We Want to Hear from You

CITY SEEKS FURTHER INPUT ON PROPOSED GAS STATION ORDINANCE

The City of Pinole is considering an ordinance that would prohibit new gas fueling stations and limit the expansion of existing ones as part of its broader climate planning efforts. On January 26, the Planning Commission held a public hearing and voted unanimously to recommend City Council approval of the ordinance. City Council is expected to consider the ordinance in March. Please take this brief survey (~3-5 mins.) introduced with key points of the draft ordinance to share your perspectives by February 23, 2026. Please also visit the initiative’s website if you would like to learn more about the ordinance under consideration.

Upcoming Events

CITY PUBLIC MEETINGS

Planning Commission Meeting  - Mon, Feb. 9, 7pm - Zoom/City Hall

City Council Meeting  - Tues, Feb. 17, 5:00pm - Zoom/City Hall

Finance Subcommittee Meeting - Wed, Feb. 18, 3pm - Zoom/City Hall

Waste Water Subcommittee Meeting - Thurs., Feb. 19, 7pm - Zoom/City Hall

Planning Commission Meeting - Mon, Feb. 23, 7pm - Zoom/City Hall

Community Services Commission Meeting -Feb. 25, 5pm - 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

Pinole Pollinator Pathway 2026 - Sat, Feb. 7, 10:00am - 11:30am - Fernandez Park

Coffee with a Cop - Wed, Feb. 11, 8-10am - Alamode Donuts

West Contra Costa Career Fair - Wed, Feb. 18, 10am-1pm - Hercules Community Center

Pinole Creek Cleanup - Sat, Feb. 21, 10am-12pm - Fernandez Park

Tiny Tots Open House - Sat, Feb. 21, 9:30am - 12pm - 2454 Simas Avenue, Pinole

HOLIDAY CLOSURE

City Hall and Community Services facilities will be closed to the public on Monday, Feb. 16, 2026 in observance of President's Day

Inside the Council Chambers

Pinole Valley High School African American Student Union (AASU) President Sanaima Cochran and Vice President Gerald Davis speak on Black History Month. 

Posing for a photo with the Black History Month Proclamation, from left to right: City Attorney Eric Casher, Councilmember Norma Martinez-Rubin, Mayor Pro Tempore Devin Murphy, AASU students, Mayor Anthony Tave, Councilmember Cameron Sasai, Deputy City Clerk Roxane Stone, and Councilmember Maureen Toms. 

HIGHLIGHTS FROM COUNCIL

The Pinole City Council honored Black History Month with a proclamation. The proclamation gave tribute to several notable accomplishments, including many trailblazing firsts present in the chambers: Anthony Tave (Pinole's first Black Councilmember), Devin T. Murphy (Pinole's first Black Mayor), Eric Casher (Pinole's first Black City Attorney), and Roxane Stone (Pinole's first Black Deputy City Clerk). President Sanaima Cochran and Vice President Gerald Davis of the Pinole Valley High School African American Student Union were present and thanked council on behalf of their teacher, Ms. Michele Lamons-Raiford. 

Pinole City Council engaging in a discussion at the dais.

City Council Approves Resolution to Place Elected Mayor Measure on June Ballot

At its February 3rd meeting, the Pinole City Council voted 3-2 to approve a resolution calling for a special election on June 2, 2026, to ask voters whether the City should establish the office of an elected mayor. Currently, the mayoral position rotates annually among councilmembers. If approved by voters, the mayor would be elected citywide for either a two-year or four-year term, as determined by the ballot measure. The resolution also sets rules for submitting arguments and rebuttals for and against the measure and requests consolidation of the election with the statewide primary. Several residents attended the meeting to express opposition, and the City received an additional 45 pages of written comments on the proposal.

Under state law, an elected mayor in a general law city holds the same powers as other councilmembers, with a few additional responsibilities. These include presiding over council meetings, administering oaths, and signing official documents. The only extra authority granted to an elected mayor is the ability to make appointments to boards, commissions, and committees, subject to City Council approval. This is different from a “strong mayor” system, which exists in some charter cities and includes greater executive powers for the mayor. Pinole’s elected mayor would not have those powers. If the elected mayor position is established by the voters, the elected mayor’s salary will be consistent with the compensation for city councilmembers.

The Cities of Richmond, San Ramon, Brentwood, Union City, Newark and San Leandro are examples of neighboring cities that also have elected mayors.

Fiscal Impact

The estimated cost to place the measure on the June 2, 2026 ballot ranges from $37,236 to $55,854, with additional expenses possible for staff time, consultants, and legal services. While the exact fiscal impact is not yet known, these costs will be incurred as part of the election process.

View the full meeting video and presentations.

News & Updates

FEBRUARY IS BLACK HISTORY MONTH

This month, we honor the visionaries, leaders, and everyday heroes whose courage and contributions continue to shape our nation and our community.

Did you know?

