(SAN RAMON, CA.) – The Mar. 10 San Ramon City Council meeting primarily focused on the introduction of the Master Fee Schedule for the fiscal year of 2026-2027. Before those discussions arose, Mayor Mark Armstrong started off the council meeting by declaring March 2026 as American Red Cross Month.
Photo credit: YouTube
Accepting this honor was Volunteer Engagement Manager for American Red Cross Eva Marquez. She talks about the Red Cross partnering with the City of San Ramon and how they help those in crisis.
Marquez remarks on the service of the Red Cross in San Ramon and how they “responded to two fires within the last year and helped about ten families.” Marquez goes on to state that the DVHS Red Cross Club is the largest in the Bay Area with 300 members,* as she steps aside to allow two members of the club to come up to the mic.
Both the Secretary and Vice President of the DVHS Red Cross Club came up to the podium to give their thanks to the council and to provide a bit more information about their club. Specifically, the Vice President of the Club reiterates the large membership and how, this year, they hosted their first blood drive which was held on Saturday, Mar. 14.
Mayor Mark Armstrong proceeded to conclude this presentation by asking if any other council members had anything to share with the Red Cross Club where Councilman Richard Adler gave his personal appreciation. “My father used to volunteer at the Red Cross. He would train people in CPR and it was very important to him… my family has appreciated the Red Cross for many years,” Adler wrapped up by thanking the Club for being there.
Photo credit: YouTube
Sending off the Red Cross Club with all their appreciation and thanks, the council members then moved on to the topic of introducing the FY 2026-2027 Master Fee Schedule. Budget Manager Yuliya Elbo approached the dais, giving her presentation and breakdown of the total fees. After about a ten-minute presentation, Elbo then turns over the mic to Director of Community Development Lauren Barr where he provides a recap of the appeal fee process to date.
Barr and the council members go back and forth discussing the appeal business. The conversations continue on for almost 40 minutes until finally Mayor Armstrong opens it up to public comments.
Former Mayor Greg Carr getting teary-eyed at the dais / Photo credit: YouTube
Former Mayor Greg Carr steps up to the mic first and recounts a story about a couple and their four kids from Chihuahua, Mexico. The family wanted a better life, they worked hard and saved up enough money to buy a house in San Ramon, only to be left in complete distress.
“They bought the house and they thought they had it locked in,” Carr visibly gets emotional as he shares how construction took place across from their home and when the couple contacted the San Ramon Planning Department they were made aware of the astronomical appeal fees. “Rocio and Francisco are just barely making it,” Carr pauses mid-speech almost in tears, “they come here and they think they got a great place and all of a sudden this is shoved in their face.”
Barely able to suppress his emotions, Carr concludes his speech stating this is “an embarrassment to the planning commission. For people in this city, it’s not right to charge $4,500…well, that’s just a deposit. My God, something’s wrong to even think that’s acceptable.”
After Carr storms off, Former Councilmember Jim Blickenstaff provides his own input and statistics of other cities’ significantly lower fees. Ultimately suggesting our city implement a tier system, “that sounds like a no-brainer to me, but it seems like we are still stuck on $4,500 and that just sounds totally inappropriate for a citizen appeal.”
In response, policy direction was given for appeal fees, with council members unanimously agreeing to establish a tiered system: $1,500 for Zoning Administrator appeals (residential/commercial), $2,500 for Planning Commission land use appeals, and $2,500 for Planning Commission residential/commercial/mixed-use appeals. Refunds would only be issued for 100% successful appeals that overturn a prior decision, with no refunds for modified approvals. A public hearing was set for Mar. 24, 2026, for the adoption of the FY 2026-2027 Master Fee Schedule and approval of the Nexus fee study.
Trying to end the meeting on a brighter note, council member Richard Adler went on to share how San Ramon was acknowledged as the “fourth best place to live in California.”
I’m guessing whoever made that claim has no awareness or knowledge of the Draconian Appeal Fees that residents have to pay.
Here’s hoping the upcoming public hearing will provide more clarity and information on the topics brought up in this meeting.
If you have any comments or questions, please email me at kathleen.p@lead4earth.org or comment below.
*According to the Red Cross website there are currently 335 Active Members (checked at the time this article was published).
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