Mayor· 2024-2028
Ron Bernal
Antioch
About
Ron Bernal's platform centers on restoring stability and professional leadership to Antioch's city government. His primary policy focus is on enhancing public safety through community-oriented policing strategies.
Campaign promises (1)
- public-safetyRon Bernal plans to prioritize public safety through the implementation of community policing initiatives.Related votes
Voice
- Meetings spoken in
- 30
- Total speaking time
- 9:37:35
- Avg per meeting
- 19:15
- Segments
- 10152
Want every word Bernal has said?
The OpenCity MCP for Claude.ai answers questions like “what has Bernal said about housing this year” with one prompt — full speaking history, with YouTube timestamps.
Top issues during term (20)
city council election
The city will incur costs associated with consolidating the election with the county.
Proposition 4 Grant Project Selection
Potential grant application ranging from $7 million to $8.5 million in non-matching state funds.
Police Oversight Authority
Involves allocation from the city budget for commission operations and facilitator contracting.
Fiscal Year 2026-27 Budget Deficit
Impacts the city's general fund reserves and overall financial sustainability, addressing a projected net deficit of approximately $6.5 million.
El Campanile Theater Preservation and Community Arts
The theater previously received substantial public redevelopment funds ($750,000) and grant monies for restoration.
Establishment of Standalone Economic Development Department
Will require funding a new department head position with an estimated salary range between $14,800 and $18,000 per month, plus operational and marketing budgets.
DOJ Settlement Agreement Compliance
Ongoing costs are tied to staffing analysts and implementing compliance measures under the DOJ settlement.
CDBG Funding Allocation
Involves federal CDBG allocations historically around $911,000, plus residual funds and housing program grants.
General Plan Update & Community Visioning
Staff time and administrative resources allocated within the planning department budget.
Downtown Security Services and Public Safety Coordination
Involves contracting costs for private security services funded through the city budget.
Off-Site Commission Meetings
Nominal meeting facilitation and staffing costs.
Home Key Plus Housing Project
State grant of $34.9 million paired with a city capital contribution of $750,000 and ongoing operating support commitments up to $1.2 million annually for 15 years.
AB 847 Peace Officer Record Confidentiality
Null
APOC Budget Allocation and Training Travel Funding
Involves allocation from the city budget for commission operations and facilitator contracting.
Cannabis Social Equity Program Oversight
Over $10.8 million has been generated for the city since fiscal year 2019-2020 through cannabis fees.
City Management Stability
Ongoing compensation for the city manager on leave plus interim administrative costs.
Military Equipment Usage
This will increase the projected Fiscal Year 2026/27 General Fund deficit by $150,000.
Warming Center and Unhoused Support
Potential costs depend on hotel voucher agreements and auxiliary staffing needs.
Public Perception and Community Identity
Costs for potential future events are currently being evaluated.
Measure W funding and police hiring
Involves oversight of millions in local sales tax revenue generated by Measure W to fund city services, police, and community programs.
Moved or seconded (3)
Motions Bernal personally put forward or seconded. Attribution comes from the minutes; where the minutes name somebody we cannot match to the roster we leave it out rather than guess, so this is a floor, not a total.
- secondedpassed2026-06-09
On motion by Councilmember Freitas, seconded by Mayor Bernal, the City Council members present unanimously extended the meeting to 12:00 A.M.
- secondedpassed2026-05-12
adjourned the meeting at 10:26 P.M.
- seconded2026-05-12
On motion by Councilmember Rocha, seconded by Mayor Bernal, the City Council members present adjourned the Study Session at 7:09 P.M.
Decisions during term (424)
Recorded while Bernal was in office — not necessarily decisions they moved, spoke to, or voted on.
