. Dublin's analysis found even the broader tobacco-mirrored standard leaves 63% of commercial acreage available — a figure Bakker contrasted favorably with Chicago's roughly 10%, which courts struck down. "67% of the city's territory is a lot different than 10%. So I think we'd be in good shape," he added.

Councilmember Jean Josey steered the discussion toward Option 3 but with one modification: dropping the retailer-to-retailer separation requirement. "I'm more interested in pursuing option three than option four," she said. "Our tobacco retail standard says that tobacco retailers must be separated from each other in addition to separation from sensitive locations. In this particular instance, I would recommend option three, but without that piece of it." Her reasoning: unlike tobacco shops, Dublin is unlikely to see a proliferation of gun stores.

Indoor Range Safety Takes Center Stage

Public commenter Mike Grant, a longtime federal firearms dealer and Dublin resident, raised concerns about lead contamination at a prior Dublin indoor range, describing a fog of nitrates and gunpowder and workers who showed high lead levels. He urged the city to require its own environmental compliance standards rather than relying solely on Cal OSHA, citing Action Target's computerized filtration monitoring systems that can produce compliance reports.

Councilmember McCorriston followed up: "What can the city do to ensure that whatever we permit for indoor firing ranges, in this particular case, that it's safe for environmental purposes?" Chief Building Official Don Hutzel confirmed the city could incorporate OSHA and DTSC compliance documentation into the permitting process.

Councilmember Josey pushed further, insisting on annual verification: "I absolutely would want us to have a process for OSHA and DTSC compliance as part of the permitting process and the annual business license renewal process … it would need to be an annual thing, not a one and done."

Councilmember John Morada, who initially seemed inclined to lean on Second Amendment principles, ultimately supported Option 3. "When I saw this come up on the agenda, I was just so ready to wax poetically about constitutional fundamentalism and our Second Amendment," he said. "But you covered it beautifully. And just because one can doesn't mean one should."

Decisions: All five council members endorsed Option 3 without retailer-to-retailer separation, plus annual OSHA/DTSC compliance requirements for indoor ranges. Planning Manager Jennifer Byous confirmed the item will go to the Planning Commission next for formal drafting.

What's next: The Planning Commission will develop the ordinance language for Council consideration at a future meeting.

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Dublin Approves First-Ever Code of Ethics

Why it matters: Dublin has never had a standalone Code of Ethics for elected and appointed officials. The new code creates formal accountability mechanisms including a 10-step complaint escalation procedure with sanctions ranging from informal counseling to formal censure and travel restrictions.

Where things stand: City Manager Colleen Tribby presented a revised draft incorporating four changes from the Aug. 18 meeting: consolidated signature documents (a "Model of Excellence" for council and for commissioners), a commitment to attendance, cross-attendance guidelines discouraging council members from attending commission meetings, and the complaint escalation procedure.

Councilmember Josey caught a cross-reference error (3D should be 3C) and proposed strengthening the investigation timeline from "within 90 days" to "as soon as possible but no later than 90 days." "I'd like to instead of say within 90 days, as soon as possible, but no later than 90 days to make sure that … this doesn't get dragged out," she said. "If somebody's been accused of something, we want the matter to get resolved quickly."

The other side: Vice Mayor Kashef Qaadri raised a less obvious concern — elected officials disparaging past or current council decisions on online forums where the Brown Act prevents other members from responding. "I think what I'm trying to solve for is disparaging comments about either current or prior decisions, particularly on online forums where because of the Brown Act we can't respond," he said. "It kind of puts us in an awkward position being elected where we can't respond." This led to new guiding principle language requiring respect for past and present council decisions.

Decisions: The motion passed 5-0 by roll call vote (For: 5 — Morada, Qaadri, McCorriston, Josey, Hu; Against: 0; Absent: 0). The code returns on consent at the next meeting for formal adoption. Josey also requested a future agenda item to update commission bylaws to incorporate the personal devices policy.

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Dublin's 1.7% Employee COLA: An Outlier That Sparked Urgency

Why it matters: Dublin's cost-of-living adjustment formula — tied to a single February CPI-W data point — produced a 1.7% raise this year. Every one of the city's 12 comparator agencies gave flat-rate COLAs of 3% or higher. Each 1% of COLA equals approximately $184,000 in salary and benefits.

