Vallejo City Council votes to pave Moschetti Artisan Coffee parking lot
May 13-The Vallejo City Council voted on Tuesday to repave the city-owned parking lot at Moschetti Artisan Coffee Roaster, a move one council member described as contributing to the city's economic vitality.
Vallejo's new public works director, Brad Job, told the council he was "shocked" at the low price quote - $85,000 - he received to scarify the deteriorated surface and put down four inches of asphalt. The council voted unanimously in favor, with Councilmember Peter Bregenzer absent.
During the discussion, Councilmember Helen-Marie Gordon said that proprietor Fabrice Moschetti had tried to get the parking lot paved and access to the establishment improved for more than 20 years. Moschetti was willing to pay for the work himself, but couldn't do so because the city owns the lot.
During the public comment period, while saying, "I love Fabrice. I love his coffee. I love his Saturday mornings," resident Calvin Harrell spoke in opposition to the work.
"We're facing a $30 million deficit," Harrell said. "There are streets in the main avenues of our city that should be used to address rather than taking eighty-five grand and putting it on an area that is a benefit to a single business. (Updated estimates now place Vallejo's budget deficit for the upcoming fiscal year at $28.54 million.)
"We need to be reducing the amounts of monies we're paying out for all types of services," Harrell said. He suggested "asphalt and pea gravel on top as opposed to a full-blown street project with four inches of asphalt."
Resident Anne Carr said, "I'm not opposed to Public Works exploring something else, pea gravel, what have you; but it does seem this is a leftover stub of a street from years ago that has caused considerable problems for a small business."
Carr described Moschetti's establishment as "one of those things that contribute to Vallejo's portfolio of attractions.
"When we have a chance to lean into something that would help the small business community and one of our attractions ... I hope the city council will provide direction to Public Works to do something to make that stub of a street better," Carr said.
Councilmember Helen-Marie Gordon said that "this has been an issue for 20-plus years," adding that it does not serve just one business, but residences in the area.
Moschetti's compound, which includes a retail store, outdoor tables, and a roastery, has a five-star rating on Yelp, with 235 reviews. Moschetti wants the parking lot to match up with the rest of the place.
Councilmember Alexander Matias said, "I want to respect the comments around the structural deficit that we have to tackle. At the same time, given the number of councils, city staff, and teams that have looked at this issue over the years, we've probably spent $85,000 talking about it."
Matias said he has talked for the better part of a year in favor of the council paving all the parking lots in the downtown area.
"It does contribute, not just to safety concerns, but also to the vitality and economic development of the city," Matias said.
The motion passed with a friendly amendment from Councilmember Tonia Lediju that the city would maintain the lot, "and it will get into the rotation of whatever our infrastructure projects have."
In a text on Wednesday, Moschetti thanked the community and his customers for their continued support over the years.
He said, "I especially want to thank Councilmember Gordon for her tireless efforts and leadership. Our mayor and council members were instrumental in helping address a situation our business has struggled with for more than 30 years." The business owner also thanked the new public works director,
"Last night was a reminder that when Team Vallejo works together and pushes in the same direction, problems can be solved and positive change can happen," Moschetti said.
Copyright 2026 Tribune Content Agency. All Rights Reserved.
This story was originally published May 13, 2026 at 7:21 PM.