Weekly Update - March 15, 2024

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The Contra Costa County Board of Supervisors will honor César E. Chávez in a celebration recognizing his commitment to social justice and respect for human dignity. The 30th Annual César E. Chávez Commemorative Celebration will be at 11 a.m., Tuesday, March 26, in Board Chambers at 1025 Escobar Street in Martinez. Community members can also join the event live on Contra Costa Television channels and the County’s website.

Also being recognized are our 2024 Youth Hall of Fame awardees whose commitment to service and community are to be celebrated and are the force moving forward Cesar Chavez’s legacy.

The event will include the presentation of the 2024 Youth Hall of Fame Awards to students who make outstanding community contributions.

Here are the County’s 2024 Youth Hall of Fame Awards winners:

High School Awardees:

• Volunteerism: Mariella Cajina, Carondelet High School
• Teamwork: Neil Chaundran, Monte Vista High School
• Perseverance: Aditya Narayan, Dougherty Valley High School
• Leadership & Civic Engagement: Morelia Gil-Cubillo, Antioch High

School

• Good Samaritan: Nitya Varanasi, California High School
• Innovation and Empowerment: Alice Zhou, Miramonte High School

Middle School Rising Stars:

• Volunteerism Rising Star: Samhita Chikoti, Gale Ranch Middle School
• Leadership & Civic Engagement Rising Star: Dhruv Subramanian, Windermere Ranch Middle School

The annual celebration honors the diversity and richness of our community. To learn more about the César E. Chávez Ceremony, visit www.contracosta.ca.gov on the Contra Costa County website. The community can also watch the event live online at www.contracosta.ca.gov or www.contracostatv.org. The celebration will be broadcast live on Contra Costa Television channels: Comcast Cable 27, ATT/U-Verse 99, and Astound 32 & 1027.

The Contra Costa County Area Agency on Aging (AAA) will be holding a public hearing at 10:00 a.m. on March 20, 2024, to present Contra Costa County’s draft 2024-2028 Area Plan. The hearing will be held in person at 500 Ellinwood Way, Board Room A/B, Pleasant Hill, CA 94523, and via Zoom at: 

https://gcc02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/cccounty-us.zoom.us

Password: 602444

The Public Hearing provides an opportunity for the public to be informed about and comment on the draft 2024-2028 Area Plan, which discusses the needs of older adults, persons with disabilities, and family caregivers in Contra Costa and identifies the strategies to address these concerns. Public members, service providers, and other interested individuals are encouraged to attend and provide input.  

Federal law and regulations require AAAs to conduct business so as not to discriminate on the basis of language spoken or disability. The meeting place is accessible, and the meeting will be conducted in English. Individuals who need accommodation or language interpretation, please contact Glenda Pacha at gpacha@ehsd.cccounty.us as soon as possible, so suitable arrangements can be made. Everyone is welcome and encouraged to attend.

A copy of the draft 2024-2028 Area Plan is available at:  https://ehsd.org/elderly-disabled/area-agency-on-aging/

RecycleSmart, the Solid Waste Authority for central Contra Costa County, is in the process of soliciting bids for garbage, recycling, and organics services beginning in 2027. As part of this process, RecycleSmart is seeking community input from both residents and businesses. Danville, Lafayette, Moraga, Orinda, Walnut Creek, Alamo, Blackhawk, and Diablo residents and businesses can participate by completing a short survey at www.recyclesmart.org/survey.

This month's free virtual program at the Museum of the San Ramon Valley celebrates St Patrick's Day by talking about Eugene O'Neil and his family home in New Ross Ireland which is now a friendship city with Danville. An interesting story and many connections between the two towns.



Join us for a FREE virtual journey to Ireland and back, all from the comfort of your couch.

On March 21st at 11:30 a.m., we're diving into the fascinating story of Danville, California, and New Ross, Ireland: two towns connected by more than just luck o' the Irish!

So, what are you waiting for? Sign up today and join us on this exciting virtual adventure!

Register Here

The Owls of Athenian School boys basketball team won the Division 5 state championship, beating Verdugo Hills 67 to 49 in a resounding triumph to win the title of best in the state. Congratulations to the Owls. It was the school's first trip to the state championship.

