Greetings from the City Manager

Dear Pinole Residents,

Spring is upon us – as I’m reminded by the pleasant April showers this week. It was wonderful to attend the City’s Earth Day celebration at Fernandez Park last weekend. It is apparent that this is a community that takes great pride in protecting the environment and keeping Pinole clean and beautiful for generations to come. While we continue to enjoy community gatherings like the Pinole Earth Walk, there are also key updates ahead that I want to make sure everyone is aware of.

May and June are the main months your City government evaluates and approves the annual budget. Whether it is public safety, community events, road projects, trail improvements, or normal day to day activities, a city needs to manage its budget just like we all do with our own personal budgets.  The City Council provided excellent direction during our last workshop on expectations and plotting the path forward.  By June, staff will have worked with the Finance Subcommittee and City Council to bring a budget plan that includes operational funding and much needed resources for capital improvement projects such as roads and infrastructure.   

If you have questions or need additional information, please visit the City’s website or contact City Hall.

Upcoming Events

CITY PUBLIC MEETINGS

Planning Commission Meeting - Mon, Apr. 27, 7pm - Zoom/City Hall

Finance Subcommittee Meeting - Wed, Apr. 29, 5pm - Zoom/City Hall

Special City Council Meeting - Tues, May 2, 9am-5pm - Kaiser Rooms 2A & 2B, 1301 Pinole Valley Road

City Council Meeting - Tues, May 5, 5:30pm - Zoom/City Hall

Planning Commission Meeting - Mon, May 11, 7pm - Zoom/City Hall

City Council Meeting - Tues, May 19, 5:30pm - Zoom/City Hall

Wastewater Subcommittee Meeting - Thurs, May 21, 7-8:30pm - Zoom/City Hall

Community Services Commission Meeting - Wed, May 27, 5-7:00pm - Zoom/City Hall

The public may attend and participate in-person in the City Hall Council Chamber or via Zoom. Agendas, minutes, and other detailed information regarding how to attend and participate in Pinole’s public meetings can be found on the website.

COMMUNITY EVENTS

Housing Community Input Session #1 - Thurs, May 7, 7-9pm - Pinole Youth Center

Housing Community Input Session #2 - Wed, May 13, 12-2pm - Pinole Youth Center

Bike to Wherever Day - Thurs, May 14 (all day) - Bay Area (Energizer Station at Bayfront Park)

Community Service Day - Sat, May 16, 9-11am - Youth Center

Torch Run - Wed, May 20, 8-10am - Community Corner, Tennent & San Pablo Ave.

Fish Migration Day Celebration - Sat, May 30, 10am-2pm - Pinole Fish Passage

CITY HALL CLOSURE

On Monday, May 25th, City Hall will be closed in observance of Memorial Day.

Inside the Council Chambers

Members of Pinole Valley High School Earth Team proudly displaying the Earth Day proclamation with City Council.

Pinole Valley High School's Earth Team giving a presentation on Climate Literacy.

COUNCIL HIGHLIGHTS

At its April 21, 2026 meeting, the Pinole City Council issued proclamations to honor Earth Day and Dolores Huerta Day. Pinole Valley High School students part of Earth Team were present to accept the Earth Day proclamation. Following the proclamation, the students gave an engaging and informative presentation on Climate Literacy Framework. The students' passion for climate literacy education was apparent as they provided ideas for teaching youth about local environment issues and advocating for community-based solutions. 

Ad Hoc Subcommittee Appointments

Two new Council ad hoc subcommittees were formed at Tuesday's meeting. Councilmembers Cameron Sasai and Norma Martinez-Rubin were appointed to the Cannabis Ad Hoc Subcommittee, which aims to further shape the potential creation of commercial cannabis districts in Pinole. during its meeting on March 17th, Council identified a number of related topics requiring further discussion including zoning, buffer requirements, community outreach, types of permits, revenue opportunities and more.  Mayor Anthony Tave and Councilmember Maureen Toms were appointed to the Infrastructure and Transportation Ad Hoc Subcommittee to work on the 5-year CIP Plan, consisting of 50 projects with an estimated cost at $93.7 million. The Infrastructure and Transportation Ad Hoc Subcommittee was formed to address the growing transportation concerns and pursuit of grant opportunities with neighboring agencies using a more holistic approach.

Adoption of Wage Theft Ordinance

City Council received a presentation from City Attorney Eric Casher on wage theft ordinances, which are local regulations designed to promote compliance with state labor laws by tying business permits or construction approvals to wage law adherence. Staff provided an overview of approaches used in other California cities, including business‑license affidavits, pay‑transparency requirements for certain construction projects, and permit conditions ensuring no outstanding wage theft judgments. While Pinole does not currently have such an ordinance, California law allows cities to adopt local measures that support enforcement of wage standards.

