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Welcome to the City of Concord's e-newsletter. This publication is designed to keep you informed about what's happening in your community. Sign up here to subscribe to our City News updates.

Power Remains Out at City Hall

Tuesday's powerful winds wreaked havoc throughout the region, causing downed trees and power lines, and taking out electricity to thousands of households and businesses -- some of which remain without power on Wednesday evening.


Thank you for your patience as we await having power restored to City Hall buildings at 1950 Parkside Drive. While our phone lines are down, City staff working remotely are able to access email.


If you need assistance, please contact: 


The online Permit Center is, of course, open 24/7.


Please note that all City of Concord Recreation facilities are operating as usual with no power disruptions.


If you need to report a problem, please use our Concord Connect mobile app.


Please also join us in thanking our Public Works crew and Concord Police Department personnel for working around the clock to respond to emergencies and clean up downed trees and debris!

ARPA Nonprofit Grants Announced

At its March 7 meeting, the Concord City Council allocated $7 million in one-time federal funds to 22 local nonprofits serving the Concord community. The funds come from the overall $27 million that Concord received as part of the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA). 


The City received 70 eligible grant applications, with a combined funding request of $34.4 million. 


In September 2022, Council appointed an ad hoc committee consisting of then-Mayor Dominic Aliano and then-Vice Mayor Laura Hoffmeister. The two reviewed all applications, which were submitted by Oct. 28, 2022. All applicants were then invited to participate in interviews with the ad hoc committee. Each ad hoc committee member scored each application based on a 100-point rubric, with 200 total points possible when scoring sheets were combined.


The 22 organizations selected for funding will receive grants ranging from $50,000 to $1.5 million; 80% will be distributed initially, with the remaining 20% at a later date. Funds must be spent by December 2024, and the City will require documentation and follow up to ensure the funds were spent as intended. 


Read the full press release, which includes the list of recipients.

City Secures Nearly $8M in Transportation Grant Funding

The City of Concord received news this week that it has been awarded more than $7.9 million in grant funds from the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) to support a massive street lighting and safety improvement project. 


This is the largest grant allocation to any Bay Area agency from Caltrans’ recent effort to provide $225 million for projects designed to reduce traffic deaths and serious injuries on city and county roads. 


The funding for Concord will go toward installing new lighting, upgrading existing street and intersection lighting, installing pedestrian countdown signals, modifying signal phasing, and installing three new Rectangular Rapid Flashing Beacons and four HAWK traffic signals -- systems that are used to alert motorists to crossing pedestrians. Funds will also be used for upgrading uncontrolled crosswalks and installing additional bicycle safety improvements.


Additionally, this grant will fund the entire LED upgrade for City streetlights that have not yet been upgraded to LED.


Over the last year, Concord has been successful in securing additional grants to fund its transportation safety projects. The City received $4.19 million from the One Bay Area Grant program; $2.8 million from Active Transportation Program/Caltrans; $632,000 from Congress; and $183,000 from Metropolitan Transportation Commission. 


Funded projects include: 

  • Willow Pass Bike Lane Connector
  • Citywide Bike Lane Enhancements
  • Galindo Street Multimodal Project
  • Signal Timing at Clayton Road, Galindo/Monument, and Treat Boulevard


Concord adopted a Local Roadway Safety Plan (LRSP) in August 2022, which proactively evaluates hot spots throughout the City to identify the proven countermeasures that can be implemented through the current and future Capital Improvement Plan (CIP) using a safe system approach.


The adopted LRSP identified 50 percent of fatal collisions and 35 percent of severe injuries involved pedestrians. Armed with this information and LRSP defined countermeasures, Concord applied for and was successful in getting funding for safety improvements for vulnerable road users like pedestrians and bicyclists. 

New Web Page Shares Status of Downtown Project

The Downtown Corridors Bicycle and Pedestrian Improvement Project began this week. The project includes various pedestrian and bicycle safety and aesthetic improvements throughout the downtown area.


The project is anticipated to be completed by October 2023, while work adjacent to Todos Santos Plaza is anticipated to be completed by end of April, weather permitting. 


Project improvements will accommodate bike lanes in both directions on Grant Street, which requires the removal of six parking spaces on the plaza side of Grant St. between Salvio St. and Willow Pass Rd.  


In addition, the sidewalk on the Salvio Pacheco Square side of Salvio St. will be widened, which requires the removal of all parking spots on the business side of Salvio St. between Mt. Diablo St and Grant St. Oak St will also be repaved, with bicycle improvements to follow.


City staff have launched a web page to keep community members updated about this project. It will be updated regularly with info and photos.


Learn more.

Spring Brews Fest Returns March 25

On Saturday, March 25, the 12th Annual Spring Brews Festival is coming to Todos Santos Plaza, featuring more than 50 world-class craft breweries, live music, food, and more! This is a 21 and over event, and tickets include unlimited pours and a commemorative glass.


Proceeds from the event benefit the Todos Santos Business Association (TSBA) Arts Foundation, which helps fund the summer music program in Todos Santos Park, as well as youth music programs around Concord.


Please note that no dogs or children (including infants) will be allowed within the festival gates. Smoking in Todos Santos Park and Downtown Concord is strictly prohibited.


Learn more and buy tickets.

Public Meetings Calendar

The City of Concord's upcoming public meetings include:


  • Wednesday, March 15: Planning Commission - CANCELLED
  • Monday, March 20: Special Meeting of the Measure V Oversight Committee
  • Tuesday, March 21: Special Meeting of the Recreation, Cultural Affairs and Community Services Committee
  • Wednesday, March 22: Homeless Strategic Plan Working Group
  • Wednesday, March 22: Zoning Administrator
  • Thursday, March 23: Design Review Board
  • Tuesday, March 28: City Council


See the full calendar.


To receive email or text notifications when the meeting agendas are posted, please subscribe to alerts using the "Notify Me" tool on the City's website.


City Council and Planning Commission meetings are broadcast live on Concord TV (Astound/Wave 29 and 1026, Comcast 28, U-verse 99) and streamed through the City's website as well as rebroadcast at later times.

City of Concord | www.cityofconcord.org
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