Where things stand: HR Director Sarah Monnastes reported that Dublin has used CPI-W since 2012 with a floor of 1% and a ceiling of 3.5%. This year's February CPI-W reading of 1.7% was an outlier — adjacent months showed 3.0% or higher. Her research found no other agency in the market still uses CPI-based methodology. "I looked at Berkeley, San Mateo, Sonoma County, Fremont, South San Francisco, Concord, Santa Rosa and Contra Costa County and none of those are currently using CPI," she said. Agencies like Walnut Creek and San Ramon that formerly used CPI have switched to flat rates negotiated during contract processes.

Mayor Sherry Hu asked whether using an average of multiple months rather than a single data point could smooth out volatility. Councilmember McCorriston agreed, noting "if you only have one data point, it's going to, from a statistical standpoint, it's oftentimes going to be off."

Vice Mayor Qaadri framed the issue in terms of retention. "I genuinely feel our employees, the staff here at Dublin, are our most valuable asset from a fiduciary standpoint," he said. "I think it's actually cheaper, more economical to retain than try to recruit and retrain."

Councilmember Josey pushed for immediate action: "We've already delayed it longer than we should, and so I would hope to get head nods to have it on our closed session for our very next council meeting," she said. "I think we do need to not just talk about how valuable our staff is to us, but make clear to them how valuable they are to us." She secured council support.

Public commenter Mike Grant urged the Council to act, noting Social Security recipients expect 3.6–3.8% increases and praising recent improvements in staff responsiveness and culture.

What's next: The COLA methodology will go to closed session at the next council meeting. City Manager Tribby confirmed the next Employee Process begins soon for implementation July 1, 2027.

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Scarlet Drive Safety Fixes Pledged Near New School

A resident of the Boulevard neighborhood, Dave Robinson, described hazardous conditions on Scarlet Drive near the newly opened Shamrock Hills school: missing crosswalks, confusing painted stop lines, a right-turn lane that directs cars into oncoming traffic, and severe congestion at the Doherty intersection. The full Scarlet Drive road expansion is delayed by a pipeline relocation.

City Manager Colleen Tribby acknowledged the problems during Council reports and committed to near-term fixes. "What we can do right now is make small improvements in that area," she said, citing restriping, stop sign visibility improvements, and coordination with the HOA to trim bushes blocking sightlines.

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Minor Items

• Consent calendar approved unanimously, including Aug. 18 meeting minutes and the 2026 Development Agreement Review finding five developers — including Kaiser Dublin Medical Center and Dublin Crossings — in compliance with their agreements.
• NLC delegate appointments: Councilmember McCorriston named voting delegate, Vice Mayor Qaadri first alternate, and Councilmember Josey second alternate for the November 2026 National League of Cities City Summit in Nashville. Passed unanimously by voice vote.
• Data center zoning: Councilmember Josey secured council support to bring back an agenda item on zoning regulations for data centers as Fallon East development begins, noting Dublin currently lacks specific code language addressing them.
• Post office pressure campaign: Councilmember Josey also won support to formally engage with the Postmaster General about Dublin's single post office serving 70,000+ residents, with no lobby access outside business hours and new residents directed to San Ramon for mail service.
• Visit Tri Valley event center: Public commenter Shirley Lewandowski questioned whether the city supports a proposed event center that would use property taxes within a 2-mile radius for maintenance. City Manager Tribby clarified the council has made no statement of support and is in a "listening phase."
• Constitution Week: The Daughters of the American Revolution presented Dublin with the America 250 Commendation Medal, recognizing the city's contributions to the nation's 250th anniversary celebrations.
• Splatter 2026: Dublin's annual multicultural festival returns Sept. 12 at Emerald Glen Park with a new 1.2-mile Color Dash fun run, three entertainment stages, and a renamed Prisma Lounge VIP experience. No drone show this year.
• Proclamation requests approved for Hunger Action Month and naming a Sunflower Hill chicken, Peace and Hope, as Dublin's unofficial city mascot.