During discussion, Councilmembers raised questions about administrative capacity, existing state mechanisms, and the role of local government in addressing wage theft. Opinions varied on whether a new ordinance might duplicate state efforts or create additional workload, while others emphasized the importance of strengthening local worker protections regardless of city size. Following deliberation, the Council voted 3-2 approving direction to staff to begin drafting a local wage theft ordinance for future consideration.

Watch the video.

News & Updates

Co-founder and CEO of Symbium, Founders of Elemental pose with Community Development Director Lilly Whalen and Interim City Manager Garrett Evans. 

CITY OF PINOLE PARTNERS WITH SYMBIUM TO LAUNCH NEW PLAN-SCANNING TOOL

The City of Pinole has expanded its digital permitting partnership with Symbium and introduced an innovative feature that scans uploaded building plans providing applicants with real-time prescreening feedback. Alongside this innovation, the City is broadening its catalog of instant permits to include a wider range of clean energy and electrification projects such as heat pumps, EV chargers, HVAC systems, reroofs, and solar installations. To showcase these enhancements, the City and Symbium hosted a celebration and live demonstration on April 23 at Pinole City Hall. Supported by funding from Elemental Impact, this effort positions Pinole at the forefront of GovTech by streamlining project approvals, reducing staff workload, and helping residents and contractors accelerate sustainable home improvements through faster, more transparent permitting tools. Learn more about instant permits for residential energy projects.

The infamous olympic torch flame gets passed from Hercules Police Department to Pinole Police Department.

JOIN PINOLE PD FOR THE SPECIAL OLYMPICS LAW ENFORCEMENT TORCH RUN

The Pinole Police Department is excited to be participating in this year’s Law Enforcement Torch Run on Wednesday, May 20 at 8am. This incredible event raises awareness and funds for Special Olympics. Special Olympics is a global organization that provides year-round sports training and competition for children and adults with intellectual disabilities, helping promote confidence, inclusion, and community through the power of sports. We invite our community to come out, cheer us on, or support this amazing cause. If you would like to make a donation, please see the attached link, every contribution helps make a difference in the lives of these incredible athletes. Let’s come together to support inclusion, determination, and the power of community! Click the link to donate to our team: https://www.facebook.com/donate/2040849376814746

A visitor at the Senior Center admires the Earth Day display by Pinole Valley High School students.

Members of Pinole Garden Club plant new succulents at the Blue Star Memorial Garden. Photo courtesy of the Pinole Garden Club.

A young girl has fun with bubbles at the Egg Hunt in Fernandez Park.

SPRING INTO PINOLE

As the weather gets nicer, Pinoleans have more opportunities to enjoy all the blooms that Spring brings. At the Senior Center, come see a stunning display of photography by Pinole Valley High School students from Ms. Allison Villars' art class. The photos capture striking images of local flowers and plants, on display now through April 30th!

All around town, you'll see Spring blossoming in the parks, gardens and beautiful open spaces in Pinole. If you want to beautify your home or garden, stop by Pinole Garden Club's Annual Plant Sale on Saturday, May 2, 9am-2pm at Pinole Valley Community Church to see the variety of native plants, herbs, and other plants available. 

The City's Community Services Department offers a number of fun activities and programs for people of all ages. After kicking off Spring with the colorful Egg Hunt in March, the City has even more fun planned as the weather gets warmer. The Swim Center is now open for the season and Community Services Day is Saturday, May 16 from 9-11am at the Youth Center. This year, we will feature reimagined events including the Pride Celebration on Saturday, June 6, 2026 from 12pm-2pm at Fernandez Park and the Juneteenth Event to be held on Sunday, June 14th from 12pm-2pm also at Fernandez Park. and don't forget to sign your kiddos up for summer programs. Visit our website for more information or Pinolerec.com to see the full list of programs and classes and register now! 

Bicyclists on Tennent Avenue in downtown Pinole.

BAY AREA BIKE TO WHEREVER DAY IS MAY 14

Get ready to roll—Bike to Wherever Day returns on Thursday, May 14! Join hundreds of riders across the Bay Area for this annual challenge, which saw participants collectively log more than 159,200 miles last year. This year’s regional goal is 175,000 miles, and Pinole is excited to be part of the momentum. Pinole Public Works will host an Energizer Station at Bayfront Park from 7 a.m. to 9 a.m., where riders can stop by for encouragement and goodies on their morning route. To find additional stations throughout the region, visit the station map at https://www.bayareabiketowork.com/event-information/energizer-stations. Hop on your bike and help us pedal toward a cleaner, healthier Bay!

