PREPARED BY: MATT RODRIGUEZ DATE OF MEETING: 01/20/2026
SUBJECT:
TITLE
CONSIDER RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SAN PABLO AFFIRMING RECOMMENDED CITY COUNCILMEMBER APPOINTMENTS BY MAYOR PABON-ALVARADO OF INDIVIDUAL CITY COUNCILMEMBERS TO ALL TEMPORARY AD-HOC SUBCOMMITTEES, STANDING COMMITTEES AND REGIONAL/LOCAL ASSIGNMENTS FOR CALENDAR YEAR 2026 PURSUANT TO SAN PABLO MUNICIPAL CODE SECTION 2.16.070
CEQA: This proposed action is not a project as defined by CEQA.
Label
CITY MANAGER RECOMMENDATION
Recommendation
Adopt said Resolution for all City Council assignments as amended for Calendar Year 2026 pursuant to SPMC 2.16.070 requirements.
Body
COMPLIANCE STATEMENTS
FY 2025-27 Council Priority Workplan Compliance Statement
Annual City Council Assignments are not contained in the FY 2025-27 Council Priority Workplan, effective April 7, 2025; but are operationally required per SPMC requirements.
CEQA Compliance Statement: This proposed action is not a project as defined by CEQA.
BACKGROUND
Each year, following appointment of a new, incoming Mayor, the City Council formally designates representation of existing Councilmembers on the following:
• Active City Council Temporary Ad-Hoc and Standing Committees; and
• Individual Councilmember assignments involving formal representation to local and regional bodies, organizations, and committees, Joint Powers Authority Board of Directors (in which case the City is an official member), and other quasi-public agencies involving a number of public policy areas.
Per San Pablo Municipal Code (SPMC) Section 2.16.070 requirements, each new, incoming Mayor is authorized to make recommendations on all City Councilmember assignments for the new calendar year period subject to affirmation via majority approval by the City Council via Resolution.
SPEDC Board of Directors - City Representation
All Councilmember assignments are subject to requirements of SPMC Section 2.16.070 requirements while SPEDC Board of Directors appointments are a separate action by the City Council affirmed by majority vote of the City Council via minute action in accordance with SPEDC adopted by-laws.
League of CA Cities Policy Committee Appointments
League of California Cities (“League”) Policy Committees are NOT subject to requirements of SPMC 2.16.070. However, individual Councilmembers may seek individual appointments to League Policy Committees on their own accord without prior City Council consent or approval.
Council Standing Committees Authorized for CY 2026
On December 21, 2015, the City Council adopted Resolution 2015-204 creating four (4) new City Council Standing Committees subject to requirements of the Ralph M. Brown Act on proper public review and transparency, as follows:
• Budget, Fiscal and Legislative Standing Committee
• Community Services Standing Committee
• Economic Development & Project Management Standing Committee
• Public Safety Standing Committee
These four (4) Standing Committees continue to be active and formally established for City Council annual appointments by each incoming Mayor, with majority vote approval required to affirm said appointments by the City Council per SPMC Section 2.16070 requirements.
Temporary Ad-Hoc Subcommittees Authorized for CY 2026
Temporary Ad-Hoc Subcommittees may be established by formal City Council Resolution as operationally recommended by the City Manager during the course of the calendar year for a specific project or purpose. All Ad-Hoc Subcommittees are temporary in-nature and meet infrequently. These Temporary Ad-Hoc Subcommittees are not subject to the requirements of the Ralph M. Brown Act.
Annually, as City operational or policy needs arise, the City Council may establish by official City Council action the following Temporary Ad-Hoc Subcommittee to designate the Mayor and Vice Mayor to represent the City Council with Casino San Pablo/Lytton Tribe representatives under the Municipal Services Agreement, as needed, as follows:
• Casino San Pablo/Lytton Tribe Ad-Hoc Subcommittee (Mayor/Vice Mayor)
Individual Councilmember assignments to new, temporary ad-hoc subcommittees are being recommended by Mayor Pabon-Alvarado per SPMC Section 2.16.070. The City Council by formal motion and affirmed by majority vote may establish temporary ad-hoc subcommittees, and include them in the final adopted Resolution. All temporary ad-hoc subcommittees, once formally established by the City Council, are temporary in nature and will expire on December 31, 2026, unless otherwise specified.
For CY 2026, there is one (1) Temporary City Council Ad-Hoc Subcommittee operationally required to be active during CY 2026. This Ad-Hoc Subcommittees will be formally re-constituted for CY 2026 and expire prior to December 31, 2026. See below and Exhibit A attached:
(1) Local Business Association/Business Group or Watch Ad-Hoc Subcommittee:
(Councilmembers Assigned: Pabon-Alvarado; Cruz)
Initially established during 2024 and extended into CY 2025 and expired on December 31, 2025. The City Manager is recommending to re-constitute this Temporary Ad-Hoc Subcommittee until December 31, 2026, to enable Council participation at meetings of locally, recognized business associations/groups or watch in collaboration with City staff (and including SPEDC staff) to report back any relevant information for future City Council policy development to support local business community or local economy, as deemed necessary.