Approval of Continued Meeting Minutes
Table Discussion Item: AB 847 and Establish Ad Hoc Committee
Selection of Off-Site Meeting Location and Date
Selection of Commissioners for NACOLE Conference
Appointment to Community Engagement Ad Hoc Committee
Agendize Ad Hoc Committee Creation for General Ordinance Changes
ADJOURNMENT
Approval of Outstanding Fuel Invoices
Rescind Hunt and Sons Award and Approve Pinnacle Petroleum Contract and Budget Amendment
Approval of Previous Meeting Minutes
Adjournment
Approval of Proclamations for Childhood Cancer Awareness Month and Hispanic Heritage Month
Consent Calendar Approval (Excluding Items J, N, Q, and R)
Approval of Treasurer’s Report for July 2026
Resolution Approving Improvement Agreement Requirements for Non-Subdivision Projects
Amendment to Construction Agreement for Prewett Water Park Concrete Improvements
Second Amendment for Prewett Park Pool Resurfacing Project
Emergency Fuel Purchase Authorization and Invoice Payment
Approval of Fiscal Year 2025-2026 CAPER Report
Approval of Amendment No. 2 with Chaplin and Hill Investigative Services
Voting record (54)
Oldest to newest — hover a bar for the item.
Approval of Outstanding Fuel Invoices
Rescind Hunt and Sons Award and Approve Pinnacle Petroleum Contract and Budget Amendment
Move Item 8 on Agenda
Proclamation for Zeta Phi Beta Sorority
Sales Tax Citizens' Oversight Committee Appointment
Adoption of 2025 Urban Water Management Plan and Water Shortage Contingency Plan
Agreement with Axon Enterprise for Automated License Plate Recognition and Public Safety Technology
Resolution Appointing City Clerk and Canceling November 3, 2026 Election
Adjourn Special Meeting
Motion to Reorder Agenda Items
Consent Calendar Item T: Statement of Investment Policy
Parks and Recreation Commission Appointments (Resolution No. 2026/067)
Approval of Consent Calendar
Continuation of Public Hearing on FY 2026-27 Annual Action Plan
Award of Landscape Maintenance Agreement (Resolution No. 2026/071)
Adoption of SB 707 Technological Disruption Procedures (Resolution No. 2026/072)
Receipt of CEQA Report on AB 130 and SB 131
Adjournment
1) Conduct a public hearing under the requirements of the Tax Equity Fiscal Responsibility Act of 1982 ("TEFRA") and the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the "Code"), in connection with the
extended the Council meeting to 12:37 A.M.
extended the Council meeting to 12:15 A.M.
On motion by Councilmember Rocha, seconded by Councilmember Torres-Walker, the City Council approved Consent Calendar item G.
1) Conducted a public hearing under the requirements of the Tax Equity Fiscal Responsibility Act of 1982 ("TEFRA") and the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the "Code"), in connection with th
extended the Council meeting to 12:30 A.M.
1) Conducted a public hearing under the requirements of the Tax Equity Fiscal Responsibility Act of 1982 ("TEFRA") and the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the "Code"), in connection with th
Conduit Financing for Hillcrest Summit Apartments Project
Conduit Financing for Buchanan Crossings CIH Project
Conduit Financing for Lakeview Center CIH Project
Award of 2026 Cape Seal Project Contract
Adjournment of the Special Meeting
Appointment to Contra Costa County Advisory Council on Aging
Adoption of Proclamations
Consent Calendar Approval (Except Pulled Items)
Approval of Consent Item 5.D (New Employee Introductions)
Approval of Consent Item 5.I (Landscape Maintenance District Report)
Rescheduling of Consent Item 5.J (Police Dispatch AI System Agreement)
Approval of Consent Item 5.K (Housing Element Annual Progress Report)
Approval of Consent Item 5.L (Republic Services Waste Collection Agreement)
Approval of Consent Item 5.M (NPDES Drainage Assessment)
Approval of Consent Item 5.N (Measure W Annual Report)
Adjournment of Special Joint Meeting
Continuance of Inclusionary Housing Ordinance Adoption
Cited concerns over housing legislation and budget priorities.