ATTEND A HOUSING COMMUNITY INPUT SESSION 

The City of Pinole is working to improve housing for our community! In order to ensure that the city's resources are best used to service our community, we want to hear from you! Our goal is that the policies we put forward are informed by the community we are a part of, and we would greatly appreciate your help in making that happen. The City is hosting two community input sessions to hear from you. Light refreshments will be provided and a kids’ table with engagement materials will be available for use.

Event dates:

• Thursday, May 7th, 7-9pm at the Pinole Youth Center: 635 Tennent Ave, Pinole CA 94564
• Wednesday, May 13th, 12-2pm at the Pinole Youth Center: 635 Tennent Ave, Pinole CA 94564

We'd love to hear from you! Register for an input session. Engagement will enroll folks in a Pinole Perks $25 gift card raffle!

If you have any questions or would like to discuss things further, please reach out to our housing policy fellow via email at jmurti@pinole.gov, or via phone at (510)724-4921.

A Greener Pinole

Community members posed for a photo with Pinole's new Clean California Community sign at the Pinole Earth Walk.

Friends of Pinole Creek Watershed hosted an educational booth and loaned clean-up supplies to participants.

The dynamic Pinole Valley High School Earth Team helped spread awareness about climate literacy.

Councilmember Maureen Toms kicked off the Pinole Earth Walk with an inspiring speech.

AN EARTH DAY CELEBRATION AT PINOLE EARTH WALK

The City thanks our sponsor MCE and to all the community members and Earth Day partners who joined us for the 4th Annual Pinole Earth Walk at Fernandez Park last weekend! The event was a wonderful celebration of environmental stewardship, highlighted by the debut of Pinole’s new “Clean California Community” sign—an honor awarded by CalTrans in recognition of the City’s ongoing efforts to keep our community clean and safe for generations to come. Earth Day 2026 is more than a single day—it's a season of action across the region, with communities coming together to protect creeks, parks, and shorelines.

If you missed Pinole’s celebration, there are still plenty of opportunities to get involved. Upcoming events include the Rodeo Creek Cleanup and Crockett Waterfront Cleanup on Saturday, April 25; Oakley Day of Service on the same day; the Grayson Creek Cleanup in Pleasant Hill on Saturday, May 9; and the Service Road Cleanup in Martinez on Sunday, May 17. Join a nearby cleanup and help keep our shared environment thriving!

RATE REDUCTION FOR MCE CUSTOMERS

Starting April 1, customers across MCE’s service area will see an average $12 monthly reduction in electric generation rates for households and $30 for businesses, driven by a board‑approved rate decrease and a temporary bill credit available through 2026. Eligible households and small businesses can save up to $25 additional per month through the MCE Cares Credit. MCE provides renewable energy in partnership with PG&E. MCE customers receive electricty through renewable energy generated by MCE which is delivered by PG&E through their existing infrastructure. 

FISH MIGRATION DAY CELEBRATION 2026 AT PINOLE FISH PASSAGE

The Contra Costa Resource Conservation District (CCRCD) is currently planning a Contra Costa Fish Migration Day event at the Pinole Fish Passage in Pinole, CA, for Saturday, May 30st, 2026, 10:00-2:00. This is our local celebration of World Fish Migration Day, a biennial event that aims to spread international awareness about migratory fish and the importance of free flowing rivers.

This will be a fun, family-friendly event focused on learning about watershed health and Pinole Creek's steelhead trout population. We plan to have informational booths, vendors, food, and more. This event will be an excellent opportunity to engage the public in making a difference in their local watershed!

Reminders

HOW TO SUBMIT A SERVICE REQUEST

Report potholes, streetlights, wastewater, tree trimming, public parks and facilities, or other issues on City-owned property to Public Works. You can submit a Service Request on our website or through the mobile app:

How to submit a request through the website:

1. From the homepage, click on “Report a Problem"
2. Click on the “Service Request Form” tab
3. Fill out the form, and click “Submit”

How to submit a request through the City of Pinole app:

1. Click on “Contact us”
2. Click on “Report an Issue”
3. Click on “Report a Public Property Issue”

Fill out the form, and click “Submit”

Submitting work requests in this way is the best way for work requests to get addressed in a timely manner. Thank you for your cooperation and partnership to keep our city in tip top shape!

SIGN UP FOR COMMUNITY WARNING SYSTEM ALERTS

The Community Warning System (CWS) is the all-hazard public warning notification system for Contra Costa County. CWS alerts you through phone calls, text messages, email, the sounding of sirens, this website, and social media, when a potentially life or health-threatening hazard requires you to take action. You can also receive alerts from the CWS through the City of Pinole mobile app.

