On behalf of the City Council and the citizens of the City of Martinez, I invite you to discover, visit, enjoy and make your next move to Martinez. Martinez is a strategically located historic waterfront community nestled in the beautiful rolling hills and valleys of Central Contra Costa County. Martinez is also home to a variety of residential neighborhoods ranging from turn-of-the-century Victorians and bungalows to modern homes with suburban amenities, excellent schools, attractive and popular parks and a historic downtown – all with easy access to the Bay Area, Sacramento and beyond by freeway, commuter rail and water.
We are in the process of completing implementation of a $30 million dollar parks and library improvement bond that already provided some exceptional results. Through the bond, we have rebuilt the municipal aquatic center into a facility recognized statewide for its excellence through a Showcase Award given by the California Park and Recreation Society District 3 Agency. We have also renovated the downtown library and completed major projects at eight park locations throughout the city. An exciting recent development is the launch of construction on the Waterfront Park Renovation Project. This project totals approximately $8 million, making it the largest bond project. The improved complex will feature additional parking, ballfield lighting, field renovations and new picnic areas. A professional baseball team is on the docket for a June 1, 2018, Opening Day in Martinez.
Our downtown offers free Wi-Fi and provides four convenient Level II electric vehicle charging port options to accommodate this growing segment of our population. Achieving compliance with our building earthquake retrofit ordinance has paid significant dividends, highlighted by the recent opening of several new restaurants, bars, coffee shops and other consumer-oriented businesses.
The city is also moving forward with developing a long-term vision for the city’s marina, and implementing Measure D, a half-cent special sales tax initiative approved by voters in November 2016, which will provide an influx of approximately $2.1 million annually in new road improvement and maintenance funding to fix Martinez streets during the next 15 years. It is an exciting time for Martinez, and we invite you to come and explore everything that we have to offer.
With warmest regards,
Rob Schroder
Mayor