San Ramon Valley Wolves boys basketball team had an outstanding 2023-24 season, with 29 wins that landed them in the Division 1 state basketball championship game Friday, March 8, in Sacramento. The NorCal Champions came out state runnerup, falling to St. John Bosco 78-62. Congratulations to the Wolves on their amazing season. It was the Wolves' fourth trip to the state championship.

Orinda Rotary's annual "State of the City" luncheon was held on Wednesday, March 13th at the Orinda Community Center. Orinda Mayor, Darlene Gee, updated the attendees on important projects and initiatives facing the community. 

Pictured here, left to right are, Supervisor Andersen, Rotary President Clay Deanhardt, and Orinda Mayor Darlene Gee.

Making Herstory 2024: Inspiring Women in

Nontraditional Jobs and Professions

Supervisor Andersen spoke to the Kiwanis Club of San Ramon Valley at their weekly luncheon, held at the Black Bear Diner.

She shared important issues and events concerning the community and the county.

Pictured here with Supervisor Andersen is Kiwanis President David Stegman.

Congressman DeSaulnier was able to secure over $15.2 million for community projects across Contra Costa and Alameda Counties. This funding will go to 15 projects to address homelessness and the high cost of living, improve transportation systems and infrastructure, bolster public safety, protect the environment, and expand access to quality education. You can learn more about each of these projects and how they will make a difference in our district by clicking here.

The projects funded in Contra Costa County are:

Homelessness and High Cost of Living Projects:

• $1,431,222 for the Concord Shelter and Service Center Roofing Project for Contra Costa Health Services to replace the roof and skylights at a homeless shelter facility to ensure safe, comfortable living conditions for program recipients.
• $1,000,000 for the Esperanza Place Phase 2 Project for Habitat for Humanity to build 19 affordable housing units, community space, play areas, and a bike locker and private yard for every unit near the Pleasant Hill BART station.

Transportation and Infrastructure Projects:

• $2,000,000 for the San Ramon Intelligent Transportation System and Citywide Communications Infrastructure Project to build out a publicly-owned, citywide fiber optic network for use by businesses and residences, as well as smart traffic signals, city facilities, and license plate reader cameras.
• $1,235,057 for the Ygnacio Valley Road Rehabilitation Project for the City of Walnut Creek to repave the roadway between Oak Grove Road and the city limits and to implement traffic safety improvements to maintain the roadway pavement and improve overall traffic safety.

Public Safety Projects:

• $740,000 for the Antioch Gunshot Detection Technology Project to help protect against gun violence by adding an additional five linear miles of gunshot detection technology on the freeways within the Antioch Police Department’s jurisdiction.
• $963,000 for the Public Safety Radio Replacement Project to upgrade the City of Walnut Creek’s radio equipment to improve communication between public safety jurisdictions in the East Bay in emergency response situations.

Environmental Projects:

• $959,752 for the Chain of Lakes PFAS Treatment Facility Project for the Zone 7 Water Agency to construct a treatment system to remove harmful PFAS chemicals from groundwater in the Tri-Valley.
• $850,000 for the Enrico Cinquini Park Construction Project to build a new park in Oakley with a natural turf field, a covered picnic and barbeque area, restrooms, an enhanced playground, and parking lot.
• $850,000 for the Marin Clean Energy Enabling Electrification Project to create a dedicated fund to support income-qualified customers who need, but cannot afford, prehabilitation work on their home to install electrification technologies, including heat pump water heaters, heat pump HVAC systems, induction cooktops, battery storage systems, electric vehicle chargers, and more.
• $150,000 for the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta One Water Initiative Knightsen Wetland Restoration Project for Contra Costa County to work in coordination with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to restore the Knightsen Wetland habitat.
• $900,000 for the West Reach Creek Access Project to increase access to West Reach Creek in Lafayette through a new dirt path and to restore native wildlife habitat.



