Politics & Government

Council to Look at Pensions, Housing Authority and Planning Commission Terms

Tuesday agenda items are mostly informational, although some actions are recommended.

The Pinole City Council on Tuesday will consider lengthening the terms of city planning commissioners and also discuss the creation of a housing authority and city employee pensions.

A previous city council shortened the the planning commission terms from four years to two in 2000. That council cited no reason when it adopted the change, according to a staff report to be presented Tuesday. The council will consider restoring the terms to four years, the length of service originally adopted with the commision's inception in 1959.

The consideration for creating a housing authority comes in anticipation that the state legislature will abolish redevelopment agencies across California. Currently, the Pinole Redevelopment Agency handles many housing-related issues. If the council agrees to create the authority, it would consider the appointment of authority members at a later date.

Find out what's happening in Pinole-Herculeswith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Like other cities facing hard fiscal times, Pinole has been negotiating with its two employee bargaining units over both salaries and retirement benefits. There are two public employee labor unions in Pinole. One covers police and fire employees, the other covers all other eligible staff members. Those negotiations have taken place behind closed doors, as allowed by state law. There is no vote on the issue of pensions scheduled for Tuesday's meeting.

The council agenda also includes a resolution in support of the West Contra Costa Unified School District installing .

Find out what's happening in Pinole-Herculeswith free, real-time updates from Patch.

The council is scheduled to meet at 6 p.m. for a closed session, then to meet in open session, likely at about 7 p.m. The meeting will take place in council chambers at 2131 Pear St. The meeting will be televised on Pinole TV Channel 26.


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