On Tuesday, the Antioch City Council approved an expenditure for the Antioch Chamber of Commerce Somersville Economic Opportunity Plan in collaboration with Saint Mary’s College at a cost of $15,000.
Under the plan, Saint Mary’s College will work to develop an Economic development strategy that aims to achieve economic growth for the City of Antioch in the Somerville Corridor area.
Antioch Mayor Sean Wright, at the advice of the city attorney, recused himself from the item due to his position with the Antioch Chamber of Commerce. Mayor Pro Tem Joy Motts took over the meeting for this item.
The item originally was presented to the Council back in December of 2018; however, the council requested more details.
Richard Pagano, CEO of the Antioch Chamber of Commerce, explained that 75% of the workforce in Antioch commutes out of the City, however, data relayed to Pagano yesterday by Reed shows its closer to 90%.
“What our hope is with this project is that we can create opportunities for our residents to work locally,” said Pagano. “The other thing we see when so many of our community members are commuting out is sales tax leakage.”
Dr. Aksu of Saint Mary’s explained that the project is aimed at collecting data and looking at what has already been done in the Somersville Corridor, what is coming, and look at the demographics, economic and industry analysis to ultimately provide a Strategic Plan Development and economic development framework.
Asku said the project is looking at 9-to-10 months to complete in two-phases with the recommendations for future uses of the Somersville area.
According to Pagano, the project cost is $27,500 with both the Chamber and City splitting the cost at around $15,000 each which Pagano calling this a tremendous opportunity and was exciting.
Joseph Adebayo spoke about how coming from Walnut Creek, the Somersville area is the first thing people see when coming into Antioch. He spoke in favor of the project based on the amount of vacancies and homeless in the area.
“Now that we are branding the City of Antioch as a place for opportunities, its actually very timely that we develop the area economically,” said Adebayo. “I am for this particular plan… so we can decide as to how to approach the development of that place because we truly need it.”
Ray Waters, General Manager of Somersville Towne Center, called this a great opportunity for Antioch to thrive saying this project is a step in the right directions and encouraged the council to support it.
Tim McCall reminded the council that this was unanimously voted in favor by the City’s economic development commission. He said the commission was 100% behind this and hope the council was 100%
“It’s a steal that we are getting, we are getting a great investment for very little money,” said McCall.
Councilmember Lori Ogorchock called the project “exciting” now that she had more information on what would be accomplished.
Councilmember Lamar Thorpe highlighted his concern was the process and that he thought these types of projects would follow the grants process established by the council.
Reed said he believed this project was already started and in the works prior to the council establishing their grants process where organizations could apply. Reed agreed moving forward in the future would help applications and projects scored against one another and be funded based on merit and scored by a group of stakeholders.
Thorpe stated they had set up a process for the Parks and Recreation.
Reed said this project would not be eligible for that funding because those funds were for marketing of special events and this was an economic endeavor.
Thorpe then challenged Reed.
“That is not what that money is for, its not for marketing and special events,” stated Thorpe.
Reed replied they looked at the criteria and what it was eligible for which was projects that dealt with the marketing.
Nancy Kaiser, Parks and Recreation Director clarified saying the Civic Enhancement Grant Program approved by City Council is a grant program for community organizations to involve themselves in beautification projects, special events that generate civic pride and bring people together as well as events that surround those two components. Marketing is an element of those functions.
Thorpe encouraged staff to explain the grant process in the future to those seeking funding before it gets to the council.
“It just doesn’t look right that we are picking and choosing,” said Thorpe.
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Councilmember Monica Wilson thanked Thorpe for expressing his concern over the process but questioned the cost because Mills College offers a similar program with the City of Oakland at no cost.
Aksu stated she could not explain why Mills College was offering their services at no cost, but explained why there was a nearly $30k cost.
“The cost of the project is to compensate for my time spent on this which will take me away from my teaching, my research and other responsibilities and the cost involved with running the project and bringing the parties together. The consulting and bringing the community into the project as well as setting up the framework,” said Aksu. “A big cost is to the student competition as well as compensating the faculty member.”
Wilson interrupted Asku to clarify on the student competition saying she thought the funding for the competition was not included.
Reed clarified saying the funding for the competition was not coming from City Funds but was part of the overall cost of the project—through the Chambers portion.
Asku continued saying there was travel cost for the students and faculty member working with the student team which is above and beyond normal duties which has actual consequences for a community.