Education and Youth Services Projects:

• $450,000 for the Contra Costa Commercial and Sexual Exploitation of Children Navigators Capacity Building Initiative Project for the Seneca Family of Agencies to help law enforcement protect children from exploitation by bridging systems gaps and increasing coordination among police departments, the probation system, juvenile courts and judges, behavioral health partners, child welfare partners, and community-based organizations.
• $500,000 for the Monument Corridor Head Start and Early Head Start Preschool Facility Project for the Spanish Speaking Unity Council of Alameda County to expand access to quality, affordable education through the acquisition of land and construction of a new facility.

AAUW Presents Women Leaders - a Retrospective View

San Ramon Valley Unified School District’s Board of Education is asking for the entire community’s help in selecting their next SRVUSD Superintendent. To ensure this is a collaborative and inclusive process, the Board is providing an anonymous online survey and encourages everyone’s participation. This is an opportunity for the Board to receive input from students, staff, parents/caregivers, and the wider San Ramon Valley community.

Take the survey now: https://bit.ly/SRVUSDsearch. This survey will be open from March 13, 2024, to March 22, 2024, at 4:00 p.m. Anyone with questions can feel free to reach out to communications@srvusd.net.

The Contra Costa County Consortium, which includes the cities of Antioch, Concord, Pittsburg, Walnut Creek, and the County of Contra Costa (on behalf of all the other towns and cities in Contra Costa) receive federal HOME, Community Development Block Grant (CDBG), and Emergency Solutions Grant (ESG) funding every year. Over a five- year-period these funds will total over $50 million!



These federal funds, administered by the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) can be used to build new affordable housing, rehabilitate homes for lower-income and senior homeowners, improve or construct public facilities and parks, improve infrastructure in lower-income neighborhoods, provide employment training and assistance to small business owners, provide a wide variety of services for lower-income families and individuals, and homeless persons, and much more.

Every five years, the community has the opportunity to help identify its greatest needs and determine how these funds are spent to help address those needs. 

Please take a few moments to complete an online survey. This survey will take approximately 15 minutes, so please be prepared to give it your thoughtful consideration.

Housing & Homelessness Survey

Affordable Housing Supplemental Information (PDF)

Non-Housing Survey

The surveys will be translated in Spanish, Tagalog, and Simplified Chinese. 

In addition, make sure you attend one of several public meetings. Your feedback is part of the process to create the Consortium’s 2025-2030 Consolidated Plan for the use of the funds received from the federal Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).

South County (San Ramon)

Monday, April 22, 2024 6:00 PM

City of San Ramon - San Ramon Community Center, Fountain Room

12501 Alcosta Blvd, San Ramon, CA

For more information, please call Daniel Davis at (925) 655-2884

West County (Richmond)

Monday, March 18, 2024, 6:00 p.m.

City of Richmond - City Council Chamber Room

440 Civic Center Plaza, Richmond

For more information, please call Jaclyn Tummings at (925) 655-2886

East County (Antioch)

Thursday, March 28, 2024, 6:30 p.m.

City of Antioch – City Council Chambers

200 H Street, Antioch, CA 94509

For more information, please call Andrea Mateo at (925) 779-7000 x7037

East County (Brentwood)

Thursday, April 04, 2024, 6:00 p.m.

City of Brentwood – Community Center

35 Oak St, Brentwood, CA 94513; Room A/B

For more information, please call Daniel Davis at (925) 655-2884

Central County (Concord)

Thursday, March 21, 2024, 6:30 p.m.

City of Concord - City Council Chamber Room

1950 Parkside Drive, Concord

For more information, please call Leng Power at (925) 603-5838

For more information on the five-year planning process and other opportunities to participate, please contact the Contra Costa County Department of Conservation and Development at (925) 655-7208 or visit us on the web at www.cccounty.us/conplan.

The Contra Costa County Board of Supervisors is seeking individuals with sound knowledge and experience in the field of public and private finance, to serve on the Treasury Oversight Committee (Committee) for the seat representing the County Board of Supervisors and one Public Representative Seat for terms May 1, 2024 to April 30, 2028.

To be considered, candidates must be County residents, may not be employed by an entity that has contributed to the reelection campaign of the County Treasurer or a member of the Board of Supervisors in the previous three years, may not directly or indirectly raise money for the County Treasurer or a member of the Board of Supervisors while a member of the Committee and may not work for bond underwriters, bond counsel, security brokerages or dealers, or financial services firms with whom the County Treasurer does business, either during his or her tenure on the Committee or for one year after leaving the Committee.