Innumerable Black residents of Pinole have contributed to the advancement of the City, State, and Country throughout the City's history. The late James Andrew Harris (who was a Pinole resident and groundbreaking nuclear chemist) helped discover two previously unknown elements while working at the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory. 

Celebrate Black History Month at Pinole Valley High School

The Pinole Valley High School African American Student Union is hosting a Commemorative Jubilee on Saturday, Feb. 28th 1-2:30pm. We encourage the community to attend this amazing celebration and show your support for the students! Tickets can be purchased in advance through the school’s ticket office.

A view of an audience from the back of the council chambers, where the Road Repair & Rehabilitation Town Hall took place. 

A RECAP OF THE ROAD REPAIR AND REHABILITATION TOWN HALL 

At the Road Repair & Rehabilitation Town Hall held on January 22nd, Public Works Director Heba El-Guindy presented the Road Rehabilitation Plan for FY 2025–26 that include rehabilitating approximately 1.65 miles of roadway on Pinole Valley Road, Shea Drive, and Marlesta Road using slurry seals or grind-and-overlay depending on road conditions. The project will add at east 26 ADA-compliant curb ramps, install three flat-top speed humps at key crosswalks, replace about 90 damaged signs, refresh pavement markings, and continue streetlight repairs. Additional improvements include bike facility upgrades under the Active Transportation Plan, with bid documents to be issued in March, Council award in April, and construction targeted for May–June at an estimated cost of $3 million (primarily funded by SB-1 gas tax). This work will include a typical one-year warranty, daily third-party inspections, and coordination with PG&E, EBMUD, and Caltrans. Staff is also in pursuit of funding for a crosswalk equipped with a HAWK signal at San Pablo Avenue and Fifth Avenue, near the new Vista Woods Senior Housing complex.

The Road Maintenance Plan was also presented, showing the City divided into five different zones that will each have its turn for proactive maintenance over the next 5 years. Find out which zone your street is located in.

Town Hall participants were given ample opportunity to ask questions and voice their concerns. Many emphasized the need for durable street repairs, such as fixing potholes and base failures with stronger contractor accountability, longer warranties, and thorough inspections. Safety was a major concern, with calls for better lighting along Pinole Valley Road, reflective striping, hazard markers on islands, ADA-compliant ramps, and a crosswalk near senior housing. Attendees urged coordination with utilities and Caltrans to avoid trenching after paving and address freeway lighting and ramp conditions. They also requested a clear maintenance schedule with improved communication. The City committed to warranties, third-party inspections when needed, and ongoing coordination with utility providers and Caltrans. Read the full article.

Watch the video of the Road Repair & Rehabilitation Town Hall.

PUBLIC WORKS JANUARY UPDATE ON WORK COMPLETED

The Public Works team remains hard at work each and every day to maintain the City of Pinole. In January, Public Works completed 24 work orders for City facilities, 68 for parks, 39 for roads, 6 for streetlights, 10 for trash/illegal dumping, and 4 graffiti work orders. Public Works has been experiencing an increased number of service requests related to cleaning and repairing restrooms impacted by misuse. We kindly ask everyone to help maintain the City’s facilities by using them responsibly and report issues so we can address them promptly.

PINOLE'S LOCAL TV STATION

Did you know that the City of Pinole operates a Public, Education and Government (PEG) station in downtown Pinole? Pinole Community Television, also known as PCTV, has provided quality broadcasting, ancillary video and audio services to the community for over 40 years. With Pinole Community TV, you can stay connected with what matters most in your community. We bring you distinctly local programming, government meetings, and community updates in two simple feeds: Government Media and Community Media. Just tune in to learn what’s happening in Pinole and nearby neighborhoods. Residents and businesses can even access studio facilities, affordable equipment rentals, and submit announcements for garage sales, fundraisers, birthdays, and more. Plus, PCTV supports the City with high-quality audio and visual services during meetings, workshops, and events.

Why you should check out Pinole Community TV:

• Local Programming: Watch content created for and by your community.
• Stay Informed: Government meetings and community updates at your fingertips.
• Easy Access: Tune in to Comcast cable channels 26 & 28, AT&T U-verse channel 99, search for Pinole Community TV on Roku, Amazon Fire, or Apple TV, or stream us live.
• Public Access Services: Use our studio, rent equipment, or share your event info.
• Community Announcements: Broadcast garage sales, fundraisers, birthdays, and more.
• City Support: Professional audio/visual services for meetings and events.

Contact Pinole Community TV.

A Greener Pinole

POLLINATOR PATHWAYS IN PINOLE

The Pinole Pollinator Pathway is a collaboration between Friends of Pinole Creek Watershed, the Pinole Garden Club, and the City of Pinole's Community Services Department. These organizations are working together to to link a pathway of gardens in Pinole that are planted with majority California natives and commit to being pesticide-free. The public and private gardens welcome pollinators such as birds, butterflies, bumblebees and other native bees, and other insects. Existing public pollinator gardens are located in Bayfront Park (at the base of the Bay Trail Pedestrian Bridge), Fernandez Park, the Pinole Library Native Garden, the Blue Star Garden at I-80, and the Pollinator Garden in the Upper Watershed. 