Prior to the vote, Thorpe stated he encouraged everyone on the council to vote for this but still had concerns of the process saying its not fair because not everybody can just come and ask for money.
The council then voted 4-0 in favor of approving the funding.
Editors Note: The original ask in the beginning stages of this partnership last year was to allow Saint Saint Mary’s College and the Chamber to develop a plan that would be citywide, however, at the direction of staff and the council, they decided to focus only on the Somersville Corridor. The cost at a citywide plan vs. Somersville Corridor were nearly identical.
14 comments
Hey ECT, why don’t you point out in the article that Monica Wilson used to work at Mills College? Lets think about this one, Saint Mary’s vs. Mills. It is not even a question from a talent standpoint. This is why she must go in the next election. She is all about her own agenda. Surprised she even voted for this, oh I know, she listens to Lamar Thorpe on everything.
Does Joy Motts ever add anything to a conversation? Waste of a councilmember.
These idiots are worried about cost of $15k when they are blowing a million dollars on a marketing campaign? Screwed up Measure C spending and now spending Measure W money like drunken sailors. Their priorities are really off base and are out of touch. 2020 can’t come soon enough.
Waste of money. Shouldn’t this be done by city staff? Why do we need a bunch of kids providing the plan?
Either Lamar Thorpe is a complete idiot or Sean Wright and the chamber bypassed the grant process. I am still confused why the chamber did not have to go through the grant process. I read what Kwame and Nancy said, but if the council is only giving out funding once a year, how did this make an agenda? Can someone from the Chamber or City explain this? This seems like they are spending more time than what this is worth over $15k. Just approve it and move forward while hoping something good comes from this plan.
So economic growth strategy huh, seems legit. Why cant they just invest money in developing more commercial/industrial zoneing to bring companies in like San Jose/Cupertino area does. This is why people commute, because the jobs are there…. not here……its not difficult to see why….. this is another waste of money for a plan instead of taking action.
Respectfully
A commuter who commutes from antioch to silicon valley
$15K is a drop in the bucket and should come from the Business License Fees the City charges which is in the hundreds of thousands (in the millions if you include the Residential Landlord Business Licenses).
This request is not the same as the nonprofit application process.
You make no sense at all
Another joke on us folks. Lamar, Wilson and Motts will continue to point this city in its bankrupt direction. By the way there are things Lamar should be recusing himself from voting on the city attorney should be checking on
Can’t even read about this stuff any more; too depressing. They can’t even keep the businesses the have like CVS because of the transient problem making it not worth it to stay open due to lack of police and other services.
Better off spending that money building a infinity gauntlet for some real change.
Is this a joke? A study? A plan by a bunch of college students with no real experience? If there was a buck to be made, developers and investors would already be creating their own opportunity. The problem is the crime and blight. You also have a huge homeless problem in the area. When completed in a year, is there any action to be taken or going to collect dust on a shelf somewhere?
The bigger issue I see is none of these council members are doing their homework. They all continue to make poor decisions and appear unprepared on most topics and it shows. Just look at Lamar Thorpe and his back and forth with staff and shows both his ignorance and arrogance. On other parts of the meeting, Lori Ogorchock looking like a fool over the distance between a park and cannabis. She says a park is within 300 ft and its really 2,100 ft. Joy Motts, I have to ask why she is even there? She appears to be a deer in headlights.
Couldn’t agree more
Do you think it will help if we lower the dreadful Kirker Pass Road by a hundred feet at least to make it easier to cross over . There used to be a pass on Highway 4 east of Port Chicago and it was lowered by a hundred feet during the widening of the highway some 25 years ago. It is much easier to drive over now. Kirker Pass Road is very steep .
Instead of building an unsafe truck lane terminating at the top if the hills, they should really get in and widen it to 3 lanes and fix the geometry on the Antioch side. It is also easy to be blinded at night going into Antioch because oncoming traffic does not dim their lights. Bad drainage also when raining on Antioch side when going down the hill too. They’ve messed it up even more getting ready for construction commencing 5/1.
Why doesn’t City Council do anything to really support our community and make things better? These studies are a waste of money, nothing ever materializes. Get rid of the crime and blight. Listen to the people who live here for a change.
Why oh why are you PAYING (ie outsourcing) for a study by students when we ALREADY PAID YOU (uh tax upon tax upon taxes) to do this, didn’t we? What a WASTE of time and money. I’m so OVER this godforsaken town! Drugs gangs blight crime…sickening?
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