The Committee meets bi-annually in March and September on the third Tuesday of the month at 3:00 p.m. at 625 Court St., Room B001, Martinez, CA 94553. Each meeting lasts approximately one hour. The Committee’s duties include reviewing and monitoring the County Treasurer’s Annual Investment Policy, and ensuring an annual audit is conducted to determine the County Treasurer is in compliance with Government Code §§27130-27137. 

The annual audits, meeting agendas, and minutes of the Committee are available online: www.contracosta.ca.gov/690/TreasuryOversight-Committee. Members of the Committee receive no compensation for their service. 

Application forms can be obtained from the Contra Costa County Clerk of the Board by calling (925) 655-2000 or by clicking on the following link: Submit an Application Online. Applications should be returned to the Clerk of the Board, County Administration Building, 1025 Escobar Street, 1st Floor, Martinez, CA 94553 no later than Wednesday, March 27, 2024, by 5 p.m. Interviews will be held at the Internal Operations Committee (IOC) meeting, which will be conducted via Zoom at 11:00 a.m. on April 8, 2024. More information about the Treasury Oversight Committee can be obtained by visiting the Treasurer-Tax Collector’s website at www.contracosta.ca.gov/690/TreasuryOversight-Committee.

Blackhawk Museum announces the launch of their 2024 Spring Speaker Series, an event series that promises to enlighten and engage automotive enthusiasts and cultural aficionados alike.

Kicking off this exciting series, is Sandra Button, Chairman of the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance, on Saturday, March 23rd from 10:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. This lecture is included with museum admission.

We invite you to join us for this special occasion to gain unparalleled insights from a distinguished figure in the automotive world. This is an opportunity to immerse yourself in the rich tapestry of automotive heritage and to engage with fellow enthusiasts and experts.

Visit the museum website or more information about admission and this event.

 The Board of Directors of the East Bay Municipal Utility District (EBMUD) are recruiting for the seat representing Ward 2. Ward 2 lies in Contra Costa County and its boundaries include the Cities of Alamo, Lafayette, Walnut Creek, Town of Danville, portions of San Ramon and Pleasant Hill and communities of Blackhawk and Diablo. The position will be vacant due to the resignation of John A. Coleman effective March 8, 2024. The EBMUD Board of Directors will appoint an individual to fill this seat.

The appointee will hold the seat until the next general election in November 2024. The individual subsequently elected in November 2024 would then serve the remainder of Coleman’s term - until December 31, 2026. The person selected to fill this vacancy in Ward 2 must be a registered voter and resident of the geographical boundaries of Ward 2. Eligibility can be verified by calling the Contra Costa County Registrar of Voters at (925) 335-7800 and by checking your address on EBMUD’s interactive ward map at www.ebmud.com/about-us/board-directors/your-board-members.

Regular meetings of the Board of Directors are held on the second and fourth Tuesday of each month beginning at 11:00 a.m. Additionally, duties include service on Board Committees (which typically meet in the morning on the second and fourth Tuesday of each month), representing EBMUD on Joint Powers Authority boards, and attendance at special meetings and other meetings as required. Board members that meet minimum meeting requirements receive $1,606.50 in monthly compensation. Board members are also eligible to receive medical, dental, vision and other benefits provided by EBMUD.

Persons wishing to be considered for this seat must submit an application packet consisting of a letter expressing their interest and qualifications for selection (no more than two pages), a resume, and a minimum of three (3) letters of reference. Application packets are due no later than 4:30 p.m. on Friday, March 22 and can be submitted as follows:

• Email: Rischa.Cole@ebmud.com
• Mail: EBMUD, Attn: Board of Directors, P.O. Box 24055, MS806, Oakland, CA 94623
• In person: EBMUD, Office of the Secretary, 375 11th Street, MS806, Oakland, CA 94607
• Monday – Friday, 8:00 a.m. – 4:40 p.m.

For additional information about EBMUD or the appointment process, please visit ebmud.com/board-directors-ward-2-vacancy or contact the Secretary of the District at Rischa.Cole@ebmud.com or (510) 287-0404.