Additional Temporary Ad-Hoc Subcommittees may be operationally required during the course of CY 2026 as recommended by the City Manager, and subject to formal majority vote approval by the City Council.
Proposed Council Assignments Procedures for CY 2026
Pursuant to SPMC 2.16.070, the new Mayor makes recommendations on all new City Council assignments to be affirmed by majority vote of the City Council to become effective via adopted Resolution.
Listed below is the formal procedure and proposed timeline summarized by the City Manager, with official correspondence issued on December 8, 2025, in accordance with SPMC 2.16.070 requirements to facilitate recommendations by Mayor Pabon-Alvarado on all City Council assignments proposed for CY 2026, as follows:
Date(s) and Recommended Procedure(s):
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December 8, 2025 |
City Manager Issues City Council Advisory on Council Assignment Procedures & Timeline Memorandum for CY 2026 to City Council |
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December 8, 2025 - January 9, 2026 |
Mayor formulates recommendations for City Council Consideration per SPMC 2.16.070 |
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Week of January 12, 2026 |
Mayor Pabon-Alvarado meets with City Manager to discuss/review Mayor’s recommendations prior to agenda preparation deadline. |
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Tuesday, January 20, 2026** |
Scheduled City Council Meeting to affirm Mayor’s recommendations for City Council Assignments for approval by the City Council per SPMC 2.16.070 by adopted Resolution. |
**Note: Due to Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday Observance, the regular City Council meeting will be scheduled on Tuesday, January 20, 2026**.
Proposed Mayor Recommendations for CY 2026 (per SPMC Requirements)
For CY 2026, Mayor Pabon-Alvarado proposes the following recommendations to all City Council assignments for CY 2026 and submits these recommendations to the City Council for formal approval via Resolution per SPMC 2.16.070 requirements.
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SUMMARY OF PROPOSED MAYOR RECOMMENDATIONS ANNUAL CITY COUNCIL ASSIGNMENTS TO LOCAL/REGIONAL BOARDS & COMMITTEES CY 2026 |
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COUNCILMEMBER (BY CURRENT ROTATION) |
ADD ASSIGNMENT |
DELETE ASSIGNMENT |
|
MAYOR ELIZABETH PABON-ALVARADO |
• All default Mayor assignments • League of CA Cities/EB Division (Primary) |
• MCE Board (Primary) |
|
VICE-MAYOR RITA XAVIER |
• All default Vice-Mayor assignments • League of CA Cities/EB Division (Alternate) |
• League of CA Cities/EB Division (Primary) |
|
COUNCILMEMBER ABEL PINEDA |
• ABAG/MTC (Alternate) |
• West Contra Costa Transportation Advisory Committee (Alternate); |
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COUNCILMEMBER PATRICIA PONCE |
• MCE Board (Primary) |
• League of CA Cities/EB Division (Alternate) |
|
COUNCILMEMBER ARTURO CRUZ |
• MCE Board (Alternate) • Sister City Manzanillo Board Member Designation (Alternate); • West Contra Costa Transportation Advisory Committee (Alternate); |
• None |
All recommended changes from Mayor Pabon-Alvarado are reflected in the following attachments for City Council formal consideration and approval via Resolution, as follows:
• Exhibit A - Proposed DRAFT City Council Temporary Ad-Hoc Subcommittees for CY 2026; and
• Exhibit B - Proposed DRAFT Individual City Council, Local and Regional Assignments for CY 2026
Procedure for City Council Changes to Mayor Recommendations
Any individual Councilmember may propose changes to the Mayor’s recommendations to any City Council Assignments for CY 2026 period. Procedurally, any change may be officially initiated by formal motion, duly seconded, and affirmed by majority vote via adopted Resolution.
Once formally adopted, Exhibits A and B would be amended appropriately by the City Manager following formal City Council action this evening. Clean Final Versions of Exhibits A & B have been provided by the City Manager and are attached to this staff report if the City Council does not approve any changes by majority vote via Resolution (See Attachments).
FISCAL IMPACT
None associated with this action.
ATTACHMENT:
1. Att A - Proposed Resolution
2. Exh A: Proposed DRAFT City Council Ad- Hoc Temporary and Standing Committees for CY 2026
3. Exh B: Proposed DRAFT City Council, Local & Regional Assignments for CY 2026
4. Exh A: Final (Clean Version) City Council Ad- Hoc Temporary and Standing Committees for CY 2026
5. Exh B: Final (Clean Version) City Council, Local & Regional Assignments for CY 2026