Speaker numbers apply only to this recording.
The Benicia City Council held its regular meeting on March 17, 2026, addressing routine approvals, presentations on sustainability and tourism, and key strategic discussions on the annual housing progress report, the midyear budget, and task force updates responding to the Valero refinery closure.
Eco Awards The city partnered with Republic Services to present the annual Eco Awards. Kimono Japanese Restaurant was recognized for improving organics sorting and waste diversion. Timeless Blooms Florist was recognized for using seasonal flowers and effective waste management.
Visit Benicia Tourism Marketing Update Bernadette Capulan and Mina Carnini of BC Design House presented an update on the tourism marketing contract for Visit Benicia. They reported a 26.37% increase in website visits year-over-year and highlighted successful social media campaigns for events like Porch Fest and Ghost Walk, which generated high organic engagement and media placements. Councilmember Scott asked for a clearer definition of target demographics. Vice Mayor Macenski requested that future reports correlate marketing metrics directly to financial outcomes such as sales tax revenue for local businesses, noting that sales and occupancy taxes are currently down. City Manager Mario clarified that the primary goal of events is to serve as an economic catalyst for local businesses rather than a direct revenue source for the city.
2025 General Plan and Housing Element Annual Progress Report Associate Planner Vivian Taganon presented the report. Notable 2025 accomplishments included zoning amendments for commercial streamlining and housing compliance, the establishment of a pre-approved ADU program, progress on the House of Hope transitional housing project, and the selection of Eden Housing to develop an approximately 100-unit affordable senior housing project on city-owned sites. The city also applied for Prohousing Designation certification from the state. Councilmember Largaespada asked what specific actions were most likely to translate into actual housing units, and how housing efforts were being aligned with economic development. The council unanimously accepted the report and directed its transmittal to state housing agencies.
FY 2025/26 Midyear Budget Report Budget Manager Roxana Morati and Finance Director Jeff presented the midyear budget. General fund revenues are forecast to fall short of the budget by approximately $1 million, driven primarily by lower-than-expected sales tax revenues. Expenditures are forecast to be $1.7 million under budget, primarily due to vacancy savings, leading to a projected nominal surplus. No general fund budget amendments were recommended. City Manager Mario stated that while the city does not anticipate using reserves this fiscal year, reserves will almost certainly need to be used in FY 2026/27 to maintain services through the Valero transition. Councilmember Largaespada noted the revenue data suggests a structural shift towards logistics and online retail, making the industrial park increasingly crucial to the city's fiscal health. The budget report and related amendments were unanimously accepted.
The ACT (Advocacy, Collaboration, and Transition) task forces provided updates regarding the Valero refinery closure. Councilmember Largaespada reported that the non-profit sustainability task force is partnering with the Solano Community Foundation to host grant and donation strategy workshops. Councilmember Scott reported that developer Signature Services anticipates filing a pre-application in late spring/early summer, and that PG&E confirmed 55 megawatts of power capacity is available for the site without major infrastructure upgrades. Mayor Young discussed the Bay Area Air District grant process, expressing a desire for early council consensus on the list of projects to be submitted, rather than facing a final decision point late in the process. City Manager Mario stated that the project list is not yet definitive but will be refined by staff and presented for council discussion in April.
The council unanimously approved the consent calendar, including:
I want to call the meeting of the Benesha City Council to order. We first need to uh see if there are any announcements from closed session. The memo can uh memo. The council met in closed session on two items and took no reportable actions, and that concludes my report. All right, thank you. So we will adjourn closed session and call the regular meeting to order. Uh Ms. Wolf, please call the roll. Council members birdside. Here. Here. Scott. Here. And Mayor. Here. Please join me in the pledge. Two three public for which it stands. A plaque stating the fundamental rights of each member of the public is posted at the entrance of the meeting room for section 4.04.03 of the City of Venetia's open government ordinance. Under announcements, I have office hours on the first and third Monday of each month from 4 30 to 6 p.m. And if that time is not convenient, you can also ask for an appointment through the city manager's office. And I want to remind people that uh this Friday is the closing date for applications. We are still uh short uh number of applications for some commissions, and so I want to encourage people if they have any interest in any of these uh ways to serve the community that they step forward. Uh you would then be interviewed by our appointment subcommittee and myself before the council will consider appointment. But the openings we have are two uh full terms on the Arts and Culture Commission, two full terms and one partial term on the community services commission, one full term and one student term on the community sustainability commission, one full term and two partial terms on the Economic Development Board, two full terms and one partial term on the Historic Preservation Review Commission, two tenant terms on the Housing Authority Board, one full term on the Industrial Safety Citizen Oversight Commission, two full terms on the local tax oversight board, two full terms and two partial terms on the open government commission, and two full terms on the planning commission. So uh anybody who is interested in continuing and their service to the community, we would certainly uh encourage your application. Um we have no proclamations under appointments. I want to report one appointment uh that uh Nancy Lund used to be the representative on the Solano Transportation Authority Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Commission. She finally uh resigned and retired from that position, and she will be replaced by Dr. Brett Nelson, who is also an active biker in this community, and uh he will serve a full term on the STA Bicycle Advisory Committee uh for a full term ending March of 2029 under presentations. This is always a fun thing to do, and I will ask Marie Newton from her public services to join me at the podium. This is for our eco awards. Pardon me? Oh, there is a resolution. Oh, I'm sorry. Let's