Council Sends All $902K in Post Office Proceeds to OPEB Trust in Divided Vote

Pinole's City Council split 3-2 over the most consequential fiscal question of the night — whether to bet on long-term pension health or near-term road repair — while also overhauling more than 200 city fees, adopting electronic campaign filing, and directing staff to draft a solidarity resolution for striking sugar refinery workers.

• $902,500 in post office sale proceeds directed entirely to the OPEB trust in a 3-2 vote, with dissenters pushing for a road maintenance split
• 232 city fees updated, including a new tiered conditional use permit structure that could cut costs nearly in half for small businesses
• Electronic campaign finance filing adopted, joining 250 California cities ahead of the November election cycle
• Council unanimously backs grand jury response, committing to quarterly finance reviews and an OPEB consultant after receiving F grades on pension obligations
• ILWU Local 6 solidarity resolution directed after council member visits striking C&H Sugar Refinery workers in Crockett

Why it matters: The grand jury gave Pinole F grades on pension obligations, OPEB obligations, and OPEB funding — and the council had to decide whether a nearly $1 million windfall from selling the old post office should shore up those liabilities or fix deteriorating roads.