The Board of Directors is scheduled to interview candidates at its Regular Board meeting starting at 4:00 p.m. on April 9, 2024, or if needed, at a Special Board meeting starting at 4:00 p.m. on either April 16 or April 17, 2024. The appointment will be made at a meeting of the Board not later than April 23, 2024.

Despite some delays, the Alamo Roundabout is operational. Paving and striping have taken place and landscaping is going in. Final work will be completed sometime in April or May.

Upcoming scheduled work includes:

• March 2024 – Landscape Irrigation and Planting complete
• End of March 2024 – Final Electrical complete
• April 2024 – Start of punch list work 
• Early/mid-May – Surface treatment work complete followed by final roadway striping
• End of May 2024 – Project Complete  

For more information about the Alamo Roundabout project visit: www.contracosta.ca.gov/alamoroundabout.

Caltrans is scheduled to close southbound Interstate 680 in Pleasanton between the I-580/I-680 Connectorand Koopman Road on Friday, March 15 through Monday morning, March 18, 2024.

During the closure, contractor will replace a portion of the existing deteriorated roadway with new pavement on southbound I-680, between the I-580/I-680 Connector and Koopman Road. The work will repair deteriorating existing pavement and enhance motorist safety while reducing the number of nightly closures needed on the project.

The I-680 freeway will be closed in the southbound direction between the I-580/I-680 Connector and Koopman Road from 9:00 p.m. Friday, March 15 to 4:00 a.m. the following Monday, March 18.

Northbound I-680 will remain open and will not be affected by the closure.

For more information, please visit the Alameda County Transportation Commission website at https://bit.ly/43dKwg1.

The Contra Costa County Advisory Council on Equal Employment Opportunity (ACEEO) has one vacant Business seat and two vacant Community seats open to applicants. The successful candidate for the Business seat must own a business within the County, and candidate(s) for the Community seats must either work or reside within the County. All candidates must have an interest in equal employment matters. The ACEEO meets on the fourth Friday of each month from 9:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m., except for holidays.

The ACEEO assists with the implementation of the County’s Equal Employment Opportunities and Contracting Programs and serves as an advisory committee to the Board of Supervisors. The ACEEO reviews the Equal Employment Opportunities Program and recommends actions to facilitate the attainment of the County’s goals for equal employment opportunities regardless of gender and race/ethnicity.

The Board of Supervisors established the ACEEO on July 9, 1991. The Council has thirteen (13) seats representing the following groups: 4 Community seats; 2 Labor seats; 2 Management seats; 1 Educational seat; 1 Disability seat; 1 Business seat; 1 Veteran seat; and 1 Labor/Trade seat.

Application forms can be obtained from the Clerk of the Board of Supervisors by calling (925) 655- 2000 or visiting the County webpage at www.contracosta.ca.gov/3418. Applications should be returned to the Clerk of the Board of Supervisors, 1025 Escobar St., 1st Floor, Martinez, CA 94553. Applications can also be emailed to ClerkoftheBoard@cob.cccounty.us.

Applicants should plan to be available for public interviews. For further information about the ACEEO, please contact Antoine Wilson at antoine.wilson@riskm.cccounty.us or (925) 335-1455.

Community Advisory Board (CAB) on Public Safety Realignment

Central County Residents Preferred

The Community Advisory Board (CAB) on Public Safety Realignment was established by the Community Corrections Partnership (CCP) Executive Committee in December 2012 to provide input on community needs; assess implementation of the realignment plan; review data on realignment outcomes; advise the CCP on community engagement strategies; offer recommendations for ongoing realignment planning; advise County agencies regarding programs for implementation in the County; and encourage outcomes that are consistent with the County’s Reentry Strategic Plan. 

The Community Corrections Partnership is seeking applications for (1) Voting Member and up to (3) Alternate Member seats on the CAB.

For more information on CAB membership duties and activities, please visit their website contracosta.ca.gov/4165/Community-Advisory-Board-CAB.

Submit an Application Online here. Questions? Contact: The Office of Reentry & Justice, by phone at (925) 313-4087.

Find out more information about volunteering for an advisory body here co.contra-costa.ca.us/3418.