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Candidate Nomination Period Now Open
Nomination papers for seats on the Concord City Council in Districts 1, 3, and 5 and City Treasurer are now available by appointment.

To be eligible to run for City Council, a candidate must be a resident of Concord and a registered voter in the District of the office sought at the time nomination papers are issued. The Treasurer is an at-large position, and a candidate must be a resident of Concord and a registered voter at the time nomination papers are issued.  

The candidate nomination period is determined by Election Code and begins 113 days prior to the election date. If any incumbent does not file by the deadline, the nomination period will be extended.  

November 8, 2022 Nomination Period: Monday, July 18 – Friday, August 12, 2022 

EXTENDED Nomination Period (if one or more incumbent does not file): Monday, August 15 – Wednesday, August 17, 2022 

Nomination packets include, but are not limited to, the Nomination Paper, Ballot Designation Worksheet, Candidate Statement (optional), Code of Fair Campaign Practices (optional), Statement of Economic Interests Form 700, and Campaign Finance Disclosure statements.  

Candidates must schedule an appointment with City Clerk Joelle Fockler, (925) 671-3390 to obtain a nomination packet.  

If no one or only one person is nominated for an elective office, appointment to the elective office may be made as prescribed by § 10229, Elections Code of the State of California. 

Polls will be open between 7 a.m. and 8 p.m. on Election Day, November 8, 2022.  
Council Committee Considers Renaming Kirker Pass
The City of Concord's City Council Committee on Policy Development and Internal Operations will hold a special meeting on Wednesday, August 3 at 5:30 p.m. to consider whether the portion of Kirker Pass Road within the City of Concord should be renamed. This follows Contra Costa County's decision to initiate the process of renaming the portion of Kirker Pass that is located between the cities of Concord and Pittsburg.

The meeting agenda will be posted at least 24 hours in advance on the City's website.

Written comments can be e-mailed to the City Clerk at cityclerk@cityofconcord.org.
Planning Commission, Design Review Board Consider Objective Design Standards Aug. 8
The City of Concord will host a second special joint meeting of the Planning Commission and Design Review Board on Monday, August 8 at 6 p.m. for considering and providing input on a draft framework for the City’s “Objective Design Standards” (ODS) for housing projects.

This is in response to the City’s April 6 joint special meeting on updating the City’s design standards, as a result of recent State housing legislation.

The meeting will include: 
  1. Summary review of the purpose of the project;
  2. Presentation on existing conditions and findings;
  3. Review and discussion of the draft framework for the ODS document; and
  4. Design exercise, including a photo discussion, to identify values and approaches toward design elements and priorities for the application of standards.

Because this is a special meeting, it will be held in-person only in the Permit Center Conference Room –Building D (1950 Parkside Drive), and will not be available by Zoom, nor will it be televised.

The project intends to support Concord’s tradition of high-quality design and streamline the review of housing projects, consistent with the State Housing Accountability Act.

Background
In response to California’s housing crisis, several state laws have been enacted to bolster the State’s Housing Accountability Act, with the intent of stimulating housing production. These bills are intended to advance housing by streamlining permit processes and making it more difficult for communities to deny or reduce the density of housing projects that meet objective General Plan and zoning requirements.

The State has limited a local jurisdiction’s ability to apply subjective design standards. Going forward, the City can now only rely on the application of objective design standards for most housing projects. Objective Design Standards are those that do not involve discretion or subjective judgment and are verifiable by reference to an external and uniform benchmark or criterion. 

For further details, please contact Joan Ryan, Principal Planner, by email or at (925) 671-3370.
National Night Out Returns Aug. 2
Join the Concord Library, the City of Concord, Concord Police Department, and several community-based organizations and partners to celebrate National Night Out.

National Night Out is an annual event intended to strengthen relationships among neighbors and law enforcement, while building a true sense of community.

While neighborhoods tend to host their own smaller events, the Concord Library hosts a larger event which is open to all. Meet fellow Concord residents, attend the community resource fair, enjoy fun kids' activities, see a Concord PD K9 demonstration, enjoy food trucks, and more!

Tuesday, August 2
5-7 p.m.
Concord Library
2900 Salvio Street
Jazz Festival Takes the Stage Aug. 3-7
The curtain is ready to rise on this year’s Concord Jazz Festival with five days of jazz-inspired events perfect for any music enthusiast!

Dubbed “Take Five” in honor of Concord native Dave Brubeck, these five events have become an annual must-attend for locals and visitors.

August 3: Jinx Jones kicks off the festival with a FREE show at The Veranda as part of The Veranda Unplugged series. Showtime is 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. 

August 4: Catch Carlos Reyes for a FREE show at Todos Santos Music & Market series from 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m.

August 5: Glib Rig performs at Jazz Night at the Concord Tap House, 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. The show is FREE and features special guest KJ Focus.

August 6: The sounds of jazz will fill Downtown Concord during Jazz in the Park, 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. in Todos Santos Plaza featuring performances by Chaz Gunter and special guest Howard Wiley. This show is FREE.

August 7: Java & Jazz returns with Stratify and special guest KJ Focus. This final day of the festival takes place at the Concord Museum and Event Center from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Cost: $15.

City of Concord | www.cityofconcord.org