Come celebrate the newest Native Pollinator Garden this Saturday, February 7 from 10am-11:30am at Fernandez Park. The plot is located by the children's play structure. There will be a seedling giveaway, a raffle for larger California natives, and an introduction to how citizens can participate. Attendees will be encouraged to sign up to discuss how their gardens can become more pollinator friendly. Email info@FriendsOfPinoleCreek.org if you'd like to learn more about pollinator pathways. 

More event information.

Friends of Pinole Creek Watershed volunteers hard at work removing invasive ivy from the creek banks. Photo courtesy of Friends of Pinole Creek Watershed.

CLEANUP AND IVY CLEARING EVENT BY PINOLE LIBRARY

Over 35 volunteers of all ages ranging from 5 to over 60 worked hard at the last scheduled cleanup to remove debris from Pinole Creek and clear invasive plants from the banks. They collected 130 gallons and 126 pounds of trash ffrom two sites, including the Pinole Library Garden and Pinole Valley High School trail. A big shout out goes to all the volunteers who worked tirelessly to make Pinole a more beautiful place, including Councilmember Maureen Toms!

The Friends of Pinole Creek Watershed will be meeting again on Saturday, February 21, 10am-12pm at Fernandez Park. Your stewardship will make a big impact in the community by ridding the Pinole Creek Watershed of trash and debris, making a safer, cleaner community.

Reminders

DON'T MISS THE PINOLE BUDGET DASHBOARD

If you haven't seen it yet, be sure to check out the Finance Department's new Budget Dashboard to see at a glance how the City of Pinole's budget is doing in an interactive way. This innovative tool enhances transparency and accessibility, allowing residents to explore our city's finances like never before. The dashboard continuously updates its data, so you can see the most up to date budget activity anytime.

Discover insightful visualizations, including:  

• Budget vs. Actual Spending
• Overview of Revenues and Expenditures
• How Your Tax Dollars Enhance Daily Services

HOW TO SUBMIT A SERVICE REQUEST TO PUBLIC WORKS

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”
4. 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!

DOWNLOAD THE CITY OF PINOLE APP

In Pinole, the City of Pinole mobile app is a convenient way to stay connected to what's happening in the City of Pinole. In the event of a disaster or emergency, you can receive critical notifications and information from the City, the National Weather Service, and the Community Warning System. We encourage you to download the app today!

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.

LIMITED-TIME REBATES: RELAUNCH OF THE PINOLE ENERGY ENHANCEMENT REBATE PROGRAM

The City of Pinole is excited to announce the relaunch of the Pinole Energy Enhancement Rebate Program (PEER)! Recent changes in regional rebates mean we've restructured the program to keep offering you substantial savings on energy-efficient home upgrades. Get up to $3,000 in rebates on improvements like heat pump water heaters, HVAC systems, induction stovetops, insulation, and more. These upgrades help you lower energy costs, improve home comfort, and contribute to a more sustainable community. Plus, you can stack PEER rebates with local, state, and federal programs to save even more! But hurry—rebates are limited and available on a first-come, first-served basis. Ready to save? Visit the PROJECT WEBSITE for full details. Let’s work together to make your home more energy-efficient and our community greener!

TINY TOTS OPEN HOUSE

Come join the fun at Tiny Tots! Tour the facility, meet the staff, and explore everything Tiny Tots has to offer at our Open House on Saturday, February 21, 2026, from 9:30 AM–12:00 PM at 2454 Simas Avenue. For questions, please contact tinytots@pinole.gov or call (510) 724-8965.

PRESIDENT'S WEEK CAMP (Ages 3–12)

Get ready for an unforgettable school break at Pinole’s Presidents’ Week Camps! Campers will enjoy fun camp games, creative arts and crafts, active play, exciting sports, musical activities, and thrilling adventures. Camps run from February 17–20 and include Sunny Smiles (ages 3–5) at 2454 Simas Avenue and Sunshine Adventure (ages 6–12) at 635 Tennent Avenue, with sessions held 9:00 AM–4:00 PM. For questions, please email recreation@pinole.gov or call (510) 724-9800. Registration today at www.pinolerec.com.

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, February 9, 2026, from 9 – 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. 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. Please note, the Senior Food Program is switching to the choice method, where you will now need to bring your own bag with you, and you will select the items you want.

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.

SPORTS FIELD RENTAL UPDATE

Several Pinole sports fields will be temporarily closed for scheduled maintenance and are expected to reopen on Monday, February 16, 2026. Pinole Valley Park East will remain closed until further notice while field repairs continue. For questions, please email recreation@pinole.gov or call (510) 724-9800.

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!