Community Service Day

Step into the spirit of community and join us in uplifting City parks and public spaces through hands-on volunteer efforts on Saturday, May 16 from 9am-11am at the Youth Center (635 Tennent Ave.). Lend a hand, connect with neighbors, and make Pinole shine together! Register as a volunteer at www.pinolerec.com.  Have questions or a project you would like to propose? Please email recreation@pinole.gov to submit your idea.

Summer Camps

Make this summer unforgettable with fun-filled camps for ages 3–12 in Pinole! Campers will enjoy games, arts and crafts, sports, and exciting outdoor adventures, with each week featuring a unique theme to keep the fun going all summer long. Weekly camps run June 15–August 14 , 9am–4pm at Tiny Tots (2454 Simas Ave ages 3–5.) and Youth Center (635 Tennent Ave ages 6–12.)  New this year, families can secure their spot with a $25 per week deposit at registration and pay the remaining balance by the Wednesday prior to camp. For questions, email recreation@pinole.gov or call (510) 724-9800, and register at www.pinolerec.com.

Youth Programs

The Community Services Department is excited to offer a variety of engaging sports and enrichment programs for youth ages 2–12! Offerings include family yoga, drumming, and soccer providing opportunities to build strength, confidence, creativity, and teamwork. Registration is required for all offerings and is now open at www.pinolerec.com.

Zumba and Exercise

Get energized fitness and movement classes at the Senior Center (2500 Charles Ave.) Enjoy Turbo Kick, Zumba, Zumba Toning, along with Circuit & Fitness Training designed to keep you active and energized. Register for exercise classes at www.pinolerec.com or stop by the senior center front desk.

Swim Center

The Swim Center (2450 Simas Ave.) is now open for the Spring season on Saturdays and Sundays through June 14. Visitors can take part in rec swim, lap swim, aqua aerobics,  Zumba classes, and also reserve the pool for parties with friends and family. Swim lessons are currently open for registration at www.pinolerec.com. Additional information about all offerings can be found at www.pinole.gov/swimcenter. For questions, please contact pinoleseals.pool@gmail.com or (510) 724-9800.

Food Bank Distribution

The Food Bank of Contra Costa and Solano County will be providing free bags of fresh produce, on bag per household. The next drive-thru distribution is Monday, May 11, 2026, from 9am-10am (or as long as supplies last) at the Pinole Senior Center. If you have any questions, email recreation@pinole.gov or call us at (510) 724-9800.

Senior Food Program

The Senior Center partners with the Food Bank of Contra Costa and Solano County to offer the Senior Food Program. Low-income senior citizens ages 55+ to receive free groceries, including healthy staples, eggs, cheese, and assorted meats twice a month. The program is available for Pinole senior residents only. This program takes place every second and fourth Tuesday of the month. The next distribution will be on Tuesday, April 28, 2026, from 10am-11am. Individuals interested in the program must complete the Senior Food Program Application. Applications are available at the Senior Center and can also be found on the Pinole Senior Center website: www.pinole.gov/seniors.

Park and Facility Rentals

Looking for a place to host your special event? Reserve a park, field, or facility for your special occasion! To book your rental, visit www.pinolerec.com.

Join Our Team

The City of Pinole Community Services Department is now hiring part-time positions. Become a member of our team – Visit our website to apply today

BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS

The city of pinole is recruiting applications to fill a vacancy for a trustee representing pinole on the Contra Costa County Mosquito and Vector Board.

Qualifications: applicants must be a contra costa county taxpayer minimum voting age of 18 years, a registered elector in the city of pinole, with interest in any of the following areas: public health, public policy, wetlands, farming, community education, finance, personnel or land development.

Term:   2 years

Duties: attend board of trustees’ meetings on the 2nd Monday of every other month (January, march, may, July, September, & November) at 7 pm at the district offices, 5750 Imhoff drive suite I, concord, ca

How to apply:  letters of interest should be mailed to the city clerk’s office, 2131 pear street, pinole, ca 94564 or emailed to rstone@pinole.gov.   Interested parties must be residents of pinole.

This recruitment is open until March 31, 2026.  Appointments are made by the pinole city council. 

Applicants will be contacted once the filing period has closed.

DONATIONS

Save good food from going to waste!
The app “Too Good To Go: End Food Waste” connects people with cafes, restaurants, bakeries and/or stores in their local area which have perfectly good food left over to save and enjoy at half of the price or less. This app is the world's largest marketplace for surplus food. It helps users rescue good food from going to waste, offering great value at local stores and eateries. Available to download via your app store on your phone, and check out their website as well: https://www.toogoodtogo.com/en-us